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Flooring for shower rooms


The Best Flooring for Wet Rooms and Curbless Showers

Wet rooms and curbless showers are some of the most popular bathroom upgrades thanks to demand for universal design and open floor plans. Wet rooms typically consist of a freestanding tub and shower space divided from the rest of the bathroom with a pane of glass. Curbless showers, on the other hand, look like traditional showers but they have no threshold and typically feature a clear glass wall and door.

Homeowners have always been trying to make their bathrooms look and feel larger than they are. By remodeling their bathroom with a curbless shower or full wet room, it opens up the room, making it feel large and airy. Plus, when there are no thresholds to worry about, that means the design is accessible to everyone, which is a necessity for many homeowners — and a great feature for resale as well.

Electric floor heating is installed between the subfloor and the new flooring material.

Once the decision has been made to remodel a bathroom with a curbless shower or wet room, it’s inevitable that flooring will have to be removed and replaced. Therefore, this is the perfect opportunity to select a new material that’s specifically suited for the new shower or wet room. It’s also the ideal time to add in-floor heating to the project. Electric floor-heating systems can be installed right under the new floors and, depending on the system, can be outfitted with a waterproof installation membrane. Under tile, the membrane has the added benefit of being an uncoupling membrane, which means it will prevent the tile above from cracking.  

To help you choose the best flooring for wet rooms and curbless showers and explain how to integrate radiant floor heat, we’ve separated the information into two sections: wet room flooring and curbless shower flooring.

Wet Room Flooring

This wet room features small tile with plenty of grout lines for slip prevention. Photo by Advantes Group

Tile is always a great option for bathrooms and showers. However, in the case of wet rooms, we’re going to focus on vinyl and — believe it or not — concrete flooring. Because wet rooms are larger spaces, the slip factor is more important to consider. Stepping out of a bath tub inside a wet room can be hazardous if you haven’t chosen the right flooring material. A large-format, glossy tile will create very slippery conditions, versus small mosaic tile or hex tile, which will use a wide array of grout lines to add skid control. However, vinyl and concrete offer superior slip resistance, plus they’re highly resistant to water.

Vinyl floors come in sheets or planks/tiles. Sheet vinyl is the most affordable option. It is extremely waterproof because it has few — if any — seams for moisture to infiltrate. Luxury vinyl tile (LVT) and vinyl planks, on the other hand, are trendier offerings because they mimic the look of real wood or stone at a fraction of the cost and without any maintenance. Many of these products have mold and mildew inhibitors, waterproof guarantees, and a slip resistance warranty, according to RestorationMaster. Vinyl floors can also be heated with a TempZone™ floor-heating system.

Concrete recently made its way onto kitchen countertops, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that it’s making its way into wet rooms as well. Concrete can be stained or stamped to suit your decorative taste. And as long as it’s sealed properly, it delivers excellent protection against water. Best of all, an electric floor-heating system can be embedded right in the concrete during installation to ensure that your wet room floors are always warm despite concrete’s “cold” reputation.

Curbless Shower Flooring

While vinyl and concrete can also be used in a curbless shower, tile is typically the go-to option for curbless shower flooring. Whether you like large-format tiles or small tiles with plenty of grout lines, the slip resistance within the shower should be sufficient as long as you don’t select a particularly glossy tile.

Porcelain tile is the most durable option. It’s made from denser clays than ceramic and fired for longer at a higher temperature, making it stronger and less porous. As a result, it’s highly resistant to water. Porcelain tile is also low maintenance, which is an upside for many homeowners.

Ceramic tile is very similar to porcelain (since porcelain is actually a form of ceramic tile), but it’s slightly less durable. It’s also highly resistant to water and low maintenance, but often comes at a lower price point than porcelain.

Natural stone is the most luxurious option, but also the most expensive with the highest maintenance. Some of the most popular options include marble, limestone, travertine, sandstone, slate andgranite.

This bathroom uses the same tile in the curbless shower as the rest of the bathroom.

