With budget and beauty just a few of the factors to consider, choosing a flooring material for your new kitchen design can be a challenge.
As one of the most-used rooms in your home, kitchen floors not only have to look good but should be durable enough to withstand the wear-and-tear of constant foot traffic and be resistant to spills and stains.
Flooring manufacturers have been addressing consumers’ demand for practical flooring options that are as beautiful as they are durable. Wood, or materials that look like wood, remain a popular choice. “Low maintenance options are continuing to grow in popularity, and the high-quality LVT options from Mannington allow us to have the look of a hardwood without the concerns about water or humidity,” says Monarch designer Jackie Schagen.
Here are some of 2018’s hottest kitchen flooring trends
Flooring Types
Low-maintenance, wood-look kitchen floors are on the rise.
- Waterproof Vinyl
- Cork
- Tile
- Bamboo
- Engineered
- Laminate
Flooring Colours
2018 will see more extreme darks and lights — and a mixing of the two
- Espresso
- High Variation
- Gray
- White
- Blonde
- Honey
- Whitewashed
Flooring Textures
Textured and distressed looks are hot this year.
- Handscraped
- Wire-brushed
- Distressed
Flooring Layouts and Patterns
Look for homeowners and designers to use their flooring choices as a statement piece, using bold patterns and unconventional widths.
“We’re seeing a movement towards texture and pattern. No longer is flooring just a supporting actor, but often the star attraction. We can achieve this look using a uniquely shaped tile like a hexagon or long strips arranged in a herringbone pattern. We’re also enjoying the surge of coloured patterns in cement tiles, creating showpiece floors,” says Jackie.
- Herringbone
- Large Tile
- Subway Tile
- Hexagon
- Wide Planks
- Mixed Width
- Checkered
- Chevron
Flooring Looks
Flooring manufacturers are now able to realistically mimic natural and man-made flooring in a variety of materials. Stone and wood-look floors are on the rise.
- Stone-look: porcelain, ceramic, luxury vinyl tile
- Wood-look: luxury vinyl planks, laminate, porcelain, ceramic tile
Flooring Styles
Farmhouse, contemporary and coastal styles are the new kitchen favourites.
- Farmhouse: hand-scraped, distressed or reclaimed
- Coastal: light, airy with beachy colours
- Contemporary: Clean, smooth and bold
With files from flooringinc.com and pictures sourced from Pinterest.