If you're in the market for new bathroom flooring, you might be tempted to cut corners by rushing the preparation or choosing the first attractive material you find and hoping for the best.
However, bathroom experts have warned that flaws as little as a slightly off gradient could result in big problems in the long run, which can be costly to repair and waste more time.
To help you get the job done once – and properly – we asked bathroom design experts to share the most common flooring mistakes they see people make, so you can avoid them.
1. Not checking if the flooring is suitable for wet, humid conditions
Before you invest in brand-new flooring, it's worth double-checking whether it's suitable for your bathroom's conditons, recommends Yarl Christie, Founder of Stories Flooring.
"One of the biggest mistakes we see is people choosing bathroom flooring ideas purely for the overall look, without checking it is actually rated for wet, high-humidity conditions," he says. "Materials such as laminate or standard engineered wood can swell, warp or delaminate once they are exposed to daily splashes and condensation."
You'll also need to take slip resistance into consideration. While a beautiful glossy tile can serve up style points, it becomes a hazard when it gets wet, which is less than ideal for a bathroom setting.
Side note: My former flat had black, shiny tiles, and they were an absolute nightmare to keep clean. We basically had to live with constant footprints and splash marks. I've vowed to never live anywhere with dark glossy tiles ever again!
Shop these bathroom-proof flooring picks
Add rustic charm to your bathroom with these limestone parquet tiles, featuring a durable double-etched finish.
Made from durable porcelain, this beautiful tile has a moderate slip resistance and is suitable for underfloor heating.
These 3D-effect tiles are the easiest way to liven up a boring bathroom and come with high slip resistance.
Yarl Christie is the founder and managing director of Stories Flooring, one of the UK’s fastest-growing online flooring retailers. Beginning his career as a floor fitter at 18, Yarl gained hands-on experience that shaped his understanding of quality, design and customer needs.
2. Poor preparation
If you want your bathroom flooring to stand the test of time, preparation is key. Before you even think about laying it, you'll need to install a properly waterproofed subfloor, explains Yarl Christie. Failing to do this is one of the most expensive mistakes to make, as you'll likely have to rip up the entire floor and start again if it isn't done correctly.
"A properly installed subfloor, correct waterproofing and tanking system, and a level surface are what prevent problems like cracked tiles, loose grout and water damage further down the line," adds Vic Slovak, co-director of VOSC Bathrooms.
Vic Slovak is the co-founder of VOSC Bathrooms & Interiors, a specialist bathroom installation company based in St Albans, working across Hertfordshire and North London. Founded in 2021, VOSC delivers multiple full bathroom installations each month, focusing on high-quality workmanship, waterproofing expertise and practical, well-executed wet room solutions.
3. Incorrect installation
The slightest mistake in the gradient can result in pools of water collecting on your bathroom or wet room flooring, warns Vic Slovak. "This affects both the practicality of the space and its longevity."
Fitting your tiles too close to walls and fixtures is also a no-no, says Yarl Christie. Without an expansion gap, you may see tenting, cracking or lifting as the material expands and contracts with changes in temperature and humidity.
He adds, "Oversized tiles in a small bathroom need to be cut awkwardly around the toilet and basin, and poorly planned grout lines or thresholds can create trip hazards between rooms."
4. Choosing the wrong tile size or pattern
Contrary to popular belief, having a small bathroom doesn't mean you're limited to a smaller tile size. According to Lesley Taylor, Interior Designer and Founder of Baked Tiles, "a larger-format porcelain tile can reduce the number of grout lines and make the floor feel far less busy."
“The reverse can be true in a wet room, where the floor needs to fall towards the drain. A very large rigid tile may be difficult to use across that change in level without specialist cutting, so a smaller format or mosaic can sometimes be the more practical option," she adds.
Pattern is another area that people often get wrong. While the design might look great in a single image, Lesley says you need to understand the full picture of the room, including how it will appear when sanitaryware is installed. The solution? "Lay out several tiles together and identify the strongest parts of the design."
5. Forgetting aftercare
While some bathroom flooring requires little to no maintenance, you'll need to take extra care with natural materials, such as stone, which require regular sealing and ongoing aftercare.
"Use the cleaning products recommended for the material and accept that some stones will develop a softer patina as the bathroom is used. The mistake is not choosing stone; it is choosing stone while secretly hoping it will behave like a piece of plastic," says Grazzie Wilson, Head of Creative at Ca’ Pietra.
"The finish is what people see, but it's everything underneath that determines how long your bathroom flooring will last," concludes Viktor Slovak.
For more expert-backed advice, find out why wooden flooring in a bathroom is a bad idea and whether laminate is waterproof.
