5 Bathroom Flooring Mistakes That Will Ruin Your Scheme’s Good Looks and Make It a Nightmare to Use
The bathroom is one of the most underrated spaces in the home. While we devote hours to expertly curating our kitchens and bedrooms, too many of us breeze through the bathroom design process, unknowingly slipping into some of the most notorious design traps.
No element is this more true for than your bathroom flooring. Sure, you may have flipped through some bathroom flooring ideas, saved some eye-catching designs on Pinterest, but have you stopped to really consider the realities of these styles, beyond their aesthetic appeal?
While in some parts of your home, you can get away with making decisions purely based on the way they’ll look; this approach won’t work when it comes to your bathroom floor. Choosing the wrong tile can lead to some major health and safety risks, as well as endless upkeep that you’ll undoubtedly come to regret. To protect you from falling for any of these mistakes, our experts have shared the 5 problems they encounter the most frequently.
1. Skipping Sealing
Here, porcelain flooring tiles from West One add visual interest, while keeping the space low-maintenance.
(Image credit: West One Bathrooms)
“The biggest mistake you can make is having an unsealed floor,” says Jason Cherrington, director of Lapicida. “All natural materials will require sealing as no natural material is waterproof.”
While natural materials, such as marble, are favorites in bathroom design due to their luxurious finish and striking visual appeal, it can be easy to overlook the practicalities that these materials carry with them.
“Failing to properly seal bathroom flooring is one of the biggest mistakes homeowners can make,” agrees Louise Ashdown, head of design at West One Bathrooms. “Bathrooms are high-moisture environments, and without adequate sealing, water can seep into grout lines, cracks, and porous materials like natural stone or unsealed tiles,” explains Louise. “This leads to mold growth, mildew build-up, subfloor damage, and even structural deterioration over time. Additionally, trapped moisture can cause tiles to loosen, grout to crumble, and flooring materials to warp or discolor.”
As strikingly beautiful as natural stone flooring can be, it also requires a huge amount of upkeep that often goes unconsidered. Marble and other similar natural stones are highly porous materials, making them particularly prone to stains. This can pose an issue in bathrooms, where lotions and potions are in constant use, and a haphazard moisturizer spillage could alter the look of your precious stone for years to come. So, it can be smart to look into some marble alternatives instead.
“As an alternative, high-quality porcelain will be resistant to moisture and works exceptionally well in wet areas,” says Jason.
If you do opt for natural stone flooring, though, sealing is your best friend. To err on the side of caution, professionals recommend resealing your flooring every 6 months. “To prevent these issues, always use a high-quality, waterproof sealant on grout and porous surfaces, and ensure that all seams and edges are properly caulked with a mold-resistant, waterproof caulk,” says Louise.
Louise Ashdown
Based in Tunbridge Wells, Louise Ashdown is the head of design at the highly esteemed West One Bathrooms. Established in London in 1978, West One have built their reputation as one of Europe’s best bespoke, luxury bathroom suppliers.
2. Giving Underfloor Heating a Miss
Porcelain and ceramic tiles are strong conductors of heat, making them well suited for underfloor heating.
(Image credit: Donna DuFresne Interior Design)
If you were considering whether or not underfloor heating in your bathroom is worth it, the experts are in resounding agreement: it is. “A common misstep is skipping underfloor heating,” says Katerina Tchevytchalova, Director of K’Arte Design, “Many clients regret not investing in this luxurious yet functional upgrade, which adds warmth and comfort underfoot.”
Underfloor heating is an upgrade you will thank yourself for every day, especially during the colder months, when stepping out of a steamy shower to a gently heated floor could easily be the best moment of your day.
As Barrie Cutchie, from BC Designs says, “In bathrooms, there is nearly always a floor covering that is cold underfoot — think tiles, stone, and sometimes wood. By having underfloor heating, it means it is warm underfoot, which can be especially nice on cold winter mornings.”
3. Slip Rating Slip Ups
Opt for matte flooring to avoid unwanted slips and falls.
(Image credit: Ca’Pietra)
“You’ve spent hours poring over samples, interior magazines and mood boards to pick the perfect tiles for your bathroom floor. There’s so much to consider — color, finish, pattern, shape… terrazzo flooring, stone, porcelain, terracotta,” says Grazzie Wilson, head of creative at Ca’Pietra, “The options are endless. But have you considered how safe they’ll be when wet? Have you ever heard of a slip rating?”
Grazzie is right, beyond looks, the slip rating of your chosen material is a crucial element to consider before making your final choice. “Most tiles fall between R9 and R11,” Grazzie explains. “The higher the number, the more anti-slip they are, so R9 and R10 tiles can be used anywhere, but R10 is a better option for wet rooms or tiled showers.”
Higher-shine tiling that falls somewhere around the R9 rating is not recommended for use as bathroom flooring, as it could result in a dangerously hazardous bathroom design. It can, however, be a suitable material to use elsewhere in the bathroom.
“Polished surfaces are not suitable for wet floors and should be used on walls only,” says Jason. “We recommend matt finish porcelain with a slip resistance, but natural materials with a honed finish have better traction than polished and can be used on the floor.”
4. Attempting a Tile Match to Stone
Using the same marble tiles across this shower area allows for a luxurious feel.
(Image credit: Julie Soefer. Studio credit Marie Flanigan Interiors)
If you’re opting for a natural stone or marble in your bathroom design, it can be highly tempting to attempt to find a tile that perfectly matches your beloved stone. How hard can it be, you may think to yourself.
Well, very hard is the answer.
“I would say trying to find a perfect tile match and it being off to the slabs is the biggest mistake,” says April Graves, from Aria Stone Gallery. “In my opinion, it is always best to source from the same block for the whole space.”
Using this method allows for an elegant bathroom with a sense of flow and continuity in its design. While some marble bathroom ideas prove that mixing materials can look effective, when done purposefully, but if you are attempting to create a sleek, luxurious finish, ensuring your floors and walls match is key.
5. Not Thinking About the Bigger Picture
Pair a brightly colored, eye-catching flooring with neutral walls and finishes for a dramatic and sleek look.
(Image credit: GRT Architects)
You’ve got to start somewhere when it comes to designing a room, and your flooring is as good a place to begin as any when designing your bathroom. However, the issue with this method is that you are choosing a material in isolation and may forget to consider how it will look when combined with the other design elements of your bathroom.
As Kalli Karella, from Ripples says, “Picking a floor in isolation without considering the rest of your bathroom design can lead to a disjointed look that undermines the overall feel of the space.”
There is a fine line between a playful combination of contrasting styles and designs, and a truly disjointed, haphazard room that has no grounding aesthetic.
To avoid slipping into the latter category, Kalli recommends, “Think about the bigger picture. Your flooring should complement your wall tiles, fixtures, and color scheme. Neutral tones or natural textures often provide a timeless foundation.”
Another issue relating to the ‘bigger picture’ is choosing a tile without considering the necessary maintenance and upkeep of that specific material. “One of the biggest mistakes with bathroom flooring is choosing real tiles without considering long-term maintenance,” explains Lorna Williams, Head of Design at Amtico.
“Natural stone and ceramic may look beautiful, but they’re prone to cracks, chips, and grout discoloration — especially in high-footfall areas. Over time, this wear and tear can make a space feel tired and outdated. For a more durable, low-maintenance alternative, luxury vinyl tile (LVT) is a smart choice,” she says.
Now we’ve got these flooring mistakes out the way, it’s time to make sure you’re fully protected from any other bathroom disasters. Bathroom tiling mistakes are just as important to try avoid, as are these disastrous bathroom layout mistakes.
