A new kitchen is a big investment and the decisions you make now will be ones you’ll live with for some time so before you’re tempted to follow the latest trends it’s important to consider if these align with your own tastes and how you use your kitchen. Do you love a sleek minimalist look, a timeless classic style that oozes elegance or a playful exuberance where family can gather and kids can muck in too?
Once you’re clear on the look and feel you want, it’s worth considering the units and floor together so that they complement each other. Kitchens are the most common rooms to find Karndean flooring and it’s not hard to understand why.
Each handcrafted design painstakingly reproduces the natural beauty of precious woods and stones but in a format that is hygienic, hard wearing and easy to keep clean. Add in almost endless options for creating a bespoke floor using patterns and borders, and it’s hard to imagine considering anything else. Take a look at some of our kitchen flooring ideas here.
We’ve investigated the latest kitchen trends and paired some of the best with beautiful flooring suggestions to help you find the one you’ll love for many years to come.
Traditional wood
If you’ve been mourning the demise of classic wood cabinets, you’ll be pleased to hear that they’re available again. From classic oak to rich walnut, the natural warmth of a wood kitchen brings an intimate cosy feel that is sure to encourage you to linger.
To enhance this organic embrace, why not go matchy matchy with the flooring? Our collections offer a wide range of wooden flooring designs, from the soft beige tones of our limed oak and the subtly aged beauty of our brushed oaks to smoky reclaimed antique designs, so we guarantee you’ll find the perfect complement to your kitchen.
Image: Dutch Limed Oak, Knight Tile, credit Instagram @insidestudio
Textural interest
If you love an understated painted look, a simple Shaker style in off-white is a timeless classic and leaves the stage open for the flooring to steal the show with pattern and texture. Here, a herringbone floor would be a great choice, creating a sense of flow and depth.
Opt for one of our classic parquet or modern herringbone planks or play with pattern on a larger scale by using full-sized planks in a herringbone pattern. Learn more about our herringbone flooring here.
Image: Lime Washed Oak, Knight Tile, credit Instagram @the_douglas_home
Rustic farmhouse style
Whether or not you live in an actual farmhouse, you can get the look with some simple design tricks. Pair a classic Shaker style kitchen with a traditional range style cooker and rustic wood design flooring then imagine yourself preparing a family feast with your own home grown veggies.
Inspired by decades-old painted floorboards we found in Holland, our farmhouse oak design is available in two colour options: Blond Farmhouse Oak to complement warm toned cabinets and the slightly cooler tones of Silver Farmhouse Oak, perfect for white or cool greys.
Image: Blond Farmhouse Oak, Van Gogh
Playful patterns
If bold colour and exuberance is more your style, we’re guessing that you’re drawn to one of the many beautiful coloured kitchens on the market right now - vibrant and confident colour palettes brought alive with an eclectic mix of retro accessories, bespoke lighting options and interesting flooring.
Our Heritage Collection could be the perfect partner for your playful kitchen. Recreating the opulence of classic geometric tiled floors, our designs combine square and triangle tiles in four patterns. Choose one of our traditional reproductions or contemporary interpretations, or design your own using any combination of 12 colours and a choice of co-ordinating decorative borders.
Image: Montpelier, Heritage Collection, credit Instagram @this_little_house_of_ours
Sleek and minimalist
Characterised by streamlined units, considered storage and functional aesthetics, opting for a minimalist kitchen will ensure your home oozes calm and serenity. Without details to catch the eye, the success of a minimalist kitchen will hinge on the juxtaposition of the materials used.
The smooth finish of a stone design floor will enhance the airy feel. Choose from the fresh light elegance of marble or onyx to complement white units or match grey to one of our quartzite, slate or concrete designs. Then elevate your luxury floor with design strips to replicate grouting, border details or an inset panel.
Image: Verona Quartzite, Art Select
A kitchen in disguise
A contemporary minimalist kitchen in a period home can make a big statement, transforming your space into something unique and unexpected. By using only base units paired with open shelving or a collection of unfitted furniture and an island bar, your kitchen could become almost invisible.
In this situation, taking the same flooring throughout your living spaces will further disguise the kitchen zone. Opt for the clean lines of a soft grey limestone like Caliza Classico or a light oak design with subtle markings and a handscraped surface such as our Damask Oak, both from our premium Art Select range.
Image: Caliza Classico, Art Select, credit Instagram @shiftabrick
For help selecting the best floor for your new kitchen, try our product finder. Alternatively you can view our kitchen flooring here.