Say Goodbye To Tile And Try This Kitchen Flooring Trend Instead

If you're on the hunt for a new kitchen floor idea to try in your home, it may be tempting to return to the predictable tile flooring that has reigned supreme in kitchens for decades. Before you make the change, you should know that many kitchen floors are circling back to another beloved classic: beautiful wood flooring. 

The National Kitchen and Bath Association's 2026 trends report called out wood flooring as the most popular floor choice for kitchens thanks in part to a growing preference for natural materials. Natalie Cooper, principal designer at Kitchens Inside Out, told Tasting Table that wood floors are gaining traction in 2026 as the go-to flooring in kitchens. "Hardwood is popular because of the warmth it brings," Cooper said. Wood floors don't just bring a warmer hue to your kitchen; they're also literally warmer to walk on. Tiptoeing across a tile floor is "so chilly in the mornings, very hard on joints if cooking for long periods of time," Cooper said, while wood floors both look and feel cozy. "People are less focused on durability and more concerned with how it actually feels," she explained of kitchen floor preferences.

While they're certainly gaining steam in 2026, we've been seeing wood floors growing in popularity in kitchens for a while, often beating out ubiquitous tile flooring in popularity and design preference. Honestly, it's a trend that's easy to understand. Not only are wood kitchens floors literally and figuratively warmer home additions, they're also versatile enough to mesh well with any future kitchen upgrades, and can create a beautiful, seamless look with other rooms in the house.

Wood kitchen floors are the perfect embodiment of the rustic home design trend we've been seeing so much of lately, so it's little wonder they're so desirable for home owners and designers alike. But in addition to being on-trend right now, the great thing about this kitchen floor option is that it's versatile and adapts beautifully to shifting and changing design preferences. Whereas other kitchen floor styles such as painted tiles or quirky patterns can be tricky to incorporate with future updates (such as new cabinets or countertops), wood floors are flexible enough to look great with many different evolving trends and design preferences.   

Plus, for open floor plan houses with wood floors in other rooms, bringing wood floors into the kitchen is a great way to create continuity and bring the entire home design together. So, if you have wood floors in your living or dining room, you may want to use the same material in your kitchen for a look that flows seamlessly. Alternatively, for a bit of definition that's still consistent, using different types of wood for the kitchen versus living space can section off areas while still feeling harmonious.

While wood floors are lovely, it's true that they require more care and aren't as bulletproof as materials like tile. To avoid regretting this popular kitchen floor material, you'll want to make sure you choose the right wood floor for your kitchen. The kitchen is a busy room with lots of activity — from sticky, greasy messes and steaming-hot pans to the scratching of stools and shuffling of busy feet — so you'll need a sturdy wood floor type that's durable enough to withstand heavy wear and tear. Opt for harder woods such as oak, maple, hickory, or cherry wood. If you love the look of trendy wood kitchen floors but want something super-resilient, you can purchase engineered hardwood floors which also come in waterproof or water-resistant versions. 

Not all of your wood floor decisions need to be strictly practical, though. You can have a little fun with your kitchen's wood floor design. Just because you're opting for wood flooring doesn't mean it needs to be devoid of the cute patterns and individuality you'll find in tile flooring. For example, a classic herringbone pattern is a unique yet not-too-showy alternative to conventional wood floors and adds a touch of individuality to even the tiniest of cooking spaces. In fact, beautiful wood floor patterns are becoming particularly trendy in the floor design space, with Hannes Boman, the head of design at Bjelin, a wood flooring company based in Sweden, telling Better Homes & Gardens, "Designs like herringbone and chevron offer dynamic visual interest and can dramatically influence how a space feels."

Static Media owns and operates Tasting Table and House Digest.