More and more designers are turning to engineered hardwood flooring for kitchens. While Pinterest and home magazines shine a light on this stunning trend, you may be wondering if hardwood can really stand up to the activity in your kitchen—whether that’s a lot of foot traffic or a lot of spills.
The good news is, engineered hardwood floors are created with durability in mind. Plus, with a resistance to changes in humidity, they’re less likely to warp or buckle in a room where water is just a part of life, making the LIFECORE Hardwood Collection a great choice for the kitchen.
With our new H2OME Waterproof Hardwoods by LIFECORE, we take that a step further. Our natural waterproof rigid core with innovative edge coating combines with a durable waterproof wear layer that encapsulates each plank for a true waterproof seal, complete with a 72-hour waterproof warranty. Because of its waterproof construction, H2OME is also safe for wet-mopping for quick and easy clean-up.
Depending on your lifestyle and the level of maintenance you’re looking for in your kitchen, both LIFECORE Hardwoods and H2OME are great options as they both include our proprietary low VOC nine-layer UV-hardened finish. Below, we’ve put together a few of the best engineered hardwood flooring options from our H2OME line that bring style and performance to any kitchen design.
Reactive Hardwoods for a Beautiful, Organic Home
If you’re looking to bring a more organic feel into your kitchen, H2OME Urban Oasis Organic Home’s reactive style may be just for you. Created by bringing out the natural tannins in the wood for a truly distinct design, reactive hardwood floors are a perfect fit for kitchen performance. Whether you’re into an all-white style or like bold colors that pop, the natural variations in Organic Home’s planks are sure to work with any design. Plus, if any scratches manage to get through our superior UV-hardened finish, on reactive floors they’re a lot less noticeable than a stained plank, which only has the color on the surface of the wood.
Make Your Kitchen an Urban Oasis
With H2OME Urban Oasis Restful Ripple, you can transform your kitchen into a restful respite even when foot traffic’s at its heaviest. Like all LIFECORE engineered floors, Restful Ripple is made using our ZERO-ADD® technology, which means no VOCs are added during our manufacturing process. Another organic reactive, waterproof option, this engineered hardwood really warms up a room, making it a great balance to an all-white kitchen aesthetic.
A Summer Home Look for Year Round Performance
Wire-brushed for a reclaimed aesthetic, H2OME Farmhouse Fresh Summer Home brings a sophisticated look to your kitchen or dining room. With neutral gray and light brown tones, it can work well with any color theme now or down the road if you decide to make some changes. While our low UV-hardened helps prevent scratches, the wire-brushed style can hide any scuffs that your family does manage to make in these more high-traffic areas.
Real Waterproof Hardwood Floors
Not all wood-look floors are real wood, but the entire H2OME collection includes real wood in the product’s exterior that’s sealed for waterproof protection. That matters a lot when it comes to your home’s resale value. According to the National Association of REALTORS, real wood floors can increase the sales price of your home by as much as 2.5%.
Learn more about the H2OME collection here.
FAQs
Engineered wood flooring is notably durable and stable, making it a resilient choice for the high-traffic environment of a kitchen.
What is the best brand of engineered flooring? ›
Mohawk Ultrawood Crosby Cove Engineered Wood
Each plank comes with real hardwood over an engineered and waterproof HDF core. Connecting the planks together with Uniclic technology creates a water-tight surface. Mohawk Crosby Cove's performance doesn't stop with just waterproof technology.
What is the best floor to put down in a kitchen? ›
Ceramic tile or porcelain tile is a good choice for kitchen flooring because it's waterproof and resistant to stains. Kitchen floor tiles come in a slew of patterns and colors, so you can find tile to fit any design style.
How do I protect my engineered hardwood in my kitchen? ›
Use Mats and Rugs
Proper use of mats and rugs can go a long way towards protecting the beauty of your hardwood kitchen floors. Certain high-risk areas, such as the floor in front of the sink, dishwasher and refrigerator, need protection. Be sure to choose a mat backing that won't trap moisture on your floor.
What should you not put on engineered hardwood floors? ›
Steam mops: Too much moisture can warp your engineered hardwood planks. Therefore, products like steam mops, wet mops, or any cleaning method that involves water sitting on your floor should be avoided. Rough applicators: When applying any cleaning products, do not use rough materials such as a steel wool brush.
How can you tell if engineered hardwood is high-quality? ›
First, you'll want to consider the thickness of the top layer of the flooring, known as the wear layer. The thicker the wear layer, the more durable and long-lasting the flooring will be. You'll also want to consider the quality of the core layer and the overall construction of the flooring.
What is the best thickness for engineered hardwood flooring? ›
It is this construction detail that will play the biggest role in how your floor looks, how stable it will be, and how long it will last. As you consider durable engineered wood flooring, you want to select products that meet certain criteria: Overall Thickness: 5/8” or ¾” thick.
What is the toughest engineered wood flooring? ›
Ipe or Brazilian walnut is top-notch if you want the hardest and most durable flooring on the market. It boasts a Janka rating of 3,680, making it extremely hard to dent. Aside from its extreme hardness, it's good for a few other reasons as well. One reason is that it's available in many colors.
What is the most popular kitchen flooring now? ›
The most popular flooring materials for a kitchen are ceramic/porcelain floor tiles, solid hardwood and vinyl, but that only tells half the story. There are several other top kitchen flooring options for you to consider, including engineered hardwood, laminate and natural stone.
What is the toughest flooring for a kitchen? ›
Since the kitchen is a high-traffic area, you need a durable flooring material that can withstand wear and tear. Consider materials like ceramic or porcelain tile, natural stone, or hardwood floors that are strong enough to handle foot traffic and heavy furniture.
'When selecting flooring for a small kitchen, light and bright colors are often the best choices for creating the illusion of a larger space. A light wood tone, light grey, or white floor will reflect light and make the room feel more open', advises Rosie Elliot, Owner of Kitchen Appliance Answer.
What kitchen flooring never goes out of style? ›
If you enjoy lighter flooring, white oak and white maple are two of the best choices for a neutral color that won't go out of style anytime soon. If darker tones are more your type, walnut and cherry woods are both classic looks, according to Washco for Martha Stewart.
What is the best kitchen flooring for 2024? ›
Engineered Wood Flooring - This is by far the most popular type of flooring for kitchens in 2024. Engineered hardwood has all the beauty of real hardwood, but is more durable as it has a thicker top layer, also known as wear layer.
What type of flooring is used in restaurant kitchens? ›
The two most popular flooring options for commercial kitchens are ceramic tile and vinyl flooring, while natural stone tile and brick are used in some specialty environments.
Is engineered hardwood better than hardwood in kitchen? ›
Engineered wood flooring is a better choice in high-moisture environments than solid hardwood, making it a better option for kitchens, bathrooms and basem*nts. But, for whole-house installations, both flooring options offer a wide range of style choices.
Is engineered hardwood better than laminate in kitchen? ›
Laminate's sturdy, scratch-resistant wear layer makes this floor strong in the durability category. Laminate is also becoming more resistant to moisture. Meanwhile, engineered hardwood is a bit more vulnerable to wear and tear since it has a real wood veneer.
Should engineered hardwood go under cabinets? ›
Nailing down hardwood floors before cabinet installation can offer many benefits. Benefits like a more stable foundation for heavy appliances and an aesthetically pleasing finished floor. However, floating floor installations require expansion space to accommodate movement while maintaining cabinet stability.
Do engineered hardwood floors go under kitchen cabinets? ›
One installer stated that yes, the flooring can be run under the cabinets and that expansion of the flooring really isn't a concern.
