Within a home, the kitchen floor suffers more damage than any other location. Spills, stains, scratches, and dents, happen in this room more than any other. The key to picking out new flooring is finding a hardy, resistant material that appeals to you and your budget.

Tile flooring is one of the top choices for kitchens, and has been for years. Whether made of ceramic or stone, this flooring is hardy and impervious to dents and spills.

This flooring is great for people that are always using the kitchen because it is easy to clean and rarely shows discoloration.

Tile flooring also does not require staining, sealing, or refinishing, and when it is properly installed, does not need replacing or re-grouting for decades. Homeowners with tiled kitchens say it is well worth the extra cost for installation.

Hardwood flooring gives your kitchen a classic look. Although these floors are prone to dents and discoloration, wood flooring can be sanded down and refinished multiple times. The drawbacks to hardwood flooring are the price and installation. However, if you want a flooring to last the ages, hardwood might be worth the price.

Bamboo flooring is growing in popularity, and no wonder! With a look similar to hardwood at a lower price, bamboo can be sustainably harvested. This product is a great green option for your kitchen, but buyers beware! Darker bamboo dents easier than lighter finishes, and not all bamboo companies are environmentally friendly.

Concrete flooring is a popular choice among American designers. Hardy and never showing wear, concrete flooring can be more than just a gray slab. These floors can be painted, stained, or treated in a variety of colors, textures, and patterns. People often do not even realize they are standing on concrete flooring until someone points it out to them!

Concrete flooring is also extremely easy to change: should a homeowner move into a home with concrete flooring, they can easily have the floor repainted, re-stained, refinished, or even install hardwood flooring or laminate over top.

Laminate or engineered wood flooring is not a good idea for a kitchen. Although it has the look of hardwood and almost half the cost, this flooring is easily damaged and wears down faster than any other flooring. Also, if you are trying to get a green flooring, this is your last choice. The products used to make this flooring is often harmful to the environment, and the glue used during installation often releases harmful fumes.

Vinyl or laminate flooring is not the best idea for large families or people that are always in the kitchen. This flooring wears down easily and is prone to fading. Although the cost is very inexpensive, it often has to be replaced every few years, and if water manages to get underneath it, mold will start growing (which can cause a lot of damage).

Carpeting in the kitchen is probably one of the worst ideas a homeowner can have. It might look nice when it is first installed, but kitchens are prone to spills, broken dishes, and lots of foot traffic. That carpet will soon have stains and possibly even mold!