How much does a New Kitchen Remodel Cost in NZ? Basic, Mid-Range & Luxury Options for 2021

Most people in Auckland want to renovate their kitchen because their old kitchen does not suit their family’s lifestyle. Some kitchens are too old and shabby while others are just not functional. New Kitchen cost in NZ can range from $18,000 to $120,000 depending on many factors.

However, not everyone has a $100,000 budget to renovate a new kitchen. Most people want a simple upgrade and are only willing to spend between $18,000 to $30,000 for a new kitchen.

For the purpose of this article, we will explore kitchen cost options if you are renovating with a renovation company in Auckland and not DIY kitchens. When renovating with a renovation company your quotes will most include the cost for all fixtures, renovation materials, project management, council permits if any, all trades like plumbers, electricians, tilers, builders, installers, carpenters etc and project management. This section of our article will explore how to renovate a new kitchen on a budget. This is possible if the kitchen renovation is planned well and if your kitchen designer has a good knowledge of the renovation materials available today.

Most people in Auckland want to renovate their kitchen because their old kitchen does not suit their family’s lifestyle. Some kitchens are too old and shabby while others are just not functional. New Kitchen cost in NZ can range from $18,000 to $120,000 depending on many factors.

However, not everyone has a $100,000 budget to renovate a new kitchen. Most people want a simple upgrade and are only willing to spend between $18,000 to $30,000 for a new kitchen.

For the purpose of this article, we will explore kitchen cost options if you are renovating with a renovation company in Auckland and not DIY kitchens. When renovating with a renovation company your quotes will most include the cost for all fixtures, renovation materials, project management, council permits if any, all trades like plumbers, electricians, tilers, builders, installers, carpenters etc and project management. This section of our article will explore how to renovate a new kitchen on a budget. This is possible if the kitchen renovation is planned well and if your kitchen designer has a good knowledge of the renovation materials available today.

1. How much does it cost to renovate a basic kitchen in Auckland? ⇓ 

- Layout for basic kitchens
- Cabinets and storage for basic kitchens
- Countertop for basic kitchens
- Appliances for basic kitchens
- Flooring for basic kitchens
- Lighting for basic Kitchens

2. How much does it cost to renovate a Mid-range kitchen in Auckland? ⇓ 

- Kitchen layout for mid-range kitchens
- Cabinets and storage for mid-range kitchens
- 6 Ways to maximise storage for mid-range kitchens
- Countertop for mid-range kitchens
- Appliances for mid-range kitchens
- Flooring for mid-range kitchens
- Lighting for mid-range kitchens
- SMART kitchens

3. How much does it cost to renovate a luxury designer kitchen in Auckland? ⇓ 

- Hiring a kitchen designer for your kitchen design
- Custom cabinets and materials for cabinet fronts
- Joinery for your cabinets
- Butler's pantry or walk in Pantry
-  Natural stone Countertops
- Luxury designer splashbacks
- Feature walls for open plan kitchen
- Designer appliances to suit your kitchen design
- Luxury natural stone tiles and kitchen flooring
- Planning the lighting of your kitchen
- Electric work and SMART kitchens

Basic Level - $16,560 –$28,990         

Includes- 

Same Layout-    

• Refacing cabinets     
• Refinish paints, stain etc.      

Kitchen Storage-    

•  Pull out bins, spick racks, condimental drawers.   
• Cabinet handles included.      

Basic Materials-      

• Stone Engineered marble/granite/wood or Laminate countertops.  
•  Laminated/ Linoleum & Luxury vinyl kitchen flooring.   
• Ceramic tiles option for flooring   
• White tile Splashback  
• Using MDF Meleta materials for cabinets & Bestwood      

Electric Work-

• installing LED light bulbs.   
• Upgrading essential appliances

Mid-range Level - $32,000- 45000    

Includes- 

Choice to change layout-      

• Install a kitchen Island- waterfall or an overhang countertop.    
• High-quality MDF Melteca cabinet doors with painting included.       

Customise your kitchen storage -      

• Better quality built-in bins, spice rack, magic corners existing pantry with pull out drawers. 
• Installing Hefelle hinges & Blumotion (Soft Close) on your cabinets     
• Designer handles for cabinets optional       

Mid-range materials-   

• High-quality Stone Engineered countertops. 
• Tiled or Neptune stone-based flooring. 
• Designer tiled, glass, mosaic Splashback. 
• Making your appliances, dishwasher, fridge, invisible by adding your cabinet material on top.

