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How To Organize Your Kitchen On A Tiny Budget

The kitchen is the heart of the home, don’t you think? It can be the busiest place during mornings everyday and even more so on the holidays. As such, kitchens tend to be one of the most disorganized places in the home, and perhaps the dirtiest. Well, maybe next to the garage, that is. So, keep reading as here you will learn the best tips to organize your kitchen on a tiny budget.

In this article, let me show you how to get your kitchen back to the same state it was on move-in day; clean and without clutter. But fear not: in this list of tips for kitchen organization, I’m going to show you how to do just that without spending more than $10-20. Who said organization had to be expensive?

Cheap Organizing Tips & Tricks

Clean Out Your Cupboards

This step will literally cost you nothing. In any de-cluttering project, the first thing you need to do is clear out all the things you deem unnecessary; all the things that only clutter your space more and won’t serve useful anymore (hint: stuff that are gathering dust in your cupboards). This includes kitchen appliances and equipment that have been outdated or unused for a long time (12 months or more), along with all the plastic storage boxes you don’t use anymore (but are saving “just in case”).

Either throw all of these things away or donate them. When clearing out your cupboards and kitchen cabinets, have two boxes at the ready: one designated for disposable stuff and another for donations, or things you can sell.

Use As Much Vertical Space As Possible

See those walls underneath your kitchen cupboards? Use them. A good space-saver is the use of available wall space to hang your most frequently used kitchen equipment. What you can do is install rows of hooks to hang your spatulas, ladles, graters, etc. as well as wall-mounted spice racks for all your herbs and spices.

Another nifty idea is to install a long piece of magnet near your work area for all your knives; an easier and more convenient way to store them rather than using a knife block.

As for pots and pans, you can use a hanging pots and pans rack instead of storing these bulky things in the cupboards.

The general rule is: if you can hang it, hang it!

Clear Your Refrigerator

In a regular family home, the refrigerator also tends to become quite cluttered. What you can do to avoid this clutter, as well as prevent contamination of your food, is clearing out all your shelves.

Throw out all food that you haven’t touched for months but have been opened, as well as food that is showing signs of decay. Bottles, condiments, half-eaten bars, opened soda cans, rotting heads of lettuce—all inside the trash bin. You’ll find yourself very satisfied right afterwards.

And while you’re at it, why not give the refrigerator a good wipe down to get rid of bacteria?

Tip: For food items with strong odors, make sure to wrap them up well or store them in individual plastic boxes to avoid having other foods absorb their odor/taste. Furthermore, for stubborn gunk that has accumulated in your refrigerator (which can pose a dangerous health risk), you can use an air hose to power-clean it out.Organize Your Pantry

Same principle: throw out any food items that you haven’t touched for months or years (except for the non-perishables and emergency food, of course). Group all like items together and place them near each other. For example: gather all canned goods and put them on one shelf, while doing the same for breads and grains, pastas, snacks, condiments, and others.

After you do this, you’ll find an easier time looking for what you need when cooking.

Buy Cheap Organizers For Your Kitchen Cabinets

Another place for headache-inducing clutter is your kitchen cabinet. Kitchen utensils can get pretty out of hand when you don’t organize them, and the next thing you know, you can’t find that one-half measuring teaspoon you need.

Inexpensive solutions to your problem are cabinet organizers. These can come in the form of plastic trays that fit into your cabinets, dividing your space into sections for better organization. Put all your baking utensils in one box, and have another box for scissors, paring knives, and other cutting tools. See? Easy as pie.

You can also make your own cabinet organizers! To do this, carefully measure the length and width of your cabinet and install two pieces of 2×2 wood to make four sections. These sections will allow easier grouping of miscellaneous utensils.

Make Use Of Recycled Jars

If you have lots of used jars lying around, why not turn them into tools for organization?

Instead of having boxes and packages of flours and rice cluttering up your cupboards, pour their contents into jars for easy storage and access while cooking. Not only can you find them easier, you also save space for your cupboards and reduce the risk of contamination.

Use Things That Don’t Belong In The Kitchen

For easy access and even easier drying, use a cheap magazine holder to store your cookie sheets as well as chopping boards.

To have your frequently used recipes at hand, why not use a corkboard to pin them all in one place. Similarly, a small whiteboard can also come in handy for reminders and short recipes.

Moreover, you can use a desk organizer that was meant for pens and pencils to store straws, skewers, chopsticks, and the like.

And as for reusable paper bags and grocery bags, you can use a file organizer or file holder to store them easily. Hang it by the wall using adhesives and voila! You have you own paper bag organizer.

