You spend a lot of time in your bathroom. Between showering, brushing teeth, shaving, and cleaning, the average person spends 182 hours in the bathroom per year.
As such, it’s important to choose the right bathroom flooring. And given the variety of factors you need to consider, including durability, moisture resistance, and aesthetics, that can feel like an impossible task.
But it doesn’t have to. Like any home renovation task, conjuring up bathroom flooring ideas to meet your needs simply requires careful planning, strict budgeting, and a dash of creativity.
Fortunately, you’ve got options. From stylish laminate to luxury vinyl, there are a wealth of bathroom floor ideas to explore, with options to suit all budgets and tastes.
In this handy guide, we’ll explore your options. Including:
- Luxury Vinyl
- Laminate
- Engineered wood
- Porcelain Tiles
Why choosing the right bathroom flooring matters
More than any other room in your home, the bathroom is where style and practicality collide.
There’s no sense choosing bathroom flooring that looks fantastic but soaks up water like a sponge, which can lead to subfloor rot, floorboard damage, and even mold growth.
On the other hand, you want your bathroom to reflect your personality, so ultra-practical flooring that’s characterless and, well… drab will frustrate you on a daily basis, potentially impacting your mood.
It sounds lofty, but it’s true. Studies have shown that interior design has a profound impact on your mental health, and the right environment can promote positivity, relaxation and healing—which is exactly what you want from your bathroom.
As you can imagine, landing on bathroom flooring ideas that will complement your unique style, elevate your mood and withstand a daily onslaught of soggy feet and spillages is no mean feat.
So, where to begin?
Factors to consider when choosing bathroom flooring
As we’ve established, deciding on the best flooring for bathrooms is a multi-faceted issue, with several key factors to consider before you begin work.
From moisture resistance to overall durability, and, of course, budget, it’s wise to set aside some time to brainstorm to ensure you choose bathroom flooring that meets all of your needs.
But what do you need to consider?
Moisture resistance
Bathrooms get wet. Obvious? Perhaps. But often people underestimate just how wet a bathroom can get. Whether it’s overspray from showers or condensation from steamy baths, bathrooms are constantly bombarded by water.
And that can cause real problems for your bathroom floor.
To prevent mildew, subfloor damage, and flooring deterioration, choose a highly moisture-resistant bathroom floor.
Luxury vinyl tile (LVT) is a great option here as it’s highly durable, boasts strong water resistance, and is available in a range of colours and styles, so you won’t have to compromise on your bathroom floor ideas.
Our rigid core vinyl and click vinyl floors are renowned for their 100% waterproof properties, so they make the perfect candidates for your bathroom renovation.
Durability
It goes without saying, but durability should be high on your agenda when deciding which bathroom flooring to choose—especially if you’re a growing family.
It’s likely that you’re working to a strict budget, so the last thing you want is to have to replace your floor too soon. As such, it’s wise to consider hardy materials that will withstand a fair amount of wear and tear.
Fortunately, you have options. Both laminate flooring and luxury vinyl tile are notable for their durability, range of aesthetic choices, and easy-cleaning.
In fact, waterproof laminate flooring often features a protective overlay that prevents water seepage and welling, and by sealing the joints between the planks with silicon, you can increase their water resistance, which has a knock-on effect on their durability.
At the higher end of the price scale, you could also consider porcelain or ceramic tile, both of which are highly-robust.
Budget
Like any home renovation task, the budget will hugely inform your bathroom floor ideas. But it’s more than just the cost of the flooring itself, you’ll also need to consider factors such as initial installation costs and any long-term costs.
For example, if you lack the skills to install your flooring yourself, you may need to hire a professional, which will increase your budget, depending on independent rates.
Similarly, you’ll need to consider the long-term costs. It’s wise here to opt for more durable materials, such as luxury vinyl tile or ceramic tile, as they’re both hardwearing and highly water-resistant, saving you money in the long run.
