If you can't decide on the best flooring option for your kitchen, white shaker cabinets are quite versatile and will go well with any floor type.
In and of itself, a kitchen renovation is already a big and stressful project, however, when you are a parent with multiple kids, it becomes even more of a headache. Besides all the factors you have to consider when choosing your materials, you also have to take into account your child's safety and the likelihood of damage to the material itself, especially when it comes to choosing what type of floor to use.
Let's face it, trying to keep our boisterous kids under control or in one place is often next to impossible. At some point, they will eventually find their way into the kitchen and probably start playing on the floor.
This can lead to a whole host of potential problems including nicks and scratches on the floor itself, wet and slippery floor surfaces, and unsafe adhesives. However, by selecting the right kid friendly kitchen flooring material, you can effectively avoid most of these issues from ever arising in the first place.
It is a smart decision to avoid any flooring option that requires adhesives. However, if it must, ensure that only non-toxic formaldehyde-free adhesives are used. This also applies to flooring materials that require a sealant. In case you are worried about the type of flooring your kids will be exposed to, here are some options to help ease your mind.
Hardwood Flooring
If you already have hardwood flooring installed in your kitchen, you are best just keeping it. Renovating your kitchen floor will not only prove to be a time-consuming and disruptive project, but also a very expensive one as well. What's more, the excess dust and allergens generated during the project can pose a serious health hazard to your young children.
There is a reason why hardwood is one of the most preferred flooring options for the kitchen. To begin with, it is one of the easiest to clean and maintain. Secondly, it is considered the best floor for allergies since it doesn't collect dust or pollens.
In addition, it is highly durable and potentially scratch-resistant. Thus, you don't have to worry about your kids playing with their toys on the floor. Also, light-colored hardwood floors are better at hiding little imperfections than dark-colored flooring. What's more, if your hardwood flooring is old, it already has enough imperfections to conceal any simple nicks and scratches that your children can make on the floor.
Cork Flooring
While the hardness of hardwood makes it a popular flooring option, it is not particularly appealing to some parents. This is based on the fear that harder surfaces can aggravate the severity of injuries in the event of unexpected trips and falls. If you are concerned about this, you can consider going for cork flooring.
Also, if aesthetics are a major consideration for you, cork flooring could be a great option. Sealing makes it very difficult to stain cork flooring, which is very beneficial when it comes to kitchen floors. Additionally, it resembles hardwood and matches well with a wide range of kitchen styles.
Perhaps the only and biggest drawback to cork flooring is that its softness makes it particularly prone to scratching and damage. However, this shouldn't serve as a reason to decide against it. Besides, cork flooring is normally installed as tiles, which means that you can easily replace any damaged tiles.
Bamboo Flooring
Bamboo has been gaining a lot of popularity in recent years as a flooring material. While it resembles hardwood, in actuality, it is not wood at all. It is a type of grass that is usually pressed together and combined with adhesives to create a durable surface.
Besides being a more eco-friendly option, bamboo flooring is also resistant to stains, which makes it an excellent choice for the kitchen where spills are always bound to happen.
There are different grades of bamboo. Predictably, some grades are stronger and more durable than others. When buying your bamboo flooring, ensure that you find a reputable manufacturer that only uses non-toxic sealers and adhesives.
Laminate Flooring
Besides safety and durability, one of your other big concerns may be the price of the flooring. If you have long desired hardwood flooring for your kitchen but are put off by the cost, don't worry. Thanks to technological advancements in the sector, you can find some great alternatives to hardwood that come at a cheaper price.
While laminate is commonly disregarded as a cheap-looking material, advanced engineering techniques have made it possible to produce attractive laminate flooring options, some of which closely resemble hardwood. As with hardwood flooring, laminate is also very easy to clean. Easy cleaning is an important feature of any kitchen flooring as it helps to avoid any potential issues.
Laminate is also ideal for people who suffer from allergies. This is because the tight seal doesn't allow dust, pollen, or other allergens to penetrate.
However, laminate has one notable downside in that it can be slippery when wet. So, to avoid the risk of injurious falls, consider going for textured laminate. The raised surfaces help reduce the chances of slipping.
Cork floors combined with white kitchen cabinets
You can cut out unhealthy and toxic compounds by settling for floating floors. These are floors that are placed on top of the surface without the use of any adhesives. What's more, they are very easy to install, meaning that you can turn your floor installation into a DIY project.
If you don't like the concept of floating floors, just make sure to seek out non-toxic and formaldehyde-free adhesives and sealants to protect your child's health.
The above-listed flooring options go well with any styling and design option, which means that you can achieve the perfect look you've always wanted for your kitchen without having to compromise on your child's health and safety.
