Vinyl kitchen flooring ideas: stylish ideas to transform your cookspace
Lara loves writing about every aspect of the home – from the latest colour trends to emerging designs. She has a lot of experience writing about home trends and interior advice for leading titles such as The Telegraph, Metro, and Homes & Gardens.
Vinyl kitchen flooring ideas have been a popular choice for many years. Thanks to its versatility and affordability, vinyl floors became a staple of home décor during the 1960s.
But, today’s versions are a far cry from the flimsy, dated-looking flooring you might remember. In fact, modern vinyl kitchen flooring ideas are durable, easy to lay and clean, and can mimic any number of flooring styles at a fraction of the price. It’s also quite simple to repair – read our vinyl flooring repair cost blog for more information.
From realistic wood effects to fancy tile patterns, there are so many different styles, materials, and finishes to choose from.
Whether you fancy a kitchen upgrade or you are planning a completely new kitchen, let’s help you get the perfect vinyl floor for your kitchen.
Before you dive into all the different colour and design options, here’s a lowdown on the basics of vinyl flooring.
Sheet vinyl or luxury vinyl tile (LVT)?
Vinyl floors are a brilliant way to add colour, style, and personality to a kitchen whilst also being practical.
You’ll need to decide if you want standard sheet vinyl that is typically cut from a roll or luxury vinyl that comes in planks or tiles.
Luxury vinyl tiles (LVT) and luxury vinyl planks (LVP) are more premium flooring options. They are made from multiple layers of vinyl, which makes them thicker, more durable, and also pricier. Luxury vinyl mimics more closely the look and feel of natural materials such as wood or stone. It can be installed quite easily by clicking together the sides, rather than sticking it down with glue.
Is vinyl flooring good for kitchens?
Yes, vinyl is a great option for kitchens and busy homes. However, you need to ensure you buy quality vinyl if you want longevity and durability. In general, we recommend opting for a thickness of at least 3mm.
Some of the many benefits of vinyl flooring for kitchens include:
Water resistance
Vinyl is a water-resistant material, making it ideal for kitchens where spills and drips are commonplace. If you opt for vinyl tiles, you will need to seal in between the seams to ensure no water seeps through, whereas a vinyl sheeting will only need sealing at the edges. Compared to other popular flooring options such as laminate and hardwood, vinyl is one of the most durable when it comes to water damage.
Choice of design
Thanks to modern manufacturing techniques, you can find vinyl in almost every design you can think of. From hardwood, tiles and natural stone, you can imitate nearly any type of flooring with vinyl, while benefiting from its durability and water resistance. However, it must be said that vinyl will be different to walk on than materials such as natural stone.
Affordable
Vinyl allows you to replicate the look of more expensive materials in a super affordable way. It’s one of the most cost-effective means of creating a stylish yet functional kitchen floor. Take a look at our LVT cost guide to find out more about the price of vinyl flooring for your kitchen.
Comfortable to walk on
With vinyl, you can lay padding underneath to create a soft impact underfoot. It’s also softer and more comfortable to stand on for long periods of time than hard surfaces, so it’s great while you’re on your feet cooking and entertaining family.
Easy to maintain
Vinyl flooring is easy to clean. Other than regular mopping with warm water and mild detergent from time to time, it requires little maintenance. It’s also stainproof and water-resistant, so you don’t need to worry about spillages.
Easy to install
Installing vinyl flooring is quick and easy for a trained professional. We recommend hiring a professional for the best results. They’ll make sure your subfloor is correctly prepared so that your flooring will stand the test of time.
Pop your postcode in the search bar below to find recommended floor fitters in your area.
Vinyl kitchen flooring ideas
It’s no surprise homeowners are once again opting for vinyl in their kitchens. If you’re thinking about joining them, here are some of our top vinyl kitchen flooring ideas.
1. Pick a warm grey
Grey vinyl kitchen flooring is a great neutral colour that can be matched with all kitchen styles – both the doors and worktops.