Conclusion

This article consists of just some of the tips you can do to organize your kitchen, but they are by far generally the easiest and cheapest to do. So, just follow these tips for a better organized kitchen and you’re good to go.

Did you like this article? If you did, let us know your thoughts below. Got a lot of friends with cluttered kitchens? Why not share them this article, too? Thanks for reading!

Author Bio:

Hi! I’m Emma Clark from The Art of Home Renovations, an interior designer with one true passion: home improvement. With my experience and skill, I want to help you make your home into a revolutionary & magical work of art through easy, inexpensive, and innovative ideas that you can DIY!

Polished Concrete Floors For Your Kitchen

Now concrete floor polishing has come up with some new ideas in the market and you can easily avail yourself of these colorful concrete floor polishing systems. Apart from that, for your kitchen area, if you install tiles, marble or stone flooring then you may have to spend some additional expense for maintenance purposes. Also stone flooring can be easily affected by food ingredients making it difficult to wash the floor with normal detergent.

When you install a polished concrete floor in your kitchen area, you can easily maintain and wash the floor with plain water and any detergent solution. It can easily save your installation cost and maintenance cost. Concrete is so much more cost-effective and durable than normal tiles or other kinds of costly stone finish, because of the variety of building material it can be mixed with, and the variety of color options which can be opted for and because concrete can be polished, it can give a very shiny and glassy look to your floors.

What Is Concrete?

Concrete is a material, which is a mix of coarse material bonded together with liquid cement, which is then hardened over time. Most of the concretes used are lime-based such as Portland cement concrete or concrete made of hydraulic cement such as cement and sand.

Why Do You Use Concrete Flooring In Your Kitchen?

Concrete has traditionally had a very strong and rough look and it was not generally used in home flooring but it was regularly used in outdoor situations. However, interior design experts will agree to it now because of its capacity to be designed in many ways. Concrete has many virtues as being cost effective, reducing allergens, being durable and easy to maintain. Concrete is an excellent choice in kitchen flooring due to reasons like:

• In your kitchen area, food particles and huge amount of left over things can spill onto the floor and you need to clean these with some cleaning solutions. Some of the detergent ingredients include lemon, vinegar and other chemicals can create an acidic reaction on the floor, and you might even have to remove the scratches completely. So when you use the concrete floor polishing, you will get an instant shining look, and you can clean the surface with plain water throughout the day.

• Apart from that, the installation process of the concrete floor is the same as the construction methods, and you need to spend very little for the installation.
• A concrete floor is totally bacteria resistant and it is easy to clean and remove any bacteria and fungus. Along with that, you do not need to spend any recurring maintenance cost on a polished concrete floor, and a polished floor can be easily repaired, if need be, at low cost.

Downside Of Using Concrete For Kitchen Flooring:

• Because concrete is a very hard material, if you drop anything onto it, it is likely to break or be easily damaged.
• Due to its hardness, concrete can be very uncomfortable to stand on for longer hours.
• Concrete does not retain heat for long so it can be extremely cold in winter or places where the climate is cold most of the time.
• If concrete is not sealed properly from top and bottom, moisture and dampness can seep inside the concrete floor.
• Concrete contains cement, which requires a considerable amount of energy and carbon dioxide to manufacture.

Top Benefits Of Using A Polished Concrete Floor In Your Kitchen!

Polished concrete for kitchen floor looks great and offers a lot of benefits compared to other flooring options. For a long time, concrete was used for only industrial flooring; however, in recent years polished concrete is used in homes as well. This type of flooring is used in the kitchen for stylish effect and practical benefits that it offers.

Here Are Some Of The Advantages That You Can Get By Installing Polished Concrete Flooring:

• These floors are sustainable

People who prefer to build homes that are environment friendly homes can avoid using new material which makes this flooring a sustainable choice. At the time when concrete is sealed, sanded down or polished it looks great in traditional living room or kitchen. When this is combined with good furniture and oriental rugs it provides an even more amazing look to the whole setup.

• These floors offer health advantages

The dirt and dust accumulated in a house can lead to allergies and it can be problematic for the ones that are already suffering with respiratory issues. Having carpets with fibers and tiles with groves can lead to germs, mildew and bacteria. However, this is not the case with polished concrete flooring used in the kitchen. This is because it does not leave any space for mites and bacteria that can be caught within the tiles. Hence, when you want to have allergy free kitchen environment you can consider this kind of flooring.

• These floors are simple to maintain

The majority of flooring options require rigorous cleaning. In case you have carpet flooring it needs to be vacuumed. Marble flooring needs special cleansers and special attention. Floor board are required to be waxed every often. However, when you have polished concrete flooring, you need not worry about the stains because the flooring is resistant to stains and scuffs. For cleaning purposes you will only need to mop. Hence, this will save hours and cost on cleaning and labor.

