When it comes to kitchen flooring the practicality should be priority; hardwearing, functional and easy-to-clean are important factors to consider. However durable needn't be drab as there are plenty of stylish designs and hard-working materials to choose from that suit every kitchen scheme. Take a look at these stunning kitchen flooring ideas to transform the heart of your home.

Contrasting blocks of decorative and plain flooring can be a clever way to zone-off the cooking area of a kitchen-diner. Not only does this narrow strip of star-print flooring complement the modern galley kitchen but it also means the high-traffic food prep zone has a tough, wipe-clean material underfoot. 

 

A bold monochrome scheme will never go out of style and a honeycomb of hexagons will certainly bring the floor to life. Whether it's a mostly dark expanse with white highlights or vice versa, the striking result elevates a plain white kitchen to a designer finish with a vintage feel.

To give your kitchen that funky 1950s vibe, opt for two colours of square tiles laid across your floor in a chessboard pattern. When the rest of the kitchen is pared back, this pattern makes the floor really stand out. With hints of mustard and an unexpectedly industrial stool, the look is modern and effortless.

Opt for neutral kitchen units and walls and make the flooring the focal point. Here, sleek contemporary units and a reflective glass splashback pale in comparison to the bold geometric floor. Marbled, triangular tiled sections tie in with the worktop and the orange highlights add a punchy design element to the scheme.

If a full floor of patterned tiles is too busy then how about using just a small amount to emphasise a feature? The border frame around this kitchen island pulls the eye instantly into the centre of the room and adds character the large space. 

Hexagon shapes are super trendy and will look striking on the kitchen floor. Why not try a bespoke look by creating a patchwork approach with a selection of plains and patterns in complementary tones? A professional tile company will help you create a design if you are not confident. 

Need more inspo? Check out these space-saving ideas for small kitchens. 

Adding a decorative border to your kitchen floor tiles is a more traditional choice and will make the kitchen look smart and finished. Choose a more up-to-date colour palette to keep the look contemporary. 

 

For a modern yet timeless look that will never date, pick monochrome tiles. Here, a striking black and white chevron tile design has been used to accentuate the floor and the same pattern has been used to create a bold border along the worktops. Budget-friendly and so effective, it's a bold look that only a few would be brave enough to try.

Enhance your statement kitchen flooring by choosing a tile that can be used on both walls and floors. This subtle archive pattern by Laura Ashley looks exquisite as a matching cooker splashback; the simple feature has transformed the shaker kitchen with seamless style.

A patterned kitchen floor can lift a dark kitchen and add to the atmosphere. The contrasting pattern will break up and balance the large block of colour without compromising the dramatic finish - in fact, it will only enhance it. 

Love this look? Check out these dark kitchen ideas.

Traditional flagstones are generally made from a larger slice of natural stone and are built to last. Each kitchen floor tile will be unique with natural markings and textures and will sit beautifully in old country cottages and barn conversions. This soothing tone offsets fashionable navy cabinets perfectly.

Whether it's putty, beige or grey a neutral kitchen floor will bring a cosiness to the kitchen and stand the test of time. This is a great floor choice for modern country styles and tones down a strong cabinet colour scheme. 

Love this look? Check out this cool kitchen island ideas. 

These small tiles fitted together in patterns, pictures or plains are easier to lay than they look, as the small pieces are usually held together by mesh underneath. Mosaic has been around for centuries and can add a subtle charm or creative character. They are also an especially practical choice as they are more forgiving on uneven surfaces and great for fitting into awkward spaces

Words are often featured in kitchens on wall tiles and as decorative features but you don't often see them on the kitchen floor. This beautiful feature in a custom-made pantry is luxe and lavish. The inspiration for the design was taken from a French bistro and created by a high-end kitchen design company.

A pared back kitchen floor will blend into the scheme with subtle style. Light, bright and durable this concrete colour laminate has an almost painted wood floor effect, which enhances the rustic look of this kitchen.

This intricately patterned floor takes the parquet effect and turns it on its head! The trick behind the kaleidoscopic effect is surprisingly simple: it's actually carefully engineered laminate flooring that's super simple to lay and looks sleek and fluid.

Herringbone – or parquet flooring –is once again a popular flooring choice in all rooms of the home. The chevron plank design gives standard wood flooring an interesting twist and will finish a kitchen with refined elegance.

Statement kitchen flooring is a hot trend that is showing no signs of slowing down. These Victorian replica tiles stamp rich character into this kitchen and jazzes up the dark modern cabinetry. The finished look has a stylish retro-meets-industrial vibe that works beautifully in an architectural space with concrete and glass.

