8 Stylish Bathroom Flooring Options You’ll Love
In this article, we’ll explore 8 stylish bathroom flooring options that you’ll absolutely love. From the classic charm of ceramic tiles to luxurious natural stone, there’s something for every taste and budget.
So, whether you’re remodeling your existing bathroom or designing a new one, read on to discover the perfect flooring option for your space.
Discover The Most Stylish Bathroom Flooring Options
There are various bathroom flooring options that cater to a wide range of needs and preferences. The bathroom flooring you choose can impact the look and feel of your space but should be functional, practical, and most importantly, waterproof.
The perfect bathroom flooring for you will depend on finding the balance between:
- Your needs
- Style
- Comfort
- Safety
- Budget
Bathroom flooring can elevate your bathroom design and add to the aesthetics, creating a peaceful oasis in your home.
These are the most stylish bathroom flooring options:
Ceramic Tiles: The Classic Choice
Ceramic tiles have long been a favorite choice among homeowners for bathroom and shower flooring. Known for their durability, versatility, and timeless appeal, ceramic tiles offer many benefits for any bathroom.
Ceramic tiles are ideal for bathrooms as they can withstand high traffic, water, and humidity. However, they are hard and cold on warm feet when exiting the shower, and they can be slippery when wet.
Ceramic tiles are a classic choice for bathroom flooring. With the right choice of style and finish, they can create a beautiful and functional bathroom floor that stands the test of time.
Porcelain Tiles: A Stylish and Cost-Effective Option
Porcelain tiles might be the most popular choice for bathroom floors. They are known for their strength, durability, and aesthetic appeal, making them a stylish and budget-friendly option.
As porcelain tiles are fired at high temperatures, they are highly resistant to water and stains, making them perfect for the bathroom environment, but they are difficult to install and might require the services of a contractor.
They offer the beauty of more expensive materials with the durability and easy maintenance of tile, making them a fantastic choice for any bathroom floor.
This handy table lists the attributes of porcelain and ceramic tiles:
| Porcelain Tile | Ceramic Tile | |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Refined clay and natural materials | Coarse clay |
| Color | Various running through the entire tile | Various but color is only on the surface |
| Shapes, sizes, patterns | Various | Various |
| Strength | Hard and dense | Softer materials |
| Durable | Yes | Yes (but less than porcelain) |
| Water-resistant | Yes, impervious | Yes, 0.5 – 3% absorption |
| Stain resistant | Yes | No |
| Mold and mildew resistant | Yes | Yes |
| Easy to clean | Yes | Yes |
| Easy to install | No | Yes |
| Budget-friendly | Yes | Yes |
Wood Look Tiles: The Warm and Inviting Option
Wood-look tiles offer the warm aesthetic of wood with the durability and water resistance of tile, suiting a variety of bathroom styles. This type of flooring is a popular choice for those who would love to bring a touch of nature into the bathroom without damaging real wood.
Wood tiles come in a wide range of colors and styles, mimicking various types of wood, from light birch to dark mahogany. They are typically made from ceramic or porcelain, making them durable and water-resistant.
Although these tiles might look like wood, they don’t feel like them! They are cold and hard, and they are more expensive than standard tiles. You will need a contractor to install them.
Mosaic Tiles: The Artistic Touch
Mosaic tiles add a unique, artistic touch to any bathroom. Intricate designs and vibrant colors allow you to create your own stunning piece of art on your bathroom or shower floor.
Display your creativity and create an eye-catching design using mosaics made from a variety of materials. Since mosaic tiles are smaller than other floor tiles, they have more grout lines adding slip-resistance, making them a safe choice for bathroom and shower floors.
Mosaic tiles are expensive. It takes time to install them due to the complexity of the designs, requiring the services of a professional installer.
They may require more maintenance and are costly, but they add a certain aesthetic to the space, making them a worthwhile choice!
Natural Stone Tiles: The Luxurious Choice
Natural stone tiles add a touch of luxury to any bathroom! Natural stone is beautiful, durable and can withstand high traffic and humid conditions. Customize your bathroom with one-of-a-kind classic, traditional, or even modern bathroom designs with marble, slate, or travertine,
Natural stone is expensive and requires more maintenance than other flooring options. It must be sealed regularly to prevent stains and water damage.