Smart Kitchen/lights features-

• LED lights under cabinets, invisible ports. 
• Energy-star rated appliances. 
• Designer kitchen pendent lights.

Luxury Level - Up to 173880

 Includes- 

Hiring a Kitchen Designer-

• Customize your kitchen layout.   
• Plumbing Advice on materials 
• Mix different textures, materials, and finishes    
• Spacing/Storage planning appliances      

Customise your kitchen storage-    

• A Butler’s kitchen Walk in Pantry.     

Designer materials-

• Flooring, cabinets, countertops, splashbacks  
• Granite, Marble and Concrete countertop . 
• Tribeca collection from Tile depot for splashbacks 
• Stone based composite polymer, porcelain tiles - include the tile depot range of Urban cement collection and natural stone tiles 
• Natural wood, Porcelain tiles on MDF (neolith), Lacquer on MDF, Timber Veneer, MDF Vs Plywood Vs Particle board for your carcass for cabinets  

Custom build Cabinetry-   

• TIP-ON- open and closing cabinet doors when you press.   
• Soft close cabinets and drawers, pull out systems ,blum Legra box.   
• Pull out pantry drawer system details on cabinets   
• Designer handles  
• Joinery   
• Hinges      

Smart Kitchen/Light features-  

• Style options for kitchen appliances    
• Task, Ambient lighting and Accent lighting    
• Invisible appliance with cabinet door covering on top.   
• Sensor lights in pantry or cabinets 
• Voice or remote controller for lights 
• Luxury crystal chandler as a pendent light

Find out more about-

 how much it costs averagely to renovate a kitchen in NZ (2021). 

Basic Level - $16,560 –$28,990         

Includes- 

Same Layout-    

• Refacing cabinets     
• Refinish paints, stain etc.      

Kitchen Storage-    

•  Pull out bins, spick racks, condimental drawers.   
• Cabinet handles included.      

Basic Materials-      

• Stone Engineered marble/granite/wood or Laminate countertops.  
•  Laminated/ Linoleum & Luxury vinyl kitchen flooring.   
• Ceramic tiles option for flooring   
• White tile Splashback  
• Using MDF Meleta materials for cabinets & Bestwood      

Electric Work-

• installing LED light bulbs.   
• Upgrading essential appliances

Mid-range Level - $32,000- 45000    

Includes- 

Choice to change layout-      

• Install a kitchen Island- waterfall or an overhang countertop.    
• High-quality MDF Melteca cabinet doors with painting included.       

Customise your kitchen storage -      

• Better quality built-in bins, spice rack, magic corners existing pantry with pull out drawers. 
• Installing Hefelle hinges & Blumotion (Soft Close) on your cabinets     
• Designer handles for cabinets optional       

Mid-range materials-   

• High-quality Stone Engineered countertops. 
• Tiled or Neptune stone-based flooring. 
• Designer tiled, glass, mosaic Splashback. 
• Making your appliances, dishwasher, fridge, invisible by adding your cabinet material on top.

Smart Kitchen/lights features-

• LED lights under cabinets, invisible ports. 
• Energy-star rated appliances. 
• Designer kitchen pendent lights.

Luxury Level - Up to 173880

 Includes- 

Hiring a Kitchen Designer-

• Customize your kitchen layout.   
• Plumbing Advice on materials 
• Mix different textures, materials, and finishes    
• Spacing/Storage planning appliances      

Customise your kitchen storage-    

• A Butler’s kitchen Walk in Pantry.     

Designer materials-

• Flooring, cabinets, countertops, splashbacks  
• Granite, Marble and Concrete countertop . 
• Tribeca collection from Tile depot for splashbacks 
• Stone based composite polymer, porcelain tiles - include the tile depot range of Urban cement collection and natural stone tiles 
• Natural wood, Porcelain tiles on MDF (neolith), Lacquer on MDF, Timber Veneer, MDF Vs Plywood Vs Particle board for your carcass for cabinets  

Custom build Cabinetry-   

• TIP-ON- open and closing cabinet doors when you press.   
• Soft close cabinets and drawers, pull out systems ,blum Legra box.   
• Pull out pantry drawer system details on cabinets   
• Designer handles  
• Joinery   
• Hinges      

Smart Kitchen/Light features-  

• Style options for kitchen appliances    
• Task, Ambient lighting and Accent lighting    
• Invisible appliance with cabinet door covering on top.   
• Sensor lights in pantry or cabinets 
• Voice or remote controller for lights 
• Luxury crystal chandler as a pendent light

Find out more about-

 how much it costs averagely to renovate a kitchen in NZ (2021). 

