Your kitchen is one of the most important rooms in your home. From sharing casual family dinners to entertaining friends, many meals and memories are made in this space.
Because it is also one of the most used rooms in your home, your kitchen needs durable flooring that can withstand daily wear and tear. Kitchens are also susceptible to spills, splatters and the impacts that come with dropped utensils or pans.
At Metro Flooring Contractors, we have flooring in many materials, styles and finishes from the top brands in the industry, backed by professionals who know how to choose the right variety for a specific space. With our flooring options and expert team, we’ll help you choose a kitchen floor you and your loved ones can enjoy for years to come.
Things to Consider When Choosing Kitchen Flooring
We’ve worked with many homeowners throughout Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C., so we know it can be challenging to sift through all of the kitchen flooring brands, types and styles available. To help narrow your options, it’s best to consider the following factors:
Appearance: One of the first things you may think of when choosing the best flooring for kitchens is how it looks. The main color and style are some of the most significant factors you’ll want to consider when you choose. You want your flooring to look like it fits in with the rest of your kitchen elements like appliances, wall treatments and decor, whether you’re going for a matching scheme or complementary colors and styles. You’ll also want to think about the adaptability of the style you choose. If you decide to change other elements or decor later in your kitchen, will the flooring still coordinate?
Cost: Before you choose your new flooring, you’ll want to consider your budget. Plan out how much you intend to spend on your flooring project, so you can see what options fit in with your budget. The good news is that there is a wide array of choices, from the very budget-friendly to the more luxurious. And remember, the more you spend on home improvements like new kitchen flooring, the more you may increase your home’s value.
Size of the room: You’ll want to consider just how large the space is you’re working with, as a larger room will require more flooring. And beyond this, you should think about how different styles and colors change how a room’s size appears. Darker colors and busy patterns tend to make a room look smaller, while light colors do the opposite.
Lighting options: An often overlooked factor when choosing flooring is the lighting in your room. Both natural and artificial lighting can change the appearance of a floor and other decor elements. Flooring samples may look completely different in your home than in a catalog or showroom, so be sure that you can see the samples in your kitchen.
Traffic and use of the room: Consider how you use your kitchen space and how often. Do you have heavy foot traffic constantly, or use the kitchen a lot? Do you have young children and pets tracking in and out daily? If this is the case, you may want to opt for more durable flooring options.
Cleaning and maintenance: Thinking about what is required for cleaning and maintenance is also essential for flooring choices. Most homeowners want flooring that’s easy to clean and doesn’t easily show dirt or imperfections. Other than cleaning, most flooring doesn’t require extra maintenance, except for hardwood, which may need refinishing occasionally.
Durability: Certain types of flooring last longer than others before needing a replacement and stand up better to a little wear and tear. Consider the traffic level of your kitchen, and if the flooring you want is a good match for your needs.
Top Flooring Types for Kitchens
In the kitchen, some types of flooring are simply better than other choices. For example, carpet is generally not recommended for the kitchen because of the crumbs and frequent spills. It can be unsanitary and harder to keep clean. We recommend these three kitchen flooring picks since they are easy to take care of and look beautiful in the kitchen.
Hardwood Flooring for Kitchens
One of the most classic and popular choices for flooring in any room is hardwood. There’s a reason so many real estate listings make a point of mentioning hardwood floors in a home — it’s a huge selling point and the gold standard for many homes. Long-lasting and gorgeous, hardwood flooring adds a touch of luxury to any room. However, there are some special considerations when installing hardwood flooring in kitchens. Here are some of the most important things to consider for kitchen hardwood flooring:
Hardwood flooring is one of the longest-lasting flooring types available and is considered a “lifetime installation.” If you want a different look in the future, sanding and refinishing is an option rather than paying for all new flooring.
While there are many price points for hardwood flooring, depending on the type of wood used, hardwood flooring is generally more expensive than other flooring options.
Hardwood can be more prone to damage from excessive moisture, and the steam and spills of cooking in the kitchen can sometimes mean hardwood isn’t ideal. However, engineered hardwood is more resistant to moisture than solid hardwood. Waterproofed hardwood with a special finish is another great choice for kitchens.