Install underfloor heating or rugs in the bathroom, as stone is cold and hard!
Vinyl Flooring: The Budget-Friendly Option
Vinyl is one of the most budget-friendly flooring options available in a wide range of styles, patterns, and colors. It offers the look of more expensive materials without the high cost, making it a great choice for those on a budget.
Vinyl is a synthetic material that is highly resistant to water and humidity, making it an excellent choice for bathrooms. It’s also easy to clean and maintain, requiring only regular sweeping and mopping.
Vinyl is a comfortable choice for bathroom and shower floors, although it’s not very long-lasting and needs to be replaced more often than other types of bathroom flooring.
Concrete Flooring: The Modern Trend
Concrete flooring has made its way into residential bathrooms because of its sleek look and durability. Easy to clean and maintain, adding a coat of sealant will prevent stains and water damage – a must for bathroom and shower floors.
Concrete is water resistant and can withstand high traffic and humidity, making it the best choice for a busy bathroom. Concrete floors allow you to express your creativity. Choose a smooth, polished surface or a rustic textured look.
Concrete can be paired with other materials, like wood or tile, to create a unique, contemporary design. Customize the finish to complete the look and style that you want.
Concrete is, however, cold, hard, and expensive to install! Install underfloor heating in your bathroom or add a shaggy bathroom rug to step out of the shower.
Radiant Flooring: Enjoy Warmth from Below
Heated bathroom floors are not considered a luxury anymore. In fact, many people choose to install radiant floor heating in their bathrooms and often throughout their homes when they remodel or refurbish.
Radiant under-floor heating warms the bathroom floor and keeps it warm for longer. This system works by producing heat through thermal radiation and releasing heat, warming the air.
Installing an underfloor radiant heat system in your home ensures heat is evenly distributed through each room, allowing you to warm only the rooms you occupy, thereby saving you money!
- Besides heating the room, these are some of the reasons why you should consider radiant Flooring:
- Heated floors are more energy efficient, with homeowners reporting a 25% reduction in their energy bills.
- Radiant heat keeps your room warmer for longer.
- Heated floors increase resale value.
- The bathroom floor is always warm without any cold spots.
Best Finishes for Shower Floors
The finish on a tile is an effect applied to the tile’s top surface to change its appearance. Some finishes can only be applied to certain materials. The more intense the finishing process, the smoother and higher shine of the tile. (Are you thinking, Wait! I don’t even know what tile I’m going to use! If yes, read my post 17 Beautiful Tile Materials and then come back here.)
Choosing the right finish for your shower floor is crucial for both safety and aesthetics. The shower floor finish should provide enough grip to prevent slips and falls, be resistant to water and humidity, and complement the overall design of your bathroom.
Safety should be a priority when choosing a finish for your shower floor. Always choose materials that provide good slip resistance, especially if the bathroom will be used by children or older people. Here are some of the best finishes for shower floors:
| Material | Reason |
|---|---|
| Ceramic Tiles Matte or Glazed | · Durable · Water-resistant · Wide range of styles and colors · Textured surface |
| Porcelain Tiles Matte or Glazed | · Durable · Water-resistant · Wide range of styles and colors · Textured surface |
| Pebble Tiles | · Excellent slip-resistance · Visually appealing · Provide a spa-like atmosphere |
| Vinyl | · Non-slip · Budget-friendly · Easy to clean · Comfortable · Wide range of colors |
| Mosaic Tiles | · Visually appealing · Provide extra grip · Slip-proof · Waterproof · Multi-colored designs |
| Concrete Polished or Rustic | · Durable · Contemporary · Water-resistant · Easy to maintain |
| Natural Stone Tiles Sealed | · Non-slip · Waterproof · Visually appealing · Many stone options |
Flooring for Wet Room vs. Walk-In Shower With Shower Enclosure
When choosing flooring for a bathroom, consider the specific needs of the space. A wet room and a walk-in shower with a shower enclosure have different requirements due to their usage.
Wet Room Flooring
A wet room is a fully waterproofed bathroom with no enclosed shower, allowing water to flow freely throughout the space. The entire room must be able to handle water, so the flooring choice is important.
