What are the most suitable types of flooring to use in the kitchen?

The main factors that must be taken into consideration when choosing the right type of flooring for the kitchen are its resistance and practicality: "The kitchen floors need to be practical for day-to-day maintenance", points out architect Flávia Medina.

The kitchen is a room of the house that is in constant contact with grease, smoke, water, and food leftovers, so the room's covering must be durable and easy to clean. Every decorative detail in the kitchen needs to be practical and functional, since these are necessary and almost intrinsic characteristics of the environment.

On the other hand, according to architect Inah Mantovani, the whole project must be thought through when choosing the best floor for the kitchen: "It is necessary to think about the predominant colors, the desired style for the kitchen, and the details present in the room", says the professional.

There are several types of material, as well as different colors, designs, and models of flooring for the kitchen on the market.

6 tips for choosing the right flooring for your kitchen

A room gains personality thanks to the details that are carefully thought out to compose the environment, and the floor is an essential detail. Attention is needed when choosing the floor for a room such as the kitchen, which needs functionality, so the architects Inah Mantovani and Flávia Medina help to point out important tips for choosing the right floor for the kitchen.

1. avoid white

"Where did the idea that the kitchen floor has to be white come from?", asks Flávia Medina. Today, there are floors with different colors and prints that look good in kitchens.

"The tone of the floor must seek a composition with the rest of the decoration, either standing out through colorful motifs or creating a neutral base so that other details stand out," adds the professional.

2. watch out for slippery floors

It is very important to choose a floor for the kitchen that is not too slippery because we always use water, oil and fatty foods in this environment. According to Flávia Medina, we should avoid choosing floors with a polished finish.

Inah Mantovani also says that non-slip floors are a good option, "but it is always important to be careful, because some are very porous and can stain easily", warns the architect.

3. light floor vs. dark floor

"A room with darker floors becomes more elegant, sober, and sometimes even modern, while a room with light-colored floors gives us an idea of cleanliness, organization, and balance," says Medina.

The choice depends on the other finishes and details that have been defined, on the feeling that the dweller wishes to convey, and also on the size of the space, since dark floors can give the impression of a smaller room, while light floors can enlarge the room.

4. choose durable and easy-to-clean floors

The kitchen is an easily soiled environment that deals with the daily use of food and products. For this reason, the kitchen floor needs to be resistant to contact with water and grease. In addition, it also needs to be practical to clean.

5. define the decoration style

The choice of both the material and the color of the floor depends on the style defined for the room. By having a decoration in mind it is possible to think which type of floor fits best with the other details.

Porcelain tile floors can represent elegance, wood floors bring in a rustic look, and tile and tessellated floors enhance vintage and retro aspects, for example.

6. consider the needs of the space

You have to think about your kitchen space as a whole and what your needs are. Light colored floors, as already mentioned, can make small rooms larger. Patterned floors can bring life to a simple room, or they can bring exaggeration when the space already has many different decorative details, for example.

If you are going to build, think about the space available for this room and how you intend to decorate it. If you are just going to change the floor of your kitchen, choose a floor that harmonizes with the space you already have.

8 types of flooring to use in the kitchen

There are several flooring models on the market, but not all of them are ideal for the kitchen. Some materials are more suitable than others for this environment due to their resistance and durability, such as the materials below that are present in the lists of the most used by architects and interior designers for kitchens.

Porcelain tile

Flávia Medina points out porcelain tiles as one of her favorite tiles, "I really like the practicality and versatility of porcelain tile flooring. It is a highly resistant and low absorption product, and nowadays there is an impressive variety of patterns and textures".

These floors are durable and easy to clean, using water, neutral detergent, and a damp cloth. Inah Mantovani warns about the care needed with the maintenance of the floor, "these floors can stain easily, depending on the model", she says.

Ceramics

Medina and Mantovani explain that ceramic floors are much less resistant than porcelain tiles and need maintenance from time to time.

