Choosing the right flooring for your kitchen

The kitchen is one of the busiest rooms in the modern home. Whether used simply for creating meals or as a central hub for socialising, your kitchen flooring needs to withstand everything you or your family throw at it. To help you choose the right type of flooring, you need all the relevant information available so Carpetright have created the Vinyl Buying Guide and Laminate Buying Guide to help you.

When choosing your kitchen flooring, you need it to be durable, manageable and hard working. That is why both vinyl and laminate flooring are perfect choices. Each is made very differently and will bring different qualities to ...

When choosing your kitchen flooring, you need it to be durable, manageable and hard working. That is why both vinyl and laminate flooring are perfect choices. Each is made very differently and will bring different qualities to your bathroom flooring, so here is your quick guide to each flooring type.

What are the benefits of each flooring material?

Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl flooring, also known as lino flooring, is made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) which is tough, durable, water-resistant and slip-resistant. Due to a protective covering, vinyl flooring won't fade in sunlight but at Carpetright, we always advise you to use the manufacturer’s recommended cleaner, when known, to avoid fading. If you would like to know more about how to look after your vinyl / lino flooring, check out our Vinyl Care and Maintenance Guide.

Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring is made by layering a sheet of decorative material on either particle board or a synthetic base. The decorative top layer can be made to look like wood, stone or tile and can also be embossed by machine or textured by hand to add more texture and realism. The laminate is coated to add greater protection to the surface which is why laminate flooring is a popular choice for busy, modern and active family homes. If you would like to know more about how to look after laminate flooring, check out our Laminate Care and Maintenance Guide.

A good carpet makes your house feel like a home.  it gives warmth, texture and personality, while being tough enough to handle everyday wear and tear.  But some carpets suit some rooms better than others - so, when you're choosing a carpet, think about which fibre, texture and style is best for you.

The right fibre for ...

A good carpet makes your house feel like a home.  it gives warmth, texture and personality, while being tough enough to handle everyday wear and tear.  But some carpets suit some rooms better than others - so, when you're choosing a carpet, think about which fibre, texture and style is best for you.

The right fibre for you

​You can choose from three types of carpet fibre; natural fibres, synthetic fibres and blended fibres.  natural fibres like wool are soft and luxurious, as well as durable.  Synthetic fibres can be stain resistant, hardwearing and also great value for money.  Blended fibres, such as a mixture of wool and nylon, are both hardwearing and beautifully soft.

Twist Pile Carpet- Stylish and Practical

Twist pile carpets are ideal for busy families.  They’re made from twisting yarn tightly together, which makes them hardwearing and easy to look after.  You can choose between two types of twists: plain and heather.  Both have a lovely even surface that’s springy underfoot.  The heather shades come in lots of colours, and they’re less likely to show marks, so they’re perfect for your hall or living room.,

Saxony Carpet - Deep and Warm

Saxony carpets are deep, thick and beautifully elegant.  They have a slightly longer pile that you can really sink your toes into.  The sumptuous finish means they’re perfect for bedrooms – so when your feet touch the floor in the morning, a lovely layer of carpet will keep them warm.

Loop Pile Carpet - Textured and Rustic

Loop pile carpets are classic and durable, and are made from synthetic fibres or wool.  The loops can be different lengths, to create a textured effect you’ll want to run your fingers over.  Because they’re durable, they’re great for most areas of your home, from your hallway right through to your bedroom.  A word of warning though, pets can pull this type of carpet with their claws.

Patterned Carpet - Bold and Full of Character

A pattern brightens up even the dingiest of rooms, whether you’re making a statement in your hallway with stripes, or styling your lounge with floral motifs.  Patterns can be dramatic, adventurous and fun.  Not only do patterns give your home character, but they’re great at hiding marks too.

Bring home the beauty and richness of wood or the rustic charm of natural stone.  Our range of stunning, practical and easy fit laminate flooring opens up an exciting selection of opportunities for you to create a look you'll love.

What is laminate?

There are 4 basic layers that together make up a ...

Bring home the beauty and richness of wood or the rustic charm of natural stone.  Our range of stunning, practical and easy fit laminate flooring opens up an exciting selection of opportunities for you to create a look you'll love.

What is laminate?

There are 4 basic layers that together make up a laminate floor plank.  The top layer is a wear layer to add strength as well as heat and stain resistance to your laminate flooring.  The second layer is the decor layer which is the part where the design is printed, so for example, the wood grain.  The thickest layer of your laminate floor is the third layer which is specially formulated to add strength, stability and to prevent moisture from seeping through.  The final layer of your laminate flooring is a backing to protect the laminate from moisture that comes from below your flooring, without this your laminate floor would warp so it's a really important part of making sure you have the best possible flooring.

