Choosing the best flooring for bathrooms requires looking at the same considerations as for every other room in your home:
- durability
- design
- comfort
But there is one additional item to consider when thinking about the best flooring for bathrooms, and that’s moisture. Ignore it at your peril — as selecting the wrong flooring for your bathroom could end up becoming not only a headache but cost you a fortune!
Tile is the standard for bathrooms, and for good reason. It’s waterproof and easy to clean. However, it can be cold underfoot and slippery if you’re not careful.
Check out our review of the various flooring options you have for your bathroom and make sure to check out our conclusion for what we think is the best!
Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl has emerged as a top favorite bathroom flooring option in recent years. It’s easy to see why.
It’s affordable (compared to many other flooring options), is very easy to clean and maintain, and there are even many different coatings that can help protect your floor from spills, stains, and moisture.
They also come with underlayment which is a type of foam that sits under your flooring that will help any time you slip and fall. Unlike tile, which doesn’t give an inch, vinyl will help soften the landing — ideal for the elderly and rambunctious children!
A downside of vinyl is that although the tiles are waterproof, the seams are not. If water gets in between the seams, it can cause the tiles to come off. This problem can be easily solved by using sheet vinyl rather than peel and stick tiles.
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Laminate Flooring
Laminate is water-resistant rather than waterproof. Trust us, over time that makes a huge difference. Laminate can withstand small amounts of water and liquids dimpling its surface, but go overboard and your laminate could become warped. After it gets wet, you must ensure to dry it as quickly as possible.
Other than that, laminate is remarkably low maintenance and requires only a simple sweep or vacuum to keep it looking as good as new.
Rugs
Many bathroom flooring options can be cold underfoot. That’s why some people like to have rugs in their bathrooms.
However, carpet rugs will, over time, develop mold and a viciously bad spell. It’s much better to get a bathmat as this will save you from having to replace the rugs and keep you from slipping when stepping out of the shower or bath.
Solid Hardwood Flooring
Hardwood flooring works fantastic in bathrooms… so long as you never intend on actually using the bathroom! The planks will warp, looking a sorry mess in short order. It simply has too many shortfalls for it to really be a good option for bathrooms.
If you genuinely have your heart set on the hardwood in the bathroom, then ensure to discuss it with your fitters.
They will need to ensure there are no gaps between your wood boards and add a pricey extra protective layer so the water has as little effect as possible. Still, no protection is foolproof. Just make sure to keep a healthy bank balance for when you need to replace it!
Conclusion
So there you have it, a rundown of the best to worst flooring options for your bathroom. Choose either tiles or vinyl for your bathroom and you won’t regret it.
If you prefer to be a little more adventurous, consider laminate, and, if you’re a consummate risk-taker and money is no object, try out hardwoods.
