Which floor is better in the kitchen: a comparative overview of 7 flooring options

Choosing a kitchen floor for an uninformed person can be challenging. It is more important to give preference not so much to beauty as to practicality. And if possible - combine these two parameters. We suggest you deal with the flooring for the kitchen. Ideal floors in this room should be moisture resistant, easily washed from household and food contaminants (fruit juices, wine, fat, etc.), have a solid surface, be decorative and fit into the overall design of the apartment (house). Many modern floor coverings to one degree or another meet these parameters. Let's pay attention to the most suitable options, and also analyze their advantages and disadvantages during operation. After that, you yourself can decide which floors are better in the kitchen.

Linoleum - a reliable coating

Perhaps the most common floor in kitchens is covered with linoleum. This material is resistant to abrasion, is not afraid of moisture and hot steam, is easy to clean, it is unlikely to leave a mark on it after a heavy object falls. Linoleum is characterized by an inexpensive price, as well as a very simple way of laying, which you can master yourself. Everything else, linoleum, thanks to a huge assortment, allows you to implement a variety of design ideas. It can be either a plain floor covering or imitation of various more expensive materials: tiles, parquet, stone, metal.

The surface of linoleum can copy any materials, including ceramic tiles

The disadvantage of linoleum can be attributed to the formation of dents at the location of heavy furniture (refrigerator, cabinets, etc.). However, if furniture is installed in your kitchen “for centuries” and you are not going to move it, then you should not worry about the presence of dents - you will learn about their existence only when replacing the floor covering.

Ceramic tile - the apotheosis of practicality

Ceramic tile has a durable surface, which is resistant to color, is not subject to abrasion and does not interact with household chemicals. Tile flooring does not react to excess moisture or even flooding by neighbors.

Modern tile is very decorative and allows you to design the floor space of the kitchen in a variety of styles. Recently, tile has become very fashionable, copying various "noble" materials: valuable wood, genuine leather, precious metals, marble or other expensive stone.

For the kitchen, it is better to choose tiles with a matte or even embossed surface that can protect you from falling, for example, if you spill liquid on the floor.

Matte black tiles emphasize the laconic restraint of the kitchen design.

Unfortunately, along with the advantages, tiled flooring has disadvantages. If a heavy object, especially a metal one, falls on the tile, it is likely that a crack will remain on the ceramic surface. In this case, to restore the decorativeness of the floor, the broken tile will have to be changed. Another disadvantage of the tile is the cold surface, walking on which barefoot, especially in winter, is a moot point. This problem can be solved by laying a rug on the tile, or by means of a device under the ceramic surface of the underfloor heating system.

Wooden floors - a symbol of nobility

In the kitchen, the wooden floor eloquently testifies to the good taste and well-being of its owner. Most often, such a floor is associated with parquet, but in addition to it there is another material that is now fashionable - wooden tiles made in the form of tiles of various shapes and sizes.

Wood tile - a way to create an unusual texture of the floor

When choosing a flooring made of wood, you should give preference to hardwood - they are more durable and durable. If you come across parquet (tile) from thermal wood - take it without hesitation. Aged at high temperatures, wood is freed from all its shortcomings. It does not absorb, but repels water, does not dry out and does not swell, does not warp. At any temperature and any humidity in the kitchen, wood parquet will not lose its appearance and properties.

Laminate - parquet from fiberboard (particleboard)

Laminate is often used for flooring in the kitchen, as a natural, but cheaper substitute for parquet. The basis of the laminate are dies from chipboard or fiberboard, on top of which paper with the desired pattern is glued. Usually this pattern imitates wood, and of any species, including valuable and exotic. Some manufacturers try to be original and produce a laminate that is almost indistinguishable in appearance from ceramics, marble, granite, slate, etc.

The strengths of the laminate can be called a warm surface, ease of maintenance, simple installation. Laminate could become one of the best floor coverings for the kitchen, if not for one “but”: it is afraid of moisture, and in the kitchen the humidity is often increased. If liquid has spilled onto the floor, immediately wipe it off. If you are flooded by neighbors and puddles will stand on the laminate for some time, then the coating will be hopelessly damaged. Particleboard will swell and the surface cannot be restored.

