When choosing flooring, it’s important to consider how much daily use the kitchen will get. There are many flooring options to fit one’s taste and budget.

Tile. Ceramic, terra cotta, and natural stone tiles are a popular option for kitchen floors. Tile floors provide a room with a unique character, and tiles come in a limitless variety of colors, textures, and designs. Though durable, tile can also be cold underfoot and unforgiving for dropped dishes. As with countertops, floor tile itself is easy to maintain, but make sure a grout sealer is applied to keep stains from becoming a problem.

Hardwood. Properly maintained hardwood floors can last for decades. Wood floors are available in a variety of tones and finishes. Style choices include strip, which uses pieces of wood less than three inches wide; plank, which uses wider pieces of wood for a more traditional look; and parquet, which uses smaller pieces of wood to create a variety of designs.