Best Flooring for Kitchen? Ceramic Tiles ...a Beautiful Flooring Material

There is nothing more enduring than ceramic tiles for a beautiful floor covering; particularly in a wet area like the kitchen.

Here is your opportunity to make a bold and stunning statement in an otherwise neutrally toned color scheme.

The real artist will be able instinctively to know the type and texture of tile to enhance or contrast with the textures and colors of the cabinetry, countertops and backsplash.

If you don't feel instinct stirring when considering best flooring for kitchens- perhaps call in a designer or kitchen consultant to suggest some ideas.

Here is where the real FUN starts! There are absolutely endless styles and designs and colors in ceramic tiles for floors and walls.

The best thing is to go to 2 or 3 warehouses or showrooms where there are kitchens and tiles set out on display for you to choose the best flooring for kitchens.

This is where you can look to your heart's content and see how the different types work within a kitchen setting. Many showrooms have a table where you can set out your basic tile, add any feature tiles that you may like to include as a decorative feature interspersed randomly, or by design, in between.

Here you can lay it all out and see what the mix looks like.

You can usually take home some samples and this is where you will get a great idea of how it will all look in situ.

Lay out a few different combinations of wall and floor tile with your feature tiles each couple of days to see what they look like in different lights and different times of day.

If your countertops aren't installed yet, get a sample of that material to see what it looks like against the tiles.

Your floor tiles can be a bigger sizing of the wall tiles, or they may be completely different. Just as long as you are happy with the result - trust your own ideas and go with them!

Use the same colored grout to fill in between the tiles as the tiles themselves, or you will find that a lighter color eventually shows the dirt more easily.

The advantages of ceramic floor tiles

They will go with practically any style of kitchen provided you choose the right type to complement the rest of the kitchen materials.

Ceramic tiles can be laid by you. You simply need to find out how to lay them, and then to follow through with the correct equipment and grouting..

The problem comes with the cutting of any tiles to fit into the floor space. You'll need a tile cutter to do this properly. Also, the placement of tiles where some need cutting, is to be looked at before you start.

Place the tiles down and see if they are plaesing to the eye as far as placement is concerned. Shuffle them about until you are happy and then start cutting.

The smaller your floor space, the more improtant it is to do this - especially if you are using quite large tiles.

Cleaning is easy...just use warm water and a mop.

Using neutral colors and stone textures, your kitchen floor will provide a beautiful and functional backdrop to the more bold decorative features of the countertops or the backsplash, perhaps.

A natural look is the current trend - slate greys, charcoals, chocolates and lattes - polished or unpolished.

Ceramic tiles are durable, hard-wearing, low-maintanance and fireproof.

If you are using ceramic tiles outside or through the open plan living areas, you can save by ordering all the tiling together, as well as carrying your 'look' through all these areas, which gives a cohesiveness to your home.

The disadvantages of ceramic floor tiles

They can be slippery when wet. To counteract this - keep them dry at all times with a quick dry mop over.

They give an air of coolness which may be a disadvantage in a cool climate. However, you can always throw down a Persian or sisal rug to add warmth and ambience.

Pale-colored or porous tiles will stain easily, but you can seal them and simply wipe off any staining liquid.

Noise may be a factor in your consideration

The price of tiles varies considerably. Basically, the simpler more available tiles are very reasonably priced, but the superb hand-painted Italian tiles from far-flung corners of the country, are very expensive.

Go and have a good look to decide on the best flooring for kitchens before you settle on anything!