It’s available in a wide variety of types of wood, colors and finishes to suit any home’s decor.
Hardwood flooring is simple to keep clean with sweeping or vacuuming and requires minimal care.
At Metro Flooring Contractors, we know that hardwood flooring is a popular and timeless choice. Species such as oak and walnut work especially well in high-traffic areas. We have engineered wood, solid hardwood and waterproof hardwood flooring options in various finishes.
Laminate Flooring for Kitchens
Laminate is an excellent and inexpensive option for kitchen flooring. This durable flooring solution is easy to maintain and comes in various plank sizes ranging from 3 inches to 12 inches in width. You’ll also be able to choose from either domestic or exotic species in finishes ranging from distressed to hand-scraped. This type of flooring is made from synthetic materials but looks just like real hardwood flooring, tile or other options and is a cost-effective way to get the look you want. Check out the top considerations for kitchen laminate flooring:
Laminate flooring is an incredibly durable option. The unique construction of synthetic materials makes laminate very strong and water-resistant. It’s a great option for high-traffic areas and for families with small children or pets. A significant amount of water or moisture can still damage laminate flooring, but most small spills should not be a concern.
It’s an attractive flooring option that can mimic more high-end options and is available in a wide variety of colors, patterns, styles and finishes, so you’re sure to find something that coordinates with your kitchen.
Laminate is incredibly easy to clean with simple house cleaning tools and doesn’t require extra care or maintenance.
It’s very easy to install, often only taking one day to complete the kitchen flooring installation.
Laminate flooring can be difficult to repair if it does get scratched since you can’t sand out scuffs like with hardwood flooring. Plus, finding the right piece to patch it can also be challenging. However, when taken care of properly, laminate can be very durable and last a long time.
Laminate flooring is generally far less expensive than other high-end options, like hardwood or tile.
Vinyl Flooring for Kitchens
Inexpensive and versatile, vinyl flooring is another excellent choice for kitchens. Made of synthetic materials, vinyl flooring has come a long way in recent years and is much improved over what you may have seen in the past. Today’s vinyl flooring is more long-lasting, durable and attractive. For many kitchens, it’s an ideal option. Here’s what you should know about kitchen vinyl flooring:
Vinyl flooring is one of the most affordable options on the market today, usually priced much lower than hardwood and tile. The best cheap flooring for kitchens is usually vinyl.
If you’re looking for waterproof kitchen flooring, vinyl is one of the top choices. It’s very water resistant, making it a good choice for kitchens.
It’s straightforward to clean and doesn’t require maintenance. Plus, if you opt for a protective wear layer, vinyl flooring is more resistant to scratches and scuffs.
Vinyl flooring has a wide variety of styles, patterns and colors to choose from. You can even mimic the look of hardwood or tile at a much lower cost. It’s often available as sheets, planks or tiles, and you can find a vinyl style to match just about any kitchen.
It’s important to go with high-quality vinyl flooring, like kitchen LVP, or luxury vinyl planks. Lower quality vinyl flooring isn’t as durable and may not be as attractive.
At Metro Flooring Contractors, we carry wood plastic composite vinyl, luxury vinyl tile and rigid core vinyl flooring. Each type delivers a lot of style for homeowners looking for a budget-friendly alternative to natural floors. Vinyl also offers the benefit of being 100% waterproof and resistant to scratching.
Tips for Choosing Kitchen Flooring
Our kitchens are an important part of our homes, and choosing the right kind of flooring is a big decision. Now that you know some of the most common types of kitchen flooring options available, how should you choose what’s best for you? We have plenty of kitchen flooring ideas and things you should know when shopping around.
Kitchens are usually busy places that see lots of foot traffic throughout the day. But beyond this, it’s a place for food prep, and kitchens can see many spills. For this reason, the best flooring for kitchens is food-safe and moisture-resistant. And in addition to the food and drinks in a kitchen, bleach and heavy-duty cleaning supplies are often used to keep a kitchen clean. You want flooring that can withstand these harsh chemicals regularly too. You need durable kitchen flooring that can stand up to the rigors of everyday use without needing constant repairs and replacement.
