The kitchen is the hub of your home. When you have a family gathering or entertain friends everyone gathers in the kitchen. Kitchens are exposed to high volumes of traffic and are often exposed to spills, grime and moisture. This is why your kitchen needs a durable flooring surface that is water-friendly. We recommend visiting your closest Scotland-based kitchen showroom. Kitchen companies sometimes offer design and fitting of your entire kitchen so they will be able to advise on a flooring type that would best suit your functional and aesthetic needs. Before you visit the kitchen showroom work out a budget that you can set aside for flooring in particular. Bear in mind if you are doing a kitchen overhaul money will need to be allocated to that too. If you are only considering redoing your flooring then have a figure in mind for doing that. Your flooring needs to be waterproof. The kitchen is a busy area due to your children, partner and friends passing through and spending time there while you cook or while they sit at your kitchen island.  Therefore, the floor needs to be durable.

Your bathroom and kitchen expose the floors to moisture and these rooms are considered a high accident zone. A lot of waterproofing options get slippery when there is added moisture on them. You will need to consider non-slip options for your kitchen flooring. The kitchen company you decide to use can best advise you on these non-slip options for the best end results.

Choosing the most appropriate flooring for your kitchen

Factoring in budget, space, waterproof, non-slip options and aesthetics you will need to decide on a specific type of flooring. We will explore several options for you to choose from. We will discuss their aesthetic and functionality as a choice of flooring for you.

Choosing hardwood for your kitchen flooring

Hardwood flooring been used in homes for centuries. It is seen to be luxurious and is still a popular choice in kitchen flooring in Scotland. Solid hardwood flooring is durable, trendy and water-resistant. Hardwood floors are not completely waterproof. When combined with the right finish they are water-resistant, but in the longer term the moisture will damage them. If you spill some liquid on the floor you should clean it up as soon as you can. Harwood can handle more exposure to moisture than a laminate or even engineered hardwood floor. Hardwood floors make for a wonderful kitchen floor surface despite only being water-resistant. You can refinish them over the years and their look will change. Hardwood floors can sometimes be slippery, depending on how you have had them finished. If you hand-scraped or distress the hardwood it will help.

Trends in hardwood flooring

2020 has brought with it some trends when it comes to hardwood flooring. Lighter finishes and varieties are popular. Deeper walnut and cherry finishes are the traditional choices but hardwood flooring in 2020 features a more light and natural look. Blonde hardwood finished or greys and whitewashes are also popular. You can organise your hardwood flooring in a pattern for added interest much like tiles. The kitchen company you are working with will assist with the pattern. Patterns like herringbone and diagonally laid hardwood planks are popular. People are also looking at options of reclaimed or recycled hardwood as environmentally conscious choices.

Selecting worktops and cabinetry to compliment your hardwood flooring

If you have dark hardwood flooring it will go with lighter cabinetry and if you have light hardwood flooring darker cabinetry would complement the flooring. Most people try not to match the colour tone of the flooring with the cabinetry.

Light wood floors, contrast with white cabinetry. White walls reflect maximum light making things appear brighter. A solid hardwood worktop would go well with this theme too, It is a good idea to get hold of a few wood accessories and furniture such as kitchen island stools in a similar tone to the flooring to tie the theme together and add some elegance to the room as a whole.

Choosing laminate for your kitchen flooring

Laminate flooring is a warm as well as water-resistant option for your kitchen flooring. Although it is not waterproof, so bear this in mind if you choose laminate flooring. Laminate flooring is a less expensive way of getting the look of hardwood flooring. A lot of floor manufacturing companies now offer waterproof laminate which has a rigid core made out of waterproof material adding strength and also stability to your floor. These newer versions of laminates have the benefits of traditional laminated flooring as well as being flexible for the installation process. The majority of laminated flooring can be clicked together and glued down permanently or floated to make way for insulation or uneven subfloors.

Trends in laminate flooring

Lighter finishes in laminated flooring are on-trend in 2020. Grey washed, light woods and mixed colours are stylish nowadays. Longer planks of up to 36 and 48 inches together with wider planks as wide as 8 inches are a trend for all wood and wood imitating laminates.

Imitating solid hardwood floors’ recognisable colours and patterns remains a major selling feature in laminate flooring. Hand-scraped, distressed, rustic and reclaimed looks are popular in 2020 with homeowners wanting unique yet realistic looks for their laminate floors. Patterns that are common are chevron or herringbone.

