Bathroom flooring ideas: vinyl floors

If there’s one place your flooring needs to be practical, it’s the bathroom. From the downstairs cloakroom to the family bathroom and guest ensuite, it’s vital that the bathroom flooring you choose is water and slip resistant. But you also want to pick a flooring design that matches your interiors style and personal taste.

When it comes to bathroom flooring ideas, vinyl is one of the most water resistant flooring types out there and is available in so many different patterns and styles. We’ll talk you through the pros and cons of vinyl flooring in bathrooms, go through all the different styles of bathroom vinyl flooring, and we’ll also look at the best colours to choose.

In this guide:

• What is vinyl?
• Pros and cons of vinyl in bathrooms
• Styles of bathroom vinyl flooring
• Best colours for bathroom vinyl flooring
• Complementary colours for bathroom decor
• Vinyl flooring ideas for small bathrooms

Pros and cons of vinyl in bathrooms

When rating the best flooring for bathrooms, we’re focusing on four main things: cost, style, durability, and quality. Vinyl is a top bathroom flooring choice for lots of Tapi customers because it scores highly for all these factors. Let’s take a look in closer detail:

Pros of bathroom vinyl

• Water resistant – Because vinyl is laid as a sheet, there are no gaps between planks or tiles for water to seep through so it’s highly water resistant, making it ideal for bathroom flooring.
• Slip resistant – With its slightly textured surface, slip resistant vinyl flooring provides necessary grip for humid and splash-prone spaces like bathrooms, kitchens, or utility rooms.
• Stain resistant – No need to worry about stains leaving a mark thanks to the protective top coating on vinyl flooring.
• Easy to clean – We love low-maintenance flooring! Vinyl is super easy to take care of and only needs sweeping or vacuuming, then wiping with a slightly damp mop.
• Quick to install – Many DIYers choose sheet vinyl because you can easily cut it to size with a Stanley blade and either loose lay or stick down with adhesive.
• Affordable – As one of our cheaper flooring types, vinyl is a great option for those on a budget who want the look of stone or ceramic tiles.
• Durable - Vinyl will generally last between 10 to 20 years so it’s pretty tough!
• Range of designs – There are vinyl designs to suit every home and style, from modern geometric tiles to traditional wooden herringbone to sleek polished concrete.
• No underlay needed - If you’re wondering what to put under vinyl flooring in bathroom, the answer is absolutely nothing! This will save you money, so that’s another of vinyl’s many positives.

Cons of bathroom vinyl

• Pattern repeat – One of the few disadvantages of vinyl flooring is that the pattern repeat is approximately 2x2m, so you might notice this in larger bathrooms.
• Shows subfloor imperfections – Make sure your subfloor is level, clean, dry, and smooth, because any lumps or bumps will become visible in the vinyl over time.
• Cutting can go wrong – One incorrect measurement or one misplaced cut and it’s game over for your vinyl flooring! In bathrooms, there are awkward features like the toilet and sometimes a sink pedestal. Your best bet is to create a template from your old flooring and draw around it.
• Harder to repair – If, unfortunately, your vinyl flooring does tear then it’s much harder to make good again. Unlike luxury vinyl flooring where you can swap out a damaged plank for a new one, with vinyl, the whole floor needs to be replaced.
• Can be dented or pierced – Accidents happen, and vinyl isn’t totally indestructible! It can be dented by heavy objects or pierced by sharp ones so just take care.

While there a handful of negatives for vinyl flooring, the positives massively outweigh them. Especially when you consider the affordability of vinyl, you can really make an impact in your space by spending a relatively small amount.

Styles of bathroom vinyl flooring

Whatever your interiors style, you’re bound to find something you like in our vinyl collection. We’ve got plenty of bathroom vinyl ideas to go with the most popular bathroom trends, from the classic to the modern.

Tiled

Lots of bathrooms have tiled floors because they’re waterproof and tiles can often be bought reasonably cheaply. But because there’s so many of them and they’re quite small, the cost to tile a bathroom floor will ramp up the renovation budget, plus there’s a chance a tile could crack if you drop something heavy on it. Our tiled vinyl flooring will create exactly the same effect, but it’s warmer and softer underfoot, has no grout to clean, and costs less to fit. From square cottage tiles to rectangular slate tiles and fun geometric tiles, the design possibilities are endless.

