30 Bathroom Flooring Ideas, Designs and Inspiration

And yet, it is essential to choose the right kind of bathroom flooring option. On a practical level, it will need to withstand damp, wet and moist conditions as well as providing a safe, slip-proof surface. But also, the type of flooring you choose in your bathroom will also help dictate the design ideas and aesthetic of the overall look.

For example, wooden flooring in bathrooms tends to work best with a traditional, family friendly feel; whilst poured concrete tends to have a more urban, edgy, adults-only kind of feel. Of course, these “design rules” and bathroom floor ideas are there to be broken; nevertheless, choosing a bathroom floor that compliments the character of the room will bring the whole look together and result in a professional, quality finish.

So where do you start? The choice is pretty open-ended when it comes to bathroom flooring ideas. Ceramic and natural stone tiles are a very popular choice, as are solid hardwood planks. Modern technology now means that you can also get a hybrid of the two, with wood-look ceramic tiles or wood-look luxury vinyl tiles (LVT) offering the same aesthetic but with other benefits. And then there are other interesting alternatives such as concrete, cement, rubber, vinyl or linoleum.

Researching the market will be key to generating ideas and getting the right flooring product to match your style and budget. To get you started we’ve put together this collection of 30 inspirational bathroom flooring ideas covering current trends in 6 key bathroom floor options. You may also be interested in our 41 kitchen floor tile ideas.

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HARDWOOD

The great thing about using wood flooring in the bathroom, in my opinion, is that you can very easily have it in all the rooms of your home, creating a coherent look throughout. On the whole, wooden floors – particularly light brown or tan colored woods – are well suited to traditional designs, coastal themes and shabby-chic looks; whilst dark wood floors often work well with very classical designs or with streamlined contemporary bathroom suites.

Another great option with hardwood floors is that you can use suitable slip-proof floor paint to create a more personalized look. Extra care needs to be taken with wooden floors in bathrooms to ensure that they are properly sealed to withstand wet conditions: if this is a serious concern for you, then consider opting for the excellent wood-look LVT or ceramic tiles to create the same effect.

Click here for our guides to pricing, buying, installing and caring for solid hardwood flooring.

1. L’On Residence

This light wooden floor is the perfect complement to the light and airy bathroom design.

2. London

Distressed and weathered wooden floors work great in this family-friendly space.

3. Victorian

This painted hardwood flooring idea adds to the eclectic mix of modern and classic décor.

4. Carpenteria

A beautifully set dark wood floor, with matching vanities, adds extra luxury to this amazing bathroom.

5. Trees on the Roof

Wooden decking slats with underfloor drainage are a clever choice of flooring for a wet room/ shower room.

NATURAL STONE TILE

If you have a great budget and are looking for all-out luxury then natural stone bathroom floor tiles are for you. The elegance of stones such as marble, sandstone, limestone and slate simply cannot be matched. But be aware that going for a natural stone will instantly upgrade you to a very grown-up look, which may not be ideal for a family environment.

Also worth noting, some natural stone flooring, such as polished marble can present serious slip hazards in wet conditions. Of course, there are various products on the market that will help create an anti-slip surface, or if you’re seriously concerned about slipping then opt for a stone tile finish that is slightly more rugged, like a slate flagstone or textured limestone. Check out our guide to tile sizes and shapes.

6. Grove House

Elegance personified with this lightly veined marble floor tile and delicate classical chrome fittings.

7. Mount Larson

Bolder, darker veined marble is a gorgeous complement to the modern bath, sinks and vanity units here.

8. Kaimupulehu

Quartzite tiles, derived from sandstone, in warm tans help create this ultra-relaxing indoor/ outdoor bathroom.

9. Flagstones

The flagstone tiles here – which echo ones you might find on a patio – add to the delightful quirky mix of modern and retro furnishings.

10. Lum Rustic

Dark gray slate tiling is the perfect match for this urban, industrial, utilitarian bathroom floor.

Of course, you should never forget porcelain tile as a great flooring option for your bathroom. Check out 5 of the most popular bathroom floor tile ideas.

MOSAIC TILES

A perennial favorite, mosaic ceramic tiles are a great option for adding texture to a classic white bathroom suite. For the ultimate mosaic luxury, look for custom-made designs that can be dramatic or subtle depending on your style. There are two kinds of custom mosaic – ones where each tiny mosaic tile is arranged into a repeated pattern and ones where tiles are individually cut and shaped to fit a particular design. Needless to say, with either kind, you will want to find an expert tile installer to ensure a quality finish. A simpler mosaic tile option is to use a single color of tiles arranged in grid formation on meshes that adhere to the subfloor before being grouted over. Although simpler than custom-made mosaic, these grid mosaic tiles can be found in different shapes (such as hexagon or brick), materials and finishes to add interest to your bathroom.

