How to choose bathroom flooring

Stone
Stone or slate is ideal for creating a natural, sophisticated look, like that of a health spa or upmarket hotel. Unless you can afford underfloor heating, these materials can be cold underfoot in the winter, but so long as you have a bathmat to stand on, this need not be much of a problem. Different types of stone you could choose from are limestone, granite, or slate. Limestone is light in colour, making it ideal for smaller rooms. It is porous so needs to be sealed to avoid staining. Slate and granite are both dark in colour and naturally resistant to water. Limestone and slate are available from around £38 per square metre, while slate costs around £50.
Try Mandarin Stone.

Rubber flooring
Rubber is hardwearing, easy to clean, comfortable underfoot and available in a variety of colours. If you have a modern architectural bathroom suite, rubber is an ideal surface to complement this, creating an industrial, arty look. You can buy textured rubber with studs or other patterns which offers better grip, making it safer for wet feet. Beware of any texture with grooves, though, as this will trap the dirt. Prices start at around £43 per square metre.
Try The Rubber Flooring Company.

Vinyl tiles
Like rubber, vinyl is hardwearing and very easy to keep clean. A wide range of colours, patterns and effects are available to choose from, making it a flexible option that can work with any colour scheme as well. Vinyl floors do not get cold, but do need to be laid on an even surface. It usually costs between £24 and £40 per square metre.
Try Harvey Maria.

Ceramic tiles
Ceramic or porcelain tiles are one of the most flexible options for bathrooms as there is such a great choice of colours and sizes. They are stain resistant and hardwearing but, like stone, they can be cold in winter. Salvaged antique tiles are perfect if you have a period bathroom design with an old-fashioned tub. Prices start from around £20 per square metre, but can be a lot higher for antique or specialist tiles.
Try Johnson Tiles.

Lino
Surprisingly, linoleum is made almost entirely from natural ingredients - wood, flour, pine resin, linseed oil and natural pigment. It is easily cleaned, not cold underfoot and, despite its reputation as being a bit dated, is available in a fantastic range of contemporary designs. You need to ensure that you have a completely flat floor surface and be careful to avoid tearing it. You can buy tiles or sheets and it costs around £20 per square metre.
Try Sinclair Till.

Mosaic
For a decorative, Moroccan approach, try mosaic. Sheets of small mosaic squares can be bought from most tile stores or you could even use tile fragments to give you more flexibility with the design. Prices start around £24 per square metre for plain mosaic tiles.
Try Azurra.