Considerations:
Foundations
Before considering laying a new floor, it’s important to make sure that the foundations beneath are in the optimum condition. Sub-floors should always be clean, dry, structurally sound and flat.
To make sure you optimise the longevity of your surface, it’s recommended to find a professional installer who has previous experience laying your chosen flooring.
Budget
Each flooring options have different price points. For example, laminate flooring is more affordable option than real wood, ceramic tiles tend to cost less than porcelain, etc. But material costs aren’t the only factor to take into consideration when budgeting for your new floor. Did you know that larger tiles and patterned layouts take longer to fit and incur more wastage, consequently this can become more expensive?
The rest of your kitchen
Are you planning to change your kitchen, such as cabinetry or worktops? Or are you only looking to update the floor? Either way, it’s important to choose a material that will look great alongside the other design elements of your kitchen and contribute to your desired overall look.
Durability
How long do you want your new floor to last, is durability a deciding factor, are you prepared to change your floor every few years?
Some materials are more durable than others; porcelain tiles are particularly hardwearing whereas wood & engineered flooring is less durable (although solid floors can often be refinished.) Providing it’s sealed, and properly installed, natural stone can last a lifetime.
Now we’ve looked at the things to consider before choosing your kitchen flooring, let’s look at some of the clever ways you can use it to transform the look and feel of your kitchen.
Contrast
Choosing a floor that contrasts with the rest of your kitchen is a great way of creating a sophisticated yet high-impact look. For example, contrasting a natural slate or dark-stained wooden floor with a bright, airy room decorated in light colours is a great way to create subtle yet impactful glamour. And you don’t have to stick to neutrals; contrasting a darker floor of any colour with lighter walls and cabinetry is sure to create a stand-out look.
Patterns
To make your floor a stand-out feature, why not opt for patterned tiles? Patterned tiles are a great way of injecting personality into a room and livening up plainer surroundings. From intricate, Moroccan-inspired patterns to bold, geometric designs, there’s a real variety of tile options available which will work with almost any aesthetic. The key to making this look successful is to remember that the pattern is making the statement; keeping colours within a set palate is recommended to avoid an overly-busy design.
Painted boards
If you’re planning to install a wooden floor, or if you already have one, why not consider painting your floorboards? It’s an easy and cost- effective way to completely transform your kitchen. Simple, white floorboards are a great way to introduce a hint of scandi chic to your kitchen and would look great teamed with statement appliances in bright colours for a contemporary look. Not a fan of white? No problem. The really great thing about opting for painted floorboards is that you have an almost infinite variety of colours to choose from; chic and muted or big and bold, your colour palate really is up to you.
Let the material do the talking
Slate, parquet or polished concrete, you could consider updating your floor with a material that will make a statement all by itself. On-trend slate is a great way to add a rustic vibe to any kitchen, the material’s natural variations make it a beautiful choice for adding depth to a space. It also looks better with age so makes a great long-term option.
For a subtle feature floor, parquet is a great choice. Parquet flooring has been popular for centuries and looks great with a whole variety of styles, from ultra-modern to period designs. It’s a style that looks particularly great with light, neutral fittings which really show off parquet’s unique texture.
Polished concrete flooring is great for lending an edge to your look. It’s also a supremely practical choice being both hardwearing and low maintenance. It’s a great choice if you’ve got an uneven floor surface, as you can simply concrete over it.