Bathroom Flooring Ideas (With Pros and Cons)
As you can imagine, different types of bathroom flooring come with unique pros and cons, so it’s worth considering your needs before making a decision.
For example:
1. Luxury Vinyl flooring
Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) is a popular option for bathroom flooring — and it’s easy to see why. It’s durable, waterproof, and more affordable than hardwood, while offering the style of wood, stone, or marble.
With simple installation and low maintenance, it’s suited to a wide range of budgets. If you opt for luxury glue-down LVT, you won’t have to worry about warping, while our Spectra rigid core LVT range is designed to resist bowing or movement, even in sunny spaces.
Caring for LVT is straightforward too, especially when paired with a daily cleaner and our range of aftercare products to keep your floor looking fresh.
Like any surface, LVT can be susceptible to scratching, so it’s best to avoid dragging heavy furniture across it. It can also feel cool underfoot in winter, but this is easily balanced with the use of rugs or underfloor heating.
2. Waterproof laminate
Like vinyl flooring, laminate is available in a wide range of styles, allowing you to design the bathroom of your dreams. From printed decors to textured surfaces, laminate flooring can mimic the look of natural materials.
Moreover, as the name suggests, waterproof laminate is highly water-resistant, as well as affordable, making it a perfect addition to your list of bathroom floor ideas.
Sidenote: Our Aqualock and Audacity options are both known for their water-resistance.
However, it’s worth noting that not all laminates are 100% waterproof, and it’s typically less durable than tile, as well as being colder underfoot, so it’s important to do a little research to find out which laminate is right for you.
3. Engineered wood
If you’re eager to add a sense of warmth and refinement to your bathroom floor, you might consider engineered wood flooring, which is popular for its timeless aesthetic appeal and diverse range of colours and finishes.
It’s also much less susceptible to warping or cracking when compared to its hardwood alternative, ticking that durability box.
That said, engineered wood flooring can be much more costly than, say, laminate or vinyl, both at the point of purchase and in the long-term when you factor in the need for regular resealing to protect it from moisture.
4. Porcelain tiles
An ever-popular option for bathroom floors, porcelain tiles are stylish, durable and generally affordable. They’re available in a variety of styles, so no matter your desired aesthetic, you’ll find tiles to match.
They’re typically completely waterproof, and, based on the material, resistant to warping, so you’ll save money in the long-term.
Porcelain tiles hold up to everyday wear and tear such as scratches, chips, and stains. However, they can be cold underfoot, so it may be worth adding rugs or even underfloor heating to address these issues.
For most types of tiles, there’s also the initial cost of installation to consider, as you’ll likely need to hire a professional to fit your tiles, given the complexity of the task.
How to install bathroom flooring
Once you’ve decided on your dream bathroom flooring, factoring in durability, water resistance and budget, it’s time to install your bathroom flooring.
If you’re the handy type (and eager to trim some costs), you could opt to install your bathroom flooring yourself. We have a range of DIY-friendly floors, ready to be fitted.
We’ve even put together a guide to installing laminate flooring, which walks you through the process step-by-step.
Opted for LVT? No problem. Check out our guide on how to install luxury vinyl flooring for all the know-how you’ll need to fit your own vinyl flooring.
Where to buy bathroom flooring
Of course, you can’t install what you don’t have. We’ve got a huge range of bathroom flooring ideas, in styles and materials to suit any budget.
From stylish vinyl to ultra-durable laminate, our bathroom flooring options are easy to install, so you’ll have your dream bathroom before you know it.
Need some extra advice? We’ve got you covered. Contact our friendly and experienced team of flooring experts on 02477 182 145.
And there you have it. With careful planning, prudent budgeting and a spark of creativity, you’ll have a stylish bathroom floor that’ll stand up to even the busiest families.
And remember, the best bathroom flooring is the one that meets your unique needs, so carve out some time to consider whether style, durability or affordability is your highest priority before making a decision.
Need more tips and tricks for revitalising your home? Check out our advice centre. Yet to decide on your next project? Visit our inspiration centre.
