Best basement laundry room flooring ideas

A laundry room in a basement requires incredibly durable flooring. Just like a main floor laundry room, floors need to be able to withstand frequent water spills, leaks, and humid air. Basement laundry room flooring has to withstand moisture on both sides—under and over—and all the foot and paw traffic that comes into the space. In some ways, basement laundry room flooring has to be the superhero of floors.

Because moisture continuously seeps through a basement concrete slab, there are two kinds of flooring that CAN’T be installed in a basement laundry room. Though beautiful, wood and laminate flooring are prone to water damage. Even waterproof laminate and engineered wood floors, which can be installed in a basement family room or bedroom, can stain or warp from moisture in the concrete slab, water puddles, and leaks from laundry machines.

The good news is that there are several types of floors durable enough for a basement laundry room. In addition to being tough, these floors also look great and can make time in the laundry room more bearable (and even enjoyable!).

Tile

Tile is a top flooring candidate for laundry rooms. Many types of tiles, including porcelain and ceramic, are water- and mildew-resistant. Tiles are durable enough for heavy foot and paw traffic and easily handle the weight of machines and furniture. Because tiles are natural conductors of heat, this flooring option is a good option for basements with radiant floor heating.

In addition to durability, flooring tile comes in a variety of colors and styles that can fit into a stylish or basic basement laundry room. Porcelain and ceramic tiles are also incredibly affordable flooring options that can fit almost any budget. For do-it-yourselfers, tiles are fairly easy to install in a basement laundry room with a few essential tools, grout, and sealer (if needed).

Vinyl plank

Vinyl plank floors are a fashionable and water-resistant flooring, making it ideal for laundry rooms and bathrooms. Also known as luxury vinyl plank (LVP), these floors can be installed in high traffic rooms with little worry about spills and damage (though felt pads should be used to prevent scratching).

For homeowners who love the look of wood, luxury vinyl plank floors come in a variety of styles that resemble wood flooring without the worry of water damage. LVP floors are a floating floor, meaning they do not require adhesive or glue for installation. Some luxury vinyl plank flooring products are a top choice for DIYers because they snap together for easy installation.

Vinyl tile

Vinyl tile, or luxury vinyl tile (LVT), are incredibly durable and stylish. LVT floors are installed with adhesive, making them almost completely waterproof and immune from water damage. The only weakness of these popular floors is a susceptibility to scratching, which is why felt pads should be put on all laundry machines and furniture.

Luxury vinyl tiles come in a wide variety of colors and styles that fit with almost any laundry room décor. Some LVT floors resemble stone tile, while others look just like wood flooring.

Vinyl sheet

Vinyl sheet flooring is installed in one long sheet, making it completely waterproof and completely unaffected by moisture in a basement slab. Some vinyl sheet floors can even withstand minor flooding, which is ideal for basements prone to occasional flooding. Even being incredibly durable, any laundry room furniture should be outfitted with felt pads to prevent damage.

Modern vinyl sheet floors come in a variety of styles, resembling stone, wood, and tile. The newest vinyl products typically cost half the price while looking like much more expensive flooring options.