• These floors are eco-friendly

This flooring is produced from natural and renewable components. You will not require hampering forest in order to have amazing floors. Also, concrete is energy-efficient after installed. One of the good things about this flooring is that during summers, these floors take in moisture through the ground and maintain it cool. On the other hand, in winters, it becomes dry and offers sun’s warmth.

• These floors are highly durable

Treated and polished concrete flooring is considered to be highly durable. Hence, it is for this reason it is the favorite choice for kitchen at homes and commercial setup. This flooring option absorbs moisture and does not because rot issues and so are best choice n a kitchen setup. Tiles and vinyl floors absorb moisture which can require costly replacements which are not the case with this kind of flooring.

• These floors are highly versatile

Polished concrete is one of the better flooring material choices for interiors and outdoors. For this kind of flooring silicone based sealers are utilized for avoiding the wet look. This kind of flooring also looks great with walls of stone veneer. This is one of the best choices for the dining area. It actually highlights the rustic appeal. Combining wet concrete with plank wood grain imprints offers an amazing look. This flooring can be a cost-effective choice when compared to salvaged wood floors.

• These floors make your room bright

These polished concrete floors reflect lights and this is what makes the house brighter. Hence, you can lessen down the amount you will have to spend on the electricity bills. Apart from reduced bills, bright lighting can enhance the beauty of the house and flooring.

In spite of having a lot of advantages the disadvantages must also be kept in mind to take a wise decision when doing a concrete polishing on the floors.

Top 5 Tips On How To Choose The Right Kitchen Cabinet Maker

The benefits of kitchen cabinets and what they achieve for your kitchen are not hidden from anyone. Apart from facilitating a well-organized kitchen, these cabinets can also increase the value of their home. If you don’t have any idea about the design or the material of wooden or plastic cabinets, or you don’t even know how to install steel or PBC cabinets in your kitchen, then the wisest thing to do is make contact with qualified kitchen cabinet maker who is sufficiently experienced to help you.

In order to have the perfect kitchen cabinets, you will have to hire the perfect kitchen cabinetmaker.

How Do You Choose the Right Kitchen Cabinet Maker?

Tip #1: Ask For References

There is bound to be someone amongst the people you know that has used kitchen cabinet services in the past. Ask them what they likedabout the services of that cabinet maker as well as if they know about some other good kitchen cabinetmakers. Also ask them if there was something they didn’t like, as its always good to get an overall rounded view. References from people can help you narrow down your search to some good and trusted cabinetmakers

Tip #2: Check Out Past Work Samples

If you want to hire the best cabinet maker for your kitchen, don’t hesitate to ask them about their past work. Most reputable cabinet makers will be more than happy to show you the recent work done by them. You should also ask them about some of their work done at least 5 years ago as this will help you to know if the cabinets made by them are durable and long-lasting or not.

Tip #3: Reviews And Feedback

Reviews and feedback play a very crucial role in determining whether a particular kitchen cabinet maker is worth hiring or not. You can search for reviews and feedback on the internet or even ask the people who have availed of their services. Be very wary of a cabinet maker with too many negative reviews, as they may definitely not be worth hiring even if they do promise to provide you many services at reduced cost.

Kitchen design blunder — Source: Pinterest.com via www.viralnova.com

Tip #4: If They Do The Doors

There are many kitchen cabinet makers who do not build the door of the cabinets themselves. Instead they use mass produced products. In such a case, there is every chance of the quality being compromised. You need to ensure the doors, locks and the bolting system are not be shoddy, and of substandard quality as this could mean your kitchen utensils, spice bottles and the like can effectively be trapped inside. You also want to ensure they aren’t likely to fall and break, whenever you open the cabinet.

Tip #5: Budget

Budget is one of the most important factors to consider while hiring a kitchen cabinet maker. So, determine the limit of your budget before meeting with them. Ask them about their rate and then decide if the particular cabinet maker is budget friendly or not. If you are running tight on budget, do not worry because there are many good kitchen cabinet makers that design amazing cabinets within the low budget range. There might be some compromises, but if the reviews and feedback are good, you can usually trust your instincts

Renovating The Kitchen

The Kitchen is undoubtedly one of the most important parts of your house. It is the place where delicious meals and dishes are prepared and cooked. Along with the design of the cabinets, the installation mechanisms must also be known beforehand by the cabinet maker, as only this can ensure the ultimate functionality of your kitchen. The last thing you want is cabinets that can’t be opened properly, because something else gets in the way. This is why forethought and planning are essential.

