When choosing a flooring option for your bathroom, consider factors like water exposure and durability. Similarly, a budget for bathroom flooring can help you make the best decision. Rather than spend a fortune on your bathroom floor, there are budget bathroom flooring ideas that can deliver impressive results.
If you’re looking for ways to cut down costs when buying bathroom flooring, this article is for you. Here, we discuss budget bathroom flooring ideas you can use to give your bathroom a makeover. Additionally, we’ll also explore tips on how to maintain your flooring to get the best out of it.
Floors to Avoid Using in Your Bathroom
While we highly recommend some budget-friendly bathroom flooring ideas, others aren’t suitable. These flooring options aren’t bad; they are only inappropriate for a bathroom floor.
Flooring options like solid wood are perfect for other areas of your house, not the bathroom. Similarly, options like carpets shouldn’t be an option when considering budget bathroom flooring ideas.
Aside from the fact that some flooring options are weird in a bathroom, they can be unsafe. While seeking affordable bathroom flooring ideas, steer clear of these:
Carpet
Carpets are cosy, inexpensive and may not require the services of a technician to install. A carpet has a spongy pad underneath that has high-level absorbing capabilities. Because they quickly absorb water, carpets are a terrible option for bathroom flooring.
The moisture from your shower will get the carpet worn out in no time. As it gets worn out, it leaves tiny holes that can make you feel disgusted after a bath.
Tightly woven carpets are pretty until they get wet and become a breeding ground for moulds. Because you can’t air-dry your wet carpet, you are likely to find mould growing on your carpet. Carpets are ideal for your rooms or places with zero moisture exposure.
Using a carpet sounds like an interesting and less costly idea. We admit it may be less slippery and more durable. However, it won’t stay attractive to you for long when it starts to smell damp. Also, no one likes the feel of wet carpet on bare feet.
Laminate Flooring
Like solid wood, laminate flooring’s foundational material is wood. Experts regard it as the worst kind of wood flooring for your bathroom.
Laminate flooring is more prone to warping and buckling when you expose it to moisture and heat. In addition, the natural materials present in laminate flooring aren’t compatible with water.
Using laminate flooring in the bathroom will cause chipping at the edges. Moisture will seep into the wood of the laminate flooring over time, causing it to weaken. Even if you can stop your laminate flooring from absorbing water using glue, we don’t advise it. You may be putting yourself at risk by using laminate flooring in your bathroom.
Linoleum tiles
Typically, linoleum has high oil content making it oil-based. Owing to the fact that it’s oil-based, it repels water better than laminate flooring and carpet. However, being water repellent doesn’t make it a good budget bathroom flooring idea.
In linoleum tiles, some seams allow moisture to enter freely. It usually goes unnoticed if you install linoleum tiles in a place unlikely to be affected by moisture. Unfortunately, a place like a bathroom means constant contact with moisture.
In addition, linoleum tiles don’t do well in a place with heavy traffic. They aren’t very durable and can break in no time. If they break, they pose a risk of accidents, making them unsafe.
Solid wood
Solid woods are known to be sturdy and durable with a nice aesthetic appeal. However, compared to engineered hardwood flooring, solid wood isn’t ideal for bathrooms. One major disadvantage of using solid wood in your bathroom is that it’s capable of warping.
Solid wood consists of a plywood base and groove floor, making it more resistant to water. Also, unlike carpet, it’s less unlikely to have a damp smell when wet. However, both budget bathroom flooring ideas are a big NO. Although an inexpensive bathroom flooring idea, solid wood flooring in the bathroom will be subject to cracking and breaking.
Using solid wood in your bathroom will eventually be a waste of money. With constant exposure to moisture, solid wood will have a short lifespan.
Everybody wants that great feeling that comes with washing up after a long day. However, taking showers in a bathroom filled with mould can be a huge turn-off. If you like the unique look of solid hardwood floors, a perfect alternative is engineered hardwood.
