How can I make my kitchen floor look more expensive? Design expert's tips on elevating this overlooked space

A kitchen is only ever as luxurious as its flooring. There's no point spending time and energy on cabinets and countertops if the overall effect is ruined the second your eyes look down. Giving a little love to your kitchen floors is a fast track to making your kitchen look, and feel, more expensive.

The best thing is, you don't have to even spend a fortune on your kitchen flooring to capture a luxurious vibe. There's a myriad of ways and materials that can offer that high-end look for less. A little can go a long way when creating your dream home.

From materials to layout, we've asked designers for their favorite ways to make kitchen flooring look more expensive, no matter your personal style.

How to make your kitchen flooring look more expensive

If anything in our kitchens deserves a medal, it's our floors. Each day they fight a battle of scratches, stains, and scuff marks as we go about our daily routines. Updating your kitchen flooring, or preserving them, is the best kind of facelift we know – an instant way to make your kitchen look more expensive.

1. Stick with natural materials

'When choosing a kitchen floor that will instantly make the room feel more expensive, turn to natural stone,' says Grazzie Wilson, Head of Creative at Ca’ Pietra. 'It is classic for a reason and one that never dates, making the space feel and look timeless – an instant way of adding luxury.'

Grazzie recommends French limestone tiles as highly durable, resistant to water and heat, and able to withstand the demands of a busy kitchen. 'Here, French limestone tiles have been used to create warmth, with a touch of imperfection that looks ageless. Its unique patterns and variations create a one-of-a-kind look that can't be replicated,' she notes.

Natural stone is such a desirable flooring type that adding it to your kitchen could increase your home's overall value. Now that's what we call expensive-looking.

2. Try out porcelain for an expensive look on a budget

If you love the look of natural stone but without the price tag, consider stone-effect porcelain tiles. 'Stone-effect porcelain mimics the look of natural stone at a lower price point, with realistic detailing and tumbled effect edges,' says Isabel Fernandez, Marketing Director at Quorn Stone.

Stone-effect porcelain tiles are effortlessly low-maintenance and incredibly versatile, coming in an array of styles that mimic various marbles and stones. Their non-porous surface makes it resistant to moisture, so it's a durable, lasting floor for years to come.

This option also works well with underfloor heating; an added bonus. There's nothing more luxurious and expensive-feeling than slipping down in the morning for coffee with warm-to-the-touch flooring.

3. Consider size and color

Certain shades just exude opulence more than others, it's true. Sticking to a rich palette of earthy neutrals, from terracotta rust to milky almond shades, will help to mimic nature and bring the outside in.

'Ivory cream tiles are a neutral and classic choice that will make your kitchen floor look more expensive and refined,' says Isabel. Picking matte over gloss tiles will also give the appearance of a more natural, heavy stone.

Isabel recommends that, when shopping for kitchen flooring tiles, bigger is better. 'Large format tiles, usually 900x600mm, minimize the amount of grout lines across the floor and can make a kitchen feel bigger,' she says. Grouting is quick to show the dirt and grime, which could hurt the high-end feel of your kitchen.

4. Give your wooden flooring some TLC

For hardwood floors, maintaining and preserving them will sometimes feel like an uphill battle, but well worth the payoff – even if it means keeping a spray mop close to hand.

'If you want to give your floor a new lease of life after it’s been down for years, sanding and polishing will take off the very top layer removing any fine scratches or marks to reveal the beautiful tones of the real wood underneath,' says Amanda Corston, interior stylist at Ted Todd. 'This is a fantastic benefit of hardwood floors and presents an impactful, high-end kitchen floor.'

Not only is this sustainable but it's a chance to preserve some real history in your home. 'Maintaining and preserving hardwood flooring is the best way to promote longevity and keep it looking expensive for as long as possible,' says Amanda.

5. Keep it seamless

Abrupt floor endings or contrasting floors can pull focus and end up looking like cheap craftsmanship. Luxury flooring is all about the little details, ones that work seamlessly together in a cohesive design flow.

'Things to consider with kitchen floors is to design seamless transitions between doorways and adjoining rooms. This is a very traditional way of laying wood floor and keeps the eye moving out to dining or lounge areas around the room for a luxurious detail,' advises Amanda.

Thinking about how the floor will tie into the rest of your home's decor is vital. 'We also recommend combining floor designs and using borders for the laying patterns in kitchens. Creating a wood floor that looks well thought through with a considered style exerts elegance and sophistication.'

Treating your kitchen floor to an expensive-looking update doesn't have to come with a huge price tag. Even simple things, such as caring for and maintaining your floors, can make a world of difference to your kitchen. From limestone to porcelain and hardwood, there are so many options to make your kitchen floors look and feel oh-so luxurious.