Here are a few tips that can help guide your kitchen flooring decision:
Consider the big picture and the long-term life of your home: Choose flooring that will last so you don’t need to replace it in just a couple of years. Avoid going too trendy, and consider styles that will match the rest of your room, even if you update other things like paint color or decor choices. Think about how you’ll continue to use the kitchen in the future and if anything will change.
Factor in your cabinet style: You want your new flooring to fit in with the rest of the kitchen, and the cabinets are a big part of your room’s style. Appliances are also important to the overall style of the kitchen. It’s best not to try to match the flooring colors and materials exactly to the cabinets. You’re better off going for a coordinated look that has some contrast to give the space definition and avoid the matchy-matchy look, which can wash out a room.
Account for cleaning care and maintenance: Choose a flooring type that matches your lifestyle in terms of ease of cleaning and maintenance. You’ll likely want something that’s durable and easy to clean and maintain. Once you do choose your flooring, make sure you understand what maintenance is required and if any special cleaning solutions or techniques are recommended. Taking good care of your flooring ensures a longer life span.
Consider all costs: When you’re figuring out a budget for your flooring project, think about the overall materials cost for the flooring itself, delivery fees, installation cost, and any additional materials or accessories, including underlayment or padding. Also, if you’re doing a larger kitchen renovation, consider whether you can stay in the house or if you need a few nights in a hotel. Even if you’re staying at home, you may want to splurge on takeout more than usual while the kitchen is under construction. Don’t forget these costs in your kitchen renovation budget.
Things to Avoid When Choosing Kitchen Flooring
As with any home improvement project, sometimes it’s equally as important to know what not to do when choosing kitchen flooring too. Take some time to read up on some of the most common mistakes people make when choosing kitchen flooring so you know what to avoid:
Choosing flooring that doesn’t match the room’s purpose: For kitchens, the right flooring is crucial, and it should be durable, long-lasting and water-resistant. When you pick flooring that doesn’t hold up to the heat, steam, spills and high traffic, the wear will show much faster. You may need replacements sooner than average, and you may be dealing with damage to the layers underneath your floor as well.
Too many flooring types throughout the house: With so many different styles and colors of flooring to choose from, it can be tempting to put a different style in every room of the house — or maybe even multiple types in the same room — such as a tiled area and a hardwood area. Many different floors can break up a room or house and make the space appear smaller. Usually, it’s best to stick to one type of flooring in a room, and choose the same or similar flooring for adjacent areas, like hallways or in open spaces like great rooms. The continuity will ease transitions between spaces and help a space feel larger.
Doing renovations in the wrong order: If all you’re doing is a flooring replacement, then this isn’t a concern. However, if you’re planning on multiple kitchen renovation projects, it’s best to plan out the order that makes the most sense for your project. For example, many types of cabinets sit on top of the flooring, and the height of the counters depends on the thickness of the flooring as well. If you’re doing a full kitchen remodel and install the cabinets first, the flooring may need some adjustments. A kitchen flooring contractor or general contractor will understand these issues and know which order to do your renovations and installations.
Trying to DIY the flooring: Today, DIY is everywhere, and it’s tempting to try to save money by doing things yourself. However, most types of flooring can be challenging to install. A DIY installation could leave you with an unprofessional look or costly mistakes that need to be re-done. It’s best to go with an experienced professional from the beginning for the best overall experience and quality flooring installation.
Benefits of Partnering With Metro Flooring Contractors on Your Kitchen Flooring Project
Metro Flooring Contractors hosts a team of local professionals who are ready to help you make a smart investment on your kitchen project. From helping you pick the best flooring type to determining the right size for your specific kitchen, we are here to assist you every step of the way.
We offer an in-home appointment so you can see our flooring samples in person. One of our mobile sales reps will answer any questions you have and help you make a smart selection.
Get Started on Your Kitchen Flooring Project
To get started on your kitchen re-flooring project, schedule your in-home appointment today. After one of our mobile sales reps gives you an accurate estimate, we guarantee next-day flooring installation. Our labor is warrantied for life and 100% transferrable, so you can trust in the quality of our work.
For the best flooring for kitchens throughout Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C., look no further than Metro Flooring Contractors.