However, this coating has two positive points. The first of these is price, since ceramic tiles are more affordable than porcelain tiles, for example. The second is the variety of colors, textures, and floor models found in ceramic tiles.

Marble and granite

Marble and granite floors "are practical, easy to clean, and disguise dirt", according to Mantovani. They are extracted from natural rocks, and this limits the options of textures, colors, and patterns of these floors.

Granite is more resistant to infiltrations than marble, and therefore more recommended as well, but both are modern and functional options.

Burnt cement

These floors are basically made with water, sand, and cement, and for this reason are cheaper than other materials. They contribute to a rustic and modern environment.

On the other hand, Medina and Mantovani agree when they point out the need for attention and care with the cleaning of this floor. According to Medina, "burnt cement can present cracks and can easily become greasy".

Epoxy flooring

Epoxy flooring is very easy to clean, as well as being hygienic and resistant. When well maintained, it has high durability. The disadvantages of this type of coating are the high cost of the floor and the lack of companies available to apply it in small environments.

Tablets

The tessellations are a very resistant type of covering and are made of different types of materials: ceramic, glass and porcelain are the most suitable materials for covering kitchens with tessellations.

They can be applied all in the same color, or a combination of colors can be made, giving the environment a cheerful and relaxed look.

Hydraulic tile

Hydraulic tile is a vintage and retro option, due to the designs, colors, and textures present in the pieces. It is handmade and therefore can be customized especially for the project according to the client's tastes and needs.

These floors can take time to complete and can be more expensive than other flooring options, since they are hand-made.

Vinyl flooring

Many projects have used vinyl flooring to cover kitchens, but the professionals interviewed for this article do not usually recommend this option. Vinyl flooring is an adhesive that is easy to apply and also easy to clean, but it cannot be in constant contact with water because it is not very resistant.

One point in favor of this type of flooring is the wide variety of patterns that can be found in adhesive form.

45 kitchen floors to find the inspiration you were missing

Often we need to look for environments to bring us inspiration and help us find exactly what we were looking for to define an important detail of our home decor. With this in mind, the 45 kitchens below can help you choose the right floor for yours.

1. floor to ceiling hydraulic tiles

In this environment, the same coating was used on the floor and on one of the walls. The choice was the hydraulic tile, with different patterns in shades of white and gray that matched the modern and detached look of the kitchen.

2. light floors bring balance

Light floors are a sure choice when the intention is to highlight other details in the room. They balance the information in the space, as in the room above where the wooden details of the table and the tiled wall become focal points.

3. and they can bring peace of mind too!

Light floors are also a good choice when the goal is to create an environment that exudes lightness and tranquility. They are capable of bringing coziness, calm, and delicacy when combined with details that contribute to a harmonious space.

4. the floor of this environment enhances the urban

In this environment, the Flat porcelain tile floor with a cement look was used. It goes on the floor and on the wall, enhancing the urban and modern look created in the room. The red refrigerator is responsible for breaking the neutral colors and becomes a highlight of the kitchen.

5. light-colored porcelain tiles are an elegant choice

The porcelain tile was used in the room above and managed to bring elegance and sophistication to the room. The light tone of the floor collaborates with the lightness of the kitchen, which is composed of neutral colors in the cabinets and walls as well as in the equipment.

The marquetry technique was reproduced in the porcelain tile on this floor

Marquetry is a technique that uses materials such as wood, metals, stones and others to decorate the flat surfaces of furniture, floors and walls.

7. porcelain tiles help expand this kitchen

The space in this kitchen is limited, so the designers needed to choose objects and decorations that would work in a small kitchen. The decision to use white porcelain tile flooring with a polished surface helps to expand the room.

8. brown details stand out on the light floor

The white floor chosen for this kitchen matches the room's light walls and furniture, while the brown details on the walls, counter and chairs stand out.

9. prints can go with wood

In this kitchen, the vinyl adhesive was applied over the wood floor. The pattern chosen plays with shades of blue and matches the rustic and natural look of the wood, breaking the serious and classic air caused by the rest of the kitchen.

