Choosing the right type of bathroom flooring can seem tricky. You want a stylish floor that can also handle high moisture levels, so where do you begin? Bathroom flooring comes in a surprising variety of materials, including marble, porcelain, vinyl and more. But don’t get overwhelmed. Here is a breakdown of the top bathroom flooring options to help you choose what’s best for your space:
Porcelain tile
Wood look porcelain tiles offer an organic and sophisticated look for bathrooms. (Torino Rustic Sequoia Collection – Sierra Earth)
When it comes to bathroom tile, porcelain should be at the top of your list. Porcelain is made from clay that’s shaped and fired at extremely high temperatures. Its hard exterior resists staining, water, bacteria and odors. Porcelain is considered impervious to moisture, making it a great choice for your bathroom flooring. These tiles are available in a range of shapes including square, octagonal and hexagonal forms, allowing for greater personalization in your bathroom.
Porcelain tile also allows for customization of style, including wood look tile. This is flooring that offers the best of both worlds: the durability of porcelain with the look of natural wood floors. These tiles come in a variety of colors, styles, and sizes, allowing you to create your own unique design.
Vinyl tiles and planks
Combining water resistance, style, and comfort, vinyl flooring will enhance your bathroom. (Vesdura Vinyl Planks – Hornbeam White with Cork Underlay)
Vinyl flooring is a popular bathroom material choice because it’s inexpensive and is highly practical. It’s extremely water resistant – which is perfect for the bathroom, the room most susceptible to moisture. Available as vinyl floor tiles or planks with easy to use peel and stick or click-lock installation systems, installing vinyl can also can be a DIY job.
“Styles can be mixed and matched to create a unique look catered to your personality.”
Homeowners love the classic hardwood look, but unfortunately the bathroom has too high of moisture levels for this type of flooring to be practical. Vinyl flooring is a great alternative because it has a wide range of color and style options designed to mimic wood. Styles designed to look like stone and linen are available as well. These styles can be easily paired with modern or contemporary design elements to create a unique look catered to your personality. In addition, vinyl flooring is much softer on the feet than other flooring options, providing a more comfortable surface.
Natural stone tile
Natural stone tiles offer endless style possibilities for the entire bathroom. (Izmir Turkish Travertine – Medium Beige Premium Honed and Filled)
Stone is stylish and very popular for bathroom installations. Stone tiles offer a timeless look and feel for bathrooms and can last a lifetime if properly maintained. Here are some stone tile options with their characteristics to help you decide if stone is right for your bathroom floor.
Marble: This stone is sophisticated and beautiful. Slabs or tiles can come in many colors and styles with their own unique vein patterns and streaks of color. Tones will vary stone to stone depending on the type of marble. Being a natural stone, marble is known for its porous surface. To maintain its pristine look, sealing may be necessary.
Limestone: This stone is formed from sedimentary materials. Often featuring fossilized patterns, limestone’s color options are in the tan, gray, and white spectrum. Available in range of textures, it can be honed to provide a smooth surface. Experts recommend sealing this porous material every few years for protection against liquids.
Travertine: This crystallized, partially metamorphosed stone has gotten a bad reputation in the past due to staining. However, modern methods of sealing the stone can prevent this issue. Travertine is durable and has a proven history of longevity. Tiles come in a variety of sizes and color ranges like ivory, gold, and mocha, making each install unique.
If you’re looking to renovate your master bath or powder room floor, you have a ton of stunning options to choose from that can handle the bathroom environment. Along with considering the look you want, factor in your budget, and the maintenance requirements of different materials. As you search for flooring, keep porcelain, vinyl, and natural stone in mind, as they all make excellent bathroom floors.
What type of flooring are you looking to replace?
Browse our selection of top quality flooring materials here.
