Ideas for Kitchen Flooring with White Cabinets

So, you got the white kitchen you wanted, but now you’re wondering what color floors go best with white kitchen cabinets. I get it; you don’t want to ruin a good thing by picking the wrong color floor. 

I’ll cut to the chase with this advice, avoid bright colors for the color of your kitchen floor. Especially with white cabinetry, these bold colors will totally clash with the look you’re going for.

What you should be looking at are neutral colors for flooring for white kitchen cabinets. Which, I know, doesn’t make your decision much easier since that is still such a wide range of options. 

But that’s where I come in. I’ve done the renos and the research and have narrowed things down, and I’m sharing all that with you here!

I’ve put together this post on white kitchen cabinets and flooring options based on popular home designs (such as my favorite, the modern farmhouse) and materials. 

Let’s get to the good stuff!

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Just a friendly reminder: This tutorial and any opinions or recommendations are genuinely mine, but this is not a substitute for consulting a professional. I also use affiliate links to earn a commission.

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What Color Floors Go Best with White Kitchen Cabinets in a Modern Farmhouse Style Kitchen?

Thinking about what makes up a modern farmhouse, there is a neutral color scheme, including white walls, with accents of black, darker greens, and sometimes blues, and wood elements such as an exposed wood beam. 

Your kitchen design is beautiful and clean, with white cabinets and white countertops. But to avoid your farmhouse look being too sterile, the best flooring option is wood. And, more specifically, a lighter wood-toned floor. 

Modern Farmhouse Kitchen with Wood Floors

Whether building new or renovating, carrying your wood floors from the rest of the living space into the kitchen is the best choice. Keeping the flooring consistent makes picking a kitchen floor easy, right?! Well, only kind of. Because I know you know how difficult choosing a wood floor is.

I’ve gone in circles to find the perfect wood flooring – ones without too much red or yellow and something that isn’t too dark or fake. It’s hard! And such a big decision considering the financial investment.

These Malibu wide plank wood floors in Mavericks are perfect with white kitchen cabinets. Another great option I’ve also used is the same floors in color Salt Creek. Check them out; the 1/2 inch is best, and these floors look amazing for the price!

Modern Kitchen Flooring with White Kitchen Cabinets

You may have opted to go a little more modern, like black countertops or black cabinets kind of modern. Not the European flat shinny cabinet, modern. Maybe even a little more industrial modern, with stainless steel accents or black piping for your shelves. 

For your modern kitchen, the best floor color is something that offers a cleaner look. Natural wood is not best because it brings too much of a rustic element and changes your modern kitchen into a modern farmhouse one.

That is unless you go super light, like a sand color. Ideally, something in the color range of light gray or even black is a great choice to complement your modern kitchen design. 

Transitional Kitchen Flooring Ideas for White Cabinets

You may not know it, but you may have a transitional kitchen design with white cabinets, natural stone counters, and mainly gold accents.

A transitional kitchen is a classic look but not a totally traditional style since you still have very clean lines, such as shaker cabinets instead of a raised panel one. This style kitchen has more of a causal elegance that fits well with how busy young families live. 

Hardwood flooring is the best option that goes beautifully with the neutral shades used throughout your kitchen. The warm tones of the wood prevent your kitchen design from feeling too modern. Light wood floors are ideal because they keep your kitchen style transitional instead of too rustic. 

Dark Floors with White Kitchen Cabinets

Dark wood flooring was popular briefly about five or so years ago. And although the contrast really makes your white cabinets pop, more and more, I see lighter wood tones used. Darker floors with white kitchen cabinets that look good and are more on trend are dark grey or black tile. 

And a word from the wise. If you want a dark-colored floor option, do not get the tile that looks like dark wood. I had this in one kitchen, and it’s so awful in so many ways. First, the shade of brown looks anything but natural. Second, it shows every spec of dirt. Water even makes this floor look dirty!