Non-slip tiles made from porcelain or ceramic are popular choices because of their water resistance and durability. Natural stone tiles can be used for a more luxurious look, but they must be properly sealed to prevent water damage. It’s also important to ensure the floor has a slight gradient to allow water to drain effectively.
Walk-In Shower with Shower Enclosure Flooring
In a bathroom with a walk-in shower that has a shower enclosure, the shower area is separate from the rest of the bathroom. This means the flooring inside the shower enclosure must be water-resistant and non-slip, but the flooring in the rest of the bathroom doesn’t need to be as water-resistant.
Textured tiles or pebble tiles are good options to use inside the shower enclosure because of their slip resistance. For the rest of the bathroom, you could choose ceramic or porcelain tiles, vinyl, or engineered wood for a warm look.
Budget-Friendly Flooring Options
Your budget will play a role in your choice of bathroom flooring. The cost of flooring materials can vary widely, from relatively inexpensive options like vinyl to more costly ones like natural stone. Remember to factor in not just the cost of the material but also installation costs.
These are the best budget-friendly flooring options for the bathroom or shower:
| Material Type | Cost |
|---|---|
| Vinyl – Standard | From $0.50 – $4.00 per sq ft |
| Vinyl – Luxury | From $2.50 – $6.00 per sq ft |
| Porcelain Tiles | From $2.00 – $10.00 per sq ft |
| Mosaic Tiles | From $3.00 per sq ft |
| Cork | From $2.00 per sq ft |
| Laminate | From $1.00 – $6.00 per sq ft |
| Concrete | From $2.00 – $8.00 per sq ft |
| Stone | From $2.00 per sq ft |
| Linoleum | From $2.00 – $5.00 per sq ft |
Want to learn more about laminate flooring? Read our post, Laminate Flooring For Bathrooms: 11 Pros And Cons & Alternatives.
Most Sustainable/Eco-Friendly Material For Shower Floor
If environmental impact is a concern for you, consider flooring options that are sustainable. Some materials, like cork or bamboo, are renewable resources, and others, like certain types of tile, can be recycled.
When it comes to choosing a sustainable material for your shower floor, there are a few options to consider:
- Recycled glass tiles are made from post-consumer glass, making them a great eco-friendly choice. They’re durable, non-absorptive, and available in a wide range of colors and styles.
- Cork is a renewable resource that’s naturally resistant to mold, mildew, and pests. It’s biodegradable, fire-resistant, anti-microbial, and can be recycled, but the cork must be sealed to protect it from water damage, so it may require more maintenance than some other options.
- Bamboo is a fast-growing, renewable resource that’s harder and more water-resistant than most types of wood. It grows to full maturity in about 5 years and is not treated with pesticides or chemicals. It’s not as water-resistant as tile, so it’s best for bathrooms where spills and splashes are quickly cleaned up.
- Natural Stone can have a significant environmental impact because of how it is extracted and manufactured. Its lifespan does make it a sustainable choice in the long run. Choosing a locally sourced stone will help to reduce the carbon footprint.
- Ceramic or porcelain tiles are made with recycled clay and minerals which reduce their environmental impact. They’re durable and long-lasting, making them a more sustainable choice in the long run.
- Linoleum is made from biodegradable materials like cork, dust, pine resin, linseed oil, and wood. Its durable, fire-retardant, water-resistant, and easy to clean, making it the ideal material for shower floors.
- Concrete is a natural product with a small carbon footprint. It’s easy to maintain, durable, and stylish.
Flooring Not Suitable for the Bathroom
While there are many types of flooring suitable for a bathroom, some materials should be avoided due to the high moisture and humidity levels in this space. It’s important to consider the challenges of the space, including moisture, humidity, and the need for easy cleaning.
By avoiding materials that don’t handle these conditions well, you will ensure your bathroom floor is beautiful and durable.
Here are a few types of flooring that are not usually recommended for bathrooms and showers:
| Material Type | Reason |
|---|---|
| Carpet | · Absorbs moisture, creating mold and mildew · Difficult to clean · Not waterproof · Not hygienic |
| Solid Hardwood | · susceptible to water damage · Can warp and rot |
| Laminate | · Can sustain water damage · Will warp and swell when wet · Not a durable option |
| Particle Board | · Will absorb moisture and swell |
