While guests rarely view it, families spend significant time in it: the laundry room. Since it is perhaps the home’s most utilitarian space, its flooring should be tough yet attractive. If you’re looking for the best flooring for a laundry room or utility room, you have options. Learn what to look for and which materials are ideal.
What Is the Best Flooring for a Laundry Room?
There are plenty of flooring materials to choose from ahead of your laundry room upgrade, but serious candidates must check a few key boxes. Good flooring for laundry rooms should be:
- Stain-resistant
- Water-resistant
- Scratch-resistant
- Chemical-resistant
- Long-lasting
One of the most important characteristics is chemical resistance. From bleach to strong detergents, spills happen in laundry and utility rooms. The unique demands of this environment rule out wood floors and carpet, but don’t worry – you can still achieve a wood floor look or any other style with other laundry room ready options.
Do You Need Waterproof Flooring for a Laundry Room?
While it’s not strictly necessary, waterproof flooring reduces your risk of long-term water damage in the event of a backed-up washer drain line, a clogged floor drain, a leak, or other minor flooding. It can also make cleaning dirty floors easier because you’ll be able to use more water with less worry. If your home is prone to seasonal flooding or has a history of plumbing issues, consider waterproof flooring if it fits your budget.
Our Top Laundry Room Floor Ideas, By Material
Regardless of your design preferences or how busy your laundry room is, several high-quality flooring materials should suit your needs.
Vinyl
In laundry rooms, moisture isn’t a risk; it’s a guarantee. That’s why homeowners love the water-resistance (and waterproof options) offered by luxury vinyl plank and vinyl tile flooring. Vinyl also comes in an expansive array of designs to suit any preference.
If you’re thinking about vinyl flooring in your laundry room, your first choice will be between vinyl plank and vinyl tile.
- Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) flooring mimics the warm, natural look of wood floors while meeting the water-resistance demands of a laundry room. It’s available in an endless range of shades and grain patterns.
- Luxury vinyl tile (LVT) flooring recreates the look of tile and stone flooring, offering a similarly wide range of colors, styles, and patterns. While it may not meet the same water-resistance standards as real stone or porcelain tile, LVT is usually more budget-friendly and easier to install.
Unpack these acronyms a bit more with our guide to LVP and LVT.
Tile
It’s hard to beat the durability and water-resistance of floor tile. For laundry rooms with a tendency to leak or have seriously dirty floors, ceramic and porcelain tile are excellent choices. Both are essentially non-absorbent, with a water retention rate of less than 3%. Plus, they typically last 20-50 years with professional installation and regular maintenance.
If you’re thinking tile for your laundry room floor, consider porcelain. It’s made from a finer clay mixture and fired at higher temperatures than ceramic, which results in a stronger, more water-resistant material that’s less prone to cracking.
Product featured: Shaw Floors, Genesis Grey
Laminate
You can put laminate flooring in a laundry room, and many homeowners are thrilled with the results! Laminate floors are available as planks or tiles, similar to the closest comparator, vinyl. It is available in a range of styles and colors, including wood-like and stone-like designs, and is considered affordable and durable.
Most types of laminate are less water-resistant than vinyl, especially laminate made with wood fiberboard (HDF, or high-density fiberboard), which is prone to swelling, warping, and permanent damage if exposed to water. Even water-resistant and waterproof-rated laminate products require professional installation to ensure water-tight seams.
Rubber
Rubber is one of the best flooring options for a laundry room. Rubber floor tiles, when professionally installed and well-sealed, are essentially impervious to water, detergent spills, or leaks. It’s also tough enough to handle considerable foot traffic; easy to clean; and scratch-, dent-, and impact-resistant. If you spend a lot of time in the laundry room (who doesn’t?), it has another benefit: It’s very soft underfoot and slip resistant.
While some homeowners may not like the look of rubber flooring, its primary drawback is likely its strong odor during installation. Rubber floors have a strong off-gassing period that dissipates with proper ventilation, but it’s worth being aware of before you have it installed.
If you’re thinking about rubber flooring for a laundry room (or any other material!), contact your local Floor Coverings International® to explore samples.
What Is the Best Laundry Room Flooring for You?
Laundry room flooring should be tough and durable, aesthetically inspired, and match your budget. Depending on these three factors, your best option could be vinyl, tile, laminate, or rubber. Compare all possibilities with the help of our experienced Design Associates. We’ll guide you through each material and every product, answering your questions and offering honest, reliable recommendations.
Floor Coverings International® is committed to providing a seamless, stress-free floor-buying experience. We bring our extensive flooring catalog to you with our Mobile Flooring Showroom®, making shopping convenient and enjoyable. Start your laundry flooring project today by scheduling a free, in-home consultation!