Light Floor Colors with White Kitchen Cabinets

I’m going to get right to the point on this one, the best kitchen floor color to hide dirt is light floors. I’ve had those very horrible dark brown floors, that faux wood-looking tile I spoke of earlier, and can see the specs of dirt from a mile away. Mind you, I cleaned the floor twice already today, but it doesn’t matter; dark floors expose it all. 

With white kitchen cabinets, wood tones balance the look and prevent everything from looking like the psych ward where I did my nursing clinical.

Light gray is another option; however, I’m less of a fan of this choice because it brings a cooler element to the space, and I prefer warm and cozy.

White Kitchen Floors with White Kitchen Cabinets

White kitchen floors with white cabinets are another possibility, which can either be super modern or more rustic, depending on your material. Shinny tile or polished concrete are two modern materials that come to mind. And painted wood is a rustic one. 

What comes to mind with this color combination, white flooring with white cabinets, is Liz Marie and her white-painted wood floors. I don’t know if I have the guts to go for white floors because all I can think about is how fast my boys could turn these into various shades of brown.

But! She has a kid, a dog, and a husband (we all know how messy they are), and it seems to be going ok from the looks of it. Just another color combo to think about!

What is the Best Flooring for a Kitchen?

I struggle a bit when someone puts me on the spot to say what is “the best.” My kids love to ask, what’s your favorite book or movie, or place to visit and so on. I never give them a straight answer, and it drives them wild. There are far too many factors to narrow every option down to one. 

Take my favorite place, for example. Well, if I’m with my kids, then it’s anywhere I can watch them run and play and laugh, but I also love those more tender moments with them, so sometimes it’s in bed snuggling them. 

If I’m with my boyfriend, it’s at the beach, as long as it’s summer, because if it’s winter, then my favorite place to be with him is on the couch, binge-watching Walking Dead. 

And if I’m alone, it’s doing my rounds at the local thrift stores or on the porch with the sun on my face reading a good book. But I also really love my “long walk” route because I get to listen to my favorite podcast as I stroll in peace for over an hour. 

See? My favorite place isn’t just one place because it depends on soooo many factors. 

So what is the best flooring for a kitchen?

So, picking the best flooring is a lot like that. It really depends on things like what is most important to you, also your budget, and your style. Then you can decide which flooring type is best for your kitchen. 

For me, to say hardwood floors, tile, or LVP is the best choice is not helping you because (like I just said), it depends on your budget, lifestyle, style, and so on. So, instead, I’ll give you why each one of these floor types is the best and for what reasons. That way, you can decide for yourself which is best based on your needs.

Kitchen Flooring Wood

I love wooden floors in the kitchen for several reasons. If I’m being completely honest, it may have something to do with it being one less decision to make. That is, just carrying the flooring from the rest of the house into the kitchen.

I know you, too, have been overwhelmed at some point by all the decisions involved in renovating your kitchen. There is deciding on a paint color, cabinet colors, cabinet style, backsplash, appliances, hardware, oh my! So, taking the little win of not finding a new floor is a breath of fresh air. 

Wood Flooring in a Kitchen Pros

Also, wood floors with white kitchen cabinets look so good. The natural materials and wood grain add all the cozy vibes. Although there are so many different shades of wood, I’m partial to lighter hardwoods for white cabinets.

And the added bonus of light hardwood is it hides dirt and hair like a charm. 

Wood Flooring in a Kitchen Cons

The downfall of wood floors in a kitchen is wood and water are a little like oil and water. They don’t mix well.

So, if you opt for wooden flooring in your kitchen, just know you have to be fairly diligent about wiping up any liquids because they can damage the floors.

Especially those sneaky little ice cubs that skate across the floor and eventually melt. These will ruin wood floors, so chase them down and wipe up the water!

Kitchen Flooring Ideas Tile

Floor tile is cold. Literally, it’s much colder on your bare feet than wood. That is unless you’re talking about that one spot in my mudroom where the heat vent magically warms the floor so that, for a brief second, my feet feel good on the tile. 

And you may be reading this thinking, well, duh, that’s why I like tile. Because it’s a relief from how the blasted heat.

