Most parents will agree that no matter how old your children get, managing a family home can be a difficult task. Your children will always be a precious gift, but that’s not to say that they won’t prove challenging from time to time. Whether your kids are looking for adventure or causing mischief, your home will always feel full of energy and will be often on the receiving end of accidents. Oops!
As a result, it’s important that your home is properly equipped!
It’s often said that the kitchen is the heart of the home. From the moment you start your family, this couldn’t feel truer.
Every day you’ll find yourself gravitating towards the kitchen, preparing more meals than ever before to keep your kids happy and healthy. But with all that extra foot traffic, there’s one thing that’s going to take a lot of extra strain, and it’s not your bank account!
It’s your flooring!
Getting the right kitchen flooring can save you a lot of problems further down the line. Flooring that’s unsuitable will sustain damages easily, need replacing, and disturb the delicate eco-system of your family home.
Don’t make this common mistake! Check out our quick and easy guide below, and give your kitchen that all-important upgrade!
Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring has remained a popular favourite amongst homeowners for many years and is an especially great choice for kitchens. The greatest advantage of laminate is perhaps its cost. As one of the cheapest options on the market, it won’t cost you an arm and a leg to have installed and is, therefore, more accessible to families who are working on a tight budget. This choice of flooring is also highly resistant to moisture, and won’t be easily damaged by accidental splashes and spillages. Laminate is easy to install, but won’t have the same lifespan as some sturdier flooring solutions. As a result, it is more likely to need replacing after some time.
Luxury Vinyl Tiles
LVT is a newcomer to the world of flooring but is fast becoming one of the most desirable options for kitchens. Made from a stable PVC backing and photorealistic aesthetic wear layer, each tile mimics the beauty of natural materials in meticulous detail. Their unique construction makes them 100% waterproof, and are specially treated to have a high anti-slip rating. This is perfect if you have kids on the loose, giving you peace of mind with every step. Whilst luxury vinyl tiles are much stronger than laminate planks, they do come at an inflated cost, so make sure they are perfect for your kitchen before you purchase them.
Engineered Wood Flooring
Solid wood is widely considered the crème-de-la-crème of residential flooring. However, there’s one catch: solid wood is susceptible to warping and shrinkages when installing in areas of fluctuating humidity and moisture. In short, it’s not ideal for the kitchen environment. That’s where engineered wood flooring comes in! Engineered boards are constructed from multiple layers of compressed timber, and finished with a highly durable surface wear layer of solid wood veneer. As a result, engineered flooring looks identical to its solid wood counterpart, but has the added benefit of extra strength and stability. Lacquered boards are especially good for family kitchens, tackling heavy footfall whilst remaining easy to clean. Although engineered flooring is the most expensive of the three, it is certain to last the longest, and can even increase the value of your home. Any scratches, scuffs, or stains that may appear on the surface are easily sanded away, allowing you to keep on top of any mistakes that your kids might make!
