Fresh Ideas for Kitchen Floors

The homeowners of this kitchen opted for engineered wood over a solid hardwood or laminate. Light kitchen flooring and white-washed cabinetry creates a cool, monochromatic look.

Engineered wood can go anywhere in your home, but it's especially handy in rooms where water might be an issue. The kitchen flooring shrinks and expands less than solid woods, making it less vulnerable to moisture damage.

In this grand kitchen, honey-color travertine tiles cover the floor, playing off the color of the perimeter cabinets. Caring for travertine is as simple as annual sealing, monthly wet mopping, and dry sweeping a couple of times a week. Polished travertine is practically stain-resistant and is a great choice for high-traffic areas like a kitchen.

Oak flooring -- in a rich stain -- anchors this elegant kitchen and provides contrast to the white walls and white and blue cabinetry.

Wood kitchen flooring lends unmatched warmth and character to a room. If you decide to put wood flooring in the kitchen, keep in mind that solid woods are vulnerable to moisture. Place a rug near the food prep and cleanup zones to catch water and food spills.

This light kitchen gets just a touch of warmth with oak floors. A not-too-orange stain on the kitchen flooring gives a modern vibe and works with with any supporting colors in the kitchen.

Large slate tiles provide a sound, stylish surface underfoot, and the color hides dirt, pet hair, and more. It's simple to maintain the kitchen flooring with a matte-finish product once a year.

The type of stone you choose and where you lay the stone in your house will determine if you need to seal it. Sealants and cleaning products vary depending on the stone type, so check with a stone retailer or manufacturer for specific recommendations.

In keeping with an earthy color palette, the homeowners chose honey-tone bamboo plank flooring. The kitchen flooring reflects light, which keeps the room bright and airy.

Renewable bamboo floors come in different patterns and plank sizes to complement a variety of kitchen styles. Bamboo can be stained in a variety of colors; just make sure to use water-base stains and top coats that are labeled as low-VOC emission products to ensure the bamboo stays earth-friendly.

A bold paint color on the cabinets give this brick kitchen flooring fresh new life. The muted sea green on the cabinets pairs perfectly with the varying shades of tan and brown in the brick. The kitchen flooring combination is unexpected and unique.

A classic checkerboard pattern underfoot adds an urban, designer-style edge to this cottage kitchen. The black and white vinyl tiles add a graphic edge to an otherwise neutral kitchen. Vinyl tiles are an affordable kitchen flooring option and come in a wide range of colors.

During a major renovation, homeowners chose to use reclaimed and bleached white oak floors throughout this house. The color and finish of the oak flooring lends a rustic and carefree look and feel to the kitchen.

Antique brick flooring brings charming texture to this kitchen and eating area. The brick flooring is a surprising contrast to the classically styled kitchen and modern acrylic chairs surrounding the table. 

In this kitchen, ceramic tile flooring gets an added dose of interest and style by combining it with oak planks. Unexpected yet durable, both of these kitchen flooring materials will stand the test of time. 

Natural cork covers the floor in this kitchen and adjoining breakfast nook. Cork flooring is quiet, durable, and cushiony underfoot, making it easier on your joints. Though it costs roughly the same as hardwood, solid-cork kitchen flooring has a distinct ecological advantage: sustainability. Cork trees take just nine years to regenerate, while other trees can take 30 years or more.

Give outdated but solid kitchen floors a new look with paint. Lighten up the room with an off-white shade of paint and set the stage for a beautiful kitchen.

Coastal color and charm can be found throughout this cool, casual kitchen, including underfoot. Rustic flagstone flooring -- in watery blue and green hues -- complements the rich blue cabinetry. The kitchen flooring is durable and easy to maintain by sweeping with a dry broom and washing with gentle laundry detergent and water.

Honed-limestone tile flooring and granite countertops contain the same earthy colors seen outside the kitchen windows and define the color scheme for this kitchen. These elements complement the room's farmhouse style.

Consider a honed or matte finish if you choose limestone kitchen flooring. This type of finish gives the room a more relaxed look and feel. It also hides scratches, requires little maintenance, and provides more traction when wet.

Concrete is central to this kitchen's clean, contemporary style. The kitchen has concrete floors that have been stained and scored to resemble large tiles. Concrete is a great kitchen flooring option because it has the ability to take on many different colors, shading, patterns, and sheens. It can even be fashioned to resemble various kinds of stone. Concrete is budget-friendly but requires periodic sealing.

Soft green and cream vinyl tiles were an affordable option for this kitchen's floor, freeing up the budget for upgraded appliances and other finishes. Beyond sealing the kitchen floor, soap and water is the easiest way to keep vinyl looking new. Sealing vinyl flooring protects it from stains, which are almost impossible to remove.

Brazilian cherry flooring grounds the creamy white cabinetry in this bright and airy kitchen. This very hard wood does come from Brazil and is known for its rich burgundy hue. Like other woods, avoid saturating the kitchen floors with water, and when cleaning, only use wood cleaner or a barely damp mop and immediately wipe up any spills to avoid warping the wood.