Bathroom flooring

Warm wood

Solid wood or laminated floors aren't usually suitable for bathrooms as the humidity will cause the material to discolour, swell and warp. But hardwood floorings, such as teak and bamboo, can work well (double-check with the manufacturer first) and engineered wood and batrhroom-specific laminate - made with PVC - are designed to withstand moisture.

 

Rustic-style bathroom flooring

For a country-style bathroom  terracotta ceramic tiles work perfectly. Ceramic tiles and porcelain tiles come in a huge range of colours, textures and finishes, which imitate the look of natural stone. Porcelain is more hardwearing than ceramic tiles and better for high traffic areas. 

 

Chic polished flooring

Polished concrete or stone looks fabulously stylish in a chic, grown-up bathroom like this one, but it's not so practical in a family bathroom as polished concrete or stone can be slippery when wet. Bespoke resin or acrylic flooring could give you a similar affect but with a bit more grip - you'd need to speak to your bathroom designer about this, though. 

 

Luxe granite

Natural marble, granite, limestone, slate and travertine are all porous but, if sealed, will last for many years. Granite comes in a wide variety of colours, while the distincitve patterns in marble and onyx can look stunning. The beauty of natural stone is that you can have one uniform colour but a random pattern to add interest. 

 

Dramatic marble

Marble flooring isn't just for glamorous bathrooms, it also provides an excellent canvas for hot, on-trend bright colours and modern bathrooms. It's also very hardwearing and versatile, such as seen here where it covers the bath and walls. 

 

Flooring for small bathrooms

When it comes to small bathrooms a lot can be achieved with the right flooring. If you use the same tiles on your floor as your walls it visually expands the space, and medium to large tiles are better as small or mosaic tiles can make the bathroom look even smaller. 

 

Cool cork flooring

Once de riguer bathroom flooring in the 60s and 70s, cork flooring has seen a sudden resurgence in popularity. The great thing about cork is that it is naturally mould resistant and eco-friendly; harvesting is just a matter of trimming the bark off the tree rather than cutting the tree down.  

 

Hot metallics

For a touch of glamour with a practical edge choose bathroom flooring that has a metallic sheen or metallic-effect tiles. They are a great way to reflect and redirect light, as well as creating an opulent look.