If your kitchen is of an old style, (and it bothers you) then it is high time you should consider investing a little time and money in its renovation. A whole kitchen renovation is often not necessary, when simply replacing the old kitchen cabinets with new ones to match the look and feel of your kitchen will often suffice. This will add a modern look to your kitchen and also help you keep it more organized as well as also improving your home’s overall value and appeal. Likewise, if your kitchen is equipped with cabinets that are too small in size, then getting them reconstructed and replaced can be a wise investment.

Searching from the online portals for a local craftsman cabinetmaker with good reviews will help you to get started on a customized design. Make contact with a few local cabinet makers and then go through the process of elimination to fit with the requirements you have for your updated kitchen.

Innovative and Useful Household Products

Bendable Power Outlet Strip

Are you tired of buying household power boards only to be frustrated by their ‘inflexibility’? Big bulky chargers just don’t fit their rigid charging spots. You have to juggle the available spots to try and fit everything, and even then, you still end up with one or two charging spots that you just can’t use, because the things you need to plugin are just too bulky.

Well, again, we have a solution. This flexible form household power board bends into circular, semi-circular, and zig-zag shapes to fit around furniture and in tight spaces and will accommodate the bulkiest of chargers without hogging valuable charging space.

With 6 available charging slots, (you can get a 4 slot charging board with a 2 foot cord) and a 4 foot cord, this board has ETL-certified surge protection up to 672 joules, with an easy off/reset button.

Livescribe 3 Smartpen

With the Live scribe 3 smartpen and the Live scribe+ mobile app, simply write on paper and watch it instantly appear on your tablet or smartphone. Your notes become infinitely more useful when they are tagged, organized, searchable, or even converted to text. Easily add recorded audio that’s synced with your handwriting so you can relive important moments. Quickly share notes and ideas with friends, colleagues, and peers-all with just a few quick taps of your finger. Simply brilliant.

The Kitty Pod

The Hepper Pod Bed will not only make your cat very happy but ti will also make your home very trendy and cool!

Designed for perfect cat comfort with a focus on the specific needs of cats. It gives them the best nap ever.

The elevated cat bed allows for airflow on all sides and the bottom to keep the air fresh and make for easy floor cleaning. A washable blanket liner is easy to pop off and throw in the wash and the reversible blanket liner gives your cat both warm or cool options.

Hepper Pod Cat Beds include a blanket liner made with soft sherpa fleece and microfiber – and it’s reversible and machine washable. The fabric is extra soft to the touch, (you’ll even wish your own bed was made out of the same material)

Your cat can enjoy the Kitty pod with either the top on or top off. With the top off, the Pod bed makes for a great day bed for larger cats. The bottom of the door is 11 inches off the floor, so your cat isn’t bothered by passing foot traffic, but is still able to see what’s going on from up above. Pop the top on and your cat will have warmth, security and privacy – so your furry friend can get the best nap ever!

Black+Blum Lunch Pot

Finding the most practical lunch box to take to school, work or uni is a challenge. Most of the example you can readily buy don’t fit the needs of most people. It’s almost like they were designed by people that never actually took their lunch to work, or school.

Well here is another great range of lunch solutions. Designed by practical people for practical people, these beautiful lunch containers not only work well but they are compact and look good.

Don’t waste your time on the cheaper lunch boxes that just don’t cut the mustard, (excuse the pun) get yourself something that will do the job properly, once and for all.

Umbra Sticks Wall-Mount Rack with Five Hooks

Sculptural and functional, the Sticks wall-mount multihook rack offers ample storage for coats, bags, accessories and more. Constructed of molded wood with a black finish, the Sticks features five sturdy hooks that flip back up when not in use, creating a clean, seamless profile that looks great and is good for tight spaces or minimalist decor styles.

Measuring 18 by 7-1/4 by 1-1/4-inches they come with concealed mounting hardware. Also available in other colors. Designed by Luciano Lorenzatti for Umbra, this is an original, modern, casual, functional and affordable design for your home.

Wireless Laser Projection Bluetooth Virtual Keyboard

Imagine not having to have a bulky keyboard on your desk!

Well now you don’t have to, this virtual ‘laser’ keyboard will keep your desk space optimized. Easily paired with your Iphone, Ipad, Smartphone, laptop or tablets, it works with Windows, iOS, Android and Mac OS giving you a fully functioning English QWERTY keyboard layout. The unit has a rechargeable lithium ion battery included.

A Breakfast Electric Sandwich Maker

Breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day, and yet so many of us are too busy to make it, or we just don’t think about it. With this fantastic breakfast sandwich maker, you needn’t worry about making breakfast again. A couple of quick minutes and you’re all done with a healthy and nutritious breakfast sandwich all made for you. Don’t skip breakfast when you don’t have to. These are simple and quick to use and relatively inexpensive to have at the ready each morning.

