Kitchen floor design
Kitchen design begins with the simplest - laying the floors and finishing the walls. It is these parameters that largely determine how your room will look. In the modern world a huge range of materials and colors allows you to achieve almost any effect. Over time, the level of resistance of materials to moisture and mechanical damage also increases.
Let's look at the advantages and disadvantages of each type of flooring and how to choose the right one for your kitchen design.
Types of coatings for the kitchen
Depending on whether you use materials exclusively to cover the floor in the kitchen, or lay them on the floor of the living room combined with the kitchen, you can use either one type or several at once.
Tile
One of the simplest and perhaps the most common options is a simple tile. It is very easy to clean. The only drawback is that dirt accumulates over time between the tile joints.
Laminate
Another fairly affordable kitchen flooring.This material can be used in both large and small kitchens. In addition, the surface of the laminate can imitate any other material - wood, stone or even marble. So, for a small amount of money you get both stylish and practical coverage.
Laminate is easy to clean and remove dirt. Together with him in the kitchen you can easily install a heating system, which is also very important for the conditions of the national winter.
In addition, if you pick a laminate with a special moisture-resistant coating, it will serve you many times longer.
Linoleum
Also quite often the floor in the kitchen is covered with linoleum. Many people call this material very impractical and inappropriate for the kitchen. But this is not at all the case. If you choose a quality material and put it in the right place, then you will have no problems with it. Modern developers increase the strength of linoleum due to all the same protective mixtures.
Ceramic tile
Ceramic tiles are also suitable for covering kitchen floors. Like laminate, it is good that it can imitate any kind of coating. Ceramic tiles can be both glossy and matte.Matte coatings, as a rule, protect with an additional coating, which allows them to maintain their noble tone for a long time.
Installing ceramic tiles is a fairly cheap and time-consuming process. That's just before installing, keep in mind that the tile itself is cold to the touch. Therefore, it is desirable to supplement such a coating with a heating system.
Porcelain stoneware
On a par with ceramic tiles, ceramic granite is also popular. Many do not know what the difference is between these types of material and therefore do not understand why the latter is much more expensive. Two factors justify its high price. First, it looks more attractive. And secondly, it has a higher strength. Also, very often the surface of porcelain is treated in a special way, making it resistant to the influence of various chemicals.
Marble
One of the most luxurious types of coating is justifiably called marble. Such coverage is universal, and looks equally good both in a simple apartment and in a private house with a large kitchen. The appearance of marble is familiar to almost everyone and is easily recognizable.
But this luxury material has its drawbacks. First of all, it is worth remembering that, like other similar materials, it is easily scratched and covered with various minor defects. Although many believe that this makes marble even more attractive and aesthetic. In addition, it is practically impossible to install a marble covering on your own, without the help of specialists.
Tree
Another beautiful visually, but not very practical for the kitchen material - wood. It has to be regularly updated, it wears out very quickly and becomes covered with stains that can not be removed.
But at the same time the wooden floor looks really impressive. Especially if you have a country-style kitchen, or just an interior in which there is a lot of wooden furniture.
Cork
Close to wood in terms of environmental friendliness and attractive appearance and a material such as cork. It is soft enough to the touch, therefore it gives a feeling of comfort that is so necessary in the kitchen.
To cover the floor in the kitchen is best to use the material of natural colors - yellow-brown, beige, pastel. But at the same time, it is desirable that the surface of the material was impregnated with a special tool that prevents you from absorbing all the moisture and fat.Properly selected and laid cork cover will serve you for a long time, remaining, at the same time, aesthetically attractive.
Self-leveling floors
Self-leveling floors are also good for the kitchen. But such coverage is used quite rarely. Its main advantages include strength and hygiene. Floors of this type can be laid once and forget about repairs for several years.
Combinations
Zoning the kitchen space helps a combination of several types of coverage. In this way, it is possible to separate the cooking hones from the place where you eat.
Kitchen Floor Requirements
To ensure that the chosen flooring does not disappoint you over time, familiarize yourself with several key requirements for materials before installation.
First of all, the floor in the kitchen should be safe, and therefore not slippery. Therefore, it is recommended to choose matte or even slightly rough surfaces, rather than glossy ones.
Another important point - the floors in the kitchen should be resistant to moisture. In the kitchen during cooking, there are often various sudden changes in temperature. Therefore, a poor flooring under their influence deforms over time.
The resistance to mechanical damage is also important. It is in the kitchen that we usually spend a lot of time either alone or with friends or family. Therefore, the load on the floors is quite high.
And in order to facilitate the process of caring for the floors in the kitchen, make sure that they are easy to wash and clean from all kinds of grease stains. This will minimize the process of cleaning the kitchen.
Design options
Selecting the flooring design, remember that this can both visually expand the space of the room and make it smaller. It is important that the floor is combined with all other components of the interior: with windows, ceiling, furniture and other details.
White
Popular designer kitchens often complement the floor in white. The use of such a light coating allows you to visually expand the space of the room. In addition, under it is very easy to pick up furniture and decor items. But, as you understand, white color is one of the most branded. Therefore, even a few drops of sauce or grease stains left over after cooking immediately spoil the look of the room.
Gray
The kitchen with a gray floor also looks very aesthetic.This color option is good for small kitchens. This color is universal and blends well with light shades and dark ones. It is rather inexpressive, so it will not overshadow other more stylish and worthwhile details.
Brown
A kitchen with a dark brown floor is a real classic. Such a coating looks good with any furniture and gives luxury even a small kitchenette. The contrasting combination of dark floor and light wallpaper and headset looks great.
The black
Kitchen with a black floor today is no surprise. This style decision fits perfectly into the interior of minimalism, loft or high-tech. Excellent black background combined with light furniture, but from the bright shades should be abandoned.