What is The Best Flooring for the Kitchen?

Americans spend an average of 1,000 hours each year in the kitchen, making it one of the most trafficked spaces in any home. This extensive daily use means kitchen flooring must withstand constant foot traffic, spills, temperature changes, and moisture.

Not to mention kitchen flooring should also create a pleasant environment since it is basically the heart of our daily lives.

Today’s market offers an impressive range of kitchen flooring solutions that don’t force homeowners to choose between looks and practicality. While classic options like vinyl and ceramic tile continue to prove their worth, innovations in materials and manufacturing have introduced exciting alternatives. These new options deliver the same durability that kitchens demand while offering the high-end aesthetics that modern homeowners seek.

Let’s explore the best flooring options for kitchen spaces to find that perfect balance between functionality and style that will serve your kitchen for years to come.

Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP): The Most Popular Kitchen Flooring Choice

Luxury Vinyl Plank has become the go-to kitchen flooring option, and for good reason. It combines everything a busy kitchen needs: waterproof performance, durability, and the elegant appearance of natural materials. Modern LVP floors feature either WPC (Wood Plastic Composite) or SPC (Stone Plastic Composite) cores, making them completely waterproof and perfect for handling kitchen spills and splashes.

Peace River Collection LVP is an excellent kitchen flooring choice, featuring an SPC waterproof core and a thick 22 mil wear layer that performs well in high-traffic areas. Kitchen floors face some of the toughest daily challenges – from constant chair movement during meals to frequent foot traffic while cooking. 

Through our experience with various installations, we’ve seen how kitchen floors often show wear patterns around dining areas and cooking zones faster than any other space in the home.

The Peace River’s 22 mil wear layer protects the floor from scratches and scuffs that come with sliding chairs and dropping utensils. The collection combines this durability with authentic wood-look designs that bring warmth to kitchen spaces.

Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT): Stone and Tile Patterns in Vinyl

Another great option for kitchens is LVT, which is also a variation of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) flooring – the same material used in LVP. The main difference between LVT and LVP is the visual design: while LVP mimics wood planks, LVT replicates the look of stone, ceramic, or porcelain tiles. 

Performance-wise, they are essentially the same product with identical waterproofing and durability benefits. LVT floors feature the same core construction options (WPC or SPC) and wear layer protection as their plank counterparts.

These three LVT options give you different looks for your kitchen floor. Twin Rivers in Ridgewood features a bright, marble-inspired design and comes with a 30 mil wear layer – the thickest you can get in vinyl flooring. This makes it extra durable for busy kitchens.

3DP in Travertine Chestnut offers a warm stone look, while Seatown in Charcoal Slate provides a cooler, modern appearance. Tile patterns work great in kitchens because they hide crumbs and dirt between cleanings; they give you the timeless stone floor look without the maintenance hassles of real stone.

Engineered Hardwood: A More Versatile Wood Option

Engineered hardwood offers significant advantages over traditional solid hardwood in kitchen spaces. Its layered construction provides better resistance to moisture and temperature changes, while still giving you genuine wood on the surface. This innovative design allows engineered hardwood to be installed in areas where solid hardwood typically isn’t recommended, making it a more practical choice for kitchens.

These three collections each bring their own unique style to kitchen spaces. Everlasting in Honeyburge features wide, thick planks with an Oak veneer layer and moisture-resistant core. The collection is waterproof, scratch-resistant, and can be installed in multiple ways, making it ideal for homes with pets.

Driftwood in Natural Oak showcases the natural beauty of wood while offering complete waterproofing. It is installed as a floating floor, making it a practical choice for kitchen renovations.

Belmont Hills in Oakdale captures the elegance of European Oak with brushed textures that work in both modern and traditional kitchens. While not fully waterproof, it provides enough water protection for typical kitchen use, making it the best kitchen flooring choice for those who want genuine hardwood aesthetics without compromising on practicality. It’s also FloorScore-certified, ensuring low VOC emissions and sustainable sourcing.