Selecting worktops and cabinetry to complement your laminated flooring

For lighter laminated flooring and laminated flooring that imitates light wood, the floor compliments grey or white cabinetry and solid wood worktops or white MDF worktops are a cheaper option. If you choose a grey laminate, white cabinetry with granite worktops go well with the colour scheme.

Choosing tiles for your kitchen flooring

Tiled floors are durable and a good option for wet kitchen areas. If you get your tile installation done properly as well as well grouted and sealed, they can last a lifetime. Tiled kitchens are a number one choice for kitchen flooring. There is a big variety of tiles on the market, so it’s helpful to understand the differences between them and then choose your favourite option. The kitchen company you are using will also advise you on the best tile flooring options available and will possibly be able to install them for you.

Choosing ceramic or porcelain tiles

Ceramic tiles are popular for kitchen walls and floors. They are made from natural materials and in this case they are made from clay and baked. Ceramic tiles come in a choice of styles, colours, shapes as well as patterns. Ceramic tiles can withstand spills and messes commonly found in kitchens. These messes won’t damage the tile but may stain the grout, so it’s a good idea to clean up spills as quickly as possible.

Porcelain tiles feature among the most popular style of ceramic tiles. They are waterproof and can handle almost any stain. Porcelain tiles are harder than standard ceramic tiles as they are baked at a higher temperature making them very durable. The durable quality can make them slippery so make sure to look out for slip-resistant tiles or ones with non-slip aspects like patterns or textures. These are common amongst ceramic and porcelain tiles that imitate wood or natural stone, but can be more difficult to install which is where the kitchen company you are using will come in handy in installation.

Selecting worktops and cabinetry to complement your ceramic or porcelain tile flooring

Ceramic tiling goes well with solid wood cabinetry and solid wood worktops. Or white cabinetry goes well with porcelain tiling that is light and solid wood worktops. Creating a tiled backsplash that compliments the colour of the floor works well too.

Choosing natural stone for your kitchen flooring

Another good option for your flooring is natural stone tiling. The more expensive stone tiles are marble and granite and are offered on a variety of colour schemes and patterns. Naturally-made stone patterns are more popular than man-made patterns.

Natural stone tiles need more care than ceramic or porcelain tiles. Normally they need to be sealed after installation and re-sealed regularly over time. With the proper treatment they are an aesthetically pleasing and tough type of flooring for your kitchen.

Trends in tile flooring

In 2020, it seems tiles are still popular for kitchen floors. Larger tiles are popular. Subway tiles are still popular too and mosaic tiles. Traditional square tiles in larger formats are making a comeback. Mixing and matching tile size and patterns is also popular nowadays. Installing a floor in an entirely diagonal pattern is trending too.

Selecting worktops and cabinetry to compliment your natural stone tile flooring

Marble tiles compliment white cabinetry throughout your kitchen and white worktops such as white MDF worktops. Granite tiled flooring compliments white cabinetry or solid wood cabinetry. A bold colour like maroon cabinetry also goes well alongside dark granite floor tiles.

Choosing vinyl for your kitchen flooring

Vinyl is possibly the most popular flooring choice over the last few years and is widely used. Many people looking at flooring options aren’t aware of modern vinyl flooring. This is not referring to sheet vinyl. Vinyl flooring nowadays is most popular in tiles and planks or LVT (Luxury Vinyl Tile) and LVP (Luxury Vinyl Plank). It works well in either form. You also get WPC (Wood Plastic Composite) and SPC (Stone Plastic Composite). WPC and SPC are referring to the core of the vinyl flooring. WPC uses wood as well as polymers in its core promoting stability and strength. SPC vinyl has a stone or plastic composite core made majorly from stone dust, stabilizers and PVC to strengthen the tiles. Both have a foam or cork back to soften the floor and dull sounds. The vinyl layer is the main feature of this type of flooring, showing endless colours and patterns that are topped with a wear layer for protection from spills and scraping.

Both the vinyl types are completely waterproof and can be fitted “floating” just above the subfloor. Vinyl floors are a good option for kitchens and even bathrooms. Even though vinyl floors are softer than something like ceramic tiling, they are still durable.

Trends in vinyl kitchen flooring

In 2020 vinyl imitating the wood look is popular. Vinyl imitating solid hardwoods is a sought after nowadays. This product looks like wood, but is softer underfoot and is very durable. Vinyl flooring continues to move towards lighter colours and finishes in 2020. Whitewash and “blonde” colours on the wood look and greys on the stone look are in. Chevron and herringbone-patterned vinyl is popular for a unique end result.