WeMo Wi-Fi Enabled Insight Switch

The WeMo Insight Switch works with the free WeMo app to give you wireless control of your appliances and electronics. Monitor your energy usage, or turn on a space heater to get the room nice and cozy before you get there, be at ease that you turned off the hair straightener or iron after the morning rush, or bring on the holiday cheer and turn on the holiday lights! Put your little ones to bed and turn off the reading lamp and turn on the nightlight as you tuck them in. Users can add additional switches easily any time. Control as much or as little of the home as desired. Plugs into any regular 120V wall outlet

Nest Protect 2nd Generation Smoke + Carbon Monoxide Alarm

Nest Protect. Thinks, speaks, and alerts your phone. The all-new Nest Protect is the smoke alarm other alarms look up to.

Nest Protect has been redesigned from the inside out. It has an industrial-grade smoke sensor, can be hushed from your phone, tests itself automatically, and lasts up to 10 years. And just like the original Nest Protect, it also tells you what’s wrong and can even alert your phone.

Supermarket Trolley Bags

Most of us go to the Supermarket several times a week right? And if you’re like most people, you battle with your groceries. We battle packing them up at the checkout, we battle getting them sorted, we battle packing them into the car (in a tidy way) and we battle when it comes to taking them inside and putting everything away. And then there’s the issue of the plastic bags that aren’t environmentally friendly.

What if there was a better way?
I think there might be!
Check this out!

Trolley Bags – The ultimate in Supermarket shopping packing, storage and organization. Re-usable, environmentally friendly, easy to take with you, easy to use, easy to transport your groceries and easy to keep your supermarket items organized.

Choosing the Best Kitchen Flooring for Your New Kitchen

The Best Kitchen Flooring Considerations

Making sure you select the best kitchen flooring that is the right flooring type for your kitchen based on your own specific usage demands, budget and family needs and requirements.

Get this wrong, and your kitchen will look like a nightmare and you’ll end up not adding any value to your home at all.

In fact buyers (if you ever sell) will need to factor in the costs to replace the flooring that you put in. So, basically, what we’re basically saying here is “Get this right!”

Or if you haven’t a clue, get advice. We’ve put together a comparison of the various types of kitchen flooring that you could buy today, hopefully, to help you make the right decision for your home and family.

Your kitchen is one of the key focal points for your home and therefore, it’s critical to get it right from the outset.

You need to take into account your needs in the kitchen, how will it be used, what sort of foot traffic will it get, how easily cleanable would you like it to be?

These factors along with budgetary constraints will all help to determine the most suitable flooring type for your kitchen.

Then to top it all off, you have to them factor in your style and color preferences, assuming they’re available in the flooring product you decide to go with.

Elaborating on some of these considerations mentioned above.

Your needs – Is your kitchen a place that receives some of the highest foot traffic in your home? Is it a gathering spot for family conversations, or is it simply a place where food is prepared and cooked? Whatever the use of your kitchen, the amount of foot traffic will determine whether or not you need a hard wearing, durable surface, or something less so.

Ease of cleaning – Depending on your time availability, some floor types are easier to clean and maintain than others. Determine just how important it is to you to have your kitchen floor always looking its best. If you don’t have the time available, or the inclination, then go with something like linoleum, or vinyl for an easy to clean solution. Also be aware that the lighter colored floors, or the natural stone type tiles that have uneven surfaces, whilst looking great, to begin with, can present cleaning difficulties or a consistent cleaning demand over the longer term.

Budgetary constraints – Its always nice to have an unlimited budget for doing up areas of your home, however for most of us, that isn’t the case. When it comes to spending money on your kitchen floor, don’t go for the cheapest option that you think might meet your needs, go with one that will keep adding value to your home over the longer term. Sure, it may cost a little more in the short term, but the long-term benefits will have it paid for itself many times over.

Color, and Style – This decision is critical. You need to take into account the overall theme, style, and color of the interior décor of your home. Don’t get too radical in your style and color choices for your kitchen floor. It needs to co-ordinate and blend with the overall feel of your home. So be conservative in your color choices and ensure that whatever color you do decide on, that it compliments and adds to the overall décor of your home.

What types of flooring are available for your new kitchen?

There are a lot of flooring choices for your new kitchen.