10. this kitchen plays with shades of nude and black

Decorations that mix black and white usually create elegant, sophisticated, and modern environments, like this kitchen. In addition to black and white, other shades of light colors and grays are present in the furniture, cabinets, and appliances.

11. hydraulic tiles are a great flooring option for the kitchen

The hydraulic tiles used on the floor of this kitchen are the focal point of the room, as they stand out among the shades of white and gray present in most of the decor. The floor is responsible for giving the room a retro air.

12. they don't always have to be square, they can be hexagonal

You can innovate and dare with hydraulic tiles, which not only have different colors and patterns, but also different shapes. In this kitchen, hexagonal tiles were used to compose the environment.

13. more rustic and uncluttered environments can use porcelain tiles

White porcelain tile is a very versatile floor, and can be combined with different types of kitchens.

14. and contemporary and elegant environments too

Porcelain tiles are also widely used to create classic environments, abusing elegance and sophistication. The polished surface of both the floor and most of the furniture and equipment in this kitchen created a modern and refined environment.

15. this floor looks like wood, but it is retro porcelain tile

There are different colors, types and models of porcelain tile floors. In this environment, the porcelain tile imitates wood, creating a casual environment, without losing practicality and elegance.

16. the burnt cement makes the environment more unadorned

Burnt cement was used in this room to further contribute to the modern and relaxed atmosphere of this apartment. The decoration style is bold and burnt cement was the perfect choice to compose this kitchen.

17. non-printed tiles also look great in the kitchen

In this kitchen, the hydraulic tiles chosen for the floor are white, without patterns, and match the room's proposal.

18. this kitchen uses the same floor and wall covering

Wood is an important part of this kitchen and to help it compose the room, hydraulic tiles with a simple white and gray print were chosen. This coating is used both on part of the floor and on one of the walls.

19. mix of prints covering the kitchen

This kitchen plays with colors and patterns to create a modern and bold environment. A part of the wall was covered with a geometric pattern wallpaper while the floor was covered with tiles in a more basic pattern but using the same color tones.

20. vinyl adhesives have different patterns

Because they are easy to apply and have a low production cost, vinyl flooring adhesives have numerous patterns and can compose many different types of environments. The pattern chosen for this kitchen was a slightly geometric and colorful pattern that stands out against the neutrality of the decoration

21. you can cover only a part of the kitchen with tiles

By making a harmonic combination between colors and styles, it is possible to cover the kitchen with two different types of flooring. In the room above, the porcelain tile floor in nude was combined with patterned hydraulic tiles in nude and gray, creating a modern and elegant composition.

22. porcelain tiles also appear in dark tones

The porcelain tile is a covering that can be found in different models and colors. Light tiles, in shades of white and nude, are the most recurrent choices, but dark tones can also compose interesting environments. The floor in the room above is a brown enameled porcelain tile.

23 This kitchen combines different floor and wall coverings

This space used a mix of floor and wall coverings, creating an interesting combination. One of the walls is covered with a material that imitates wood, the other is covered with white tiles simulating a brick wall, and the floor is covered with glazed and satin porcelain tile.

24. patterns can create unique environments

The coolest thing about using patterns to cover floors and walls is the fact that it is possible to create original environments with a lot of personality, like the kitchen above, which covered part of the wall and floor with tiles in different patterns.

25. beige and nude tones also look good in the kitchen

Using shades of beige and nude is also an interesting option for the kitchen floor, as was done in the room above.

26. and can create very cool environments

The dark beige floor of this kitchen created a nice contrast with the white brick wall and also with the black furniture and metallic equipment present in the decoration of the space.

27. although not very suitable, wood appears in this kitchen

Wood is not a very suitable material for flooring in kitchens because it does not have good resistance to water and humidity. However, some architects end up daring in the decoration and try to choose wood floors with greater resistance or porcelain tiles that imitate wood.

28. wood is a risky but beautiful choice

The solution for this room was to clad only the dining area of the kitchen with wood, while the floor of the area with the sink, refrigerator, and stove was covered with a more resistant material.

