Design & Product Insights

How to choose wood flooring for a Kitchen

Warm, practical and naturally beautiful, a real wood floor can transform a kitchen from a functional space into the welcoming heart of your home. The recipe for success is choosing one that suits the space you have, the way you live, and the style you love.

Broadleaf Sirocco Oak Plank Flooring in a kitchen

START WITH HOW YOU USE YOUR KITCHEN

No two kitchens, households, or families are the same, so take time to really think about what your floor will need to cope with – pets, kids, dinner parties, or messy chefs? Is it an open-plan kitchen that’s the centre of a busy family home, or a calm grown-up space for entertainment and good conversation over a bottle of wine?

Real wood flooring is a practical choice for a kitchen, but some styles will disguise the evidence of everyday life more easily than others. For family kitchens, natural and mid-toned floors with plenty of variation and aged or textured finishes are more forgiving of crumbs, dust and scratches. If you’re in an adult-only home and want to create a calm space, something pale, sleek and majestic might be better suited.

If you choose a floor that suits the way you live, you’ll have a floor that’s easy to love and look after, because it’s been thoughtfully chosen for your home and the activity it usually sees.

Plank and parquet floors are both beautiful, but if you like both and don’t know which to choose, the following might help you.

Plank floors are quicker and easier to install than parquet, which means that they will be less expensive to install. They are also a simpler DIY option. That said, parquet floors have an undeniable wow factor, and create a feature all on their own. This is one of the reasons that they are such a popular choice for hallways, which can often be difficult to furnish due to their size and the need to be able to move through them freely.

Herringbone parquet is also a great solution for unusually shaped rooms such as L shapes or those entered from more than one direction, as the pattern works both ways, whereas plank floors tend to look better in one direction or another.

Plank and parquet floors are both beautiful, but if you like both and don’t know which to choose, the following might help you.

Plank floors are quicker and easier to install than parquet, which means that they will be less expensive to install. They are also a simpler DIY option. That said, parquet floors have an undeniable wow factor, and create a feature all on their own. This is one of the reasons that they are such a popular choice for hallways, which can often be difficult to furnish due to their size and the need to be able to move through them freely.

Herringbone parquet is also a great solution for unusually shaped rooms such as L shapes or those entered from more than one direction, as the pattern works both ways, whereas plank floors tend to look better in one direction or another.

Rich Textured Vintage Parquet

Porcelain Oak

THINK ABOUT LIGHT & COLOUR

Your floor will be one of the largest surface areas in your kitchen, so its colour will have a significant impact on how the finished space looks and feels.

Think about the undertones in your cabinetry, worktops and other natural materials, as well as the light in the room. Cooler northern light can make colours appear darker and colder, while strong southern light will bring out warmth in the timber. Always look at flooring samples in your kitchen, on the floor, and at different times of day before making your final decision.

Most importantly, choose a colour you genuinely love rather than one inspired by a passing trend because a beautiful real wood floor will last through several kitchen makeovers.

Plank and parquet floors are both beautiful, but if you like both and don’t know which to choose, the following might help you.

Plank floors are quicker and easier to install than parquet, which means that they will be less expensive to install. They are also a simpler DIY option. That said, parquet floors have an undeniable wow factor, and create a feature all on their own. This is one of the reasons that they are such a popular choice for hallways, which can often be difficult to furnish due to their size and the need to be able to move through them freely.

Herringbone parquet is also a great solution for unusually shaped rooms such as L shapes or those entered from more than one direction, as the pattern works both ways, whereas plank floors tend to look better in one direction or another.

Plank and parquet floors are both beautiful, but if you like both and don’t know which to choose, the following might help you.

Plank floors are quicker and easier to install than parquet, which means that they will be less expensive to install. They are also a simpler DIY option. That said, parquet floors have an undeniable wow factor, and create a feature all on their own. This is one of the reasons that they are such a popular choice for hallways, which can often be difficult to furnish due to their size and the need to be able to move through them freely.

Herringbone parquet is also a great solution for unusually shaped rooms such as L shapes or those entered from more than one direction, as the pattern works both ways, whereas plank floors tend to look better in one direction or another.

Blakeney Oak

Hampton Oak

CHOOSE A STYLE THAT COMPLEMENTS THE SPACE

Plank, parquet, wide, narrow, rustic or refined – the proportions and character of your flooring can completely change the mood of your kitchen.

Plank flooring, especially wide planks, will create a simple, streamlined look that works well across generous open-plan spaces. Parquet brings pattern and character and can become a beautiful design feature in its own right. Think about grade too: if you’re after a cottage or traditional feel, a characterful floor with knots and natural variation would make a great base, but if you want a more modern, clean feel, an elegant grade with less variation may suit better.

If your kitchen connects to a dining or living space, continuing the same floor throughout is also a beautiful way to create flow. An uninterrupted run of flooring draws the eye through the rooms, making the space feel considered and more connected.

Rustic Grade – Cottage Oak

Elegant Grade – Gallery Oak

MAKE SURE IT’S DESIGNED & MADE FOR REAL LIFE

A kitchen floor needs to be beautiful, but it also needs to work hard. The key to this lies in the quality of its production and finish.

Real wood will change over time – small marks, dings & scrapes, and signs of use will become part of its character and the story of your home. It creates the rich, lived-in patina that makes natural timber so special, and it’s part of its timeless appeal.

That said, it does need to be practical enough for everyday life. That’s why all Broadleaf floors are protected with a durable, water-resistant hardwax oil finish that’s designed to withstand inevitable accidents & mishaps. Unlike a lacquered surface, hardwax oil can also be locally repaired without sanding the entire floor, making it easier than ever to ensure it stays looking its best for generations to come.

Waverley Chevron

Apsley Oak

Worn Vintage Parquet

PLANNING A NEW KITCHEN?

Order samples to see your favourite floors in your own space, or visit one of our showrooms where our team can help you find a beautiful wood floor that suits your kitchen, your home and the way you live.

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