So first we’ll highlight to you the basic types of flooring you can choose from and then we’ll elaborate a little more on what their strengths and weaknesses are, to enable you to make an informed decision about what floor type is likely to be best for your kitchen and your own situation;

Ceramic Tiles
Granite tiles, slate tiles, or other natural stone
Solid Hardwood floors
Laminate Flooring
Vinyl
Cork
Linoleum
Concrete
Bamboo

Ceramic Tile

The most common flooring type you’ll see in many homes and one that has been around for ages are your good old ceramic tile which provides a real safe bet for your kitchen floor, and one that will also span most budget ranges.

The options for choice here are endless. If your budget is low, you’ll find something that will fit your kitchen plans.

If your budget is high, you will too. Although it’s not uncommon for some homeowners with extreme budgets to go on a tour (holiday) to Italy and hand select their very own tiles to import.

There are always lots of outlets, and wholesalers that run sales and sellouts all the time, so do your best to keep a lookout for massive in-store reductions off the retail price for a decent order.

You will have to choose from the variety of colors available, the size, the shape and even some that have a pattern.

Selecting the right tile for your kitchen will depend on your kitchen style, whether you’re after the contemporary modern look, or the more traditional, classic style look.

Either way, you’ll need to know to have some idea of your color theme, so you don’t choose a tile that would be inappropriate on your floor.

We Like:

Ceramic tiles are extremely hard wearing and will withstand lots of wear and tear. It won’t matter if you traipse mud and dirt into your kitchen and on to your ceramic floor, because cleaning it is a breeze.

Likewise, any spillages or other accidents that happen from time to time will have little or no impact on your flooring.

The value of ceramic tiles as a flooring make it possibly the most cost-effective flooring type for budget seekers, and if you’re the adventurous type, then you could even experiment with creating your own unique tile floor pattern.

We Don’t Like:

Ceramic tiles are unforgiving. When you drop a breakable plate or a glass on to it, it will break 99% of the time.

Likewise, if you lay the tiles on a concrete floor, the lack of flexibility, and the natural movement that occurs in properties over time can cause a tile to crack, and/or the same for grouting, which incidentally, also needs regular cleaning and sealing to maintain a consistent color throughout.

There is often also a cold feeling when walking on a ceramic tile floor barefoot, and there is also the risk of slips when walking on a wet ceramic tile floor.

Costings:

These will vary wildly, but you are likely to be looking at upwards of $3 per square foot (uninstalled)

Natural Stone

Natural Stone, regardless of what type of material they have the major advantage in their natural variation of colors.

It’s true that with natural stone you won’t generally find any two pieces with the same textures, patterns or colors and hence in your home on the floor, it adds a dimension that no other flooring product can provide.

Natural stone is often thought of as either limestone, granite, slate, and travertine.

When using natural stone on a kitchen floor, it does tend to create a rich and elegant look that can instantly lift a kitchen’s perceptible value.

We Like:

Stone floors have built-in natural beauty and because they have been used as a flooring surface for centuries, they have proven to be durable and hard wearing and also require very little maintenance and upkeep.

Like tiles and concrete, they are also cold underfoot which is great for people living in hotter climes.

We Don’t Like:

Stone, being a natural product can be expensive and is not ideally suited for the do-it-yourself type. It is notorious for trapping dirt and depending on the softness of the stone, it can become scratched and chipped.

It may even require regular sealing of the surface to add protection if it is of a porous type.

Costings:

Again some wild variability in pricing, but you can expect to pay around $15 to $30 per square foot, uninstalled.

Solid Timber

There is nothing more naturally beautiful than the warmth and beauty of a real solid wood floor.

With kitchens being places of high foot traffic and high moisture, the choice of a wooden floor can be a good one for longevity and a date-less look.

The caveat here is that the composite flooring materials and the manufactured laminated or synthetic timber look products are not a suitable choice for a kitchen floor.

For this example, we are referring exclusively to ‘solid hardwood flooring’ materials.

When cared for, and treated appropriately, they can last indefinitely.

We Like:

Solid wood planks in whatever material or timber type you choose, will provide you with plenty of choices to do with color and look.

Whether you want a light wood, a dark wood, or a heavily grained wood, there should be a solid wooden floor type to fit your needs, and because its timeless in its look, with a little regular maintenance of sanding and refinishing, you can maintain its great look for many years.

We Don’t Like:

Dents and scratches are the enemies of the timber floor.

When you drop solid objects, they can leave permanent marks in the floor (usually until they are removed by sanding and refinishing) Also any liquid spillages, require prompt cleaning up to avoid damage to the surface.

Costings:

Timber flooring will cost between about $5 and $12 per square foot, uninstalled.

Vinyl

Vinyl seems to have been around for years as a flooring choice and it was also primarily chosen based on price.

The range of choices was always relatively limited and it was never quite a choice that would give your kitchen the fashion edge.

