With the world trending towards smaller houses, homeowners are treading new ground in the realm of home renovation. Smaller living quarters are becoming popular for many reasons, but with less space to maintain, do it yourself renovation projects are now more feasible than ever.
Another reason smaller spaces are more popular relates to the cost. It’s hard out there, so anything to reduce costs is welcome.
Not only is the cost of your initial investment less, but it also costs less to renovate your home. This brings us to the focus of today’s article: Remodeling your bathroom.
Just like with the rest of your home, the benefits of a small bathroom are pretty profound. If you’re looking to redo your flooring, the cost is going to be unbelievably cheap in comparison to a sprawling master bathroom.
But it might still be hard to know where to start and what your options are. Luckily, this handy list has compiled and summarized all the best small bathroom flooring ideas. When you have an idea of where to begin, you can get the flooring you want, for an affordable price, and having something that looks good and is easy to clean and take care of. If you are ready, let’s dive in.
Small Bathroom Flooring Ideas: Tile Techniques
Before we jump into the various types of flooring you can use in your bathroom, let’s examine a few more general ideas about how you might like to design your space.
Even if you don’t ultimately decide on tiles, it’s one of the most classic choices for bathrooms. But there are various non-conventional tiling techniques you can employ to make your space look bigger than it is.
Beyond just creating illusions of size, the various tiles you can choose from also present limitless potential for creativity. Far from the drab off-white tiles of yesteryear, today’s tile options are abundant and stunning.
Large Tiles
Your intuition might be to use small tiles for a small bathroom, but this can actually be counterproductive. Large tiles can convey the illusion of space even when there isn’t much room to work with.
For one thing, large tiles counteract the claustrophobia small tiles can create. With small tiles in a small space, the room can easily begin to feel cluttered and cramped. Larger tiles give the room a sense of openness, even there are rather tight quarters.
Depending on the type of large tile you choose to go with, you can also reduce the amount of grout used. This makes the space feel more seamless and less cluttered. With modern technology offering things like convincing approximations of marble, your options are fairly limitless.
Unconventional Patterns
Mixing up the patterns of your tile is a great way to break up the monotony and draw the eye away from other areas. Interesting patterns can distract from the size of your bathroom pretty effectively.
A diagonal pattern can be an excellent way to convey motion and fluidity. On the same token, more unique patterns like spirals can set your bathroom apart from everyone else on the block.
No matter what you choose, a small bathroom is the ideal place to experiment. With so much less space to fill, getting creative is far less of a chore than it can be in big rooms. Take advantage of your limitations and turn them into strengths!
Interesting Colors
Bold color choices can go a long way. They can create a focal point around which the rest of the bathroom can revolve. Like the previous techniques, they also take the eye away from other parts of the bathroom.
You might also consider all white tile. This can create an open feeling by reflecting light. If you go with a white tile pattern though, make sure to keep the rest of the bathroom neutral to maximize its effect.
Keep in mind, if you do decide to take this approach, make sure it stands apart from the rest of the bathroom. If your walls are as bold as your floors, it will drastically limit the effectiveness of this technique. Make sure to use neutral colors in the rest of the bathroom to ensure it works as intended.
Extend Into the Shower
One great way to make your small bathroom feel bigger is by eliminating the separation between your shower and the rest of the room. Consider trying a curbless shower. If you choose to do this, extending your floor tiles into the shower is a great option.
In doing this, you create one seamless area. By not compartmentalizing an already tight space, you naturally make it feel larger. Heck, by eliminating unnecessary hardware, you quite literally increase your available floor space.
Though this won’t be a choice everyone makes, it’s bold and pragmatic. It also provides an option that is friendly to anyone who may use a wheelchair. Functionality and style are a great combination.
Small Bathroom Flooring Ideas: Your Options
For those looking to venture outside the realm of the typical, there are many options available. Gone are the days of drab tile and ugly vinyl. Today’s market is filled with interesting and affordable choices for every type of person.
Though we see the effects of advancing technology every day on our phones, televisions, and computer screens, it’s easy to forget it affects everything: even flooring! There’s no reason you shouldn’t take advantage of these futuristic leaps forward.
That said, it can be hard to know where to start. Here are several flooring options to consider for your small bathroom remodeling project.
Luxury Vinyl Plank
Though wood floors are a timeless and elegant look, wood and water don’t mix well. If you still find yourself longing for that hardwood aesthetic, luxury vinyl plank is your best bet.
Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) comes in all manner of shape and size, and it ranges from lower quality cheap options to superior but more expensive ones. The cheaper ones can be as thin as 1.5mm in thickness, so it might be worth it to just spend the extra cash. With higher quality options being up to 5mm thick, the difference is notable.
If you do decide to go with LVP, opt for thinner planks in a small bathroom. This will help support the illusion of a larger space.
Though this look isn’t for everyone, it can make a space feel either very rustic or quite modern. No matter what you think of it, its versatility is laudable.
Furthermore, there’s no need to pay for professional installation with LVP. Types range from peel-and-stick in the lower price range to click-and-lock versions in the higher price brackets. Being able to take a DIY approach will save you tons of money on installation costs.
Natural Stone
It’s hard to go wrong with natural stone. Not only is it a classy look, but there are also so many options under the broad umbrella of natural stone flooring. That said, it can also be costly.
With a lot of natural stone coming from overseas, the cost is certainly a factor. Luckily, you’re renovating a small bathroom. This makes something that might be otherwise cost-prohibitive rather affordable.
Marble will run you the most, with some costing upwards of $14 per square foot. Slate, on the other hand, can run as low as under $2 per square foot. Either way, you choose to go, this is incredibly affordable all things considered.
Also, consider installing your stone floors yourself if you really want to cut costs. Though it can be tricky, working in a small space will make things simpler. If you’re not comfortable doing it yourself, professional installation is certainly a viable option.
Ceramic/Porcelain Tile
You were already introduced to several unique methods to maximize your tile. Even though it’s easy to write off as passe, classic tile has withstood the test of time for a reason.
For one thing, tile is much cheaper than many other options. Still affording you the waterproof quality you want without the cost is undeniably positive. But there are also tons more design options than you might be familiar with.
If you like the look of natural stone but hate the price, you have hope with tile. In today’s market, there are plenty of options that convincingly mimic stone without the cost.
Marble is especially easy to emulate with porcelain tile. Your choices range from stunning green marble to Carrara marble and everything in between. For the homeowner on a budget, tile is the perfect mix of affordability and style.
Don’t write off the more traditional tile, either. With the techniques discussed earlier, you can make tile work for you in a myriad of ways. Sometimes a classic approach is best, while others call for something inventive. No matter what, ceramic and porcelain tile should always be on your list of options.
Waterproof Laminate
If you don’t like the feel of vinyl but still want the look of a wood floor, waterproof laminate might be for you. If you’re thinking that laminate doesn’t typically work in bathrooms, you’re not wrong. Luckily, this innovative option is an extenuating circumstance.
The way waterproof laminate achieves its impressive water-repellent status is through an alteration at its core. Whereas traditional laminate uses a water-absorbing fiberboard base, waterproof laminate uses thermoplastic. This makes it perfect for high moisture areas like bathrooms.
If nothing else on this list has piqued your interest so far, this is truly the option for you. Even though you might think it’s similar to vinyl at first glance, it really isn’t. Laminate has more give to it, granting it a spongier feel. For those who hate vinyl, this is an option with all the pros and none of the cons.
Graphic Tiles
The more creatively minded might find a friend in graphic tiles. Sporting a wide variety of unique patterns, graphic tiles can be a fascinating addition to any bathroom.
Working with a small bathroom, it’s best not to get too wild. Choose a pattern that works for you and stick with it as opposed to using various patterns in the same space. This feeling of uniformity blended with unconventional visuals can draw the eye quite effectively.
The beauty of patterned tiles is that you can choose to go bold or keep it subtle. There are a wide variety of options available to you. On top of functionality, it’s always great to have an opportunity to flex one’s creative muscles.
Countless Options For Any Taste
As you can see, there’s no lack of paths you can choose to take when remodeling your bathroom. And even though this is a great collection of small bathroom flooring ideas, it’s far from every option out there.
Having a small bathroom has it’s cons, sure, but it also makes redoing your floor unbelievably affordable. Even traditionally luxurious options like marble are well within the reach of the budget-conscious remodeler. It’s no wonder smaller spaces are the prevailing trend of the day.
And this is only your floors! While the floor is important, it’s just one aspect of the big picture. Small bathrooms present such a wide range of opportunities for creativity. Take advantage of your space in every way you can.
After tackling your floor, you’ll likely find yourself wanting to do even more. If you’re not content with just one project, why not keep it going? Keep reading to get even more great ideas for renovating every part of your bathroom.
