Why Your Flooring Might Be Making Your Kitchen Look Dated

For many households, the kitchen is the heart and soul of the home — it's where the day begins and where precious family time is spent. For this reason, it doesn't come as a surprise that it is often the first candidate for a renovation. It is common for some homeowners to buy a home with the intention of upgrading the kitchen, or sometimes, their current older kitchen space is simply outdated and needs a breath of fresh air. The kitchen floor, however, might be further down the priority list. Yet, when done correctly, it is one of those surfaces that ties the design together nicely. 

While the kitchen needs to be functional, aesthetics are equally important, and a dated floor doesn't help on that front. For that reason, don't be too quick to tear the cabinets from the wall, if you are thinking about giving your kitchen a facelift consider starting with the floor. The cost of replacing an old and damaged kitchen floor varies according to the material, but the average installation cost is $1500 and $4500, (via Kitchen and Bath Shop).

You don't need to be an interior designer to tell whether a kitchen is old or not — the color schemes and type of cabinetry are the first things that give away its age. Moreover, the floor is another important part of the kitchen that tends to get stuck in time. But could it be the reason your kitchen looks dated? The choice of material can often be a major contributor to the old and lackluster appearance — this is particularly true for the stone-look linoleum floors, which were quite popular several decades ago, per Galaxie Floor Stores. 

Let's face it, the signature, faded and patterned design typical of the old linoleum flooring conjures warm memories of old grandma's kitchen. Other than the type of material, sometimes the floor has visible damage like chips and cracks because of years of wear and tear. When planning a kitchen makeover, keep in mind that outdated flooring will always keep your kitchen in the past, regardless of how much you invest in new appliances and cabinets.

The kitchen floor is a surface that ages fast. It is one of the high-traffic areas in the home, which means the floor bears the brunt of all the activity. The good news, however, is that modern types of flooring are built for aesthetics, durability, and functionality. There are plenty of floor materials that quite easily fit the bill, including hardwood, water-resistant laminate, tile, and vinyl, just to mention a few. 

Other than the material, another important consideration is the floor color. If you have been living in your home for a few years, you might be surprised by just how many floor colors and finishes are available nowadays, especially for wooden floors. When choosing the floor materials for your kitchen, The Good Guys recommend going for waterproof and durable options, because of all the activities in the kitchen. Also, because the kitchen space sometimes doubles up as a mudroom, consider materials that are easy to clean.