Bathroom floors tolerate splashes, steam, spills, and foot traffic all day. Small bathrooms usually have a short space of flooring. However, style, comfort, and durability are the focus points for a small bathroom in the UK.
Whether you want a complete bathroom installation or a partial customised design, small bathroom decor plans must be included.
All you need is stylish, waterproof flooring with underfoot warmth. You certainly can’t determine what is the best flooring for a small bathroom in the UK because everyone has their preferences.
However, some characteristics are must-haves for the best flooring of a small bathroom.
Things that the Best Flooring for a Small Bathroom Must Have
When you’re choosing the best flooring for a small bathroom, you must consider some basic things that can’t be skipped. Let’s have an idea of what should be in the best flooring for a small bathroom:
1. Stylish Appearance
A small bathroom should be neat, stylish, and modernised. When choosing flooring for a small bathroom, a simple or earthy theme can be elegant. A flawless finish can also elevate the flooring’s appearance.
2. Flooring Durability
Foot traffic can vary significantly in a small bathroom. If you live with your family, foot traffic can be high. However, you need to select durable flooring.
Small bathrooms can be narrow, sometimes. Moreover, replacing the flooring multiple times can be costly. So, don’t skip durability.
3. Water-resistance
Splashes can keep the bathroom flooring always wet. Wet floors can be dampened and lose their temper quickly, and glues can wear out. Choose water-resistant flooring for your small bathroom.
4. Slip Resistant
Even waterproof flooring takes a few seconds to absorb water. Wet floors can be slippery and cause sudden accidents. So, you should pick an anti-slip small bathroom floor.
5. Costing Affordability
If you have enough budget, you can choose luxurious flooring options. However, people with a tight budget can search for a flooring that looks stylish yet affordable.
Best Flooring for a Small Bathroom in the UK: Top Ideas
When you’re dreaming of a modern, sleek bathroom design, you should also decide what is the best flooring for a small bathroom for you and what your preferences are.
Let’s have a look at the top ideas of the best flooring for a small bathroom:
1. Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl flooring is a synthetic floor made of PVC and fibreglass. It is the best flooring option for a small bathroom. Vinyl flooring is usually waterproof with a water-resistant top layer. It mimics real wood, marble, stone, etc.
Regarding the installation process and structure, vinyl flooring comes in four varieties, all of which are highly suitable for small bathrooms. Let’s discuss more about vinyl floorings suitable for small bathrooms.
i. Vinyl Sheet Flooring
It is also known as vinyl rolls. Vinyl rolls come in rolled sheets, which you must cut down to the sizes you require. The vinyl rolls/sheets need to be glued down.
ii. Luxury Vinyl Tiles
These tiles can be laid or glued down. LVT(Luxury Vinyl Tiles) are durable and water-resistant. There are click LVT and glued-down LVT. For small bathrooms, glued-down LVTs are the best.
iii. Peel & Stick Vinyl Tiles
They are also known as self-adhesive vinyl tiles. An updated version of vinyl tiles is here as peel-and-stick vinyl tiles. These are good for DIY and easy to remove.
iv. Click Vinyl Flooring
Click vinyl planks are a type of LVT. You just need to lay them without glue. These are floating floorings over a subfloor.
Pros and Cons of Vinyl Flooring
Pros:
- Water-resistant.
- Slip-resistant.
- Ideal for small bathrooms.
- It looks stylish as vinyl flooring looks like real tiles, wood flooring, stones, porcelain, marble, etc.
- Highly Affordable.
Cons:
- Not biodegradable, as vinyl flooring is made of PVC.
- Low-quality vinyl tiles can wear out quickly.
- Rolls or sheet vinyl flooring requires full replacement even if the damage is in a single spot.
2. Ceramic Tile Flooring
Ceramic tiles are made from natural clay, fired at high temperatures, and glazed in liquid glass. With extreme durability, these tiles are perfect for small bathroom flooring.
Glazed ceramic tiles, porcelain tiles, mosaic tiles, etc., are suitable for small bathroom flooring. Let’s delve into the ceramic tile flooring options:
i. Glazed Ceramic Tiles
Glazed ceramic tiles are waterproof and highly durable. They are coated with a protective layer of liquid glass and hide muddy footsteps or spills.
Glazed ceramic tiles come in traditional designs and have many colour options.
ii. Porcelain ceramic Tiles
Porcelain tiles are a subtype of ceramic tiles, but are denser than regular ceramic tiles. Porcelain tile flooring makes a small bathroom look elegant.