Washed grey planks create a super modern yet relaxed backdrop in any kitchen design. It’s a versatile choice for vinyl flooring and will harmonise with any colour and style of kitchen cabinet, should you wish to change yours in the future.
Grey floors are also amazing for busy family kitchens as they don’t show the dirt!
2. Emulate real marble without the price tag
For a more budget-friendly alternative to real marble, try a vinyl. This hardwearing floor will create a light and bright surface underfoot with just the right touch of luxe.
Don’t forget, if you do choose real marble, it’s an incredibly porous stone that’s prone to scratches and stains in a busy kitchen environment. Read our guide on how much it costs to restore a real marble floor.
Calacatta marbles are a popular choice – the white backdrop with pale grey veining is a versatile colour for any kitchen. Marble-effect porcelain or ceramic kitchen tiles are another option worth exploring.
3. Lengthen a narrow kitchen
Lay wood-effect vinyl planks vertically to lengthen a narrow kitchen.
This mid oak flooring is a foolproof way to add warmth to a neutral kitchen. Continue the versatile floor into the living spaces for a hardwearing and harmonious way to link spaces.
4. Go bold with Mediterranean style vinyl tiles
Get the look of a vibrant Mediterranean kitchen with vinyl effect tiles.
The sun-baked hues and intricate patterns are inspired by traditional encaustic tiles made from coloured cements. A vinyl look-a-like is a cheaper alternative – it’s also easier to lay and maintain with just a quick mop to bring it back to life.
Vinyl floors might not feel like such a commitment – in terms of price and installation – if you wish to change at a later day. This can be a big consideration if you choose a busy patterned floor.
5. Lay the vinyl planks horizontally
Smaller kitchens might also benefit from laying vinyl planks horizontally.
If your kitchen is particularly narrow, laying floors in a horizontal fashion will help the room look wider than it is.
This classic, dark oak vinyl offers a rich, sumptuous contrast to the white kitchen cabinets.
6 Choose a fuss free stone effect
Elevate a country style kitchen with a stone effect vinyl floor. You can easily recreate the look of riven slate flagstones with sheet vinyl or LVTs. Plus there’ll be less financial outlay, less maintenance, and less installation hassle.
So if budgets don’t stretch to solid stones, don’t despair. There are so many realistic vinyl floors on the market these days – not just timber.
7. Harness rich oak floorboards
Channel the look of reclaimed timber floorboards with a good quality LVP (luxury vinyl plank). LVPs have a really convincing appearance when it comes to natural materials.
Look at different widths, lengths, grain, colour and texture and weigh up what works best in your kitchen.
You’ll never tire of a mid oak floorboard for a classic kitchen choice.
8. Create chevron patterns
Fancy patterned wood floors in chevron and herringbone layouts are so on trend right now.
You can get the look for less in the kitchen with a gorgeous vinyl flooring. Seek out paler tones for a Scandi-inspired backdrop and pair it with any style of kitchen cabinet.
9. Add a seamless faux concrete
Don’t dismiss single sheet vinyl – it also has its benefits, especially for industrial style kitchens.
This deep grey vinyl flooring offers the aesthetic of dark stained concrete – at a fraction of the price of the real thing.
With no grout lines or joins, the uninterrupted charcoal vinyl enhances the open plan feel of the kitchen. It’s also amazing for hiding grubby marks!
10. You can’t go wrong with classic timber
Single space living demands good-looking, hardwearing floors – and you can’t go wrong with a classic oak effect vinyl.
The colour co-ordinates with every part of the space – from dark kitchen cabinetry to luxe velvet seating and white painted walls.
A timeless classic that won’t let you down.
If you’ve been inspired by our vinyl kitchen floor ideas, or you’ve chosen your vinyl flooring and just need to find someone to complete the installation in your kitchen, use the Checkatrade search to find a recommended and vetted tradesperson in your local area.
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