Wood

While real wood and wood-based flooring (like laminate) in a bathroom is a big no-no, wood vinyl flooring gives you the same gorgeous look without the stress of watermarks or warped and rotting planks. From intricate parquet designs to simple straight planks in cool and warm natural wood tones, wood effect vinyl is a speedy way to spruce up your bathroom.

Marble

If you’ve always dreamt of a bathroom with a marble floor, how about choosing marble effect flooring instead? Imitating luxurious Calcatta marble with its smooth white base and delicate grey veins, our marble vinyl flooring has the classical look with all the benefits of modern flooring built in – not to mention the significantly lower price! We’ve got lots of modern marble bathroom flooring inspiration for you to explore over in the Ideas Hub.

Geometric

Featuring gorgeous Victoriana designs, elegant Fleur de Lys motifs, and fun Mediterranean tile patterns, our geometric vinyl offers chance to add some character to your bathroom. Perfect for both older properties and modern homes, these eye-catching designs will certainly make a splash!

Best colours for bathroom vinyl flooring

Bathrooms should be relaxing spaces, somewhere to wind down and wash the day away before you head to bed, but also a place where you can have a slow and gentle start to the day. The colours you select for your bathroom flooring will have an effect on the mood of the room, so choose wisely!

Neutral

Beige stone vinyl flooring will create a luxury hotel bathroom vibe. Stripped back with a subtle warmth, it feels natural and grounded.

Brown

Brown vinyl flooring is a great choice if you want to give the impression of an original hardwood bathroom floor. Unlike real wood, however, bathroom vinyl won’t get watermarks or warp.

Black & white

From the classic Victorian key square to retro American diner style, black and white bathroom flooring is always on trend. Both classic and modern, it goes with lots of different bathroom decor colours, and looks really striking.

Blue

Blue bathroom flooring often features the tile designs styles seen in warmer climates like Morocco, Greece, and Spain. Vibrant and full of character, it’s ideal for smaller bathrooms.

Grey

For a contemporary look, choose grey bathroom flooring. We’ve got vinyl styles that imitate concrete, terrazzo, slate, or marble, giving your space more of a high-end feel.

Complementary colours for bathroom decor

The most popular bathroom colours are favourites for a reason! Here are our suggestions for complementary colours for your new bathroom decor:

White

Fresh and bright, a white bathroom complements the entire colour spectrum. Add soft touches through bath mats and towels, and bring in houseplants to prevent a white bathroom from feeling too clinical.

Blue

From navy to pale blue to the bright blues of the Mediterranean, this colour is frequently used in bathrooms to create a coastal vibe. Introduce natural textures through bathroom accessories and decor, or a fiery accent colour like red, yellow, or orange to warm it up a bit.

Green

Sage green, olive green, and dark green all have a calming zen-like effect, which is why green bathrooms are really popular. Paired with brushed gold bathroom hardware, this is a very luxe colour palette.

Pink

Delicate and pretty, pink bathrooms are very soothing and inviting. With warm and flattering undertones, they go well with cooler shades like green, blue, or black.

Vinyl flooring ideas for small bathrooms

When looking at vinyl flooring ideas for small bathroom spaces like a downstairs loo or an ensuite, the design itself is very important. Plain vinyl like poured concrete or terrazzo is the best choice because it’s a continuous pattern, which will give the illusion of a bigger space.

If you do choose a tiled effect, check the design size in our specs and go for something small. Avoid an oversized tile where you can only get one or two across the width of the room – it will really draw attention to how small and narrow the space is.

Small bathrooms are a chance to test your creativity. Go for a boldly patterned or brightly coloured vinyl, so people go ‘Wow!’ when they open the bathroom door.

If you think vinyl could be the right flooring option for your bathroom, or if you want to explore our bathroom LVT flooring ideas, then it’s time to order some samples and get down to your local Tapi store. Our helpful floorologists can show you our collections of vinyl flooring, get you a quote, and even arrange fitting. Alternatively, you can book a home visit appointment where we’ll come to you with plenty of samples and heaps of flooring knowledge.