Laundry rooms are inherently messy. Detergent finds its way out of laundry room cabinets and onto the floor, while water from nearby sinks washes right out of the basin. Pets frequently eat here and small children trek in with muddy boots and wet raincoats. Designing a space that is both pretty and practical might seem more difficult than solving a Rubik's cube, but it doesn't have to be. When it comes to choosing a good flooring material, you'll need to focus on three things: water resistance, durability and cleaning ease. Flooring options like carpet and hardwood are easily damaged in such a hectic space, so you'll have to look elsewhere. Luckily, there are still plenty of options that will look good and last.
Vinyl
Vinyl is the most inexpensive and easy-to-install laundry room flooring option. It's extremely durable, so it will stand up to damaging chemicals, dents and general wear and tear, and it's also completely waterproof - the most important aspect of a laundry room floor. Vinyl will also work best on both concrete and wood subfloors because it doesn't need a perfect base to stick to. If plain ol' vinyl isn't your cup of tea, you can buy it in planks. While we'd still recommend that you'd have this flooring option installed by a professional, it isn't a necessity - you can install vinyl flooring yourself.
Ceramic
Ceramic may not be as affordable as vinyl, but it's just as durable. It's incredibly easy to clean and shows minimal wear over the years. A layer of backer board will go underneath the tiles to keep them from moving or cracking, and it will add significant value to your home. One caveat of ceramic: You will definitely need a professional to install this option, though that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Subfloor
Subfloor, while a bit unconventional, is the most durable laundry room flooring option out there. You can paint it with a simple floor enamel in any color or pattern you'd like, and then seal it up with floor finish. As a bonus, an exposed subfloor will give your laundry room and industrial-chic feel that you can't get from vinyl or ceramic tiling. If you enjoy DIY projects, sticking to the subfloor is your best bet.
