You’re planning a stylish new bathroom. It’s going to have everything you’ve ever wanted. Your plans include a huge walk in shower, roll top middle of the floor bath, double basins, funky lighting and accessories to die for. That’s all sorted and in the bag, but what you’re struggling with is the flooring. You’ve seen every option imaginable work in a whole range of different settings, but there’s something holding you back from making your final decision. Practicality, great looks and something a tad different is what you’re after, but you don’t have a bottomless pit of funds left either. So what should you plump for?
In this article we’ll explore the pros and cons of the options open to you and hopefully this’ll help you at least narrow down your shortlist, and at best choose an outright winner.
Technically speaking, laminate flooring is made up of a core board plus a “photocopy” or “print” of a flooring material, topped off with a plastic coating. The photocopy or print might be of wood, concrete or marble depending on the choice you make. While laminate flooring can work really well in bathrooms, the thing to be careful with if you’re choosing this option for your dream bathroom is to choose a waterproof solution. Not all laminates are waterproof and as you can imagine, the steam and spills in a bathroom could play havoc with this type of flooring if you don’t get the basics right.
Solid wood flooring isn’t normally recommended for use in bathrooms or kitchens because of its tendency to expand and contract when exposed to moisture and temperature fluctuations. That said, if you choose a good quality bathroom specific engineered wood flooring solution there’s no reason whatsoever that you can’t use it successfully in a bathroom. In fact, if you make the right choice, you can even install it over under floor heating to take your bathroom to a whole new level. The great thing about wood flooring in a bathroom is that it adds warmth where the likes of tiles and marble can give an overall cold feel.
Tiles are the bathroom flooring solution that people naturally gravitate towards. They’re a safe choice, hard wearing, easy to clean and will stand up to as much steam and splashing as you care to throw at them. The other advantage of tiling is that if you want a really uniform look, you can choose to use the same style of tiles on your floor as you’ve chosen for your walls. While not everyone wants this level of uniformity, it can work particularly well in a small bathroom as it gives a real feeling of space. The only real thing that tiles have going against them as we mentioned before is that they can look and feel a bit cold.
Cork as a flooring material has been largely forgotten about in recent years. Although it’s making a slight come-back in certain circles, it’s far from being at the top of most people’s lists. That said, it has a real warm, natural look to it and with the right treatment will work really well in a bathroom. With a range of natural and some not so natural colour choices available, if it’s not an option you’ve considered, it may well be worth checking out.
Rubber flooring has a real style-edge to it. Available in so many style and colour options it risks blowing your mind, if you get the choice right, it can look fantastic. A great way to add a designer feel to a bathroom, with the right fitting technique you are sure your floor will be water-tight as well as looking like it came out of an interior style mag. Go as wild as you like with this option or return to retro roots; the choice is yours.
Once again although each of these bathroom flooring options are highly natural in their style and looks, they do have a tendency to be cold to the touch. Perfect for a bathroom where you have under floor heating (if you choose the right product), this sort of flooring can add a real quality feel to your room. The likes of polished concrete is a modern, yet functional solution that will elevate you to the envy of all your friends. Marble, granite and stone tend to be more traditional than concrete, but can still look great if you make the right choice.
And finally vinyl. A flooring choice that has been largely forgotten about in recent years, vinyl offers both budget basement solutions as well as top of the range options. Warm under foot and (more or less) watertight, if you make the right choice and fit your vinyl floor well it can look a million dollars.
So there you have it, a comprehensive list of bathroom flooring options that will hopefully stir up some ideas and help you move closer to making a decision. Although at Wood and Beyond we’re huge fans of everything wood, we are broad-minded enough to realise that wood flooring mightn’t be your first choice for a bathroom. That said, if you are keen to choose wood, we’re here to help you make sure your ultimate decision is the best it can possibly be. All you need to do is get in touch.
| Factor | Laminate | Wood | Tile | Cork | Rubber | Concrete/Stone/Marble/Granite | Vinyl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Description | A combination of a core board, a photocopy or print of a flooring material, and a plastic coating. The print might replicate the look of wood, concrete, or marble. | A natural material known for its warmth and elegant appearance. In bathrooms, engineered wood is typically used due to its increased resistance to moisture. | A common choice for bathrooms due to their durability, ease of cleaning, and resistance to moisture. | A natural material that offers a warm look. It’s not as popular as other options but is gaining some traction. | Stylish and versatile, rubber comes in a variety of styles and colors. It can be made watertight with the right installation. | Natural materials that can give a bathroom a quality feel. They are usually cold to touch but can be used with underfloor heating. | A flooring choice that ranges from budget to high-end options. It’s warm underfoot and more or less watertight. |
| Pros | Can look good if chosen well and is waterproof. | Adds warmth to the bathroom and can be installed over underfloor heating. | Durable, easy to clean, and resistant to steam and splashing. Can create a uniform look if used on both floors and walls. | Warm and natural look, works well in a bathroom with the right treatment. | Offers a designer feel. Can be watertight with the right installation. | Can add a quality feel to the bathroom. Can be used with underfloor heating. | Warm underfoot and more or less watertight. Can look expensive if chosen and installed correctly. |
| Cons | Not all laminates are waterproof. Non-waterproof versions could be damaged by the moisture common in bathrooms. | Normally not recommended for use in bathrooms due to its sensitivity to moisture and temperature fluctuations. | Can look and feel cold. | Not commonly used, might not suit all styles. | Might be overwhelming due to many style and color options. | Tend to be cold to the touch without underfloor heating. | Has been largely forgotten about in recent years. |
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