How To Match Kitchen Floor With Living Room Floor

So you’ve decided to redo your floors. Maybe you want to match your kitchen floor with the existing living room floor. Perhaps you’d rather skip the exact match and go for coordinated floors that complement each other.

These decisions will impact the look and feel of the two most highly trafficked rooms in your house. Get excited because we’ve gathered all you need to know to choose the best floor combo for your kitchen and living room.

Floor design can make the difference in whether your kitchen and living room feel cluttered and chaotic or bright and airy.

While exact matches are not always necessary, you do want to keep these rooms in harmony with each other and the rest of your home.

Once you’ve decided whether to match or coordinate your kitchen and living room floors, there are several ways to get the look you want:

• Find an exact match to the existing floor
• Strip, stain, and refinish hardwood floors to create a match
• Coordinate with colors and designs that complement each other

Keep reading for how to best match or coordinate the floors in your kitchen and living room. Learn some common mistakes to avoid. We’ll also discuss the best flooring types for each of these rooms, including which kitchen floor is easiest to clean.

Does Flooring Have To Match Throughout A House?

Some people love the cohesive look of flooring that matches throughout the house. Using the same flooring creates a clean, uniform look that flows nicely from room to room. Matched floors can also help a space look larger.

However, no rule says your floors have to match throughout the house. In fact, using different flooring strategically can elevate the home’s overall design and create a more interesting look.

Unique floor choices are a great way to let your personality shine through in your home.

Matching Vs. Coordinating Flooring

Although it’s a matter of personal preference, certain factors will influence your decision in one direction or the other.

Take a look at the following reasons you might choose to match versus coordinate your kitchen and living room floors:

Matching

• Hardwood floors throughout the house can increase the overall value
• Open concepts are better suited for floors that match
• Small spaces can appear larger
• Area rugs can define living spaces without being permanent

Coordinating

• Getting an exact match may be difficult or outside your budget
• Better to coordinate and complement than go with an almost match
• The kitchen and living room are not connected
• You fell in love with two different floors
• You want to highlight or accent an area
• The flooring in one room might not be functional in the other

Finding The Exact Match

Getting the exact match is easiest if you installed the previous flooring. You can call up the same company or manufacturer to help you out.

If your floors were installed by someone else, you can bring a sample with you or check if the flooring company offers samples you can take home to compare with your existing floor.

When it comes to matching existing hardwood, take note of a few things. Check out this resource to help identify the type and species of wood in your home. Also, notice the color, as some woods and stains change color with age, moisture, or direct sunlight. The width of the planks, thickness, and height is also necessary for an exact match. 

Refinish Hardwood Floors To Make An Exact Match

Wood can change color with age and everyday living. Unfortunately, the difference between an existing hardwood floor and the new hardwood floor can be quite noticeable.

In this case, your best option is to sand, stain, and reseal both the existing and new floors together to get a uniform look. This strategy will make your new floors blend perfectly with your existing floor.

Coordinating Your Kitchen And Living Room Floors

Choosing to coordinate rather than match gives you more freedom to bring in other designs, textures, and colors while still creating an overall look that works.

If done right, you’ll have a unique, high-end look that brings character to your space. Pay attention to the following dos and don’ts when coordinating different floors.

Coordinating Dos

• Make sure the floors look nice next to each other
• Incorporate similar aspects such as tones and shapes
• Use different textures
• Stick with similar hues and undertones

Coordinating Don’ts

• Don’t exceed two types of flooring between the living room and kitchen
• Never let three different floors meet
• Avoid stark color contrasts 
• Don’t try to match exact colors with different floor types

If you are using coordinated flooring with an open floor plan, it’s best to place the floor change at the natural break in the room. Counters often signal the end of the kitchen in this type of layout. It is important to place your floor transition in a place that won’t look disjointed or poorly planned.

What Is The Best Type Of Flooring For A Kitchen?

When choosing the best flooring for your kitchen, there are several things to keep in mind. In addition to looking good, your kitchen floor needs to be water-resistant, durable, and comfortable enough for you to stand on for a while. 

Some of the best floors that meet these criteria are:

• Sheet vinyl
• Engineered vinyl plank
• Linoleum
• Engineered hardwood
• Cork

Popular options such as porcelain and natural stone can be durable but harder and less comfortable underfoot. Engineered hardwood is a more durable option than hardwood flooring. Avoid laminate in the kitchen as it does not do well with water and moisture.

What is the Best Type of Flooring For A Living Room?

The floor in your living room needs to look great while handling lots of traffic and being comfortable and easy enough to clean. There are tons of great options for living room flooring. Here are some of our favorites:

• Hardwood
• Laminate
• Vinyl
• Carpet (thinner for living rooms, thicker for bedrooms)

What Is The Easiest To Clean Kitchen Floor?

Your kitchen is bound to be the most frequently cleaned room in the house. Spills and messes can happen daily, especially if you have kids or pets. You want a floor that makes cleaning a breeze and can stand up to frequent mopping or scrubbing.

Vinyl and linoleum flooring are the easiest to wipe clean and avoid stains. They’re also durable enough to withstand scrubbing as needed. Other easy-to-clean options are porcelain or ceramic tile, but they can be quite slippery when wet. Hardwood is easy to clean, but you’ll want to wipe things up right away to avoid stains or damage. 

In Summary

There are lots of options when redoing your kitchen and living room floors. If you’ve chosen hardwood, check out these stunning ideas for hardwood floor and wall color combinations. Opt for floors that match or get creative with coordinated designs that complement one another. Choose what works best for your home, and enjoy the process!