Does your bathroom floor design choice stand the test of time or it is time to replace it? The best way to increase the value of your home is to update either the bathroom or the kitchen. They’re the rooms in the home that see the most traffic, especially the bathroom.
To find the best flooring for bathrooms, you’ll want to consider your style and which looks will stand the test of time for design longevity and should you decide to sell. Here's the top 5 choices homeowner's are considering in 2021 and beyond.
(1) Waterproof Vinyl Bathroom Flooring
Design Looks:
Wood and stone trends, including marble, handscraped and distressed looks, large planks/tiles, and more.
Construction & Function:
The stars of the waterproof flooring game: WPC and SPC vinyl bathroom flooring. WPC flooring has a core made of wood plastic composite that is 100% waterproof, a luxury vinyl print layer, and a thick, durable wear layer. WPC flooring is luxury vinyl amped up a few notches, dominating the world of waterproof flooring.
SPC, also known as rigid core vinyl, is the next level in waterproof vinyl flooring. SPC flooring has a core made from stone plastic composite, making for a tougher, sturdier core than WPC flooring.
Appearance-wise, there is no difference between rigid core vinyl and traditional WPC vinyl. Both options offer the trendiest, most realistic looks mimicking natural materials in the highest quality prints.
The big difference is construction. SPC rigid core flooring is traditionally thinner and even more durable. Additionally, rigid core planks are also better at hiding imperfect subfloors. If you are installing over tile or another unlevel surface, SPC is a great option that can save you some money in prep and installation without sacrificing style.
Test of Time:
WPC and SPC vinyl floors are the fastest growing floors on market, particularly in bathrooms, kitchens, and other water-prone areas. The looks will only get more convincing.
(2) Bathroom Floor Tile
Design Looks:
Wood and stone trends, including marble, handscraped and distressed looks, large planks/tiles, stenciled designer, and more.
Construction & Function:
Tile is known for being durable, waterproof, and easy to clean – perfect for any room. Especially the bathroom. Technology with porcelain and ceramic tile help homeowners to achieve the classic marble look and wood trends very reasonably and with less maintenance.
Test of Time:
But with the surge in wood-look flooring options, is tile on its way out?
Not at all! Bathroom floor tile is still as trendy as it ever was. However, the trending bathroom floor tile looks have truly evolved over the last 5-10 years. You see, something technology has given us is the ability to achieve virtually any look with any type of flooring.
The wood-look tile bathroom flooring trend is super hot right now. Tile manufacturers are keeping up with the times and following the trends of contemporary wood and stone. This means you can have the sleek, current bathroom of your dreams with good ol’ dependable tile flooring.
Additionally, the classic marble look is still extremely popular, especially in high-end homes. However, homeowners are now achieving this look at half the price and with way less upkeep by using porcelain and ceramic tile that looks like traditional marble.
(3) Waterproof Laminate Bathroom Flooring
Design Looks:
Available in looks and textures that effortlessly mimic gorgeous, trending hardwood looks.
Construction & Function:
While laminate is known as the original wood-look flooring, it wasn’t until recently that it started popping up in bathrooms. Previously, many people used it in other water-prone areas, like kitchens, but the bathroom? That was still off-limits.
That is until manufacturers developed a 100% waterproof laminate option. Yes, now, like vinyl, laminate has options that are fully waterproof and suitable for bathrooms, basements, kitchens, and more.
Test of Time:
Laminate will look great and be a valid option, but I think vinyl has the edge on the waterproof market and laminate may not steal that edge anytime soon. But with how affordable waterproof laminate is, it’s also an excellent alternative.
(4) Sheet Vinyl Bathroom Flooring
Design Looks:
Fun, unique patterns fitting any color and design scheme.
Construction & Function:
A little different from vinyl planks, there’s sheet vinyl. It might sound a little out there, but with the latest advancements to sheet vinyl, it’s a viable option. Plus, because of its low price point, it’s a hit for new homeowners.
Sheet vinyl used to be down-and-out of the flooring game because of its lack of durability. It was once known for peeling and it wouldn’t stay put after installation. But that’s all changed. Now, sheet vinyl is resistant to water and slipping.
Worried about a difficult installation? You’ll be glad to know that once you make the necessary cuts to your vinyl sheet, it’s as simple as rolling out the sheet and laying it flat. After that, the flooring will stay put under its own weight.
Test of Time:
This trend will certainly live on throughout 2021. As for the long haul, give it the next 10-15 years to phase out.
(5) Waterproof Bathroom Carpet & Rugs
Wait! This will not be as gross as you might think.
Design Looks:
Many textures, colors, and patterns meeting any design scheme.
Construction & Function:
Remember the 1980s bathroom carpet? It was the worst. Soft and comforting, yes. But it would trap all the water from your showers and often develop a weird texture, or even worse, mold. Yuck!
But there was a reason people did that, right? The carpet is warm, soft, and comforting. It sure beats slipping on the wet tile when you get out of the shower.
Over the next few years, this trend may creep back in with the appearance of 100% waterproof carpet on the market. Yes – waterproof carpet!
Waterproof in general seems to be the trend over the last decade, which is great news for anyone looking to update their bathroom. Where homeowners were once limited by fear of water damage, they can now install just about any type of flooring in any room of the home.
Test of Time:
This trend seems to be regional. In states that see a lot of cold weather, waterproof carpet in your bathroom can be a nice luxury for those cold early mornings. So, the trend might last for the next 15 years. For the warmer states, not so much.
So, is it time to update your bathroom floor? Want it done by the holiday season? It might be. Look into it now as remodeling firms are extremely busy.
Adapted from https://www.flooringinc.com/blog/bathroom-flooring-trends/