Aesthetic appeal can be an easy motivator when searching for flooring. You want a floor that strikes a chord with family and friends when they visit your home. However, you don't want to get too caught up in the appearance of your floor, and forget about how it functions on a daily basis.

This is especially true for rooms that are in constant use, like your kitchen. Your kitchen is one of the most utilized areas in your home and is constantly under abuse - from foot traffic, spills, pets and drops. When selecting flooring for your kitchen, narrow it down to a few types that you love appearance-wise and then test them out at a flooring store to get a better feel for how they can deal with your everyday living.

Want to know what you should think about when you are testing the functionality of kitchen flooring?

- Comfort. You are constantly on your feet when you are working in your kitchen. Therefore, see how it feels underneath your shoes and even under your bare feet. Is it hard and cold? Or warmer and softer?

- Noise. Depending on the size of your kitchen, noise can play a big factor in your choice for a floor. If your kitchen is open and larger, a hard surface can cause an excess of noise that will reverberate throughout your home.

- Durability. One of the most obvious intangibles in a quality kitchen floor is durability. You want a floor that wears well through all of the traffic and spills. Maintenance goes hand in hand with durability. How difficult is it to keep your flooring in top condition?

Based on these aspects of functionality, here are a few kitchen flooring favorites and how they compare in each quality.

- Laminate. Laminate flooring mimics wood and tile, requires little maintenance, and is easy to install. However, it typically lacks warmth underfoot and can be noisy.

- Ceramic Tile. While tile can be hard underfoot and noisy at times, it is relatively easy to clean with a damp mop. Use larger tiles to reduce the amount of grout lines in your kitchen, which is the only real tough maintenance issue.

- Wood. Compared to other options wood flooring is warm, easy on the feet and quiet, which is why it is a popular choice for the kitchen. The species of wood and the finish you choose will affect its maintenance and durability. Hardwood floors can be sanded and refinished, however.

- Vinyl. Like laminate, vinyl is easy to install and is budget-friendly. It can cold be cold underfoot, however, new luxury vinyl is padded and warm underfoot. Luxury vinyl also provides many realistic looking designs.

- Green. There is an array of green options on the market that you can use in your kitchen. Bamboo, cork, and linoleum all provide eco-friendly options. Bamboo and cork are warm underfoot and quiet, making them a comparable choice to hardwood.

There is no flawless floor as each has its advantages and disadvantages. However, deciding which functional aspects are important to you will help lead you to the perfect choice for your kitchen.