Need ideas? See more kitchen trends we predict will last the course. 

The vibrant colour and polka dot pattern of this eye-catching floor ties an eclectic mix of reclaimed kitchen furniture together perfectly. A spotty seat cushion echoes the dots of the modern vinyl and enhances this fun retro kitchen style. 

 

 

Scandi style is calm and cool, which is why blonde oak flooring suits this look so well. Whether it's real wood or laminate, the light yet warm natural tones work well with uncluttered white cabinets and makes a kitchen feel modern, easy-going and fresh. 

Natural wood instantly warms up a bright white kitchen, just make sure it has been properly treated to withstand possible water splashes or spills. This is a particularly good choice in open-plan layouts as using one versatile flooring throughout makes the space coherent and fluid. The natural grain adds texture and it can work with any style of decor. 

Cork kitchen flooring is having a comeback. It's very affordable, versatile and ergonomic; as it's naturally cushioned it eases standing at the kitchen counter for long periods of time. That being said, it can dent and scratch easily. If you're eco-minded, bamboo is a good alternative.

Laminate flooring is a budget-friendly alternative to wood yet nowadays it looks just as authentic.  A walnut tone is rich, creates the same warmth and character as the real thing, and is perfect for use in heavy traffic areas such as a busy family kitchen.

Planning a new kitchen? Don't make these common kitchen design mistakes.

Patterned floor tiling is all the rage right now and we can't get enough of all the different styles. If you're having trouble choosing just one type, don't despair - you can have them all! Try them in a patchwork for a laid-back space or try tiling them in rows as in this stylish kitchen scheme. 

Some tile designs come in a variety of shapes and sizes, that allow you to create an interesting tessellated pattern. Use this technique to inject more visual interest into a plain or neutral-coloured kitchen floor, as shown here. For a clean finish choose a matching colour grout or go for darker grouting to create contrast.

It looks like wooden parquet flooring, it even feels like wooden parquet flooring, but these are actually wood-effect porcelain tiles. These tiles are much easier to maintain than real wood flooring and are more practical for a kitchen. They also work really well with underfloor heating, so you won't need to sacrifice wall space for radiators.

You can now get floor tiles that are suitable for indoor and outdoor use. Choose these if your kitchen leads directly out on to a patio or terrace so that your kitchen will flow seamlessly into your garden in the summer months. This look is particularly effective when combined with bi-folding patio doors, as shown here.

Planning to renovate? See more kitchen extension inspiration in our gallery. 

Gloss finished tiles will bounce light further into your kitchen and will set off under-unit plinth lighting really well, too. Gloss tiles may be more slippery than matt tiles but many companies now add anti-slip technology to make their products safer in the home.

 

Natural travertine stone tiles look wonderful and feel lovely underfoot, but they do require regular maintenance to protect them from stains and general wear and tear. The latest travertine-effect floor tiles are hard to distinguish from the real thing, however, and don't need to be sealed regularly either. They also work well with underfloor heating.

Slate is typically thought of as being inky grey but this natural stone is actually available in a host of earthy colours, ranging from almost black through to bronze and copper tones. It will need to be sealed to protect it from stains but it's incredibly hardwearing and only gets better with age. Slate is made for a traditional farmhouse-style kitchen like this one.

If you're looking to recreate a farmhouse or Mediterranean-style kitchen, rich earthy terracotta tiles are what you need. They are also particularly hardwearing, so if you have kids who are known to use the kitchen floor as a mini-indoor football pitch or enjoy racing cars across it, this is the floor covering to plump for.

Marble worktops and counters are quite common but real marble kitchen flooring is the ultimate luxury statement. Each tile has a unique natural grain and because this natural stone is so easy to carve you can get it in a range of finishes, from glamorous gloss to matt. But buyer beware, it is highly porous so can easily stain.

Encaustic tiles are ceramic tiles in which the pattern on the surface are inlaid in the tiles themselves and so are not only beautiful but great for high-traffic areas. A botanical repeat design makes an elegant and refreshing style statement in this modern blue-grey kitchen.

 

 

Vinyl kitchen flooring has fallen out of favour in the past, but not these days it's having something of a renaissance. The waterproof material is now more durable and hardwearing than ever. Cool colourways and interesting embossing also make it an extremely stylish kitchen flooring choice. We love this jade and ochre retro kitchen scheme.

READ MORE: Kitchen wall tile ideas for every style and budget