Related Article: Is Maple Good for Hardwood Floors
10 Budget Bathroom Flooring Ideas
Bathrooms have smaller floor space than most spaces in the house. Owing to this reason, the choice of flooring material should not create a huge dent in your budget. However, cutting down costs doesn’t mean your bathroom flooring should be plain, old and boring.
One budget bathroom flooring idea is ceramic tile. It’s easy to maintain, durable and can withstand heavy foot traffic. Likewise, you can get value for your money using vinyl flooring.
Be prepared to be surprised at how much you can spice up your bathroom with these ten inexpensive options:
Standard vinyl flooring
Vinyl is inexpensive, durable, resistant to water, stains, damage and is relatively uncomplicated to install. Its availability in different colours or patterns is the icing on the cake.
The reason for vinyl flooring’s standing as the go-to option for budget-conscious consumers is not far fetched. It’s the straightforward choice for consumers seeking to touch up their bathroom without breaking the bank.
In addition, standard vinyl flooring comes in two types. Type 1 is the sheet vinyl that can cover an entire bathroom floor in a single uninterrupted sheet. Type 2 are vinyl tiles that you can glue down into individual pieces. Typically, you can glue down the second type of vinyl flooring in 12 to 16 inches square.
Many argue that type 1 vinyl flooring has more advantages over its counterparts, type 2. One advantage of type 1 vinyl flooring is that it has few to no seams. What this means is that it’s unlikely for water to seep into your vinyl floor.
The absence of seams makes type 1 vinyl flooring ideal for your bathroom. That’s not to say type 2 vinyl tiles can’t effectively work for a bathroom.
While vinyl tiles are not waterproof, they’re highly water-resistant. Also, you can easily stick them to your old bathroom floor without any special tools.
Sheet linoleum flooring
Linoleum is a more ancient form of durable flooring. It fizzled out at a point and was, to a large extent, replaced by vinyl flooring. However, sheet linoleum tiles are making a strong re-entry into the Canadian flooring market.
Sheet linoleum flooring appeals to consumers who are eco-conscious since it’s naturally derived from linseed oil. Unlike the older version, sheet linoleum tiles are ideal for your bathroom.
It has almost the same benefits as vinyl flooring. Sheet linoleum flooring has no seams, allaying any fears of water damage. With sheet linoleum tiles, you have the advantage of water resistance and simple installation.
Luxury vinyl flooring
You can regard it as an upgraded version or a step up from the standard vinyl flooring. LVF is a thicker form that comes in assembled planks with a “click-lock” tongue-and-groove system. Seams between the planks don’t cancel the possibility of water infiltration, but it’s entirely waterproof.
The merits of luxury vinyl are that it’s available in many different types. The different types include various convincing copies of natural wood, stone or ceramics. Additionally, luxury vinyl flooring is easy to install, making it a good choice for DIY enthusiasts.
Ceramic or porcelain tile
Ceramic flooring is mostly made up of natural clay mixed with sediments. In its unadulterated form, ceramic floors are susceptible to water, stains and other dangers posed by bathrooms. However, glazed ceramics have a melted glass coating. The melted glass coating makes the tile impermeable to water.
Ceramic or porcelain tile is unarguably one of the best budget bathroom flooring ideas. It’s a combination of premium quality and affordability. Some ceramic tiles also have a feature that repels water. Finally, the seams of ceramic tiles are sealed by grouts, making them safe for your bathroom.
Concrete flooring
Often, people view concrete flooring to be an extremely cold, industrial-looking flooring material. However, poured concrete appears to be a popular feature, especially in Ontario homes with a modern style.
It’s a way to cover bathroom floors cheaply, allowing you to save on your bathroom remodelling expenses. Also, you can patch and finish old bathroom surfaces to a beautiful polished concrete floor.
Concrete is strong, but its strength doesn’t make it impenetrable. Therefore, in a bathroom, you should treat your concrete flooring with sealing agents. The job of the sealing agent is to protect your floor against stains and water penetration. Concrete is easy to maintain with regular sweeping and damp mopping.
