How to choose the best flooring for your kitchen

Practical, convenient and stylish, tiles are a natural choice when it comes to kitchen flooring. Hugely versatile, tiles can look great in both traditional and ultra-modern kitchens, as well as helping to keep the space feeling clean, clear and contemporary.

One big benefit of a tiled floor is that they're very easy to maintain, with most stains, marks and spills simply wiping off. However, as tiles can be very cold to touch and are generally quite heavy, they may not be suitable for all homes.

Durable, full of character and great looking, hardwood floors will look fantastic in most kitchen designs. Perfect for use in shaker kitchens and traditional kitchens, wooden floors are fantastic for tying your interior design scheme together.

If you've installed wooden kitchen worktops, ensuring that the two surfaces complement each other, rather than clash, is a must if you don't want to overwhelm the space. Varying the materials altogether may be a better option to avoid a kitchen that looks like it only has one dimension.

Using bold, bright patterns can be the best flooring solution for your kitchen - especially if the rest of your décor is muted or neutral in design. If you are opting for patterned tiles or painted wood, make sure that no other features in the space have a strong pattern to avoid causing visual clutter or clashing colours. You should ensure you give careful consideration to the patterns you incorporate.

Alternating different coloured tiles is a great way to achieve a simple and stylish look. Try creating a striped effect to elongate the room, or using individually patterned tiles for something more eclectic.

Easy to style with your interiors, plain wood or tiled floors make a charming backdrop to a stylish kitchen. As the colour or texture that you use in the floor will be fairly dominant in the space, try to use subtle, natural tones and stay away from textures that may go out of fashion in the future.

While the overall style and design of your kitchen is a key factor, there are a couple of other things you’ll need to consider when picking your perfect flooring.

• Work out your budget: It might be boring, but it needs to be done! In addition to the material itself, you’ll need to consider all extra costs such as grout, underlays, and fixatives.
• Consider the maintenance: Flooring needs long-term care in addition to regular cleaning, with some materials needing resealing and treating. Consider if you can commit to that before you make a decision.

Once you've got your kitchen flooring in place, the rest of your design should come together nicely; helping you to create a fabulous kitchen that you and your family will love forever.

To find out the best kitchen flooring material for you, book an appointment to visit your nearest Wren showroom, or try our online kitchen planner.