Vinyl is back!

Vinyl (used to be known as linoleum or lino) is without a doubt one of the most practical flooring types - it's not called Easy Living Flooring for nothing!  Vinyl has become sophisticated in its manufacture, with wood and stone designs as well as modern patterns and metallics if you're looking to make a ...

Vinyl is back!

Vinyl (used to be known as linoleum or lino) is without a doubt one of the most practical flooring types - it's not called Easy Living Flooring for nothing!  Vinyl has become sophisticated in its manufacture, with wood and stone designs as well as modern patterns and metallics if you're looking to make a stylish statement.

All of our Vinyl ranges at Carpetright come with a wear layer which coats the vinyl for added durability. Our vinyl floors are available in multiple thicknesses, with a variety of comfort backings, and ranging from a cushioned 1.3mm to a luxurious and super-insulating 4.5mm. Let our experts advise you on the perfect product for your lifestyle and budget.  If you would like some advice on which vinyl (lino) would suit you best the feel free to call our trained advisors on 0845 604 4995.

The Paralympics Games have arrived and we all want to watch the sports and also celebrate the Olympic British medals from the weeks previously! This means you are entertaining a lot of family and friends at home and so you need floors that are kept stain free. Try out vinyl flooring for an easy to clean floor that allows you to accommodate lots of people without the hassle of extra cleaning.

Wood effect vinyl flooring or marble floor designs can easily be found by brands such as Bounce and Planet, or go for a cheaper alternative; laminate flooring. Is your bathroom also a high traffic area? Then, it’s definitely worth also having a look at the hardwearing bathroom vinyl flooring. Our particular favourite is the modern Rhino Step Nevada Carbon vinyl flooring because not only is it hardwearing, slip resistant and has thick layers for extra comfort underfoot but also its stone tile design keeps us absolutely mesmerised.

When choosing kitchen flooring it is important to take into account the unique factors of the room. As one of the busiest rooms in your home, it will need to withstand the consistent traffic throughout the day. It will also need to be able to withstand spillages, stains, scuffs and marks. These factors make both  ...

When choosing kitchen flooring it is important to take into account the unique factors of the room. As one of the busiest rooms in your home, it will need to withstand the consistent traffic throughout the day. It will also need to be able to withstand spillages, stains, scuffs and marks. These factors make both vinyl and laminate perfect for a kitchen and here is why they benefit your kitchen over traditional carpet.

General Considerations For Your Kitchen Flooring

Easy to Maintain
Vinyl flooring should be swept with a soft broom and wiped over with a clean and damp mop or cloth.
All you need to clean your laminate flooring is a vacuum cleaner and a damp cloth every once in a while. Regular cleaning agents and organic agents will also leave no traces.

Stain Resistant
Whether it’s a food or drink spillage or something else, your flooring will not shrink or be damaged while stains can be easily removed with a damp cloth.

Pressure Resistant
With an intermediate layer of high quality wood fibre (High Density Fibre Board) on laminate or appropriate underlay on vinyl, your floor will be resistant to weight from appliances or falling objects.

Caring for Your Vinyl

The use of protective covers is also recommended to protect your new flooring from appliances such as cookers or washing machines. When moving large appliances, you should be mindful of your floor as dragging appliances across vinyl could tear or scuff the surface.

If you think Vinyl will be the right choice for you but aren’t 100% sure then order a vinyl flooring sample so you can decide from the comfort of your own home whether you'd prefer to go with a  ...

If you think Vinyl will be the right choice for you but aren’t 100% sure then order a vinyl flooring sample so you can decide from the comfort of your own home whether you'd prefer to go with a wood effect vinyl flooring choice, a tile or mosaic effect or even one of the more characterful patterns that are hitting floors with recent trends.

It's really easy to order vinyl (lino) flooring samples.  Just choose the floor on the website and check the box that we display if we have the vinyl sample in stock ready to send out to you.  Once you've ordered it, you'll receive it within 3 - 5 working days (Royal Mail dependent) and then you're free to make your choice at your leisure.

Once you've decided on the vinyl sample you'd like to live with, you can order it either over the telephone by calling 0845 604 4995 between 8am and 8pm 7 days a week, call in to store or type the name on the back of the vinyl sample in to the search box online and once you've entered your measurements, just hit the buy now button and you'll be guided through the rest of the quick and easy process.