Reviewing new kitchen floor plans for your kitchen? Then you have a lot to consider as your kitchen floor plans will play a major role in the overall functionality and look of your kitchen colors.
One increasingly used floor material, with its natural and warm motif, that many families find rewarding is wood flooring. One reason that homeowners are returning to wood flooring is that it offers an inviting quality to any room, including a kitchen. Further, for kitchens that are adjoined by a family or living area with existing wood floors, a wood floor will allow for a natural flow between the rooms to create one overall kitchen floor design rather than two distinct kitchen floor plans.
A Variety of Natural Choices for Your Kitchen Colors
You can purchase wood flooring in a number of materials, from the more common oak and pine, to the exotic maple and hickory. Regardless of your wood choice, you can add to its natural beauty with the finish in such a way as to accent your kitchen colors. An oil finish will lend a weathered look to your flooring. While this will appeal to the quaint, keep in mind that this finish requires frequent waxing to keep it looking nice.
For an alternative seal that requires less upkeep, think about polyurethane, which is factory installed. You have to update the seal every 6 years or so, but, in the interim, you can clean it quickly with regular household cleaning materials. This makes polyurethane a great choice if you have young kids that frequently spill and splatter food. Further, if your kitchen is located in a high traffic area, such as in close proximity to the stairs or front door, polyurethane will withstand the consistent wear and tear well, keeping your kitchen floor design looking fresh.
Easy to Maintain with a Little Planning
After installing your preferred wood and finish, you’ll want to maintain its natural beauty. To do so, make sure you use a broom with a soft bristle. Never use a wet mop as it could stain your floor, affecting its look and match with your kitchen colors. To that end, always clean spills immediately. Other good practices include placing rugs near the entrance to your kitchen to inhibit abrasive dirt from aggravating the wood and placing glides under tables and chairs to prevent scratching. Also, never wear high heels on your wood floor as the pressure they exert can leave marks on your wood based kitchen floor design.
Keep in mind, however, that while kitchen floor plans that use wood, with a few precautions, are easy to maintain, even the durable polyurethane treated floors can warp as a result of kitchen heat, moistures and spills.
Kitchen Plans that Won’t Break the Bank
Prices on wood flooring vary, but you can expect to pay up to $10 per square foot, which includes installation. The variability of the price is dependent on the type and quality of the wood.
As you can see, wood flooring offers a natural, yet reasonably priced beauty that can give you a unique kitchen that you can be proud of. If you’re looking at a new kitchen floor design, consider wood when devising your kitchen floor plans.