Here are our best kitchen floor ideas on a budget including pros and cons for each type.
Cork flooring
Durability? Cork has it and then some. It is easy to clean, just sweep it and mop it before it can stain. I can stain because it is porous, but that can be easily prevented with sealant. You can also check off the environmentally-friendly box as cork is simply bark that is peeled from the tree without damaging it and put together with natural resins in most cases, as always, check with manufacturer as corks from China often contain carcinogens.
Cork flooring is hypoallergenic and even has antimicrobial properties and naturally repels most creepy crawlies, making in a perfect choice for kitchens. Cork can be refinished if need be, I’ve had my cork for 10 years, we are hard on our floors, and it has yet to need refinishing.
It is a great insulator, making it a double-budget buster by helping keep your heating and cooling costs down. But perhaps the best thing about cork, aside from how lovely it is to look at, is how lovely it is to stand on. Cork feels kind of soft and springy, is easy on your knees, is lower impact to walk on that ceramic or wood, and feels great for those super long cooking sessions. So, while it may be at the higher end of budget initially, the savings in energy and the fact that you’ll never have to replace it add even more bang for your buck.
Vinyl flooring
Vinyl flooring comes in sheets, planks, and even peel and stick tiles and is super easy to install on your own. Vinyl flooring comes in every single color you can imagine and several colors you didn’t even know existed! Patterns, too! It can look like wood, vintage tile, marble, granite, and even Lego’s. It is one of the most easily customized options out there and a favorite of even high-end designers because of how flexible it is in terms of creating a look.
Vinyl is easy to care for, just mop it with a mild soap and water. Watch out for pets though, vinyl can be easily scratched and gouged. But it is so budget-friendly, it would be nothing to replace a plank or two if needed.
Hickory wood flooring
The grain pattern of Hickory is unforgettable, highly textured, and highlighted by whatever finish you chose. Hickory can be reddish, light tan, and even dark, rich brown, making it a shoe-in no matter what your decorating style is. Shop around to find the best price, your efforts will be rewarded when you outfit your budget-friendly kitchen in a gorgeous hardwood floor.
Ceramic tiles
Using ceramic tiles in the kitchen are great because they can withstand spills, and heavy foot traffic. Additionally, they don’t absorb odors or bacteria making them useful for large families or homes with pets. A downside to using ceramic tiles is the grout joints can be difficult to clean unless you take special care to seal them properly.
Laminate flooring
For those willing to invest a little more money there is a type of “water-resistant” laminate floor material that may provide better protection against a wet environment. For a normal budget friendly laminate floor the average cost per foot is around $1.10 a linear foot. For the more durable water resistant type it can cost $3.00 a ft or more.
Working with a budget can be frustrating, you might feel that your choices are limited and you can’t have the floor of your dreams. But with such a broad range of materials available at our disposal, a small budget doesn’t have to mean limits.
Are you going to get those granite tile floors on a budget? No, and considering how easily granite tiles can chip and stain, it is a double-budget buster that you don’t want to deal with anyway. The options listed here are the only budget-friendly flooring surfaces available, but when you consider longevity and style, these are the best options. Not only are they inexpensive when you purchase them, they will last for at least a decade, usually longer, if they are properly cared for, meaning replacement costs are limited.
Bamboo flooring
Bamboo flooring is also easy to install with edges that click together making it a good choice for the DIY’er. Bamboo doesn’t do well when wet, so you must take care to promptly clean spills and avoid furniture that may cause excessive scratching. Felt pads can be used to help protect bamboo flooring and help them maintain their natural appearance.
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