Kitchen flooring

Vinyl flooring
Comfortable and warm underfoot, vinyl is one of the most cost-effective flooring options and comes in a range of colours and patterns. For a durable surface that won't fade, choose a vinyl with the colour running through - those with surface patterns tend to develop a patchy look over time. Your supplier can advise you on the correct grade for your kitchen and, if you have the budget, have it installed by a professional, as badly fitting vinyl will peel at the edges. To keep it looking pristine, sweep it regularly and clean with a non-abrasive cleaner.

Rubber
One of the warmest and softest materials, rubber offers an incredible choice of colours, finishes and textures, including a metallic steel plate look, a marble effect or a flecked stone look. It insulates the room, absorbs noise, resists water and burns and is also slip resistant and hygienic. All of these qualities make it a brilliant and hardwearing all-rounder, as well as being a great choice for allergy sufferers. Many manufacturers use a synthetic, industrial rubber made from a petrochemical by-product, but for a more eco-friendly alternative, Dalsouple has a product called DalNatural that is over 90 per cent natural rubber.

Cork
Largely due to its green credentials, cork has had something of a revival. It can be harvested from the same tree for about two hundred years and no trees are cut down to bring you the end product, making it renewable and sustainable. Warm underfoot, it's also naturally cushioned, soundproof and insulating. Cork doesn't absorb dust, making it a great choice for allergy sufferers. Talk to a cork specialist such as The Cork Flooring Company as they can apply a tough coating that maintains your floor's appearance, as well as fitting sealed edges.

Stone or slate
Consult an expert if you're thinking of using stone or slate on a kitchen floor as its porous nature means it can stain easily. It's also one of the most expensive floors you can buy, but it will add value to your home. To reduce the risk of staining, go for the less porous slate rather than marble or limestone and make sure you have it professionally sealed. Look at travertine too – a natural stone made in Italy from calcium carbonate. It has a pitted appearance, comes in many colours and stands up to most cleaning products, making it the durable choice. If you have kids and pets running around, natural stone may not be the best option for you.

Laminate
This is a great, cost-effective option that creates an authentic, real wood plank effect at a fraction of the cost of the real thing. These days, you'll also find stone and ceramic tile effects too. Laminates are tough so they're ideal for busy households with lots of traffic in the kitchen. To create the appearance of real wood floorboards, choose a laminate with bevelled edges that form a v shape between the planks when they're butted up together. Even better, this flooring is designed to be clicked together so there's no need for messy glue and you can even lay it yourself if you're a competent DIYer.

Hardwood
A real hardwood floor is expensive, but will add value to your home. Treat it with a Polyurethane finish to make it easier to maintain and clean. Wipe spills up quickly though, as any water sitting for a length of time on the floor will result in warping. Unlike laminates, if your floor gets damaged, you don't have to replace the boards – you can simply sand them down and treat them again.

Ceramic tiles
A popular choice for kitchens as they come in so many colours, textures and patterns allowing you to create your own unique look. You can even use a central colour and create a tiled border all around to frame the floor. Remember though, you need a solid concrete base for tiles as floorboards would shift underneath and cause cracks to form. Ceramic can be cold underfoot so consider installing underfloor heating.