These tiles are made of finer clay and are less expensive than other ceramic tiles.
iii. Mosaic Ceramic Tiles
Mosaic tiles are made by arranging small pieces of ceramic or stone on a mesh sheet. They are perfect for backsplashes on shower floors, but they are not water-resistant.
Pros and Cons of Ceramic Tile Flooring
Pros:
- Biodegradable as they are made from clay.
- Waterproof if glazed.
- Highly durable.
- Offers many colours and design options.
Cons:
- Ceramic tiles can get slippery if they are polished too much.
- It can be hard to cut.
3. Natural Stone Tile Flooring
Natural stones are collected from the earth and polished into tiles. They are not artificial like other man-made tiles. The natural beauty of natural stone tiles is unmatchable.
Natural stone tiles are one of the best tiles for small bathroom flooring. Let’s learn more about natural stone tiles, perfect for bathroom tiling.
i. Marble Stone Tiles
Marble stone tiles are highly polished with timeless elegance. These natural beauties are expensive and famous for their mesmerising appearance. Marble stone tiles can make your small bathroom luxurious.
ii. Limestone Tiles
Limestones have a soft, earthy, muted natural colour. Tiles made from limestone are timeless and perfect for bathrooms. Their softness and warmth give a cosy bathroom vibe.
iii. Slate Tiles
Slate tiles are available in black, dark grey, or any earthy colour. They have textured layers and are elegant, durable, and slip-resistant.
Pros and Cons of Natural Stone Tile Flooring
Pros:
- One-of-a-kind, elegant tiles with timeless natural beauty.
- Slip-resistant.
- Durable.
- Luxurious appearance.
Cons:
- Natural stone tiles are expensive.
- They can be uneven and porous.
- Requires sealing before use.
4. Engineered Wood Tile Flooring
Engineered wood tiles are made by layering real wood over an HDF base or plywood. They look like wood and are durable. After laminating, these tiles can be used for a small bathroom.
Engineered wood tiles feature real wood from a walnut, oak, or maple tree at the top layer. Let’s see the advantages and disadvantages of these tiles when used in a small bathroom floor.
Pros and Cons of Engineered Wood Tile Flooring
Pros:
- Durable and elegant.
- It gives a real wood look.
- Easy to install.
Cons:
- The tiles may get damaged if exposed to water.
- Glaze-sealing or locked laminating is required.
- The laminating work can be expensive on engineered wood tiles.
Additional Requirements You May Need for Bathroom Flooring
Whether it is a small or large bathroom, there are some additional things every UK bathroom demands. Only tiling doesn’t make a small bathroom floor the best.
You should know the requirements for the best flooring in a small bathroom.
1. Laminating Flooring
Laminating can be done on any type of flooring tile if they already have no glaze. Two types of laminating are available for tiles.
Laying laminates is temporary and can fail to prevent water from getting inside the tiles or subfloor. However, locked water-resistant laminating is impressive. It is long-lasting and effectively prevents water.
Remember to use Polyethene foam and Hydrokit Joint Sealant when laminating or glazing tiles to make them waterproof.
2. Underfloor Heating
Not all tiles are suitable for underfloor heating installation in a small bathroom. To get the best bathroom flooring, choose tiles that allow underfloor heating to work.
After having a shower in warm water, the worst thing is feeling cold in the feet. Underfloor heating brings back warmth to the feet and enhances cosiness.
However, not all bathroom renovators offer underfloor heating services. You need to contact a professional plumbing company that offers underfloor heating and plumbing services, like SBB Plumbing.
3. Floor Tile Size for a Small Bathroom
If you’re wondering what is the best flooring for a small bathroom and looking for it, you must know what size floor tiles are suitable for a small bathroom. However, tile size depends on the bathroom pattern and size.
A small bathroom should use at least medium-sized 12”x12” tiles(30cm x 30cm). Large tiles look more luxurious in small bathrooms.
Moreover, large-sized 24”x24” tiles(60cm x 60cm) make a small bathroom look wide and spacious.
Top 5 Small Bathroom Flooring Ideas for UK Houses
Small bathrooms can look elegant with modern flooring. You can experiment with new looks, trends, and modern designs in a small bathroom. So, no more regrets and disappointments about small bathrooms.
Here are the top 5 amazing small bathroom flooring ideas you may choose.
