KBSA - Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Specialists Association - Kitchen

Our FREE guide contains practical advice for consumers who are considering buying a new kitchen, bedroom, bathroom or home office.

Flooring & lighting

A floor should be comfortable and non-slip as well as looking good.
Pets or children in the household put an emphasis on ease of cleaning and upkeep.
A hard tile floor is tiring to stand on for long periods, whereas a cork, vinyl or carpet tile will absorb some of the impact.
Some wooden floors are suitable for the heavy wear a kitchen will attract and there is even a bamboo floor, resistant to damp and humidity.
Remember that installation can sometimes be as expensive as the flooring itself.

Lighting should be a combination of task lights for specific areas and supplementary lighting for overall background light.
A good designer should be able to create zones which can be operated independently, creating different moods.
Working areas such as the food preparation surface, hob and sink should all have high wattage independent task lights to illuminate the area without creating a shadow over it.
For low-level background lighting, choose under-cabinet striplights, plus a light over the table on a dimmer switch to create the right atmosphere for dining.