9 Flooring Types for a Charming Country Kitchen

A beautiful country kitchen needs the proper foundation to set the tone for the space. Although wood flooring is the traditional choice for many country kitchens, there are other ecofriendly and engineered options that will give you the bucolic look you desire and that have minimum care requirements.

Here are nine flooring options with looks and style as well as endurance.

Barn-board planking. When I think of a country kitchen, this is the flooring that comes to mind. Aged barn-board planking — some pieces still sporting the paint and patina of previous generations — provides the perfect foundation for this farmhouse kitchen.

Barn-board flooring has benefits: It’s fairly inexpensive, it’s recycled, and the styling options are limited only by the imagination. It can be painted, stained, stenciled, finished with polyurethane or left in its natural state.

As with any old wood, this flooring can wear down and become scratched and dented fairly easily. (Although, generally speaking, it will be denser than comparable new wood.) Old planks do not typically sport a smooth surface, and have many superficial cracks and crevices, which can collect dust and dirt.


Milled reclaimed wood. An alternative is reclaimed wood that has been newly milled, such as these antique heart pine planks cut from old factory or warehouse beams. Typically, these are stained and finished with several coats of polyurethane.

Pine planking is a lovely choice for a pure country look, but since the wood is quite soft, it can be easily scratched and dented — especially by shoe heels and pet claws. Another drawback is that this wood expands and contracts with heat and humidity changes, creating openings between the planks that can attract dust and crumbs.


Randomly placed slate tiles. For a charming country cottage look, slate tiles are laid in a random pattern, creating a cobblestone effect. Along with the brick backsplash, this flooring choice gives this kitchen and laundry room a rustic, comfortable feel.

Legs and feet can get tired standing on a tile floor for a prolonged period of time, so keep that in mind when choosing this type of flooring. Also, this randomly scattered slate tile pattern requires substantial amounts of porous mortar or grout, which requires sealing.


Painted floors. Painted floors have a distinct country look, especially when executed in the checkerboard style shown here, offering the warmth of wood with an extra splash of color. The checkerboard creates more visual interest in a black and white kitchen than a solid wood tone would.

As with any wood flooring, painted wood must be sealed to protect it from wear, spills and stains. Polyurethane is typically the sealant of choice, and is available in matte, semi-gloss and high-gloss options. The higher the sheen, the more light reflection there will be (and the more noticeable surface irregularities will be).


Brick. Brick is always an option for a country kitchen, as it provides a charming, rustic feel. The downside with brick is that it can feel cold underfoot and can be fatiguing for prolonged standing. Despite the hard surface, bricks (especially old ones) are quite porous and must be sealed often to protect against stains and wear.

Laid in a herringbone pattern, this brick floor provides visual interest and a warm, colorful contrast to the bright white cabinetry.


Linoleum tile. A simple black and white check provides a relaxed, country feel in this otherwise more traditional green kitchen. The flooring is an ecofriendly product called Marmoleum — a natural linoleum product that is available in sheets, tiles and click planks for easy installation. It is extremely durable, nontoxic and simple to maintain with a water-based finish coat that resists scratches, dents and staining.


Sheet linoleum. Marmoleum also looks great when used in solid sheets, as in this project. You get the comfort and durability of sheet vinyl, but in an all-natural product that looks more like vintage linoleum.


Cork. Want to go green with your country flooring? How about trying cork? Soft orange in color in its natural state, cork adds a rich, warm tone to a country kitchen. The benefits are many: It is soft underfoot, mold and mildew resistant, quite durable and easy to clean and maintain, because it is waterproof (think wine bottle stopper).

Cork is harvested by stripping the bark from the cork oak tree, which grows back fairly quickly and is not harmed by the process.

Cork is also relatively inexpensive, easy to install and available at your local home improvement store — making it perfect for DIYers who are searching for a low- to moderate-budget flooring choice that’s ecoconscious.


Ceramic tile. Simple white ceramic tile flooring creates the perfect foundation for this very sweet red and white country kitchen. The obvious choice for a floor that will get lots of wear, ceramic tile is available in an endless variety of colors and options, is very durable and requires minimal care and maintenance.

More: Wood Floor Care: Polish Your Skills

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