Short answer: choose LVT or sheet vinyl. Both are made for bathrooms and other rooms that get wet, feel warmer than ceramic tiles and are quick to fit. Avoid standard laminate, solid wood and carpet in bathrooms and en suites.
Bathrooms are small rooms with big demands. Water lands on the floor every day, steam condenses on it, and bare feet notice straight away if it is cold or slippery. That narrows the choice down quickly.
LVT: the all rounder
LVT is water resistant, warm and comfortable underfoot, and comes in realistic stone, slate and wood looks. Tile formats suit bathrooms particularly well. Because LVT can be glued down, a good fitter can seal it neatly around the toilet, bath panel and basin pedestal.
Sheet vinyl: one piece, no joins
In a small bathroom or en suite, sheet vinyl can often go down as a single piece with no joins at all. That makes it one of the most water tight options there is, and one of the most affordable. Cushioned ranges are soft and warm, which many people prefer for a bathroom.
Ceramic and porcelain tiles
Tiles are completely waterproof and very long lasting, but they are hard, cold without underfloor heating and can be slippery when wet. They are also slower and more expensive to fit, and a dropped bottle can crack one.
What to avoid in a bathroom
- Laminate. Its core is made from wood fibre, which can swell if water gets into the joints. Even water resistant laminate is not designed for daily splashing around a bath or shower.
- Solid wood. It moves with humidity and does not like standing water.
- Carpet. Bathroom carpet traps moisture and is hard to keep hygienic.
Getting the fitting right
- The subfloor must be flat, dry and sound. Older bathrooms often need new plywood.
- Where possible, lift the toilet so the floor runs underneath, and take the floor up to the bath panel rather than cutting around everything.
- Finish edges neatly and seal where the floor meets the bath or shower tray.
- Check for underfloor heating and tell your fitter, as only some products are suitable.
See our vinyl and LVT page, or come and look at bathroom ranges in the showroom. Once you have chosen, we measure for free and include any floor preparation in your quote.