Your kitchen tiles feel icy beneath your feet, the grout darkens, but the thought of tearing everything out dampens the urge to renovate. For a long time regarded as indispensable for its sturdiness, this floor is starting to bore. In 2026, kitchens open up to the living room, and people are demanding warmer coverings.
In water rooms, the rupture has begun. “The concept of a bathroom without tiling is not a fleeting trend,” explained Anna Maria Bazon, cited by Arquitectura y Diseno and relayed by Le Journal de la Maison. “The biggest trend is the move toward monolithic materials,” adds Christopher Boutlier. The kitchen is following this joint-less movement.
Why traditional kitchen tiling is retreating in 2026
Decor magazines today describe tiled kitchens that sound hollow, with grout that blacks and a chilly floor underfoot, especially in open-plan kitchens. The checkerboard tile arrangement visually cuts up the space, while interior designers favor a continuous finish that links the kitchen and living room.
Another obstacle is the scale of work required when one wants to change this tiling. The Spanish media Okdiario describes homeowners seeking fast and clean changes, without “lifting half the house.” “The goal is to renovate without noise, without debris and without weeks of work,” the site summarizes about family kitchens.
Vinyl flooring laid over existing floor: the 2026 kitchen trend without renovations
In this context, the floor over floor installation changes the game. Instead of removing the old tiles, they are kept as a base and the new floor is laid directly on top, provided the surface is flat and sound. “This system makes it possible to install a new finish directly over the old one without having to remove it,” explains Okdiario.
As a result, the project is quieter, generates no debris and often finishes in one or two days, without leaving the home. The star of this technique is the vinyl floor. Okdiario stresses that it is “prepared to withstand humidity, temperature changes and continuous use,” essential qualities in a kitchen.
What vinyl flooring over tile entails and what budget to plan
To take advantage of this system, the existing tiling must remain in impeccable condition. Professionals look for well-adhered tile, without major cracks, joints that aren’t overly recessed, and a backing that is perfectly clean and degreased. The clearance under doors must also allow for a few additional millimeters, possibly requiring a leveling compound or a simple filling of joints.
- Tiles firmly fixed, with no tiles that move
- Joints not crumbly and not too recessed
- Floor clean, dry, thoroughly degreased
- Sufficient clearance under doors and base cabinets
On the budget side, Camif Habitat and specialized sites place vinyl or clip-in PVC flooring between roughly 20 and 50 €/m², for a broad range of 15 to 60 €/m² depending on the range, with LVT tiles around 25-40 €/m² and rigid SPC vinyls around 35-55 €/m². Renovation guides mention a lifespan of 10 to 25 years, delivering a floor that is warmer, more flexible and less noisy than tile.
Sources
- Maison & Travaux
“This 2026 trendier floor warmer than tile transforms the kitchen without breaking a single tile”
