Are you wondering what the best type of flooring for your bathroom would be? This post takes a look at the best flooring for bathrooms in any type of house, flat or apartment.
When it comes to flooring in your bathroom, you want to ensure you choose something hardwearing and won’t be susceptible to damage from water.
You may also want to make other considerations such as whether you want to install underfloor heating and the cost of the flooring and how that aligns with your budget.
Best Flooring For Bathrooms
1. Top Choice For Bathroom Flooring: Vinyl
Vinyl used to have a bit of a reputation for being cheap and nasty.
However, that is no longer the case as vinyl has improved vastly in recent years. It is also the most budget-friendly option on this list.
Finally, and most importantly, Vinyl is waterproof and won’t become damaged if it gets wet making it a perfect long-term and effective bathroom flooring choice.
2. Second Best Flooring For Bathrooms: Tiles
There are lots of benefits to using tiles in your bathroom.
Tiles come in a range of shapes, colours and sizes and can be made from either porcelain or ceramic. You should easily be able to find tiles that suit your style and taste.
While tiles might not be the cheapest option, they are long-lasting, so are unlikely to need replacing. However, you want to keep a few spares in case any become chipped or damaged.
It would be remiss of me, however, not to mention some of the drawbacks to using tiles in your bathroom.
Tiles can be cold, especially during the winter months. They can also be slippery when wet, however, using smaller tiles can help reduce this or you could opt for a bathmat or rug.
3. Laminate Flooring
One of the reasons laminate flooring is perfect for bathrooms is that it’s easy to install yourself and is very budget-friendly. It comes in a range of colours that are sure to suit the colour scheme.
However, no laminate is truly waterproof and if it gets wet, this could cause the laminate to bubble and look rather unsightly.
For an adult-only household, this might not be an issue, but if you have young children who like to splash about in the bath, you might want to consider one of the other options on this list.
Related Post: Tips For Designing A Practical Bathroom
4. Rubber Flooring
When thinking about flooring for your bathroom, rubber flooring might not be the first thing that comes to mind, but it actually has many advantages.
Rubber flooring is fully waterproof, so there are no worries about water damage or needing to replace it.
Rubber flooring provides a soft surface, so is a practical choice for those who may be prone to falls or are a little unsteady on their feet.
Flooring Types To Avoid In Your Bathroom
As well as the best flooring for bathrooms, I thought it was also important to include some of the worst types of flooring for your bathroom, that should be avoided.
1. Bathroom Flooring To Avoid: Carpet
Having carpet in the bathroom can feel opulent and luxurious but overall it is not a good choice.
Carpet can take a long time to dry out if it gets wet. When not properly dried out it can start to smell or even become mouldy and therefore can need replacing pretty quickly.
If carpet in the bathroom is an absolute must for you, the best options are low-pile, man-made fibres.
2. Bathroom Flooring To Avoid: Hardwood
Hardwood flooring and water do not mix. Even the smallest amount of water can damage hardwood flooring so it is best avoided in the bathroom, especially as it’s usually a more expensive flooring option to begin with.
I hope this post has helped to show you the best flooring for bathrooms as well as some of the flooring choices that should be avoided.