Upgrading the bathroom is one of the easiest relator-approved ways to increase the value of your home. And even though the bathroom is a small part of your home’s floorplan, your choice of flooring is one of the most important decisions you can make in terms of comfort, style, and resale value. As you’d expect, tile remains the obvious and popular choice for bathroom flooring, but recent improvements in imaging and manufacturing technology are leading the way towards the bathroom of tomorrow with exciting new materials to achieve a designer look with a DIY budget. Here are our favorite bathroom flooring trends for 2020 including the return of a few classic looks that are always in style.

Real(istic) Wood

Most homeowners are aware that hardwood floors in a bathroom are a bad idea. Waterlogged hardwood floors are prone to cupping and cracking and are a breeding ground for mold and mildew. Not even a polyurethane finish can protect real wood floors from the constant barrage of moisture. Now, thanks to modern imaging technology, you can keep the whole-house hardwood look going (even in the bathroom) with waterproof vinyl and laminate flooring available in realistic wood patterns.

These engineered flooring products pair the waterproof durability of manufactured materials with the textured look of real wood for a classic style that’s easy to maintain. These tiles are available in traditional oak, cherry, or maple finishes, plus a wide variety of distressed, natural, painted, whitewashed, or varnished designs.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Patterns are popular across the board, but the recent use of mixed-width tiles or planks to create unique linework is one of our favorite developments in bathroom design. This technique is a simple way to add some subtle flair without breaking the bank. All you need to do is choose a design and buy varying widths of tile or LVP. 

Pick a Pattern

Patterned flooring remains a popular choice that’s easier than ever to achieve. Stenciled tiles with a black-on-white print can be installed just as easily as any other, but their intricate geometric illustrations give them an artisan appeal to complete any retro-chic farmhouse project. Alternatively, any number of chevron, herringbone, checkerboard, hexagonal, or subway tile patterns can be installed by mixing, matching, and cutting non-square tile shapes to fit.

Better Keep it Neutral

Bathrooms are cozy spaces without much natural light. Bright neutrals (gray, white, beige, greige, blonde) reflect light to give your otherwise cramped bathroom a sense of open spaciousness that keep you feeling fresh and energized as you complete your morning routine or get ready to go out. If you absolutely have to have a splash of color, opt for cool and subdued greens or blues to avoid overpowering what’s normally a small room. Are you ready to renovate the bathroom at your home or business? Visit any of our four convenient Northeast Ohio locations to browse our fully stocked inventory of bathroom flooring and vanity selection. Or give us a call at (888) SHOP-123 to speak with one of our bathroom flooring experts and schedule your FREE in-home shopping appointment with a complimentary measurement and estimate.