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Our Top 10 Bathroom Flooring Ideas

By George

26th Feb 2021

6 mins read

Bathroom Ideas

Often overlooked, bathroom flooring can have a massive impact on the overall style of a space.

types of bathroom floor tiles

When it comes to picking out products for a renovation, we’re often distracted by the more substantial fixtures and fittings.

Baths, showers and extravagant vanity units all seem to take priority on bathroom shopping lists. However, here at VP HQ, we’d argue there’s a far more important aspect to consider first.

Your bathroom’s flooring should be the basis of its design. The first thing you come into contact with when entering a room, flooring helps set the tone of a space. The same goes for your kitchen floor.

Whether you go for something understated or something extravagant, it really can make or break your bathroom’s style.

So, with this in mind, we’ve put together this quick list of our top 10 bathroom flooring ideas, along with some tips to help you choose the best flooring for bathrooms.

Choosing the Best Flooring for Bathrooms

Settling on the perfect bathroom flooring idea can be a bit of a minefield. There’s a lot think about!

From real wood to vinyl planks and various types of tile, there are a plethora of different designs in styles to suit almost any space.

But it’s not just about style. You’ll also need to weigh up what kind of properties are most important to you in flooring.

Different kinds of flooring will offer different levels of comfort, quietness, and warmth underfoot.

You’ll also find some bathroom flooring boasting anti-slip properties. If safety is your main concern we recommend going for these. For more guidance here, try our recent blog: What Are Tile Anti Slip Ratings.

Below, we’ve assembled a list of the four most common types of bathroom flooring with brief explanations of their pros and cons.

  • Vinyl Planks - Great at retaining heat and dampening sound, it’s no wonder our vinyl flooring range has been booming in popularity recently. Vinyl planks feel soft underfoot and are also available with impressively realistic wood effect finishes, making them a good choice for those who want the real wood look without the higher costs and regular maintenance.
  • Ceramic Tiles - Another widely used option, ceramic tiles are known for their durability and resistance to wear and tear. They’re usually lighter and easier to work with when compared to porcelain tiles, but they’re also slightly more susceptible to cracking. Cold to the touch, they’re not the most welcoming choice for chilly bathrooms.
  • Porcelain Tiles - Still by far the most popular option for bathrooms flooring ideas, porcelain tiles are highly resistant to wear and can last decades if installed professionally. Thicker and heavier, they feel even more substantial than ceramic options - though this can make them a little more difficult to cut. Avoid if you hate the feeling of cold tiles underfoot - unless you pair them with underfloor heating.
  • Real Wood Flooring - Increasingly rare in UK bathrooms, real wood flooring is a stunning choice for those wanting to create a rustic, lived-in space. The downside? The natural material is costlier, harder to install, and more maintenance-intensive than vinyl and tile options.

Our 10 Favourite Bathroom Flooring Options

  • Classic Patterned Tiles...With A Twist - A relatively new trend, tiles that effortlessly mix traditional patterns with contemporary hues are really taking off. These Charlbury Yellow Wall and Floor Tiles, for instance, make use of vintage patterns which are further enhanced with vibrant yellow tones. They’re versatile too, looking great in both modern and classically-styled bathrooms.
  • Alluring Dark Wood Effect Tiles - Darker wood finishes offer a stunning contrast to the bright white walls and furnishings found in bathrooms. Nowadays you can find highly realistic options that even feature wood textures. Looking at these Oslo Dark Wood Tiles you’d struggle to believe that they’re porcelain! A great bathroom flooring option for those wanting a real wood look on a budget.
  • Ultra-Modern Geometric Tiles - If you’re going for a minimalist or highly contemporary look, geometric tiles should be top of your list of bathroom flooring ideas. Their angular designs can offer an almost futuristic look. We’re particularly fond of these Akara Geo Wall and Floor Tiles. They can be used to create dazzling floors, but they’re eye-catching enough to be used as focal points on walls too!
  • Rustic Patterned Tiles - In bathrooms that call for cool and understated flooring, rustic patterned tiles are your best bet. These Almada Grey Rustic Wall and Floor Tiles are an excellent example. Their slightly faded and worn designs can provide a subtle lived-in feel.
  • Hexagon Floor Tiles - A continuation of the geometric tile trend, hexagon floor tiles are an attractive bathroom flooring option for ultra-modern spaces. We predict that we’ll be seeing a lot more of them in the coming months as they work perfectly with designs of trendy smart home products that we’re all rushing to install. The Kai White Hexagon Wall and Floor Tiles are our pick here.
  • Distressed Oak Effect Vinyl Tiles - If you like the idea of wood effect tiles but aren’t fond of the pristine, picture-perfect look of the ones we mentioned earlier, ‘distressed’ tiles could be a better fit for you. Harlow Distressed Oak Finish Vinyl Plank Flooring features an authentic-looking weathered finish. Being made of vinyl, they’re far easier to cut and install too.
  • Marble Effect Porcelain Tiles - Marble still represents the height of luxury when it comes to flooring. However, its high cost and heavy weight may have led you to believe it to be an untenable bathroom flooring option. Luckily marble effect tiles, such as Pavia Marble Effect Grey Gloss Porcelain Floor Tiles, can replicate the look without breaking the bank!
  • Stone Effect Floor Tiles - An unconventional bathroom flooring idea, stone effect floor tiles can add an organic touch to almost any setting. Though primarily used outdoors, Kochi Stone Effect Floor Tiles look phenomenal when used for bathroom floors - especially in older homes.
  • Karndean Vinyl Plank Flooring - Though not technically a trend, Karndean’s vinyl plank flooring range offers stellar bathroom flooring options. Their “Palio Clic” collection, in particular, is incredibly easy to fit and requires no adhesive - allowing you to simply click each pre-cut plank into place. The result? Flawless installation every time.
  • Blue Patterned Floor Tiles - Blues and bathrooms remain a timeless combo. We just had to mention a flooring option that utilises the look in our list. Caroline Blue Floor Tiles offer a trendy patterned look reminiscent of designs from the 60s.

What about bathroom wall ideas?

Once you’ve had a good think about some of our bathroom floor ideas, you’ll probably want to pick out something complementary for your walls, too. Thankfully, we’ve got you covered with our blog on 5 Trending Bathroom Wall Ideas. We shed light on some of the latest trends for bathroom walls, from innovative new types of tiling to fluted cladding.

Like the look of the products mentioned in our bathroom flooring ideas? Want even more choice? Check out our entire range of floor tiles. For all other bathroom inspiration, stick with us here on the Victorian Plumbing blog.

George

George

George is one of our interior experts. He loves to write about the latest bathroom trends and he's a dab hand with bathroom DIY too.

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