Firstly, you might want to think about the kitchen layout. For instance, how big do you want your kitchen to be? Are you going to keep your kitchen layout the same, or are you going to make some changes? What style do you want your kitchen to be? Do you want modern, traditional, or contemporary features? These are some good questions to ask yourself before you contact a renovation company.

1. Kitchen Layout for a New Kitchen remodel on a budget

Most of the time a change in layout is not possible in a basic kitchen renovation. Changing the layout or moving your island, sink or plumbing will increase the cost of your kitchen renovation especially if you are on a budget.

Check out this basic kitchen's case study: Papatoetoe

If you are more likely to stay with your original kitchen layout, then in that case your cost will decrease, so you might want to consider staying with your existing layout of your kitchen. It is however possible to create a budget friendly kitchen if you choose your renovation materials carefully. We will now discuss the different elements of your new kitchen when on a budget.

The biggest expense in a new kitchen is cabinets. Do some research and get an idea of the kind of look you want for your kitchen cabinets. If you have an overly large kitchen then you might want to think about just changing its doors or changing cabinets that are damaged. This is where we use your standard cabinets and we remove old paint, stain, sanding and repairing the same boxes, and re-apply paint to the same wood of choice.

Building entirely new cabinets is also possible but you will have to use mid-range materials like MDF. Melteca and Goodwood are two of the most popular MDF brands in Auckland. MDF in simple terms is manufactured wood from a factory. It is easier to clean than natural wood and has a better finish compared to acrylic. Melteca and Goodwood carry a budget friendly range for their products which come in various textures and designs.

See Case Studies:

Image 1: Historic Melteca finish in Epsom

Image 2: Melteca Oak Wood Finish look in Standmore Bay

Storage is the second most important aspect of a well planned kitchen. Most kitchens in Auckland feature an open plan setting which means that they must have good storage, so the kitchen does not look cluttered.

To create an uncluttered look, think about installing a cutlery drawer, spice racks, pull out bins, magic corners etc. We recommend allocating a substantial part of your budget on your cabinets and storage because you want them to last a long time.

Countertops are another important feature for your kitchen. It is vital to choose a countertop that will be resistant to water, is durable and hard-wearing. There are many options available for budget friendly kitchens and our recommendations are as follows:

• Laminate countertops-Laminated Countertops is a material that has a lot of different colours and styles. This material is long lasting, stain resistance and has natural heat. Laminate countertops remains one of the top materials in New Zealand when renovating a kitchen. So, why is it one of the top materials? Laminate is a great material for people who wish to renovate their kitchen on a budget as it is $150 per square meter. Laminate does however have its drawbacks as it can be easily stained.
• Stone Engineered- Engineered Stone is the most popular and common countertop used in Auckland for new kitchens. So what is a stone engineered countertop? A stone engineered countertop simply means that the stone is manufactured in a factory instead of natural stone. The benefits of stone engineered stone is that through technology, manufacturers can manipulate the stone for added benefits like higher durability, better designs and is cost effective. Stone engineered countertops are often made of 90 percent Quartz. This material is a great option for first kitchen renovators as Quarts is affordable and available with a range of variety of textures in New Zealand. Stone engineered is not just durable but comes with 10 years of warranty and is scratch resistant.

Houzz states that stone engineered countertops can range between $520 to $1200 per square meter.

Read: Different Kitchen styles and elements that make each style (Traditional kitchens, classic kitchens, contemporary kitchens, cottage style and modern kitchens)

The first step is to see what appliances you want to upgrade. This can be from stovetop to dishwasher. Here is a tip! However, if your budget does not include high maintenance appliances then do not worry. We have got your back and just think about the existing appliances are working and the other appliances that need more attention. This could help you save a huge amount, and you can use that with other upgrades in your kitchen remodelling.

Appliances are another major factor when thinking about kitchen renovation as they are needed for cooking, baking, warming up, and refrigeration. To stay within your budget, only buy appliances that your really need. If some of your appliances are working well then there is no need to buy new ones.

When picking appliances, see what models have great reviews and only buy good-quality appliances that will last a long time. Having good quality appliances will also increase your house valuation if you do plan to sell your home in the future.

