Bathroom Flooring Ideas

Most of the time, bathroom flooring is not the element that receives much attention from homeowners and decorators. This is understandable because it only has your feet to attend to, unlike sinks, toilets and shower enclosures that have crucial specifications affecting their performance and usage. However, if you are considering a complete bathroom renovation, you should give the flooring some attention, it adds more to the overall appearance of your bathroom than you realize. The list of bathroom flooring ideas is actually long; including familiar and unusual choices, but the bottom line in making the selection is safety and cleanliness. The bathroom floor material that you should choose must not cause much slippage when wet, which means that it has to have friction of some sort. Also, it should be easy to clean and inhibit odor. Whether you are considering luxury bathroom designs or a simpler one, you should take note that the flooring material depends on the amount of water spillage that occurs, the amount of time you can devote for cleaning, and the durability of the material. Ceramic tile is one of the more common bathroom flooring, because it is durable and hygienic. It is perfect for compact bathroom designs as large ceramic tiles can create an illusion of a bigger space. Aside from being easy to clean and waterproof, these tiles are safe from stains. The advantage of tiles are having a wide option for colors, patterns, shapes, sizes, textures and styles, while the disadvantage are it is often feels cold underfoot, it can be slippery and is prone to mold and mildew in grouting. Vinyl flooring is another option that can look like slate, marble, brick or even wood flooring. The advantages are it is non-allergenic, waterproof, stain-resistant and durable and easy to maintain.

There less common bathroom flooring choices that you will still find used, such as hardwood or laminates, carpet, cork, or rubber. If your home's major floor plan is of hardwood, it will be pleasing to use the same material for the bathroom. Hardwood offers a warm feeling and a good visual appeal, but it can be destroyed by moisture unless coated with water-resistant sealant. Another promising choice is carpet, which must be resistant to water, stain, and mildew in order to last for a long time. However, it is not advisable for households with children, for even high-grade carpet will be unable to withstand frequent soakings and spillage. If opt for cork, a flooring material overloaded with good qualities, as it is warm underfoot and sound insulation, as well as being non-slip and rot-proof even when wet. Rubber is also highly durable and resistant to elements, but it must be studded in order to prevent slipping. Finally, if you are after style and quality for your luxury bathroom designs, stone flooring... marble, slate and limestone are the best choice, they are durable and resistant to wear and tear, although they may require sealing to prevent staining and are cold underfoot, so you may want to consider heated bathroom flooring. In choosing your bathroom flooring, you need to consider affordability, quality and practicality. The right choices become an investment that will increase the price of your house, if and when you decide to sell your house.