It can be challenging (but fun) to choose the right kind of flooring for your laundry room, and we’re here to help you with the decision! There’s a lot to keep in mind; consider everything that your laundry room floor goes through on a regular basis. There are possible stains from spilled detergent and bleach, potential mold growth and floor warping from leaks and standing water, and maybe even some dents from moving and replacing your washer and dryer.
And, if your laundry room is also your mudroom or the entrance to your home, there’s even more to think about–like all of the mud, dirt, debris, and additional moisture that’s brought in from outside.
In short, your laundry room flooring is prone to lots of wear and tear, so it has to stand up to it long-term. Let’s talk about what to look for in laundry room flooring and which type of tile is the best choice for you!
What to Look For in Laundry Room Flooring
Below, find a quick checklist for your laundry room flooring. The flooring you select should be:
- Visually appealing - You’ll want flooring that looks nice and complements your other interior design choices.
- Easy to clean - The less upkeep required, the better! Nobody wants to spend more time than they have to on floor cleaning and maintenance.
- Durable and long-lasting - Is there anything worse than spending your savings on a beautiful floor, only for it not to stand up to the test of time (and wear and tear)? In your laundry room especially, longevity is key.
- Affordable - The flooring you choose needs to fit into your budget. Don’t forget to factor in professional installation if you’re not planning on DIYing this project.
- Stain-resistant - No matter how much you try to avoid spilling bleach, detergent, or any other substance on the laundry room floor, it’s going to happen eventually. So, choose flooring that isn’t easily stained, and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing that spills aren’t going to leave lasting damage.
- Moisture-resistant - Your laundry room (particularly if it’s also a mudroom) will definitely encounter water from time to time. Look for flooring that’s manufactured to be water-resistant, if not fully waterproof.
- Impact-resistant - With plenty of foot traffic and heavy appliances moving in and out of the room over the years, you’ll want a flooring type that’s engineered to handle impact without denting and cracking.
Porcelain, Ceramic, Or Natural Stone: Which Tile Is Best for the Laundry Room?
The most highly recommended types of flooring for laundry rooms include luxury vinyl flooring, sheet vinyl, concrete, laminate, porcelain tile, ceramic tile, and natural stone tile.
Today, we’ll be diving into porcelain, ceramic, and natural stone tiles to talk about their pros and cons.
If you decide not to go with these types of tile, there are some flooring materials you should steer clear of. These include hardwood, carpet, and bamboo flooring. Although each of these three materials can be excellent choices for other parts of the house, they’re not suited for laundry room applications.
Porcelain and Ceramic Tile
The main differences between porcelain and ceramic are that porcelain is fired at higher temperatures and made from more refined clay. For this reason, it’s denser and more durable than ceramic, and as a result, ceramic is usually a little cheaper than porcelain.
Aside from these differences, porcelain and ceramic are very similar and have many of the same pros and cons. They’re both classic choices for laundry room flooring.
Porcelain and ceramic are durable, easy to clean, and highly water-resistant when installed well. We recommend professional installation, but if you choose to DIY it, be sure not to make these common mistakes.
These materials are also solvent-proof and stain-resistant, so bleach and other substances won’t affect them. They provide a solid, firm base with no give that’s perfect for supporting a heavy washer and dryer.
With porcelain and ceramic, you have unlimited color and style options. These materials can even imitate the look of stone and wood. They’re both easy to clean, but you will have to scrub the grout between tiles occasionally.
As far as drawbacks go, porcelain and ceramic are cold, hard materials, so they aren’t the most comfortable to stand on for hours at a time. However, adding radiant heating and rugs or mats can solve this problem. You can also select textured porcelain or ceramic tiles for added traction and warmth.
A final thing to note is that porcelain and ceramic tiles tend to be a bit louder. When the washer and dryer are running, the noise they make reverberates more with these types of tiles. Adding mats or rugs can help with this.
Porcelain Tile Recommendations
Ceramic Tile Recommendations
Natural Stone Tile
If you’re in search of durability over all else, then you may want to consider choosing natural stone tile for your laundry room. It’s even more long-lasting and hardy than ceramic and porcelain! Plus, its gorgeous appearance transforms your laundry room into a more elegant space.
A few types of natural stone that are great for laundry rooms include limestone, travertine, marble, and slate. They have a lifespan of 20 years at minimum, and they offer incredible protection from dents, stains, and moisture.
The main drawback of natural stone tile is its price. Still, even though it’s quite expensive, adding this type of tile to your home can increase its resale value, making the high cost worth it.
You’ll need to get natural stone tile professionally installed. The tiles are usually very heavy and often require two layers of subflooring. We recommend factoring the cost of professional installation into your budget.
Another thing to consider is that you’ll have to dedicate more time and effort to maintenance with natural stone tile. From sealing the tile to dry sweeping, wet mopping, and cleaning the grout, all with products specifically made for use with stone, this type of flooring tends to be more high-maintenance than porcelain and ceramic.
Similar to the other types of tile discussed, natural stone can be cold, hard, and slippery. Adding radiant heating and rugs, as well as choosing textured stone tiles, can help.
Natural Stone Tile Recommendations
Find Your Ideal Laundry Room Tile at Tilezz.com!
If you’re ready to revamp your laundry room, we’d love to help. Here at Tilezz.com, we have a wide variety of porcelain, ceramic, glass, and natural stone tiles in all shapes, sizes, patterns, and colors. We also offer fast delivery, insured shipments, and easy returns with every order. Take a look at our full selection here. And for more fun and informational posts, check out our blog.