Flooring Options for Your Bathroom

One of the major components of any bathroom renovation is flooring. Whether your flooring is damaged, worn out or simply not to your liking, you may decide that changing the flooring in your bathroom is at the top of your priority list.  When you change the floor covering in your bathroom it can change the entire look and feel of your bathroom from old and drab to new and fresh.  You may even choose to use products that are considered luxury elements to cover your floor and add a truly special feel.

When considering which flooring material to use in your bathroom renovation you want to think about the look of the material, the functionality of the material (ie. is it too slippery when wet, etc.), and the reaction that the material has to moisture.  Because your bathroom floor will encounter more water than any other floor in your house, this is an important thing to think about when picking the material.  Let’s take a look at some of the most popular materials used to cover bathroom floors to help you make your decision.

Tile

Whether you choose porcelain or ceramic, tile is the most popular and by far the best choice for bathroom flooring.  It holds up well to moisture, resists bacteria growth and is very durable.  There are a variety of patterns and colors to choose from when looking at tile flooring.  You can choose a pattern that is neutral and goes with most any other fixtures that you choose or you can make your tile floor the centerpiece of your new bathroom.  When installed correctly by a professional, you cannot beat the look and practicality of putting tile flooring in your bathroom.

Laminate

Laminate is another good option for bathroom flooring that is cheaper than tile.  Though laminate has a wood chip base, which is porous and can cause problems if it gets wet, the seams are glued together in a laminate floor, making it resistant to absorbing moisture.  Easy to clean, cheap to buy and attractive looking, laminate is a viable candidate for becoming your next floor covering.  Laminate is available in a huge range of colors and styles that you can choose from, some looking almost as good as the real thing that they imitate. However, keep in mind that once laminate flooring is ruined or damaged, the entire floor must be replaced.  There is no patching or repairing a laminate floor.  If you have pets or children who are rough on flooring, this is definitely something you will want to consider.

Wood

While many people like the look of wood flooring in their bathrooms, it is the least desirable flooring option that we will talk about.  There are many different kinds of wood flooring, some much more suited to the high moisture content of bathrooms than other, but wood should only be used if you absolutely have your heart set on a wood floor.

Researching the types of flooring that you might put in your bathroom is one of the first steps to creating a luxurious and calming experience in your bathroom renovation.

Designing Your New Bathroom

When you decide to remodel your bathroom, the possibilities are endless.  You can do anything from a new coat of paint to a full renovation that includes changing the layout of your bathroom.  No matter how extensive your remodeling project is going to be, you should have a plan and a design to be sure that you stay on track with the changes you want to make to your bathroom.


The plan for your bathroom remodeling project can be as simple as a sketch that you make on a piece of scrap paper or as elaborate as a design created by a professional designer.  Which option you choose will depend largely on the extent of the renovations you plan to make and the complexities of the changes to your bathroom.  But either way you should have a plan that helps you stay on track and achieve the end result you want.


Make sure that you consider every detail as well as the overall picture of what you want your bathroom to look like when planning the design of your bathroom remodeling project.  You want to make sure that the colors you choose as well as the fixtures, lighting and hardware all coordinate in an appealing way. Planning all of these elements before you begin the project will help you have a better end to your bathroom renovations.


When planning you want to consider elements that will be permanent, like the shower, sinks and floors, elements that can be temporary, like fixtures and hardware, and elements that are movable, like rugs, pictures and decorative features.  This big picture view will give you a perfect bathroom project every time.  Make sure that everyone who works on the project knows your design plan so that they can see how their contribution works in the grand scheme of things.


Other features you may want to include in your design plan are luxury features like heated floors, specialty shower heads, lighting fixtures, and even towel warmers.  These things can all make a difference in the layout you choose as well as the amount of space you need to complete the project to your specifications.


Once you have a design plan written out you can hire professionals to complete the work, or you can complete the work yourself.  Either way, planning the design of your bathroom renovation project is an important first step in loving your new bathroom.

Deciding to Remodel Your Bathroom

If you own your own home the chances that you don’t like everything about it are high.  And one of the most used rooms in your house, the bathroom, is probably one of the rooms you would most like to change.  But how do you decide if you need to remodel your bathroom or just live with it the way that it is?


First, if your bathroom shows signs of disrepair, you may want to think about remodeling.  If things do not work right or need to be replaced, it is a good sign that you should schedule a renovation.  This doesn’t have to be an in-depth process, but rather can just be fixing the things that need to be fixed and possibly adding a new coat of paint.  It is amazing the difference that little changes like this make.


Second, if there are elements of your bathroom that you do not like, you may want to consider a remodeling project.  Whether it is out of date wallpaper or hard to clean floors, your bathroom may need a face lift.  And if you have the time, money and patience, you may want to consider a complete renovation to your bathroom to make it exactly what you always wanted it to be.


Third, you may want to remodel your bathroom if it is not functional.  For instance, if you have three people sharing a bathroom, you may want to have more than one sink.  Or if you have small children in your house, a bathtub is a necessity.  Making sure that you can use your bathroom to its fullest potential is an important reason to consider making changes to the design or layout of your bathroom.


Finally, if you are trying to sell your home, it may be time to consider remodeling your bathroom.  Even if you only make minor cosmetic changes, the value of your home can go up considerably when potential buyers see a bathroom that it move-in ready.


No matter what your reasons for considering a bathroom renovation, you can greatly improve the beauty, functionality and value of your home simply by making a few changes to this high traffic area of your home.  Taking these things into consideration when deciding whether or not to remodel your bathroom can help you understand your needs, your priorities and where you should go from here.