Creating a cozy kitchen requires many steps, and the choice of flooring plays a major role in this.
Kitchen flooring materials like wood or vinyl will feel warmer underfoot than tile or stone floors (unless, of course, you have underfloor heating).
Which kitchen flooring materials will retain heat the best so you don't wake up to an icy floor under your feet without the added benefit of underfloor heating? Our experts offer three top picks below.
Creating a cozy kitchen involves many steps, and kitchen flooring ideas are a big part of it.
Options like wooden kitchen flooring and vinyl kitchen flooring will feel warmer underfoot than tile or stone flooring (unless you have heated floors, of course).
So, even without the added benefit of underfloor heating, which kitchen flooring materials will best retain heat to keep your cooking space toasty this winter? Our experts recommend three picks below.
What is the warmest kitchen flooring material?
1. Cork
(Image courtesy of Recork)
A relatively new material used in modern interior design, cork flooring is not only sustainable and stylish, but it is also a natural insulator that can help save on heating bills depending on how much you use.
“If the floor is not insulated, about 10 to 20 percent of heat can be lost through the floor. “Cork is a reasonable benchmark,” says Recork founder James Scully. “Incorporating a material like cork into your home can significantly reduce heat loss and keep your feet warm. One of the first things you'll notice about cork is that it's warm to the touch.”
“Cork is an excellent insulator thanks to its honeycomb structure made up of millions of air-filled cells,” adds James. “Thanks to these cells, a cork board will maintain an optimal temperature all year round, making it feel warm underfoot. It retains heat longer than other materials like wood, laminate or LVT flooring, and at the same time, it has acoustic properties that absorb sound.”
2. Vinyl tiles
(Image courtesy of Amtico)
While LVT (luxury vinyl tile) hasn't traditionally been the most popular kitchen flooring option for luxury homes, vinyl kitchen flooring has skyrocketed in popularity, providing an option for adding warmth to cold spaces like kitchens.
“LVT is a wild card that's starting to make its way into our highest-end projects,” says Seth Ballard, AIA, principal at Ballard + Mensua Architecture. “This wood-veneered vinyl is waterproof, available in a variety of designs, and can handle spills, pets, and underfloor heat.”
“When it comes to keeping your home warm, LVT is one of the best flooring solutions,” declares Lorna Williams, head of product design at LVT brand Amtico. “LVT contains at least five durable layers made from high-quality materials, including PVC vinyl and resins mixed with plasticizers and stabilizers. These materials are compressed under pressure and high temperatures to become a durable flooring product. Each luxury vinyl tile is manufactured with multiple backing layers, making it extremely durable and flexible. More importantly, it's comfortable and warm underfoot.”
As Seth Ballard points out, you can also pair LVT tiles with heated floors for extra warmth underfoot. “For those looking for extra comfort, LVT is compatible with heated floors, unlike some natural materials which may warp or crack,” says Lorna.
3. Wood
(Image courtesy of Tessa Chrisp; Design by Abbey Lang Home)
Wooden kitchen flooring is a timeless classic that also acts as an excellent natural insulator.
Both engineered and solid wood floors are great at retaining heat. “Wood is a natural insulator,” says Anthony Scott, global product and innovation director at Havwoods. “This means excess heat from the room isn't lost through the floor.”
Stuart Pumpelly, team leader at Four Brothers Design + Build, says engineered wood and solid wood have similar thermal properties, but customers choose each for different reasons.
“The majority of our clients have wood flooring in their kitchens, with 80 percent using solid hardwood flooring and 20 percent using engineered flooring,” he says. “The main reason for choosing solid hardwood flooring is that it is the same thickness as the flooring it is connecting to, meaning the existing flooring is 3/4-inch thick and engineered flooring is thinner at 5/8-inch, so engineered flooring is not always an option.”
“For new builds, clients are more likely to consider engineered because there's no need to 'fit' existing flooring,” Stuart adds. “If the flooring is over five inches wide, we recommend engineered flooring. Solid wood flooring over five inches will develop noticeable gaps in dry periods. Regardless of width, engineered flooring is more stable and less likely to develop gaps in dry, cold weather.”
“Wood is certainly warmer to the touch than tile or stone, but it's much easier and less expensive to install an underfloor heating system underneath tile or stone,” says Stuart.
Shaw Luxury Vinyl Pantheon HD Plank Plus
price: $88.69 per 91 sq. ft. carton
Colorway: Aldesia
price: $204.84 per 36 sq. ft. carton
Colorway: Avenue
Malibu Wide Plank Solid Wood Flooring
price: $151.22 per 23 sq. ft. carton
Colorway: Burbank French Oak
How important is underfloor insulation to keep your kitchen warm?
“Insulation is important to keep the heat in your kitchen floor.” Stuart Pumpelly of Four Brothers Design + Build;
“We always recommend that crawl spaces beneath high traffic areas be fully conditioned whenever possible. This process involves sealing the space with spray foam on the walls, installing a thick plastic vapor barrier on the floor, and installing a ducted heating and cooling supply and return that is connected to the home's HVAC system to ventilate the space.”
He continues, “If preparing the crawl space is not possible or budget is limited, we recommend covering the entire crawl space with closed-cell spray foam.”
And Anthony Scott says: “Expansion gaps are of course essential in the installation of any flooring, but it's important to note that skirting boards need to be cut as accurately as possible to improve appearance and eliminate air currents from underneath.”