1. Keep it Simple Yet Modernised
Simple flooring with white marble or vinyl tiles can create an elegant look. White flooring with white walls can deceive the eye, making a small bathroom look spacious. Trust in simplicity; nothing can beat it.
2. Choose Large Luxurious Vinyl Tiles
Large tiles create timeless elegance and make the small bathroom space look wider. Vinyl tiles are waterproof and sturdy. You can create a double or triple-shaded palette with flooring, wall, and accessories colours.
Monochromatic colours are great for tile palette selection. Teal, Dark Navy Blue, Dark Green, Black, White, Sea Green, etc, can be great colour preferences.
3. Create a Traditional Look
Who said you need a large space for a traditional bathroom? Small bathrooms can also look traditional. You need to choose ceramic tiles with traditional designs.
Beautiful traditional flooring can change the ambience of a small bathroom.
4. Rustic Vibe with Wooden flooring
Engineered wood tiles in an earthy, soft colour can create a rustic vibe in a small bathroom. Vinyl flooring can also be used. Putting indoor plants on the floor may enhance the rustic feel.
To capture the theme in a meaningful way, you can use earthy or stone-made accessories.
5. Make it Playful with Patterns
Unique floor tile patterns make a small bathroom look larger than it actually is. There are many patterns, such as herringbone, diagonal, chessboard, etc.
A different pattern of floor tiling can change the bathroom’s interior appearance.
Things You Must Avoid When Small Bathroom Flooring
Once the bathroom flooring is done, you can’t undo it right there. Here we are, alerting you about some common mistakes people often make when opting for small bathroom flooring.
i. Choosing Small-sized tiles
Small tiles on a small bathroom floor make it look smaller. Moreover, small tiles are required in large numbers. They contain so many grout lines, which makes a small bathroom crowded and clumsy.
ii. Using Dark Colour Tiles
Dark-coloured tiles on a small bathroom floor make it look small and depressing. Dark colours absorb light and prevent reflection, making the bathroom low-lit and less inviting.
iii. Picking Non-waterproof Tiles
Tiles must be waterproof, especially in a small bathroom. Without waterproof tiles, the floor remains wet and suffocating. Moreover, if the water enters the gaps in the grouts, the subfloor or base can be damaged.
iv. Making The Floor Extra Polished
Excessive polishing of a small bathroom floor makes it slippery, and accidents may happen. Polishing or glazing is fine, but everything should be done within a normal range. Excessive anything can be harmful.
v. Improper sealing in the Grout Lines
Choosing the right sealant is essential. You can’t skip or delay sealing uneven floors or grout lines. Even when laminating the flooring, you should ensure that the water can’t get through.
Wrapping Up
Confidence and the right strategy keep you steady in your plan. First, think about what is the best flooring for a small bathroom according to you and visualise the scenario. Tile choosing is up to you and can vary if the bathroom pattern is vertical, horizontal, or square.
Your choices represent your personality in some way. With the right design and the best flooring, even small bathrooms can look classy. Choose wisely and implement accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) On Flooring Ideas for a Small Bathroom
1. How to make a small bathroom look luxurious?
With proper planning and implementation, a small bathroom can look luxurious. As you can’t put too many accessories in a small space, opt for a simple, elegant look. Marble stone tiles on the floor, countertop, and walls can immediately add a lavish touch. Some floral additions and golden accessories or accents will do the rest.
2. What is the current trend for bathroom floors?
The current trend for bathroom floors is creating a modern, simple outlook. LVT and natural stone tiles are also in trend. If you love patterns, you can select the trendy herringbone pattern.
3. What colour floor makes a small bathroom look bigger?
Usually, white and neutral colours, such as beige, pearl white, natural beige, light grey, etc., can make a small bathroom look bigger. Large-sized tiles with light colours are perfect for making a small bathroom floor look spacious.
4. What bathroom floor tile never goes out of style?
Natural stone tiles are always classy and never go out of style. No one can beat or match the luxury of natural stone tiles, which are timeless and look royal.
5. Should a bathroom floor be lighter than the walls?
In the UK, most bathroom floors are lighter than the walls. However, there are no rules as such. You can choose any palette or a monochromatic palette when choosing small bathroom flooring.
6. What is the easiest flooring to put down in a bathroom?
The easiest flooring to put down in a bathroom is vinyl flooring without compromising style and modernity. Vinyl flooring offers vinyl roll sheets and vinyl planks/tiles. They can be glued down or laid down simply over a subfloor.