Selecting worktops and cabinetry to complement your vinyl kitchen flooring

Both light grey and light wood mimicking vinyl compliment white cabinetry and grey or solid wood worktops. Consult your kitchen company consultant about which vinyl you like most and which colours would work alongside that in your cabinetry and worktops.

Choosing stained concrete for your kitchen flooring

The most basic as well as durable kitchen flooring choice is stained concrete. The finished result is sleek and can be suited to both modern or traditional kitchens. It can be sealed to be completely waterproof. This is necessary as concrete absorbs fluid. Most homes have concrete subflooring these days. To properly prepare the concrete surface for staining you will need a professional team to help you which is where the kitchen company you are using will possibly handle the process for you. They will advise you on concrete as a flooring option and will possibly install and stain the concrete for you for a wonderful end result.

Concrete floors staining can look like wood, stone or even sometimes tiles. It can be slippery when finished but there is an option to make it less so. It would be a good idea to get some mats for the kitchen if you have concrete flooring in areas where there is excess moisture like in front of your sink area. The finish you use on your concrete flooring is what gives off the right aesthetic for your personal taste and the colour and pattern will affect the end look.

Trends in stained concrete flooring

Stained concrete is one of the nicest and cheapest flooring options in 2020, so if you are on a smaller budget this option will suit you. You can make it look like marble, hardwood or traditional ceramic tiles too. Make sure to discuss the staining finish you would most like in your kitchen flooring when you visit your local Scotland-based kitchen showroom. The kitchen company will have a catalogue on hand of kitchen styles and you can see which concrete finish you like most.

Selecting worktops and cabinetry to complement your stained concrete kitchen flooring

Stained brown concrete goes well with solid hardwood cabinetry with a natural finish or cream and white cabinetry. A white MDF worktop or solid wood worktop looks good alongside brown concrete. If its stained a dark grey white cabinetry would be offset well against this and white MDF worktops.

Creating a kitchen island that compliments your kitchen flooring

A kitchen island is the perfect spot to sit down and enjoy one of the delicious meals you have prepared for friends and family. Depending on what style floor you have chosen the kitchen island can be made of the same cabinetry material and colours as the cabinetry in your kitchen as a whole. In this case, you can use the same worktops used throughout the kitchen for a sense of continuity of theme and style. Kitchen islands are ideal for your children to sit at while you make your family a meal. They can sit and colour in or do homework while you keep an eye on them. Kitchen islands are wonderful additions to any kitchen if you enjoy entertaining. Choose either wooden stools or stainless steel stools depending on what the colour theme is throughout your kitchen. If you have solid wood worktops and a wood theme it is nice to get wooden stools or chairs. You can store dishware and appliances in your kitchen island cabinet. It is also a lovely space to display your favourite cookbooks on a cookbook stand.

Looking at your appliances in your kitchen

You will need big appliances like a fridge, freezer, stove, dishwasher, washing machine, tumble dryer and smaller appliances like a microwave, kettle, toaster, blender, coffee machine and possibly a toasted cheese griller. If you are simply redoing your floors you won’t have to worry about upgrading appliances but if you are also upgrading appliances the kitchen company consultant will likely have an appliances catalogue and price list of appliances they can source for you. You will have fun choosing appliances that are either stainless steel or white or coloured to fit in with your floors, worktops and cabinetry.

Choosing the correct lighting for your kitchen

LED down lights are most in nowadays or hanging lamps that hang above your kitchen island. Some people choose unique light fixtures. It all depends on the style of your kitchen and your colour scheme. It also hinges on your budget and how big of an overhaul you are doing on your kitchen.

Your kitchen flooring finishes off the theme you have chosen for your kitchen

The flooring you choose for your kitchen is based on budget and what your cabinetry and worktops will look like and how the colours schemes of each of these compliments each other. It is recommended to visit a kitchen showroom in Scotland and explain how big your kitchen overhaul would be or if you just want to redo the flooring. The kitchen showroom consultant will show you flooring options and what compliments the cabinetry and worktops. They can also advise on appliance buying and lighting for your kitchen. Many kitchen showrooms offer a kitchen design team so they can possibly offer designs if you are revamping more than just your floors. They may do the floor installation for you too. There are trends in 2020 regarding flooring and we are sure you must be so excited to renovate your kitchen or just redo your floors. With a kitchen company guiding and advising you as well as being able to possibly install your floors it’s going to be a smooth and exciting kitchen renovation journey!