Laminate is almost indistinguishable from natural parquet

Concrete - why not?

Concrete is mainly used as flooring for outdoor areas. However, modern decorative treatments allow you to include concrete in the list of coatings for indoor. For the kitchen, such a floor will be a wonderful choice - it does not react to moisture, or to elevated temperatures, or to power loads in the form of falling pans or legs of metal tables. This cover is almost forever. It can even be made warm by putting underfloor heating cables.

Concrete floor with color inclusions - an interesting and practical solution

Concrete floors themselves look dull, so they use the acid staining process. This allows you to change the color of concrete beyond recognition, forcing it to imitate marble, slate, granite, wood, and ceramic tile.

Cork floors - soft and warm

Cork floors are not yet widespread in our kitchens. To a greater extent, this is due to consumer distrust, the root of which is the opinion that such soft floors are not durable and will not cope with the increased humidity of the kitchen. This is actually not the case. The cork is completely not afraid of moisture, it does not swell, does not warp and does not rot. In addition, the cork has remarkable softness and natural warmth.

Cork floors are not afraid of household pollutants, and are also hypoallergenic - dust does not accumulate on them and the fungus does not live

Polymer floors - bulk polyurethane aesthetics

Polymer (bulk) floors are not too popular as flooring for the kitchen, due to its high cost. However, they are worth it! Polymer floors are characterized by increased wear resistance, excellent moisture resistance and ease of care. In addition, they are very beautiful and allow you to implement a huge range of design solutions. Under the glossy shiny surface that liquid polyurethane forms, there are various 3D images, pebbles, shells, coins, or any other small objects.We can say that the bulk floors will not complement, but dictate, the interior of the kitchen.

Volumetric image of bulk floors creates an atmosphere of the sea coast

So different can be waterproof and not subject to wear floor coverings. And which of them will find application in your kitchen - it's up to you!

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iZet
3 years ago

I make repairs in the kitchen of 13 m2. I have a freestanding electric stove. And kitchen furniture will be installed on another wall. It is difficult, but decided that the ceramic tile will lie only in the zone of the plate. Under the furniture there will also be a 45x45 cm tile in a row. The rest of the space (10 m2) is parquet. The tile will protect against flooding of neighbors from below. A parquet board will allow you to drop gadgets with a lower risk of breaking them, in addition, it’s nice and warmer for your feet.
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Katerina
4 years ago

Since I live with a disabled grandmother with an injured leg, it is important for us that the floors do not slip and there are no protrusions that you can stumble over. I like tiles - ceramics and wood, but apparently I have to stop at the old and good form of coating - linoleum. On ceramics, it seems to me, you can someday be killed - you just have to get moisture on the floor. Laminate is good in the room unless. Flood floors are also probably slippery, right?
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Tatyana
6 years ago

In my opinion, ceramic tiles are the perfect flooring for the kitchen. It is practical, abrasion resistant, hygienic. For the kitchen, what you need. But this tile has a very big drawback - your favorite cup, which can accidentally fall on the tile, there is no chance to survive. Therefore, I, as a lover of good china, chose linoleum in the kitchen))
By the way, from this article I first learned about wooden tiles. It really looks amazing. True, it seems to me that in a small kitchen it will look a little out of place. I hope that in my next apartment there will be a large kitchen and I will definitely make a wooden floor there.
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Nina
7 years ago

When they made repairs in the kitchen, the question also arose of what material to use as a floor covering. We chose between tile and linoleum, after much deliberation we stopped at linoleum, because the tile seemed inappropriate to me, linoleum looks more comfortable and it feels more pleasant and warm to the touch.
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Lenya
7 years ago

I consider the option with floor ceramics to be the most suitable and optimal (for the very one it was done that way). You can find it for quite adequate money, and working with it is not an example easier than with many other coatings.
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