The kitchen is typically the busiest spot in the house, you will want a floor that wears well, too. Children, pets, heavy foot traffic and kitchen spills can all take a toll, so when weighing flooring options, think about a floor's durability and ease of maintenance.

WOOD
Wood fits a variety of decor styles, is warm underfoot and easy on the legs, and is a quiet floor option. The maintenance and durability of a wood floor depends greatly on what species of wood is being used and how that wood is finished. One of the worries with wood is that it may scratch, but remember that wood floors can always be sanded and refinished.

LAMINATE
For homeowners who like the look of wood, but want a floor that is extremely durable and requires little maintenance, laminate is an option. Laminate is factory-finished, and it can be put in over an existing floor, making installation a snap. While laminate has its advantages, it lacks the warmth typically associated with natural wood and some people may find it noisy.

CERAMIC TILE
Ceramic tile allows for a great deal of customization in terms of colors and patterns. Though tile is easy to clean with a damp mop, the surrounding grout can be difficult to maintain. Busby recommends using the largest tiles possible to minimize grout lines. Ceramic tile can be hard on the legs (and even harder on dropped dishes!), doesn't help with sound control in a kitchen and can be cold underfoot.

VINYL
For the budget-minded remodel, vinyl sheeting or peel-and-stick tiles can be a good bet. Vinyl is easy to install and is available in an endless array of colors and patterns. One of the drawbacks to vinyl floors is that the edges can curl.