29. this material can create classic environments

The versatility of wood is its greatest attraction. It looks good in different rooms and helps to compose environments with varied styles. In this environment, wood was responsible for composing a light, classic, and elegant environment.

30. it can also create contrast in uncluttered environments

In this kitchen, wood created an important point of contrast when inserted in a stripped down environment with a modern decoration. The wood appears in the form of tacos, i.e., small pieces divided, coupled and glued, which are usually more resistant and durable.

31. or be part of modern spaces

The kitchen and living room are decorated in an integrated way in this apartment, and this already reflects the modernity present in the space, which is highlighted by the decorative details. The wooden floor is incorporated to contribute to the harmony of the environment, decorated in shades of white, nude, beige, and brown.

32. see another kitchen that made use of wood blocks on the floor

The wooden blocks were used in this kitchen in a more modern and daring model, matching the room's proposal. The metal sink, the pendants, the frame, and other decorative details only enhance the modern present in the room.

33. you can use floors that imitate wood

If you want a wooden floor in your kitchen, but are afraid of the material's lack of resistance and poor durability, a good option is to use floors that imitate wood. Several materials try to imitate wood, but you can find beautiful and functional options in porcelain tiles or ceramic tiles, for example.

34. colorful floors look good in the kitchen

It is possible to create a unique environment with personality and beauty by using colorful and patterned flooring, as in the environment above.

35. black and white can appear on the floor

Another bold and different option is to use the combination of black and white on the kitchen floor.

36. ceramic flooring is also a great option for the kitchen

The ceramic floor has a good durability and a great diversity of models, besides being easy to maintain, and for these reasons it is a good choice of covering for the kitchen. In the space above, this floor helps maintain the lightness and originality of the room.

37. don't be afraid of dark floors

Another preconceived idea that needs to be set aside is that kitchens always require light floors. Dark floors can also create elegant, harmonious and light environments. In this kitchen, the floor gained an interesting highlight by contrasting with the light tones of the walls and cabinets.

38. bet on the elegance of granite

Granite is an extremely beautiful and elegant covering and it was used in this kitchen to cover not only the floor, but also the countertops and the walls in a sophisticated and harmonic way.

39 - The tile patterns give life to the environment

The patterned and colored floors can bring joy to the environment, creating a space with personality, as in this kitchen. The hydraulic tiles have a blue and white print that becomes the highlight of the room because the rest of the decor is neutral.

40. white furniture goes well with dark flooring

Dark floors can be used to create a visually important contrast in the room. In this kitchen, a black, polished porcelain tile floor was incorporated into the room to create a counterpoint with the white furniture.

41. the light floor highlighted the wood covering

This space has part of the walls covered with a material that imitates wood very well, and the clear floor was chosen to contrast this material. The floor used was a white enameled porcelain tile.

42- Concrete looks very elegant on this kitchen floor

The material chosen to cover the floor of this kitchen was concrete and it brought a rustic and even rudimentary look that was not present in the room. This aspect creates a positive contrast with the modern furniture in the kitchen.

43 This kitchen has many highlights and the light, simple flooring brought lightness

The decoration of this kitchen is very fun and stands out in the space. The simplicity and the light tone of the floor bring lightness, allowing the decoration to continue to stand out in the room. Concrete porcelain tile was the chosen flooring.

44. ceramic floors can create modern environments

Some important details of the decoration of this kitchen, such as the pendants and the brick lining on the wall, for example, are responsible for creating a super modern environment and the ceramic floor contributes to the decoration.

45. epoxy has become popular in kitchens

Epoxy flooring has long been used in business environments such as industries, hospitals, and laboratories, and is becoming increasingly popular in kitchens because of its durability, resistance, and easy maintenance.

Whether it is tile, porcelain tile, cement or any other material, you must choose a kitchen floor model that harmonizes with the rest of the decoration and makes your life easier when it comes to maintenance.