Choosing new flooring for your kitchen can be a difficult decision. There are so many options and varieties available that it might feel more complicated than the process of buying your house.

Here are a few things you might want to consider before you fall in love with something completely impractical like white wool carpet. (We know you’d never put that in your kitchen, really. Right?)

First, think about cleanability. How easy is the material to keep clean and how much time do you want to spend both on cleaning and regular maintenance tasks like sealing or polishing?

Next consider durability and longevity. If you want flooring that stands the test of time, stone, ceramic tile, hardwood and concrete get top marks. If you need to replace flooring now, but are planning a major kitchen remodel in ten years, a less durable and less expensive option might get you through.

Of course, in a kitchen you want to consider the material’s moisture-resistance level. Even though you’d like to think you wouldn’t drop an entire pot of spaghetti on the floor, accidents do happen. Kitchen floors need to be able to stand up to the occasional small-scale flood.

The above guidelines can help you narrow down your choices, but there are still an overwhelming number of options. All of them, however, fall into three main categories: wood, ceramic or stone tile, and synthetic materials.

It used to be that wood flooring was a no-no in the kitchen (right up there with that white wool carpet). Now, thanks to today’s polyurethane finishes, we can have the beauty and durability of wood in the kitchen. Wood flooring is available in hardwood and engineered versions, and either one can be refinished when necessary.

Ceramic and stone tile provide a durable and low maintenance option. Tile works well in high traffic areas or those spaces that receive a lot of exposure to moisture. The colors and patterns available in ceramic tile are virtually limitless. Stone tiles provide a more natural look, but may also be less durable, depending on the type of stone and the finish.

The synthetic materials category includes vinyl and laminate flooring. Vinyl floor covering is durable and well suited to the kitchen environment. It comes in a variety of styles and types. Sheet vinyl works better in kitchens than vinyl tile because the seams of the tile allow moisture and dirt to get into the sub floor. Laminate flooring mimics any look, from wood to stone, and is generally available at a lower cost than the real material and needs less maintenance.

Now you’re armed with the basics to help you start your kitchen off on the right foot. Let us know what you decided and how it turned out.