Choosing the right type of kitchen flooring is important as kitchens are usually a high traffic area and are prone to food and water spillage. You might want to think about the texture of the material you choose as a good kitchen flooring should be easy to clean, hard-wearing, and water-resistant, (hard for water to get through). There are four  great options for a basic new kitchen in NZ:

• Linoleum Floors- Linoleum flooring is a natural eco-friendly material. It does however need regular maintenance and might not be suitable for families with young children. For instance, Linoleum flooring is likely to get damage because of the moisture in the water and, will wear off with time. Linoleum can also make a home look dated so it might not be a great option for everyone.
• Luxury Vinyl - As technology has developed, the properties of vinyl have also improved. Luxury Vinyl is a type of vinyl that is more durable than regular vinyl. There are also a lot more options available in terms of textures and designs. It is a budget friendly option for kitchens as it is quite inexpensive compared but need more maintenance compared to tiles.
• Laminate Floors- Laminate flooring is more durable and water resistant compared to Linoleum and vinyl flooring. The Flooring is a laminated wood face floor that looks and feels like wooden floors. Laminate flooring comes in various textures and designs which means that it looks great in open plan kitchens due to their aesthetic element. They can be made to look and feel like wood which is great for people who want a wooden floor look. Laminated floors are a cheaper alternative compared to wood floors. They are also easier to maintain compared to wooden floors as they can be made to be 100% waterproof.
• Ceramic and Porcelain Tiles-Ceramic and porcelain tiles are also a good cost effective tiles for basic kitchens. They are easy to clean, are durable and water resistant. You will also have a great variety of textures to choose from which means that you will be a able to create a beautiful kitchen for the fraction of the cost. They can however be cold on your feet in winter and can cause foot fatigue if stood on for too long. To combat this you can put soft rugs which are warmer and more comfortable for your feet.

Natural lighting is important for a kitchen to showcase its beauty as well as for cooking, preparing, cleaning, and hosting parties. Upgrading your current light fixtures with new ones will not cost you a lot.

You can also completely do away with wall lights and opt for LED lights on the ceiling. You can install energy saving LED lights which will also help you keep your energy bill low. To add to the aesthetics of your kitchen, you can also use pendent lighting above the island if you have one.

Back to the Top

As discussed above a basic new kitchen would cost between $16,560 to $28,990. A mid-range kitchen renovation cost in NZ costs between 32,000 to $45,000. In a mid-range kitchen, you have more flexibility and options in terms of change in layout and materials.

A mid-range kitchen would include a change in layout, custom-made cabinetry, stone engineered countertops/marble countertops, kitchen appliances, tiled flooring etc. This new kitchen makeover guideline shows an estimate to renovate for a mid-range level kitchen.

If you are looking for glamorous, budget-friendly, small, and large kitchen renovation cost, do check out the link below as it shows a range of cost for different renovations.

Changing the layout of your kitchen means that you might want to change the plumbing as well as electric wiring in the kitchen. Changing the layout of the kitchen adds up to your overall kitchen renovation cost. If you wish to keep the kitchen layout the same, then it will cost you somewhere around $29,000. However, you want to add an island or change your current layout then you expect to pay more than $32,000. For instance, if your existing layout is not functional then you might want to consider changing your stove, sink or cabinetry around.

The most popular layouts that are possible for a mid-range kitchen are as follows:

• Galley kitchen
• U shaped kitchen
• L-shaped kitchen
• Island Kitchen
• Peninsular kitchen
• Two island kitchens

For more layout ideas and tips, check if you need more help.

When renovating a mid-range new kitchen remodel cost in NZ , you will have a lot more choice in materials, textures and designs for your cabinets and door handles.

The material that you would be using at this level would be MDF Melteca. MDF Melteca is surface that most kitchen remodels use in New Zealand. Melteca has various ranges of materials and it is highly popular in NZ as it is affordable, easy to clean and highly durable.

You could choose a more premium range of MDF for your cabinets. We work with Melteca and Goodwood brands to custom built all cabinets. You can use Melteca’s high gloss premium range for your mid-range kitchen.

You can also customise your MDF cabinets by wrapping it with Dezignatek Thermoform with any pattern you like to create a traditional, vintage, classic or modern look. For example the cabinets below were wrapped with a Rhonda pattern to give them a vintage look.

• The front of the drawers and cabinets were wrapped in Dezignatek Thermoform with a ‘Ronda’ pattern to give the cabinets a vintage look.

Check out our country cottage style kitchen renovation in NZ

If your budget allows then you can also custom-build cabinets made of real wood but they are often very hard to maintain and hence MDF remains a popular choice for kitchen cabinets.