Related Reading: Mediterranean Floor Tiles

11. Putney

Charming pebble mosaic covers both the floor and the walls in this comfortable bathroom.

12. Boise

Rectangular brick style mosaic tiles here are also reflected in the wood paneling on the wall and vanity.

13. Small Powder Room

This gorgeous custom-made mosaic matches the stained glass window to create lovely detail in this small but perfect powder room.

14. Queen’s Park

A dramatically effective bold geometric monochrome mosaic tile pattern.

15. Hexagon Mosaic

The hexagon mosaic tiles here are perfectly suited to this quirky bathroom style.

ENCAUSTIC/ CEMENT TILES 

Similar to mosaic tiles, the in-built patterns that you find in encaustic tiles allow you to really show off your personal style to the max. Also known as cement tiles, encaustic tiles have seen a resurgence amongst trendsetters in recent years resulting in some designers reinterpreting classic encaustic tile designs; exploring the possibilities of combining this traditional tile-making process with modern, contemporary designs. This means that there are now thousands of encaustic tile patterns to choose from! If however you can’t decide on one pattern, then go for a patchwork for brilliant effect (see below).

16. Hoxton

Brilliant contemporary bathroom meets traditional patchwork encaustic tiles – love it!

17. Bedford

Here reclaimed encaustic tiles are paired with distressed furnishings and claw foot bath for a relaxed, comfortable feel.

18. Vaucluse

A beautiful classic floral geometric pattern is the perfect backdrop to this sleek white bathroom.

19. Modern Moroccan

A stunning Moroccan inspired encaustic tile design used to great effect here on the walls and floors.

20. Bluff House

A very slick monochrome, modern encaustic tile pattern provides focus in this minimalist bathroom.

POURED CEMENT/ CONCRETE

The rise and rise of the minimalist, urban, industrial look has seen an exploration of alternative flooring options, and one of these is poured cement or concrete. The result is a seamless stretch of flooring which can simply be left matt or polished up to a mirror-like perfection. Poured cement or concrete can also be stained or painted to suit the look of your space. Without seams, grout lines or gaps, poured floors are great options for wet rooms that may be especially prone to mildew problems – the slick finish is much easier to keep clean and there are fewer nooks and crannies for mildew to take hold! It is essential, however, that you hire a pro for this kind of floor – poorly mixed product handled by inexperienced installers can result in unattractive and costly cracks, uneven surfaces and poor drainage.

21. Cook

A highly polished cement floor is a glossy background for this simple bathroom.

22. Garden House

Lovely mottled stained effect on this cement floor gives added interest.

23. Lotus on Orange

This large expanse of gray cement floor is softened with exotic plants and floating light wood vanity units.

24. Matt cement

This matt gray concrete floor somehow cleverly ties together the different elements of this retro/ modern/ urban space.

25. Chavetta

Not for the faint of heart, the concrete floor of this wet room/ bathroom has been painted a super bold red along with the walls for a truly unique look.

RUBBER/ VINYL/ LINOLEUM/ MARMOLEUM

Last, but not least, for a winning combination of great value, comfort and aesthetic appeal it is worth looking at the contemporary rubber, vinyl, linoleum and marmoleum flooring options that are now widely available. Modern manufacturers have been keeping up with design trends and making sure that these alternative floors have long lost their reputation for being stuffy and unfashionable. Boasting tons of different patterns and the added benefits of being inherently waterproof, slip-proof, softer and warmer underfoot than either tiles or wood, they are now serious contenders in both the fashion stakes and the budget wars!

26. Sandy Down

This marmoleum floor offers the poured concrete look but with much more comfort and warmth.

27. McCall

Glossy black rubber floor is an excellent choice for a family bathroom that gets lots of traffic and lots of splashing!

28. Olympus

This mottled mosaic patterned vinyl floor is both pretty on the eye and pretty practical too.

29. Port Locksleigh

The stunningly simple, yet effective circular pattern on this vinyl floor is the prefect march to the circular accents in the room.

30. Mount View

This brilliantly powder room has tons of character, highlighted by the brilliant checkerboard linoleum floor!

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About the Author:

Greca Fotopoulos

Greca is the lead style writer at Home Flooring Pros (more), with a BA in Technical Art, she’s focused on flooring trends, flooring ideas, and flooring brand reviews.

“There’s nothing more satisfying than creating a home that you love. The hardest thing about this job is trying not to covet all the great floors I get to review; if I could remodel my home every month, I would!”