Fast forward to modern times, and we now have vinyl in a sophisticated range of choices of different designs and finishes.

It is available in tiles, or rolls, or sheets and the look now mimics a wooden floor, a stone floor, ceramic tile as well as lots of other options that even include embossed textures that look and feel amazingly realistic to the original.

We Like:

Still, a relatively cheap kitchen flooring option compared with other choices, you can now have the look of other more expensive materials at a fraction of the cost.

Vinyl floors are easy to clean and maintain, and it’s a relatively simple process to patch an area that may have been damaged.

It generally offers a comfortable underfoot feeling and is relatively simple for the DIY’er to install.

Vinyl is a great choice of kitchen flooring for lower value homes, or rental houses, or infrequently used holiday homes.

We Don’t Like:

Vinyl is prone to denting, bubbling and lifting and can even curl up at the edges over time. It can be easily subjected to tearing, or surface damage from dirt and grit which is not repairable unless you patch the damaged area and it is also possible that the look can fade in strong sunlight.

Whilst it is a cheaper option when compared to other flooring choices, the long-term lifespan of a vinyl floor is somewhat limited. You will probably begin to notice obvious signs of wear and tear after about 4 or 5 years.

Costings:

If you shop around, you can probably source some good vinyl options for between $2 to $20 per square foot, uninstalled.

Linoleum

You might be thinking ‘but you just did vinyl, why are you now covering linoleum?’

It’s not uncommon for people to confuse vinyl and linoleum, but the reality is they are completely different products.

Linoleum has been around for quite a long time, originally being developed back in the 1800’s and has sold extensively in either sheets or tiles and is available in a wide variety of colors.

Installing linoleum should be done by a professional installer as almost all practical applications of linoleum is likely to require extensive seams and its wearability over time will likely be based on the base over which it installed.

Linoleum was developed from all natural materials, such as linseed oil, resins, wood flour and the like, however as synthetic flooring started to become popular, it became unfashionable.

Nevertheless, due to its ‘green-ness’ and the fact that ‘retro’ is making a fashionable comeback, the use of linoleum is again on the rise making it a perfect option for people with classically styled cottages or those looking to recreate that mid-twentieth century interior look.

We Like:

Linoleum is a versatile product. Since it is available in practically every color imaginable, it gives great flexibility to the kitchen owner, especially those looking for the boldness of color on the floor.

It can also be easily cut into unique patterns providing a flooring look that is totally unique and personal, plus it is still an affordable option when compared to other flooring types, its durable and hard wearing and requires little maintenance.

If linoleum is well cared for, it will last for a very long time.

We Don’t Like:

Linoleum is a product that can wear and fade in time and with lots of use. Some manufacturers choose to add a protective surface coating before it is sold.

If you look to buy linoleum without such a coating, then you are likely to need to periodically wax and polish the floor. It can expensive to install, and is potentially difficult to work with, hence the need for a professional linoleum installer, and these people can also be difficult to find

Cost:

About $5 to $8 per square foot, uninstalled. Custom colors and patterns add to the price tag.

Concrete

Concrete flooring (as you can no doubt imagine) is probably the hardest and most durable of flooring surfaces.

It has ventured a long way since days of old, when it was only ever on a basement or garage floors, or hidden beneath carpeting or some other softer feeling covering.

Many recent designers have taken concrete under their wings due to its versatility and applied a multitude of personalization aspects to it.

Polishing the concrete provides a beautiful finish that would match the look of many other hard surface finishes.

Colorings or stains are added to provide uniqueness in the final look.

Other ways concrete is treated to provide a unique flooring surface is through surface techniques like acid etching, scoring, or even stamping with interesting or unique designs and styles.

We Like:

Concrete is renown for its ability to remain cool, even in the hottest of weather, making it great for hotter climate areas.

Dollar for dollar it offers the best value when it comes to durability being practically indestructible, it will end up looking just as good after its cleaned up (Assuming it was sealed, to begin with).

Also, should you ever tire of the semi-industrial look of concrete, you can always cover with an alternative flooring surface.

We Don’t Like:

Concrete flooring (as a finished surface) requires professional installation.

It can feel solid to the underfoot and doesn’t have the give of many other flooring types like hardwood.

Being porous, it means you’ll need to seal the surface to prevent stains, especially in the high traffic areas like the kitchen where spillages and droppages are commonplace.

Not an ideal surface for the colder climates if you desire a warm looking and feeling surface.

Cost:

The costs of pouring a concrete floor can vary wildly.

Depending on the overall complexity, concrete floors can cost as little as $2 to $6 a square foot or as much as $15 to $30 a square foot.