Regardless of the type of heated shower tile you choose, all types of tile can be heated with an electric floor-heating system.

To find out how much it would cost to put heated floors in your wet room or curbless shower, use the WarmlyYours Radiant Floor Heating Quote Builder.

Tell us About your Project Our team of Radiant Experts is ready to help! Just tell us a little about yourself and your project to get started.

10 looks, layouts and colors for a shower room |

(Image credit: Future)

There is a vast variety of statement options when it comes to shower floor ideas. When it comes to planning a shower, your flooring should be at the forefront of your mind. 

Shower flooring needs to be both durable and easy to clean, particularly in high-traffic households, but that shouldn’t preclude them from being  beautiful, too.

Materials are many and varied, ranging from non-slip flooring and vinyl to luxury materials such as solid marble and stone. Be aware, though, that although they are bound to add an air of elegance, many natural stone floors will need an element of maintenance to keep your walk-in shower ideas and shower room ideas looking at their best.

Shower floor ideas

Shower and 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, especially in a wet room.

1. Introduce a sense of luxury with marble

(Image credit: Sara Cosgrove)

Modern, elegant and timeless, marble bathroom flooring ideas still remain one of the most popular and lusted after materials to use underfoot in a shower room. 

'Calacatta marble was chosen for the walls and the floor for a seamless cohesive look which conveys a sense of calm,' says Sara Cosgrove, founder and creative director at Sara Cosgrove . This timeless material creates an elegant, spa bathroom sanctuary.'

What's more, marble is naturally water-resistant and adds a luxurious spa-like feel to a bathroom whether you have a modern space or a more traditional one. 

2. Add warmth with luxury vinyl 

(Image credit: Carpetright)

'Vinyl bathroom flooring ideas are a great way of creating a stylish shower room without blowing the budget, and is highly water-resistant,' says David Snazel, buyer of hard flooring at Carpetright . 'In recent years there have been many developments in design and styles that mean the effects vinyl’s can create, such as shower floor tile or wood, are incredibly realistic. It’s a great choice for busy families with children as it is durable whilst being softer and warmer underfoot than laminate. '

'For the floors of wet rooms and showers specifically it is worth investing in specialist non-slip bathroom flooring, with the highest grade of anti-slip. Their enhanced installation method, with capping and coving of the flooring, will ensure it withstands daily downpours from a power shower.'

3. Mix materials to great effect

(Image credit: Davide Lovatti)

Your shower room floor need not be limited to just one material. ‘We love how the ‘floor’ boundaries have been pushed in this contemporary shower room,’ says Andrea Childs, editor, Country Homes & Interiors. 'The marble flows into the space around the statement wall and the wooden floorboards sit perfectly as a contrast whilst adding warmth visually.'

4. Take an unusual approach by using waterproof paper on the floor 

(Image credit: West One Bathrooms)

Being one of the smaller rooms in the home and serving a practical purpose, shower room flooring can get overlooked when it comes to decorating and can run the risk of being cold and clinical, but by adding color and pattern through wallpaper, you can really bring warmth and character to the space.

'This revolutionary floor design is essentially wall covering that can be used on the floor,' says Lucy Searle, global editor in chief, Homes & Gardens. 'Crafted from fiberglass for a waterproof finish, it will most certainly be the focal point in your shower room – team with white sanitaryware for a modern look.'

5. Go for a high-gloss finish in a modern shower room

(Image credit: Future)

If you are looking for next-level luxury in your bathroom, exotic stone surfaces are the way to go.

‘Shower floor ideas come no sleeker than this stunning polished stone,’ says Jennifer Ebert, digital editor at Homes & Gardens. 'Running throughout the space, the high gloss finish creates a beautiful reflection from the light pouring in, that, together with the glass shower wall ensures this space has a smart and contemporary edge.'

6. Authentic wooden floorboards add warmth and character

(Image credit: Future)

Timber's timeless elegance and natural characteristics continue to make it a popular choice for modern and country bathroom ideas alike.

