Checkerboard patterns have been a staple in the world of interior design for centuries. Though the checkerboard trend has waxed and waned as the years have passed, it has once again gained popularity in both residential and commercial spaces.

Commonly used in laundry rooms and for the shower floor in the bathroom, a checkerboard design can effortlessly create enduring appeal and striking contrast in the kitchen as well. Below are the most inspiring checkerboard flooring ideas to kickstart your kitchen floor makeover.

Grey-Blue and White Checkerboard Flooring in a Traditional Kitchen Design

If you’ve found yourself wishing that your kitchen felt Victorian with a timeless look that’s simple to recreate, this design is the one for you. Featuring a stunning focal point created by a stove alcove with a gorgeous painted mural, this kitchen immediately draws you in with its elegant design.

The checkerboard floor is set within a defined border that works to accentuate the unique shape of the room. Choosing to match both shades of the tiles with the cabinetry brings the room together for a cohesive appearance.

via Kvänum

Black and White Checkered Pattern in an All-White Kitchen

Marble countertops are as much a kitchen design staple as a black-and-white checkerboard floor. Combining the two results in an overall design that’s both stylish and durable.

High-traffic areas like the kitchen need to have materials that can withstand constant usage, especially when there are children and/or pets in the home. This kitchen ticks all of those boxes in a sleek way with just enough contrast to create visual interest.

via Marbodal

A Muted Grey Checkerboard Floor in a Grey and White Kitchen

The slightly faded appearance of the kitchen floor here creates a subtle checkered effect that serves as a supporting element to the style instead of the main event. Darker grey paint on the cabinetry, trim, and door contrasts well with the white walls while allowing black accents to pop.

For a similar, but more personalized, feel, a light brown or pastel blue checkered pattern for the flooring is an option.

Styled by Lindholm Design, photographed by Frederic Boukari for Historiska Hem

Large Checkerboard Floor Tiles for a Classic Style in a More Traditional Kitchen

For an incredibly practical kitchen design that maintains a stylish flare, try pairing farmhouse elements with an elevated take on a standard black and white checkerboard floor. The larger tiles here help the flooring to make more of an impression on the viewer without minimizing the more traditional aspects of the style.

Additionally, the subtle visual texture created by the marble pattern in the tiles provides a slightly luxurious air to this kitchen.

via DeVol Kitchens

Checkerboard Tile on the Floor and a Square Tile Backsplash for a Geometric Feel

Sometimes simple vinyl flooring can be what makes the biggest difference in your kitchen. This grey and white kitchen is completed by the matching grey and white checkerboard floor.

Instead of using the more common diamond orientation, this kitchen floor squares up the pattern with the cabinets. In doing so, it allows the floor and the square tile backsplash to echo each other for a cohesive, geometric style.

via Funkiskök

Subway Tiles and a Classic Black and White Checkered Floor Paired With Stunning Wallpaper

This unique combination of colors, patterns, and materials results in a fun and lively kitchen that’s sure to impress guests. The wallpapered kitchen accent wall pops against the white, grey, and black palette used throughout the rest of the space.

Brass-toned hardware provides subtle depth and echoes the golden shades in the wallpaper to help tie the room together further. Overall, this style perfectly blends modern design with vintage aesthetics for a look that’s all its own.

via Alvhem

Soft Green and White Cabinetry With Wood Accents and a Checkered Floor

One of the less common, yet beautiful, color combinations we see in the home is pale greens paired with rich, reddish-orange woods. This kitchen builds on this combination and makes it more impactful by using green on just the cabinet doors and the wood as an accent.

White walls accentuate these tones, while the bold checkerboard floor plays an active supporting role. Subtle silver hardware is the perfect choice here, remaining functional but not distracting.

via Funkiskök

Exposed Brick and a Checkered Floor in a Diamond Layout Using Textured Tiles

This example kitchen uses the rich texture of the exposed brick as a jumping-off point for the rest of the space, taking the opportunity to use one-of-a-kind stone and porcelain tiles for a stunning checkerboard floor.

Dark-toned cabinetry and countertops pair wonderfully with this design, and the abundance of natural light promotes a warm and welcoming environment.

Styled by Lindholm Design, photographed by Frederic Boukari for Historiska Hem

Use Black and White Checkerboard in a Traditional Kitchen With Modern Fixtures for a Classic Design

The epitome of timeless elegance, this kitchen is the perfect example of how a very traditional kitchen can be updated while maintaining its charm.

Porcelain tiles line the stove alcove, and antique accessories help to draw the eye to the area. The black and white checkerboard floor pairs perfectly with the black and white theme of the space, further highlighting the monochrome effect.

via Kvänum

Pale Checkerboard Flooring Paired With Rich, Warm Wood Cabinets

Natural materials are always a hit in a kitchen, and this example is no exception. Rich, red-toned wood on the cabinetry and shelving pairs well with the softer neutrals of the flooring, walls, and decor.

The resulting style is a perfect blend of rustic and modern design, with plenty of natural light to help the room feel even more warm and inviting.

via Fantastic Frank

Create a More Casual Environment With a Checkerboard Floor and Neutral Colors

If you’re looking for something more low-key and casual, a checkerboard floor can help with that too. This kitchen showcases a few different materials and textures in a much more subdued color palette than some of the other examples we’ve seen.

Because of this, the vinyl flooring is placed front and center in the design, creating a remarkable contrast with the hues of brown and off-white.

via Alvhem

Add Timeless Elegance to a Simplistic Kitchen With a Checkerboard Floor

Checkerboard flooring is an easy way to add flare and personality to a small space without reducing functionality.

This simple change can add a touch of depth and contrast to an otherwise plain space. A simplistic style with stainless steel countertops and appliances, this compact kitchen showcases further personality with colored spaces inside the cabinets.

via Funkiskök

Embrace a Victorian-Inspired Kitchen With an Eye-catching Design

If styling reminiscent of royal palaces is more your speed, a traditional black and white checkered floor paired with dramatic paint and decor might be the answer.

This stunning kitchen with a marble checkerboard floor is pure regal elegance. Intricate designs, gilded hardware and fixtures, and deep olive green paint transport this kitchen back in time with ease.

via DeVol Kitchens

Use Small Tiles in Checkerboard Patterns to Add Additional Flare to a Unique Kitchen

A speckled stone island set against a small black and white checkerboard kitchen floor is a great way to keep the eye moving throughout the room without overwhelming the senses with colors and decor.

This kitchen is a fresh take on classic design with a few modern touches to boot. The size and pattern of this kitchen floor paired with the tile backsplash exudes a slight retro diner air that has its own unique charm.

via Ferm Living 

Pair a Checkerboard Floor With a Whitewashed Brick Wall and Black Countertops

For the final example on our list, this kitchen blends a few of the ideas we’ve seen previously. Orange-red accents pop against the black-and-white palette, and the whitewashed brick wall adds character to the room.

This design is a perfect candidate for using cement board instead of vinyl flooring to achieve the checkerboard look. Black countertops and appliances are the perfect finishing touch here.

Styled by Grey Deco, photographed by Frederik Karlsson for Alvhem

Checkerboard vinyl flooring for a vintage effect in a simple white kitchen

The grey and white vinyl flooring in this unique kitchen adds a subtle vintage touch to the space, along with the mid-century modern dining chairs around the table. The bold floor makes the simple white kitchen cabinets and the white subway tile backsplash shine, while also adding dimension to the space.

via Historiska Hem