But if you’re from the north, like me, where winter is eight months out of the year. I’m exaggerating here, but it’s been a long Vermont winter, and I haven’t felt the sun’s warmth or seen the sun, for that matter, in far too long. 

Why Tile Makes a Good Kitchen Floor

Ceramic tile or porcelain tile is more commonly used as the primary flooring type if you’re reading this from the South. And it is a great option, especially for its water resistance, which matters in a kitchen.

If you think about all the spilled juice and splashing from the sink as you load the dishwasher. Or is that just me, that there is a massive puddle on the floor every time I rinse and load the dishes?

When to use tile for kitchen floors

Kitchen tile floors with white cabinets are ideal when the space is separate from the rest of the living areas. If you have a more traditional layout with actual walls that divide your kitchen from the rest of your home, then using tile is a great option.

Again, although it’s cold to the touch, tile is incredibly durable and water resistant. In a space with plenty of foot traffic and liquids spattering around, both are perfect for a kitchen space. 

Or if you’re open-concept style home also has the same tile, then also use it in the kitchen.

The continuity of flooring throughout all the rooms creates the illusion of a much larger area. 

Kitchen with Laminate Flooring

Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) flooring is becoming more and more widely used and not just in the kitchen. I’m talking throughout the home in place of hardwood. And for good reason, which I’ll get to in a sec. 

Let’s first clarify that I’m talking about vinyl plank, not vinyl sheets. The type of vinyl I’m talking about is unlike that 90’s bathroom reno with one massive sheet of vinyl slapped down to look like tile. 

Pros of LVP Flooring in a Kitchen

LVP has come a long way with its appearance. Once tacky and obviously not wood, it has evolved to look quite authentic.

LVP is also incredibly durable. Particularly to water, which is a plus for a kitchen and scratches, dents, and stains. These things are all highly likely to happen with your busy family and pets. What you once had to worry about with wood floors is no longer an issue with LVP.

LVP is also more affordable than other flooring options. This style kitchen floor is a good choice if you’re looking for a line item to save on. Every little bit helps; you know this!

The Negatives of Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring

The downfall to LVP is although the look of it has come a long way, it just doesn’t quite capture the same look as hardwood or engineered hardwood.

There are telltale signs when a floor is vinyl, and the one that bothers me the most is the repeating pattern and small spacing between each plank. With a wooden floor, there is a clear delineation around each board, which is missing from a luxury vinyl plank floor.

It is subtle, so you may not notice or even care. Either way, this is why I still tend to prefer a wood floor. 

Kitchen with Brick Flooring

Have you considered brick? If not, let me tell you why this may be the right choice for you. Brick floors with white kitchen cabinets are not trendy or outdated, and they are neither uber-modern nor totally rustic. 

It’s a unique flooring option that is not overused and holds up well in high-traffic and water-prone areas. Think about it. Bricks hold up entire structures that are out in all the elements for years and years, so I think a brick floor can handle the splashes or puddles of water in a kitchen. 

I’ll admit I don’t know that I would use brick throughout my entire kitchen if it were a larger space. However, I would use brick flooring in a smaller kitchen or a butler’s pantry. The contrast of the brick with the white cabinets is even more pronounced than wood and white. 

Aesthetically the bricks add an element of warmth and old-world charm. Bricks also add texture, as no other material can.

To avoid things looking too much like Clifford, the big red dog shed his coat on your kitchen floor, I’d use a limewash, white-wash, or something to that effect to dampen the overall weight.

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White kitchen cabinets are a classic choice, but what color floors go best with white kitchen cabinets? Choosing the right flooring can make all the difference between loving your kitchen design or constantly being reminded of how you wished you went with something else.

You spend a lot of time in the kitchen, so making the right choice is pretty significant!

Here I gave you all the pros and cons of light vs. dark floors using wood, tile, vinyl, and even brick. With so many options to consider, some colors and materials work better than others, depending on your life and design style.

I hope after reading through these options, you feel more confident about picking the best color to go with your white kitchen cabinets.

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Hey Girl!

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