Now more than ever, wood bathroom flooring has come to the fore, with modern technologies enabling a plethora of patterns and textures that weren't readily available before. 'They work with underfloor heating and provide a great visual warmth too,' says Melanie Griffiths, editor, Period Living.

7. Lay down a traditional herringbone wood floor

(Image credit: Future)

Heritage styles such as herringbone, basketweave and parquet have seen a huge revival in popularity. Not just that, rustic textures and timeworn characteristics once the preserve of solid wood are now possible with engineered boards. 

'Parquet flooring is a popular choice throughout the home and it works leading up to this eye-catching walk-in shower,' says Andrea Childs, editor, Country Homes & Interiors. 'It's great for adding a decorative aspect as it can be laid in various different ways, tie it in with the rest of the color scheme – we love how the tones work with the marble veining in this shower room. '

8. Choose a narrow shower tray in a small space

(Image credit: Future)

The humble shower tray gets a bad press, but did you know you can get them in stone and marble? 'They're ideal for showers in awkward spaces and those that are slimline albeit super cool with their antique glass walls,' says Lucy Searle, global editor in chief, Homes & Gardens. 

It is certainly not a budget option but the beauty of marble flooring is that you can add it to your bathroom ideas in varying amounts and it can still have a big impact. So whether it is in the form of large format tiles, book-matched or a simple shower tray, all will help elevate your bathroom design. 

9. Play with scale on walls and floors

(Image credit: Future)

'Texture in interior design is vital to creating a layered look – one that will look like it is straight from the pages of your favorite glossy magazine,' says Jennifer Ebert, digital editor, Homes & Gardens.  

'To create a shower room that's full of style it's essential that there's plenty of points of interest. This is where textures come in and you can use the shower floor as one of your main decorative elements. Small hexagon or mosaic tiles vary the scale when teamed with floorboards and textured wallpaper.'

10. Hark back to yesteryear with terrazzo 

(Image credit: Future)

'Struggling to decide what to use for your shower floor? Why not opt for an all encompassing terrazzo, it's fresh, modern and solves the problem of having different wall and floor tiles in one interior design swoop,' says Lucy Searle, global editor in chief, Homes & Gardens. 

Its speckled colors and retro aesthetic make it a contemporary favorite: it can be mixed, poured on site and sealed by specialist artisans to create a smooth, seamless floor.

What is the best flooring for a shower?

When it comes to shower floor ideas, it is important to think about which type of tiles are most suitable for bathrooms and showers.

Family bathrooms that have a lot of traffic will be best served by porcelain or ceramic tiles, which are good non-slip bathroom flooring options. While natural stones can look amazing – book-matched marble bathroom flooring or textured limestone are a great choice for walk-in shower ideas for instance – they will need regular maintenance to keep them in tip-top condition.

One of the biggest hazards in a shower room is the risk of slipping. 'As soon as you splash water about, surfaces can get slippery,' agrees Mike Zarghami, designer at Bathwaters. 'Choose shower floor ideas with an anti-slip surface or opt for the alternative of vinyl or rubber flooring that can also bring some welcome color to a family shower room.'

Sophie has been an interior stylist and journalist for over 20 years and has worked for many of the main interior magazines during that time, both in-house and as a freelancer. On the side, as well as being the News Editor for indie magazine, 91, she trained to be a florist in 2019 and launched The Prettiest Posy where she curates beautiful flowers for modern weddings and events.  For H&G, she writes features about interior design – and is known for having an eye for a beautiful room.

Shower Enclosures - Design Your Home

Very popular in recent times, the shower is often chosen because of its very aesthetic side. An aspect for which the choice of shower enclosure covering, in particular the floor and walls, is very important…

When we talk about shower enclosure covering, we often don't mention "floor covering" or "wall covering". Normal: in 99.9% of cases, the same coating is used for floors and walls for reasons of aesthetics and harmony.
Covers that are mainly used in the shower enclosure: