Non-slip bathroom flooring ideas – 10 beautiful yet functional designs for underfoot

Non-slip bathroom flooring ideas deserve special attention. The material of course must be durable, able to withstand frequent splashes of water, anti-slip underfoot and preferably easy to clean. 

But practicality doesn’t mean boring bathroom ideas, since there are so many solutions that combine style with functionality. High-quality bathroom fixtures and fittings add a luxurious effect, but it is the flooring, especially if non-slip, that really underpins the feel of the space and allows experimentation with color, texture and pattern. 

Non-slip bathroom flooring ideas

It makes sense to consider all your bathroom flooring ideas, and especially the non-slip bathroom flooring, as part of a plan at the outset of the project as the best way to create a cohesive scheme.

1. Invest in a virtually indestructible floor

'Large-format porcelain tiles are virtually indestructible, stain resistant and can be used in a wide variety of settings including busy bathrooms,' says Jo Oliver, director at The Stone & Ceramic Warehouse. 'Many of our porcelain slabs come in different finishes, meaning you could have a polished marble effect tile on bathroom walls and a more textured marble effect tile on the floor, for an anti-slip flooring solution.'

2. Pack a stylish punch with a monochromatic color scheme

Black and white can completely alter the feel of a room but getting the balance right is key, especially in a modern bathroom. While monochrome decorating can be tricky to get right, a considered approach will be rewarded by a simple but impactful scheme. Decorating with black and white is a statement in its own right. Monochrome in the bathroom is surprisingly serene as well as stylish. 

'The timeless geometric design of Fired Earth’s monochrome Sorrento tiles will be completely at home in any style of bathroom,' says Colin Roby-Welford, creative director at Fired Earth. 'Made from low-maintenance porcelain, this versatile collection is slip-resistant, so it's a perfect, eye-catching choice for busy family bathrooms and wet rooms.'

3. Opt for on-trend wood-effect flooring

Wood-effect flooring ideas – made from porcelain – are now the material of choice for its natural beauty and warmth; it conjures the quiet luxury of a spa. 

'Porcelain tile options have broadened greatly due to technological advances, anti-slip finishes can now be applied to porcelain as seen in our Kayman range, which has a beautiful wood-effect grain texture that often gets confused for real wood,' informs Jo Oliver, director at The Stone & Ceramic Warehouse. 'The perfect choice for those wanting a low maintenance and safe surface, whilst still creating a beautiful natural wood effect.'

4. Go for a durable stone 

As beautiful as they are durable, the right stone floor types will be a valuable addition to your interior scheme. With a reputation for being naturally hardwearing, all stone flooring types are most commonly seen as bathroom floor tile ideas or kitchen flooring ideas. However, stone flooring can work in most rooms of the home.

'With any bathroom project it is worth considering the slip resistance of tiles – a balance of beauty and practicality should be met,' says Isabel Fernandez, director at Quorn Stone. 'In most instances a natural finish is sufficient for bathrooms, however in wet rooms we would always recommend using a porcelain tile in a ‘grip or R11 finish’, this finish is designed to offer more traction in wet room conditions.'

5. Choose a non-slip porcelain option

Technical advances in porcelain and ceramic production have revolutionized the variety of tiles on offer. Faux stone and wood porcelain tiles are now so advanced it’s hard to tell them from the real thing. They are water, stain and scratch resistant, don’t require sealing and come complete with realistic color and graining variations, too.

'Our Galicia porcelain replica-slate tiles offer the beautifully restful qualities of natural slate, complete with rich colour variation and a tactile finish,' says Colin Roby-Welford, creative director at Fired Earth. 'These slip-tested, large format tiles are a cost-effective option for spacious bathrooms and wet rooms.'

6. Lay down large-format tiles – made from concrete

If you're looking for shower tile ideas, large format concrete bathroom flooring will mean fewer grout lines and a cleaner, more seamless look, ideal as spa bathroom ideas with minimal visual clutter.

'Available in huge formats, these super-sized Grande Grey tiles mean there are fewer grout lines to contend with, creating a more flawless finish,' explains Jo Oliver, director at The Stone & Ceramic Warehouse. 'Being made from porcelain these tiles won’t stain, scratch, wear, or crack, as can be the case with real concrete floors. They have an anti-slip finish making them ideal for kitchens and bathrooms and are suitable for use outdoors too.'

7. Factor in a low-maintenance floor

This luxury look comes with a high price tag – consider using marble to add wow-factor to your master bathroom ideas, elevating the look even further by continuing the marble on the walls for a spa-like look that will exude elegance.

‘Due to advances in porcelain technologies, practical tiles don’t have to be boring,' says Louisa Morgan, marketing manager at Mandarin Stone. 'Bright colors, geometric patterns & faux marbles can all be produced with high grip, low-maintenance finishes.’

8. Paint your bathroom flooring

Painting your bathroom floor is not only an excellent way to seal and protect wooden floorboards, it’s a simple and effective way to add colour and personality to a space. Much like ceilings, flooring is often forgotten when planning a scheme, but using a coordinating color on the floor can create a really harmonious finish.

'Bathrooms are a busy area of any home, needing to withstand constant use, so it’s vital you choose a durable and hard-wearing finish such as our ‘Intelligent Floor Paint’, which is available in our full color palette,' says Ruth Mottershead, creative director at Little Greene. 'You can also make your bathroom floor slip-proof; simply add an anti-slip aggregate to your floor paint before painting.

9. Include a luxury vinyl floor in a small bathroom or wet room

Vinyl doesn’t always get the best rep, but the material has myriad benefits, many of which make it a great choice for a bathroom or shower room. This material is improving in quality with new technologies and also offers a wide range of design opportunities that will suit a variety of modern and family bathroom ideas and styles.

'Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT) are easy to clean, waterproof, warm and suitable for use with underfloor heating, explains Lucy Tunstall, creative director at Harvey Maria. 'The tiles butt up tightly together and the adhesive creates a watertight bond. They are completely waterproof and slip resistant, making them perfect for bathrooms.'

10. Go for a gorgeous encaustic tile

'When choosing non-slip floor tiles for the bathroom, we recommend our encaustic tiles, which have a matt finish making them naturally slip resistant,' says Lee Thornley, founder of Bert & May. 'Our encaustic range is available in a wide variety of patterns and colours and is incredibly hardwearing and yet has a soft feel underfoot. Encaustic tiles are generally suitable for use in wet rooms and showers, both on the walls and the floors, and are 100% waterproof once sealed.'

‘As well as adding status and color, encaustic tiles were also remarkably practical; in fact, most domestic interior tiled floors have survived 100 years of family wear and tear,' says Andy Triplow, owner of The Vintage Floor Tile Company. 'With a little care, they will probably be good for another 100 years.’

Why choose non-slip bathroom flooring?

The finish on the floor is not only a key area in the finished decorating scheme but also needs to be non-slip underfoot. Be careful of highly polished surfaces, particularly if you are looking at bathroom floor tile ideas and it is a bathroom that will be used by small children, as the floor will become slippery when wet. 

What kind of tile is not slippery when wet?

Technological advances in porcelain and ceramic have revolutionized the variety of non-slip bathroom flooring on offer – and, for the most part, these high-quality materials are not slippery when wet. 

Any bathroom floor covering you choose will have to be waterproof and anti-slip, as splashes are inevitable. Follow the manufacturers’ advice around cleaning and care, especially for natural stone, and invest in the laying of tiles with the correct prep and substrate as well as tanking where necessary.