The best cheap floors for a kitchen don’t look cheap. To the contrary, these floors are durable, easy-to-clean, and an inexpensive do-it-yourself project.
How to choose cheap floors for a kitchen
A kitchen is a high-traffic area prone to spills and puddles. Only the toughest floors can hold up under all the foot and paw traffic, spills, and entertaining that happens in a kitchen. Uses these tips to choose the most durable and affordable floors for a kitchen:
- Puddles and spills happen in a kitchen, so it is important to choose a floor that is water-resistant and easy-to-clean.
- If you have a pet, look for water-resistant floor that can withstand muddy paws and pet accidents.
- For do-it-yourselfers, always ask about easy-to-install floors. Some floors come in products that are easy to click together.
- When planning out a kitchen floor installation, always set time for leveling and prepping the sub-floor to ensure that the floor doesn’t crack and lasts for a long time.
Best cheap floors for a kitchen
Luxury vinyl plank
Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) floors are a top option for kitchen floors because they are water-resistant, durable, and easy-to-clean. These floors are a great substitution for wood floors, which can be damaged by water spills and pet accidents.
LVP floors are available in a wide variety of styles that resemble wood and stone. Unlike wood and stone, luxury vinyl plank floor is not as susceptible to water damage and don’t require maintenance.
Many LVP snap together, making it a good option for do-it-yourselfers. Luxury vinyl plank floors can be installed as a floating floor, meaning it doesn’t require adhesive during installation.
Pros: Water-resistant, durable, easy-to-clean, resembles wood and stone, no maintenance, fairly easy DIY project, budget-friendly
Cons: may scratch
Luxury vinyl tile
Like its counterpart LVP, luxury vinyl tile (LVT) is water-resistant, durable, and easy-to-clean. Unlike luxury vinyl plank, LVT is typically installed with an adhesive.
Luxury vinyl tile also come in styles that resemble wood and stone. Some LVT floors look just like expensive stone flooring, but without the maintenance and high price tag.
Pros: Water-resistant, durable, easy-to-clean, resembles wood and stone, no maintenance, budget-friendly
Cons: May scratch
Tile
Porcelain and ceramic tile are top contenders on the list for cheap floors for a kitchen in a number of categories: affordability, durability, do-it-yourself, and water-resistance. Tile is water-resistant, making it incredibly durable in rooms prone to water spills (even in bathrooms). In homes with underfloor radiant heating, tile naturally conducts heat and provides a warm feeling underfoot.
Tiles are fairly easy to install because they only require a few tools, grout, and tile installation instructions. After installation, tiles only require a regular sweep and dry mopping, though some homeowners get frustrated by the difficulty of grout cleaning. (If a homeowner is worried about staining, tiles can be installed with a dark grout.)
In addition to durable, porcelain and ceramic tiles come in a variety of colors and styles. Some tile resembles wood, perfect for homeowners worried about water damage.
Pros: Water-resistant, durable, easy-to-clean, budget-friendly, fairly easy do-it-yourself project
Cons: Hard underfoot, can be hard to clean grout
Laminate
Many people view laminate flooring as a wood floor because laminate flooring is manufactured with wood. The main difference between laminate and wood flooring is the cost; laminate flooring is typically significantly cheaper per square foot. Because of the wood in the floor, however, some laminate floors may be prone to water damage if a water spill is not cleaned up quickly. There are new laminate floors that are water-resistant, making it a durable and cheap floor for a kitchen.
Laminate flooring comes in wide and narrow plank floors and are available in a wide variety of colors and stains. These floors can fit in with almost any kitchen décor.
For do-it-yourselfers, laminate floors are an easy installation. They only require a few tools and laminate flooring installation instructions. Most laminate floors piece together like a puzzle and don’t require adhesive.
Pros: Water-resistant, durable, easy-to-clean, budget-friendly, fairly easy do-it-yourself project
Cons: May be prone to water damage
