Choose the Best Floor Tile for Your Bathroom

Penny tile remains a popular flooring option thanks to an enduring vintage appeal. It's cycled in and out of popularity since the 1900s and it still always looks classic and on trend. Available in glass, ceramic or porcelain, it’s easy to find just the right color of penny tile for your bathroom’s unique design. The small, round shape and many tiny grout lines work to create a less slippery surface while adding a textured appearance on your bathroom floor.

Not only is ceramic tile more durable, it’s also a more affordable bathroom flooring option compared to natural stone and porcelain. Made of clay and kiln fired, ceramic bathroom tiles are often finished with a glaze and come in a wide range of colors and shapes. These tiles hold up well to moisture and foot traffic, while still offering plenty of stylish design options. Since there’s such a broad range of styles, you can choose something maximalist with a bold pattern or embrace a more natural look with a faux marble design.

Different sizes, shapes and ways to lay ceramic tile give you the freedom to create a one-of-a-kind design. Ceramic tile offers superior heat resistance and when properly glazed and installed, the tile is moisture resistant.

These bold and geometric bathroom floor tiles add a unique look to a room that only has so much space for trend-forward design. Encaustic tile is eye catching like ceramic tile, but the color on an encaustic tile isn’t just on the surface. It runs all the way through the tile. The vivid patterns make a unique statement that works well in a boho or European-inspired space.

Since it's porous and prone to stains and etching, it’s important that encaustic tile is properly installed and sealed. If cared for, it can last for decades. Just look at the vibrant encaustic tile flooring throughout Europe for proof. Depending on the size of the encaustic tile, you’ll need to check your floors to ensure they’re level. The tiles can break if there’s movement or bends in the floor underneath them.

Based on the name it might seem counterintuitive, but porcelain tile is not only durable, it’s one of the best tile materials for bathroom floors. Made from a finer-grade mixture than ceramic tile, it’s less porous, making it more water resistant than your standard ceramic tile. A next-level DIY surface, DIYers love that porcelain tile mimics other popular finishes like natural stone and wood grain. It’s a smart choice if you want the look of wood without worrying about water damage. It works well in a modern farmhouse-inspired space, keeping the uniformity of the look of wood but without the worry in moisture-prone areas like the bathroom and kitchen.

It’s heat resistant, easy to clean and holds up to heavier foot traffic. The color of porcelain tile isn’t just surface deep. It goes throughout the tile, so chips are less noticeable. If you want to install porcelain tile yourself, you’ll need a wet tile saw and more DIY experience than easier options like ceramic tile or vinyl flooring. It’s pricier than ceramic tile but might be worth the investment for your home.

Luxury vinyl tile flooring is a popular choice thanks to its durability and its ability to mimic the look of wood or stone. Featuring a backing layer, a core layer, a design layer and a protective top layer, this vinyl flooring design lends stability and durability to a subfloor. It’s a dream for busy homes filled with unpredictable messes from kids and pets since it’s scratch resistant and typically water resistant or waterproof. The key differences between luxury vinyl tile and luxury vinyl plank flooring are the shape, size and thickness of the flooring. Luxury vinyl tile offers options for interlocking, peel-and-stick and glue-down installations.

Make a statement in your bathroom with natural stone. Natural stone isn't manmade, so each piece is unique. If you're selecting natural stone for your bathroom floors, there are numerous options to choose from, including:

• Marble
• Slate
• Travertine
• Granite
• Basalt

Natural stone offers a stunning backdrop when added to bathroom walls, floors and showers, but it's usually more expensive and requires more maintenance than ceramic or porcelain. Due to the porous nature of natural stone, it typically needs to be sealed every six months. Once it's sealed, the floors are easy to care for using water and a cleaner specially formulated to treat natural stone.

Glass tile that's specially formulated for bathroom floors is easy to install and maintain. It’s durable and highly resistant to staining, mold, mildew, water spots and etching. Glass tiles come in a wide variety of colors, shapes and finishes. Depending on your preference, select from a glossy, matte, polished, honed or frosted finish.

Some of the styles include the following:

• Wood look
• Marble look
• Stone look
• Subway
• Patterned
• Brick look

You can clean glass tile floors in a few simple steps. Sweep or vacuum the floor and mop with a mild dish soap and water. Rinse and dry the floors. Don't use abrasive scouring pads or steel wool because they can scratch the glass tiles

If you're looking for a durable, low-maintenance and attractive option, consider cement tiles and terrazzo flooring. In the last few years, they've become a popular choice in modern bathrooms. Cement tiles come in rectangular, hexagonal and square shapes with a matte or polished finish.

Terrazzo flooring (as shown in the image) has been around for hundreds of years, but has recently made a resurgence. It's comprised of a concrete base with a mix of marble, granite and glass chips.

Cement and terrazzo tile floors require sealing after installation. Once sealed, they're easy to clean by sweeping and then mopping with a neutral pH cleaner and water. Then rinse and dry the floors. To prevent staining, the floor needs to be resealed every year.

If you're ready to remodel your bathroom floor, Lowe's has thousands of tile options to choose from. Follow these tips to learn how to choose bathroom tiles.

Decide on a Design Style
Consider the style of the rest of your home. Is it modern, traditional or transitional? Do you prefer a minimalist or maximalist style? Start pulling images of bathrooms that you really like. You'll usually see a pattern emerge that'll help determine the best bathroom floor tile for your home.

Pick a Color Palette
If you prefer a clean and neutral space, consider white, off-white or taupe tiles in marble, travertine, ceramic or porcelain. If you love color, consider a soft green, bold blue or pink tile in cement or glass. Also think about the location of your bathroom. Is it connected to a bedroom? If so, consider incorporating a color from your bedroom to create a cohesive look.

Choose the Right Tile Size
Large bathrooms typically use 12 x 12 or 24 x 24 size tiles. If you want a small bathroom to look bigger, 12 x 12 or 24 x 24 size tiles are recommended because there are fewer grout lines. If grout lines aren't a factor, hexagonal or penny tile would work well in a small bathroom.

Select a Grout Color
Grout color can change the look of tile flooring, so choose carefully. For a more seamless look, choose a grout color that matches the tile. For a sharp contrast, consider using a dark grout against a light tile.

Factor in Maintenance
Natural stone and cement tiles require sealing every six months to a year. If you don't think you'll remember to seal the floor, consider more low-maintenance options like ceramic, vinyl tile or porcelain.

Mix Up Finishes and Patterns
Bathroom tile is a great opportunity to mix and match finishes and patterns. Here are a few suggestions:
  •  Use a patterned encaustic floor tile with a simple white subway wall tile.
  •  Try a large marble floor tile with a smaller herringbone marble wall tile.
  •   Lay penny tile on the floor and then add a border in a contrasting color around the perimeter of the bathroom.
  •  Apply a fluted ceramic tile to the wall and a terrazzo floor in the same color.

Purchase Tile Samples
Before you spend a lot of money on tile and delivery, purchase some samples. A tile that you may love online or in the store can look completely different in your home. Purchase several samples and place them in the bathroom that you're renovating.

It's important that the flooring that you choose for your bathroom is resilient, attractive and waterproof. That's why tile is a wise choice when selecting the best bathroom floors for your home. Tile comes in an endless variety of colors, patterns and materials. Go as classic or as bold as you want with these types of bathroom floor tile:

• Penny
• Ceramic
• Encaustic
• Porcelain
• Luxury Vinyl Tile
• Natural Stone
• Glass
• Cement and Terrazzo Tile

Are you ready to get started with your bathroom tile project? Learn how to tile a bathroom floor or have Lowe's install it for you.