Which kind of flooring is best for the kitchen? Over the years handling interior design in Bangladesh, this is a question we encounter a lot.
In this blog post on the top kitchen flooring ideas in 2019, we will discuss
- Why should you care about kitchen flooring?
- What kind of factors should you consider when comparing the pros and cons of kitchen flooring ideas?
- What are the pros and cons of the various options for flooring your kitchen?
One after another.
Why should you care about kitchen Flooring?
From cooking to storing food items (in the refrigerator) to washing utensils – so many things are done in your kitchen.
This means
- Food can fall on the floor and stain it.
- You may spend a lot of time in the kitchen standing (cooking, cleaning utensils and so on).
- The floor will experience a lot of foot traffic.
- If you eat in the kitchen, you want a general ambience that deepens your appetite.
These are the specific factors you would have to consider while selecting your kitchen flooring, apart from general concerns like sustainability.
So, what factors should you look for in a choice of kitchen Flooring?
Your choice should be based on
- Maintenance – How easy is it to clean stains off of that particular type of flooring? And how often would you need to clean it generally?
- Comfort – Would you be able to stand on it easily?
- Durable – Can the flooring handle high foot traffic?
- Ambience – Does it add to a kitchen ambience?
The Top 10 Kitchen Flooring Ideas in 2019
Bamboo Flooring
Bamboo has a welcoming ambience and a beautiful grain, making it suitable for the kitchen. It has a warm feeling which makes it very comfortable for you to stand on.
As a material, it is tough and able to withstand the daily cleaning that a kitchen floor may face.
Key pros
- Comfortable to stand on
- Tough and able to take high foot traffic and daily cleaning
- Chic and modern look
- Relatively inexpensive as a kitchen flooring material
- Eco-friendly
Key Cons
- May absorb water
- Some types of bamboo flooring can get scratched easily
- Few colour options
Cork Flooring
The biggest advantage of cork kitchen flooring is that cork ‘gives’, which means it is not absolutely rigid and can bend if force is applied.
In other words,
- Cork flooring is quite comfortable to stand on.
- Cork flooring can handle the pressure of furniture very effectively, making it long-lasting. In fact, cork flooring can last for decades.
Cork also has some anti-microbial properties, making it resistant to mould. Like bamboo, it is eco-friendly and comfortable to stand on. Unlike bamboo, it is water-resistant.
Pros
- Soft material and comfortable to stand on; durable
- Anti-microbial; resists mould
- Easy to install and maintain
- Inexpensive
- Eco-friendly
Cons
- Soft material and can get scratched easily
- May fade over time
Rubber Flooring
Rubber flooring is similar to cork. The main advantage of rubber flooring is its ‘grip’ which is why it is easy to install and does not slip; in particular, it needs little to no adhesive to install. Rubber flooring also tends to not be slippery, which is another great quality in kitchen flooring.
Pros
- High-grip flooring making it easy to install
- Comes in a range of colours and available both as tiles and as sheets
- Soft material and comfortable to stand on
- You can source eco-friendly rubber flooring
- Easy to clean
- Water and fire resistant
Cons
- Relatively more expensive
- Oils may stain the flooring
- May absorb some stains
Stone Flooring
In the hot Bangladeshi climate, the best point about stone flooring is its naturally cool feel which makes it very comfortable to stand on. However, please make sure that if sunlight falls directly on any part of the stone flooring, you avoid that part. Stone absorbs heat very easily and will become extremely hot quickly. It’s a very natural flooring material and gives your kitchen a very earthy look. Stone tiles may vary in grain and colouring so be careful when installing stone flooring.
Pros
- Naturally cool
- Very hard and resistant to damage
- Vintage and earthy look
- Easy to clean and can take daily cleaning
Cons
- Difficult to install
- Some varieties of stone (like slate) are brittle and may crack easily
- Absorbs heat readily and can get hot quickly
Tile Flooring
Like stone, tile flooring has a natural cool feel which is its biggest asset in the Bangladeshi climate. Also like stone, tile flooring is easy to clean, durable and water resistant. Finally, tile flooring is relatively inexpensive and comes in a lot of interesting patterns.
Pros
- Naturally cool
- Durable
- Easy to clean and water resistant
- Available in a lot of interesting patterns
Cons
- Difficult to install
- Dirt may accumulate in the spaces between tiles (called grout lines)
- Brittle items like glasses will shatter if dropped on tiles
Carpet tile Flooring
Carpet tiles are a relatively new addition to kitchen flooring options. Carpet tiles were originally designed for industrial grade use so, as you can understand, they are incredibly suitable for any residential use. You can easily replace individual tiles. On the flip side, most carpet tiles have a modern look; they may not be able to capture the earthy chic of bamboo flooring or the vintage of stone or wood flooring
Pros
- Durable and long-lasting
- Easy to clean
- Easy to install and replace
- Comfortable to stand on
- Recyclable (and hence eco-friendly)
Cons
- Fewer options if you want an earthy or vintage look
- May need to be cleaned frequently
Wood Flooring
While individual stone tiles can vary a little in grain and colour, wood flooring is absolutely unique. No two pieces of wood flooring are alike, which means you can have a kitchen floor that’s uniquely yours. Wood flooring is a bit difficult to maintain; but if you can maintain it, it will give your kitchen a timeless look that will never go out of fashion.
Pros
- High-end, authentic and unique look
- Somewhat durable
- (In general) wood flooring can add to the resale value of your home
Cons
- Somewhat expensive
- Will show wear and tear with time (so you need to refinish it from time to time)
- May show scratches easily
Concrete Flooring
The best thing about concrete flooring is how much you can customize it. Fresh concrete can be stamped; all concrete can be stenciled, stained, polished and waxed to give it the exact look you want. Natural grey concrete itself is a style – the industrial look. Like stone and tile, concrete is hard and durable. It is also naturally cool, although maybe not as much as stone and tile.
Pros
- Hard material and can take a lot of foot traffic
- Durable and will resist wear and tear
- Easy to clean
- Very flexible; can be customized a lot
Cons
- Susceptible to mould if not sealed properly
- Will need periodic resealing
- May be difficult to stand on for a long time
Vinyl Flooring
The best asset of a vinyl floor in a kitchen is water resistance. Vinyl flooring is incredibly water resistant which, as we saw earlier, is a quality you need to look for in kitchen flooring. Vinyl flooring also comes with a lot of options as far as colour and grain are concerned. You can even get vinyl flooring that looks just like wood.
Pros
- Water resistant
- Lots of options in colour and grain
- Easy to install
- Relatively inexpensive
Cons
- Can fade over time
- Can gouge and get damaged easily
- Needs to be installed on a smooth surface
- Not biodegradable (and so not eco-friendly)
Laminate Flooring
The best thing about laminate flooring? It ages well. A lot of laminate floorings develop a patina (a thin green-brown film caused by chemical reaction) over time which is aesthetically pleasing. It’s reasonably durable and comfortable to stand on. On the flip side, it can be difficult to repair.
Pros
- Ages well
- Reasonably durable and comfortable to stand on
- A lot of options for you to choose from
- Affordable
- Easy to install
Cons
- Can be difficult to repair
- Can be noisy
- Cannot be refinished
When you are discussing flooring with your interior designer, make sure you discuss the four points mentioned at the beginning
- Maintenance
- Comfort
- Durability
- Ambience
Even if you think there are other good kitchen flooring options out there, you now know what factors you need to look at to decide!