Typically, a decorative concrete floor installation will be quite cost-effective, especially if you already have an existing concrete slab that’s ready for staining, polishing or an application of a decorative coating or overlay.

Concrete finishing treatments, such as staining, stamping or etching are likely to range between about $2 per square foot and $15 or more per square foot.

Cork

Cork is a naturally grown product from the bark of a tree and has become particularly popular of late as a kitchen floor material.

One of the recent innovations with cork is that it is now available in a variety of patterns and colors.

For people that like a soft feel underfoot will like a cork kitchen floor.

With it natural air pockets, it provides a softness or spongy feeling that many other floor surfaces don’t.

An eco-friendly product, the look of cork on a kitchen floor isn’t for everyone.

It can be a practical floor for cooks or chefs that spend long hours standing, but aesthetically, it is a floor type you either like or loathe.

We Like:

A flexible product that is most often laid in tile forms.

A natural shock absorber, it provides great underfoot comfort and is more forgiving when glasses or crockery are dropped onto it.

It holds the warmth and is also a great sound absorber.

Because of its makeup, it is also naturally resistant to mold or mildew.

We Don’t Like:

If exposed to grit, or dirt, it can become scarred or easily marked, hence regular cleaning is required.

Cork must also be regularly sealed with polyurethane.

Generally, self-forgiving to hard items dropped onto creating small dents or marks, major damage would often require the replacement of a tile. It pays to keep some spares when first installing cork.

Also, it can be prone to fading over time.

Cost:

General costs for cork will be about $2 to $12 per square foot, uninstalled depending on what you select, although the average often works out around $6-$8 per square foot.

Laminate

Constructed of four layers of material fused together: a melamine wear layer, a high-resolution photo, a dense core board, and a melamine backing layer, a laminate flooring surface is ideal for people who want a particular ‘look’, but either don’t have the budget to extend to the ‘real thing’, or want less maintenance.

Laminate floors require specifically designed underlayment to serve as a moisture barrier and muffle sound, but it can even make a laminate floor sound more like hardwood when walked on.

Kitchens that have frequent spillages, or kids and pet traffic will suit the durable surface a laminate floor can provide.

A laminate floor is often made to look like hardwood or tile, and it also often comes at a lower price.

The surface is usually resistant to stains and marks and is simple and easy to clean up.

Unlike the original hardwood floors upon which its looks are often based, it doesn’t get better with age, and its unable to be sanded.

However, visually, when it comes to some of the better options available today, it can be a challenge to distinguish a high-end laminate from the real thing.

We Like:

A laminate floor looks good and requires very little maintenance, usually just a sweep and a damp mop. Some versions of laminate flooring make it easy for a DIY installation. Costs generally are moderate.

We Don’t Like:

Even though ti can look like the real thing, if it starts showing its age, it has to be replaced completely. It doesn’t give the depth, or texture of the original product that it is based on, and it has a much shorter lifespan than its counterpart as well.

Cost:

About $2 to $4 uninstalled, but for a typically average house, you could expect to pay between $5 to $8 per square foot, installed.

Bamboo

Bamboo flooring is actually a type of grass that gives the appearance and look of a hardwood floor. Bamboo is such a hardy plant, and bamboo flooring is no different.

Quite a dense product, it will withstand a busy active family lifestyle in a kitchen.

However, being a natural product, and like any hardwood floor, the same care needs to be applied in regards to preventing scratches and dents from accidents.

The subfloor for bamboo must be super smooth otherwise the bamboo floor is likely to show the imperfections.

Bamboo is susceptible to moisture and so its vital a waterproof underlay be installed on top of a concrete slab.

Bamboo is able to be laid in horizontal strips laid flat which shows off the rich grains of the bamboo.

It can be woven or stranded (This is the hardest) whereby the shredded bamboo is compressed with a resin creating an exotic and stunning look.

A vertical style which features the strips turned sideways provides a very modern look.

Naturally a blonde color, the material is able to be stained different colors or pressure heat treated which caramelizes the bamboo’s sugar content to produce a natural warm brown color.

We Like:

Due to its rapid growth, it is a sustainable flooring product for green building choices.

It contains most of the benefits of a hardwood floor such as low maintenance, and great look, but bamboo also provides a much more gentler underfoot experience than the hardwoods. It also works out a little cheaper than its hardwood counterpart.

We Don’t Like:

Limited range of color choices when compared with other woods. It can warp in high humidity environments, so may not be suitable for all situations. Quality control needs to be paramount when choosing bamboo flooring, since most of it is imported, and the quality of the product can vary

Cost:

Expect to pay around $4 to $9 per square foot, uninstalled.

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