Jayne Dowle
Wed, 20 January 2021, 3:20 pm·9-min read
Photo credit: Tile Mountain
Photo credit: Tile Mountain
From House Beautiful

The bathroom floor is the great multitasker of the home. It needs to make a visual impact and can even express a style statement of its own, yet it's also required to be warm and comfortable underfoot, safe and non-slip.

Naturally, a bathroom floor must be easy to keep clean and maintain. And when you're choosing the most suitable flooring for your space, bear in mind how easy it will be to fit; in smaller bathrooms, for instance, fashionable large-format tiles require lots of fiddly cuts to merge neatly around sanitary-ware and pipework.

Remember too; if your bathroom is tiny, using the same style and colour in wall and flooring treatments can create an illusion of a more expansive space.

'Bathroom tiles are the hardest thing to replace and are exposed to lots of traffic and frequent cleaning,' says Jo Oliver, director at The Stone & Ceramic Warehouse. 'Therefore, it makes sense to spend the money on something you know will last and you will enjoy for longer.

If you're looking for some bathroom flooring ideas, read on for the pros and cons of the most popular bathroom flooring.

1) Bathroom Floor Tiles
Tiles are an ideal bathroom choice, both visually and practically. There’s a tile for every budget and style, and when you decorate with tiles, the transformative effect is immediate and hard-wearing. With a regular wipe-down, tiles are easy to maintain and keep their good looks.

However, unless you're an experienced DIYer, tiling is probably a job best left to a professional tiler; you will need to factor in the cost of this. Take professional advice on how many tiles you will need for the job. It's advisable to order at least an extra 10 per cent in case of awkward cuts and breakages. Porcelain tiles especially can be difficult to cut.

Photo credit: Tile Mountain
Photo credit: Tile Mountain
Tiles can be ceramic, porcelain or real stone, such as limestone or marble. Stone is a costly choice and these days there is a huge range of ceramic and porcelain tiles which create the look without the expense and maintenance.

So, what's the difference between ceramic and porcelain? Ceramic tiles, made from brown, red or yellow clay, absorb more water than porcelain. Porcelain is considered to be finer – it's made of white clay – and is usually more expensive. Its ability to repel water makes it highly-suitable for demanding areas such as wet-rooms