9 beautiful bathroom flooring ideas
A selection of stunning design ideas to inspire your new scheme
A bathroom floor must be practical, safe and stylish. Ceramic and porcelain tiles are a classic, hardwearing choice that come in a huge range of traditional or contemporary designs. Or why not go for something slightly more unusual such as cork or microcement? Take a look at these varied bathroom flooring ideas.
1. Rectified tiles
Rectified tiles are finished so each tile has precisely the same dimensions with near perfect straight edges. They can be laid much closer together giving minimal grout lines. London Tile offers a luxury marble-effect floor tile suitable for kitchens and bathrooms in a matt or polished finish.
Luxury marble-effect matt bathroom floor tile in beige from London Tile
2. Engineered parquet
Engineered parquet blocks and boards are less prone to movement than solid timber, making them a better option for bathroom floors. A protective oil sealant gives a moisture-resistant finish. These engineered European Oak parquet blocks with brushed grain detail, bevelled edge and splash-resistant, hardened oil finish, are from Ted Todd.
European Oak parquet blocks from Tedd Todd
3. Mosaic bathroom flooring
Stone, ceramic and porcelain mosaics create a beautifully detailed finish. They are a practical option for wet room floors where the many grout lines help to create an anti-slip surface. These North Haven Marble hexagon mosaics are paired with North Haven rectangular tiles, both from Fired Earth.
4. Onyx-effect porcelain tiles
These onyx-effect porcelain tiles can be used for bathroom floors or walls, or both to create a spa-style bathroom with an opulent, jewel-like finish. Compatible with underfloor heating, the Jewel Onyx Aqua tiles are from Porcelain Superstore.
Photo: Porcelain Superstore
5. Micro-cement
Micro-cement looks like poured concrete but is hand-applied in layers to a depth of just 3mm. It’s durable and lasts for 10-15 years if well maintained. It’s also water-resistant, seamless, and can be laid over any solid subfloor including ceramic tiles. Eco-friendly formulas such as Carrcrete’s MicroFloor include recycled glass as an aggregate and a low-CO2 cement binder.
KMI Design studio clad the floor and walls of this bathroom in micro-cement. Photo: Dirk Lindner
6. Water-resistant laminate flooring
Water-resistant laminate flooring is a low-cost choice that’s durable and scratch resistant. Plus, the click-to-fit boards are designed for straight-forward DIY installation. Quick-Step’s waterproof laminate has an innovative HydroSeal coating to keep moisture out.
Eligna Estate Oak Light Grey water-resistant laminate from Quick Step
7. Sustainable cork flooring
Water, mould and mildew resistant, cork is a renewable bark harvested from the cork oak tree. The recyclable and biodegradable material is available in floor tile or plank formats. These Tradition Element cork tiles from Granorte can simply be glued down (a range of patterns, colours and installation methods are available).
Tradition Element cork floor tiles from Granorte
8. Encaustic tiles
Traditional encaustic tiles are made using clay and powdered glazes, then fired in a kiln. The Carmona encaustic wall and floor tiles from Bert & May’s Antique collection, available from Hyperion Tiles, are inspired by tiles found in Southern Spain and remade using traditional manufacturing techniques.
Carmona encaustic wall and floor tiles from Bert & May’s Antique collection
9. Terracotta tile
Great for floors and walls, this Marrakesh terracotta brick tile from the Baked Tile Company has a slip rating of R10 and is available in dark or light matt finish. You can also choose a matching or contrasting grout colour depending on whether you want a traditional or contemporary style.
Marrakesh terracotta brick tile from the Baked Tile Company