Our mid-range kitchens often feature soft close cabinets and hinges from Blum and Hafelle. Soft close cabinets are drawers from BLUM allow your cabinets to close softly and without any effort even if they are slammed shut. This feature is great for homes with young children or when you have a busy day in the kitchen.

Hinges from Hefelle and Blum will also last you longer as they are very durable due to their superior technology and will not rust.

If you are going for a modern or contemporary look then you can also opt for a no-handle set up with LED lights above them. This will give you a seamless and uncluttered look especially if you have a small open plan kitchen.

If you want a cottage style or traditional style kitchen then you can also install brass handles to give it a more vintage feel. To give it a cleaner and more classic look you can also install matte knobs against white cabinets for contrast.

For more: types of kitchen styles like traditional, modern, cottage, contemporary, industrial and classic

When taking about cabinetry, we talked about the way your cabinet looks and how it feels but now let us talk about the storage inside your kitchen. Having good kitchen storage is an important feature of a functional kitchen.

Kitchen storage can be useful to store dry foods, small appliances, cutlery, pots, pans, plates etc. Most homeowners like to store their things in places like in the panty, drawers, shelves, or their kitchen island. 

Check out this link for more comprehensive ways to organise your cabinets

6 ways to maximise storage for your mid-range kitchen

1.Magic corners
magic corners can be created for cabinets that are in the corner of your kitchen. They allow you to reach the corner space inside your cabinets which are often hard to reach. Most of our clients prefer using magic corners from BLUM.

2.Cutlery drawers and spice racks
due to our busy lifestyles, it is important that our kitchen is always well organised. You can get custom built drawers with compartments for your cutlery and spice racks. Also remember to put your cutlery drawer next to your crockery drawer and as a top drawer. Also ensure that your spice rack is next to the stove, so it is easy to access them when you are cooking.

3.Custom build condiment drawer
You can also make a custom built condiment drawer which pulls out. For example, if you see the condiments drawer below, it does not have any cabinet planks on either side which makes it easy to view your condiments when cooking. This saves time and energy when looking for what you have in your shelves.

4.Pantry with pull out drawers

It might not be possible to make a walk in pantry for a mid-range kitchen but that does not mean that you cannot have a well organised pantry. This a great feature for homeowners who seek extra storage for their dry foods, carbs, sauces etc. The pull out drawers is located inside the pantry and this feature is very useful when customising your drawers as it helps you to be organised and it helps you find what you are looking easily.

To see more on custom built-

See case study on kitchen renovation in Papatoetoe

5.Pull out bins

Pull out rubbish and recycling bins cab be installed within a cabinet which makes your space more hygienic as there are no extra bins on the floor. It also helps the area look uncluttered and cumbersome. Remember to install your pull out bins near your sink area because, it will be easier for you to throw extra waste or recycle their empty products.

6.Island which doubles as storage-

Another option for a mid-range kitchen is to add a kitchen island. A kitchen island can be incorporated within layouts like U-shape, L-shape or even a galley, depending, on the space you have left for family entertainment or preparing food. An island can also be used in multiple ways in your kitchen, for instance, you can have extra storage underneath your island with drawers, you can have a stovetop or even a sink in the middle of your island. Another way to customise your kitchen island is to have a waterfall edge for your countertop or have your exposed countertop hanging off the edge, so that can leave space for your bar chairs. In fact, to renovate a kitchen island is going to cost you between $4,000 to $6,000.

In New Zealand, renovation companies recommend homeowners to invest in Engineered stone countertop as they are affordable, durable, resistant to water, anti-bacterial and hard-wearing.

For a mid-range kitchen, you will be able to afford a stone engineered countertop of a more superior quality and design.

Luxury Engineered stone countertops are made from crushed marble and granite as it is a popular choice. You can choose a countertop with either sparkles ingrained within it or with ingrained designs or an overhang island for a luxurious look. You also choose to have a thicker countertop with waterfall edges for a contemporary look. If you have a thicker countertop then it will cost, you more than if you choose a less thick countertop.

Stone Engineered countertops options for kitchen renovation in NZ

If your budget allows then you can choose a natural granite countertop which is more expensive than engineered stone. You can also install a real timber countertop, but this will have to be treated before installation. We would not recommend this countertop for people who have busy lives as a timber countertop needs to be maintained regularly.

Insert cottage kitchen photos

Splashbacks-

Splashbacks are important as they catch any splatters made while cooking and also prevents from damaging the paint of your walls. Splashbacks are often installed above the stove top and sink area.