Accent rugs
A rug can smash the monotonous look of a bare floor and add colour to spaces. For a bathroom that has plain flooring, investing in nice rugs can turn everything around in seconds. If your bathroom is spacious enough, place a beautiful rug just before your bathroom entrance. The ancient rug will set the tone for the room.
Additionally, you can purchase a few rugs that go with the ancient rug and scatter them around your bathroom. You can do these by using random patterns. These could be at the bathroom’s entrance, right by the sink, or just by the foot of your bath.
Also, you can get creative and hide the less attractive sections of the bathroom floor using a rug. This will cut down costs, beautify your bathroom and make it unique.
Stone tiles
If you’re in search of bathroom flooring that’ll always remain stylish, go for stone tiles. They radiate elegance and can withstand the fevers of time.
You’ll be delighted to find stone tiles flooring ideas that are affordable. Stone tiles range from polished marble to tumbled limestone and many others. Like other budget bathroom flooring ideas, you’ll find stone tiles in varieties of sizes, shapes and shades.
Cork
Cork features wood and some natural elements that make a fuzzy cushion for wet feet. If you’re in search of a bathroom floor that can keep your feet warm after a shower, cork is your best bet.
Cork flooring undergoes natural manufacturing processes. The primary material comes from the bark of cork trees. Therefore, consumers can feel at ease about this environmentally friendly, safe and sustainable product.
Engineered hardwood
Engineered hardwood is made of real wood and can withstand heat and moisture. You can install engineered hardwood over existing flooring, which cuts out the hassle of having to remove it before remodelling. Engineered hardwood is a good choice for your bathroom because it’s water-resistant.
Waterproof laminate flooring
Laminate flooring is another great long term bathroom flooring option. It presents several options which possess a similar surface to that of real wood. As the name implies, it’s waterproof, extremely durable and has resilient flooring. In addition, it comes in wide plank sizes and lots of pretty colour options.
You can choose to install waterproof laminate flooring. It features a tongue and groove interlock system perfect for inexperienced installers. Waterproof laminate flooring is a great budget bathroom flooring idea because it’s easy to clean.
Tips to Maintaining Your Bathroom Floor
One way to relax after a stressful day is to have a good shower. When walking into the bathroom, the floor is the first place your eyes visit.
A nasty looking bathroom floor can turn a grumpy face even grumpier. There’s also the safety aspect. A dirty or slippery bathroom can cause you to fall and sustain fatal injuries.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reviewed bone fractures and injuries caused by falling in the bathroom. According to the review, more than one out of four older people fall yearly. Here are some tips to help you prevent that,
- Firstly, you’d want to ensure that your bathroom floor is free of toilet paper. Next, check the corners of that bathroom to make sure nothing is littering the bathroom floor
- Wash the bath mats and other bathroom tools often
- Wipe the floor clean with either of these cleaning materials
- Vinegar: Mix the vinegar with water to give off a good cleaning solution, dip a mop into the solution and wipe off any bathroom flooring until it’s clean.
- Lemon juice: it’s highly effective when it comes to wiping off your tile flooring smooth and clean. Put enough lemon juice in a bottle, sprinkle it across the bathroom tile floor and wipe off dirt with a damp sponge.
- You can also use a multi-purpose cleaning agent or a detergent to leave your bathroom floor sparkling clean.
- Lastly, wait for your bathroom flooring to dry and sweep off any extra dust into a dustpan.
Related Article: What is the Most Durable Type of Hardwood Flooring?
To Sum It Up
Budget bathroom flooring ideas are inexpensive ways to cover your bathroom floors. While you do have to consider the aesthetics, you don’t have to break the bank to cover your floor.
Above, we have explored ten budget bathroom flooring ideas and tips to maintain your bathroom floor. Also, we discuss flooring options that can be a total disaster if you use them in your bathroom.
Save money while covering your bathroom floor with LV Flooring. Our online store is home to stylish yet affordable bathroom flooring designs. Explore our flooring options today!
