My kitchen came with a black-and-white checkered floor. It is whimsical perhaps, but it’s not something I would choose myself, and over time, the white squares are looking dirty. I hope to replace it some day.
But in the meantime, I got a rug. It’s an outdoor kind of rug, so it’s tough and non-absorbent – good for a kitchen. And it was cheap at the Home Goods store 🙂
That is indeed a good in-between solution. Regular carpet would be a nightmare, but the non-absorbent kind is pretty amazing.