Tile: A Time-Tested Kitchen Flooring Solution

Ceramic and porcelain tiles have been the standard for kitchen flooring for generations, and with good reason. They offer unmatched water resistance, can withstand heavy foot traffic, and never warp or fade. Unlike vinyl or hardwood alternatives, tile can handle extreme temperatures and won’t be damaged by hot cookware drops or prolonged exposure to water.

These three collections showcase how modern tiles can transform both kitchen floors and walls. Fenway in Frost offers a unique stacked pattern that creates visual interest, while Futura in Taupe features elegant hexagonal shapes that bring a contemporary touch. The Ambience in White’s chevron pattern adds a striking geometric element that can make spaces appear larger.

Many homeowners choose different flooring materials for their kitchen floors but opt for tile on the walls, especially in cooking and prep areas. This practical approach creates an attractive backsplash that protects walls from splashes and stains while adding a sophisticated design element to the kitchen’s overall look. Having tile on walls over stoves and countertops is particularly practical since these areas face the most exposure to moisture and cooking residue.

Laminate: Budget-Friendly Kitchen Flooring Option

Laminate flooring provides an affordable way to achieve the look of hardwood or tile in your kitchen. Modern laminate features enhanced water resistance and durable wear layers that can handle kitchen traffic. While not completely waterproof like vinyl or tile, today’s laminate brands offer improved moisture protection and easy maintenance at a lower price point.

These laminate options offer attractive wood-look designs that work well in kitchen spaces. Palm Springs in Joshua Tree features complete waterproofing, making it ideal for areas prone to spills and splashes. 

Clearwater in Evoke Sunset and Coronado in Evoke Vanilla Oak feature water-resistant construction and bring warm, natural tones that help create an inviting kitchen atmosphere. All three designs feature neutral colors that hide dirt well and complement various kitchen styles, from modern to traditional.

Another significant advantage of laminate is its scratch resistance and easy maintenance. The top wear layer is designed to handle heavy traffic, making it particularly suitable for busy kitchens where chairs are constantly moving and utensils occasionally drop. Combined with its affordable price point and improved moisture resistance, these practical benefits make laminate a good flooring choice for the kitchen.

Alternative Kitchen Flooring Solutions

While vinyl, tile, and hardwood dominate kitchen flooring choices, several unique alternatives offer distinct advantages for specific needs and design preferences. These less conventional options can create unique aesthetics while providing practical benefits for kitchen environments.

• Polished Concrete offers an ultra-modern, industrial look that’s becoming increasingly popular in contemporary kitchens. It’s completely waterproof and virtually indestructible, though it can be cold underfoot and requires professional installation.

Example of polished concrete in the kitchen

• Linoleum Flooring stands out as an eco-friendly, naturally antimicrobial option that can last for decades. Made from renewable materials like linseed oil and cork dust, it offers excellent durability and water resistance while coming in a wide range of colors and patterns.
• Epoxy Flooring provides a seamless, highly durable surface that’s popular in commercial kitchens and gaining traction in residential spaces. It’s completely waterproof, can be customized with various colors and patterns, and handles extreme temperatures well, though installation requires precise conditions and professional expertise.
• Cork Flooring brings natural warmth and comfort underfoot, with natural antimicrobial properties that make it great for kitchen environments. While it needs periodic resealing to maintain water resistance, it provides excellent sound absorption and is softer than traditional flooring options.
• Natural Stone like slate or granite creates a luxurious, one-of-a-kind look in kitchens. While expensive and requiring regular maintenance with proper sealing, these materials can last for generations and add significant value to a home.
• Rubber Flooring, common in commercial kitchens, offers exceptional slip resistance and comfort underfoot. It’s waterproof and extremely durable, though color and style options are somewhat limited compared to other flooring types.

Making the Right Choice

Choosing the best kitchen flooring comes down to balancing your specific needs with practical considerations. While LVP and tile continue to lead the market due to their proven performance, modern manufacturing has made engineered hardwood and laminate viable options for kitchen spaces. Consider your lifestyle, maintenance preferences, and budget when making the final decision. 

Remember that kitchens often benefit from mixed materials – combining different flooring types or extending tile onto walls can create both practical and aesthetically pleasing solutions for your space.