Tiles, mosaic tiles and glass tiles are three great material options when choosing a backsplash for your kitchen. Ruth from Tile Depot recommends using the Tribecca collection of tiles for splashbacks as it instantly elevates the look of your kitchen. Tribecca tiles look like handmade tiles which look textured but are actually very easy to clean.

Cost for a Tribeca Splashbacks for a mid-range kitchen renovation in NZ

When choosing your kitchen appliances, make sure your appliances are position in a way that is most convenient to you when preparing food or cleaning up. For instance, install your dishwasher next to your sink so your cleaning process will be easy. Another example is having your fridge between your stove and sink as you will be able to grab things much faster. Positioning your oven underneath your stove or place it at a closer distance to your cooktop. This is because when cooking or cleaning, the oven bar can come in your way and it will make it harder for you to move around, cleaning can also be a challenge if the oven is above or below eye level. Instead place your oven at eye-level to make cleaning easier and it can also be convenient when taking things in and out of the oven.

Choose your appliances well and check their energy star rating before making the purchase. Choose energy star rated products because it helps reduce your energy bill, they have a longer lifespan and come with an extended warranty. Unlike in a basic kitchen renovation, you will be able to change all your appliances to new ones.

Our mid-range kitchen renovation clients often use SMEG, Samsung, and Bosch for their appliances as this fit in easily with their budget. A freestanding mid-range oven from SMEG will cost you between $25000 - $4,000 if you are buying through a renovation company. This free standing oven often has a gas top, a warmer and single oven.

• Bosch is another great brand for stovetops, ovens dishwashers, waste disposal, and rangehoods. Bosch is a more cost effective brand compared to SMEG and is very durable. You can expect to spend around $414 for microwaves, $1150 for modern ovens, and $1500 stain steel fridges.
• SMEG has an extensive range when it comes to price and makes appliances for mid to high range kitchen renovations. SMEG appliances are more suited for people who want a designer element in their kitchen. They come in various designs and styles to suit most tastes.

If you want a seamless and clean look then you can hide your appliances by building cabinet doors on top of them. This can be done by building cabinet doors on top of the appliances. However, only certain brands and appliances will be compatible enough to build cabinet doors on.  We will not recommend you build hideaway ovens and microwaves as they can be a health and safety hazard.

• Bosch is another great brand for stovetops, ovens dishwashers, waste disposal, and rangehoods. Bosch is a more cost effective brand compared to SMEG and is very durable. You can expect to spend around $414 for microwaves, $1150 for modern ovens, and $1500 stain steel fridges.
• SMEG has an extensive range when it comes to price and makes appliances for mid to high range kitchen renovations. SMEG appliances are more suited for people who want a designer element in their kitchen. They come in various designs and styles to suit most tastes.

If you want a seamless and clean look then you can hide your appliances by building cabinet doors on top of them. This can be done by building cabinet doors on top of the appliances. However, only certain brands and appliances will be compatible enough to build cabinet doors on. We will not recommend you build hideaway ovens and microwaves as they can be a health and safety hazard.

Your kitchen should ideally be staining free, waterproof, and easy to clean, comfortable and, most importantly, hard-wearing.  You will have a lot more options to choose from for a mid range kitchen as compared to basic kitchens.

• Tiles are often a popular choice for Kitchen flooring as they are easy to maintain and durable. Ceramic and Porcelain tiles remain popular for kitchen floors as they are versatile and come in various designs and textures.
• Porcelain tiles are better recommended for kitchens as they are more durable and harder to damage. They are more expensive than ceramic tiles, but you will get a lot more design options for porcelain tiles. Porcelain can be made to mimic stone and wood which can elevate your kitchen design.

Tiles can however be cold in winter or hard on your feet when you are cooking for long periods of time. To combat this, you can either install underfloor heating or put some soft rugs on your kitchen.

• Luxury Laminate Flooring is also another option for kitchen flooring. They are warmer than tiles but are not water resistant which could be an issue with maintenance. If you are installing laminate flooring, then make sure that you wipe away any water spills immediately.
• Hybrid Neptune has a new range of kitchen flooring called the stone polymer composite. This hybrid flooring is great for mid-range kitchens as it has all the best properties of stone and laminate. The stone used in Limestone and the Neptune SPC is water resistant, warm, soft on the feet, and muffles the sound of your footstep.

Hybird Neptune Picture credit to Tile depot

Ruth from Tile depot says that this is a much better alternative compared to tiles or laminate and does not require any underfloor heating. It is also very durable and comes in many finishes. It will also not get damages due to sun or extreme cold weather.