Best flooring for wet rooms

Many people are opting to change their old-fashioned bathroom into a new, stylish wet room. That’s a fully waterproofed bathroom with a walk-in shower area at the same level as the rest of the floor. Wet rooms can help make your bathroom space feel more spacious and luxurious. Naturally accessible, they’re also fantastic for people of all ages, and particularly those who have mobility issues.

A wet room is also a great way of adding a bathroom to any floor of your home. Meanwhile, they’re often easier to clean than traditional bathrooms, which is always good news!

If you’re thinking of switching up your old bathroom for a trendy wet room, we’ve got you covered.  We’ll explain everything you’ll need to consider, from affordability and waterproofing your wet room, to safety considerations. Explore our different wet room floor ideas so you can choose which one works best for you and your family’s needs.

In this guide:

• What is the best flooring for a wet room?
• Commercial safety flooring
• Picking the right flooring for wet rooms
• Other wet room flooring ideas
• Small wet room floor ideas and design tips
• Other things to consider for your wet room flooring

What is the best flooring for a wet room?

In terms of the best wet room flooring, you’ll need to consider a hard-wearing and waterproof surface that is highly durable. Make sure you use a floor that can be welded together, then capped and coved so that all joins are sealed tightly to prevent water from getting in or out. 

The best flooring options for a full wet room include tiles or commercial safety flooring that can be fully sealed to avoid any water damage. However, if you opt for a wet area in your bathroom, then you could always try one of these options that also work well.

Tiles

Tiles are often the star of the show in a wet room as they can be used both on the floor and on walls. As long as they do the job of keeping the room completely waterproof, then you can have fun choosing the styles, shapes, textures, and colours that you want – you’ll be spoilt for choice! The most popular wet room tile ideas include:

Mosaics

Not just for Roman villas, this ancient style is still going strong and has had a modern makeover. Nowadays, glass mosaic is the preferred material over ceramic, and the small size of each tile means you can get creative with the design.

Marble

The ultimate in luxury. Marble is an expensive tile option, but those who love it will tell you it’s worth spending the money! Marble comes in a selection of colours and designs and the results are often spectacular.

Limestone

This familiar stone is often used as an alternative to marble, as it’s less expensive. It looks ‘softer’ and natural and creates a traditional feel.

Ceramic

One of the most popular choices for wet room tile ideas. These tiles are created from clay and fired at high temperatures in a kiln. As you’d imagine, there’s a huge range of styles, textures, and colours available.

Commercial safety flooring

Even though it’s called ‘commercial’ safety flooring, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t use it in your home. The advantage of this wet room flooring idea is that it’s created from high-quality vinyl, which is slip-resistant and hard-wearing. It’s easy to clean and maintain and stays looking good even after years of use.

Picking the right flooring for wet rooms

Picking the right flooring for your wet room is essential from both a safety and functional perspective. Here are some key factors to consider:

Waterproofing

As previously mentioned, choosing flooring that is completely waterproof is crucial to withstand high levels of water exposure and prevent leaks. Before installing your flooring and wall tiles, it’s important to create a watertight barrier using a tanking kit. These kits typically include a primer, sealing tape, and a pre-mixed waterproof coating designed for both walls and floors.

To ensure effective waterproofing all-round, the installation process must be flawless, leaving no gaps or areas where moisture could seep through. For long-lasting protection against constant water exposure, use an adhesive and anti-mould grout specifically designed for wet rooms when installing your tiles or flooring. Finally, seal all grout lines and edges with silicone to reinforce the waterproof barrier.

Non-slip properties

Safety is vital in a wet room, making it essential to choose flooring with non-slip finishes to reduce the risk of slips and falls, particularly in an area constantly exposed to water. Fortunately, there are many stylish non-slip wet room flooring options available which combine excellent slip resistance with aesthetic appeal.

Affordability and durability

Wet room flooring varies widely in price, so consider materials that are durable but also align with your budget. While some options may have a higher upfront cost, their long-term resistance to wear and water damage can make them more cost-effective in the long run.

Other wet room flooring ideas

If you’re thinking about renovating a space near the wet room that needs to be water-resistant, but not entirely waterproof, there are several other options to choose from, including:

Vinyl

Vinyl flooring is at the top of our wet room floor ideas as it’s created in a large flexible sheet, which makes it easy to fit. There’s also no gaps where water might squeeze through and cause damage to the floor and your subfloor below. Vinyl has a soft and spongy feeling underfoot, scoring highly for water resistance and durability in busy areas like bathrooms. Vinyl is also slip resistant and can be bought in an array of designs and finishes to mimic the tile effect for less.

Luxury vinyl

Luxury vinyl is another versatile option as it’s water and slip resistant. This high-end product can either be click-fitted to your floor in planks, like laminate or solid wood flooring, or it can be securely glued in place. It comes in many stylish finishes and designs, and helps to absorb sound – so there should be no problems with anyone criticising your shower singing!

Laminate

Some types of water resistant laminate flooring can even be used in bathrooms. Quick-Step laminate flooring has a water resistant finish and when combined with Tapi’s Hydro kit, the floor stays water resistant for up to 15 years! Laminate can look and feel so similar to a real wooden or stone floor that it’s difficult to tell the difference. What’s more, laminate is low maintenance, easy to fit and available in a huge range of styles and colours.

Other things to consider for your wet room flooring

When designing your wet room, there are a few additional factors worth considering to ensure a comfortable and functional space.

Underfloor heating

Consider incorporating underfloor heating into your wet room to elevate your wet room experience, providing a luxurious warm feeling underfoot, especially during colder months. Beyond comfort, it serves a practical purpose by keeping the floor dry and warm when the wet room is not in use, helping to prevent dampness and mould build-up. So, to take your wet room bathroom to the next level, we recommend considering whether this feature is suitable for your space and budget.

Drains

Choosing the right drainage system is key to ensuring efficient water flow and preventing water pooling on the wet room floor and surrounding area.

Linear drains run along the entire length of the wet room and offer effective drainage by channelling water evenly. A centre-point drain can also work well, draining the water down a slope into the centre from different directions.

Either way, make sure the drain you choose is positioned correctly to complement the gradient of your flooring. For added efficiency, consider a fast flow drain, which can handle large amounts of water, will drain it quicker, and prevents water build-up on the surface of your wet room floor.

Glass screens

Glass screens are an excellent way to contain water in a designated area. This reduces water pooling on the floor surface, ensuring your wet room stays drier and cleaner when not in use.

Additionally, glass screens allow natural light to flow freely across the room, enhancing the room’s sense of openness. They also act as subtle dividers, creating distinct zones while maintaining the sleek and modern feel of your wet room.

Visit our Ideas Hub for more bathroom and wet room flooring ideas. Get inspired with our tips for different rooms in your house, including the best flooring for conservatories, living room flooring ideas, and more.