No surface sits in isolation in the bathroom, so think about how the various elements connect. 

This clever small bathroom idea uses a mix of two dark floor tiles, one with a wood effect and one plain, and the change in texture separates the bathing zone from the shower. It is a subtle effect but one that feels very considered, picking up on the timber of the vanity and window frames.

Statement floors are ideal for small bathrooms as they bring instant personality without dominating a space. Currently trending yet imbued with timeless appeal, checkerboard floors would make a stylish choice for a bathroom suggests Barrie Cutchie, design director at BC Designs. 'It doesn’t have to be traditional white and black,' he says. 'Instead, contrasting, or similar shades can be used to soften and warm the space. 

'This type of flooring works well in half baths and smaller spaces, though it is best to work with smaller tiles so you can see much more of the pattern,' he adds.

Tiling a compact bathroom floor with small herringbone marble tiles is a brilliant way to inject subtle texture into a muted color palette. With each tile boasting myriad tones and grain details, the overall effect is a shimmering surface that lifts the space. 

One of the benefits of marble is that it can work well in a number of different properties, explains Louise Wicksteed, design director at Sims Hilditch. 'The smooth, sleek finish can create a contemporary, elegant finish suitable for a luxurious London home, or can be used to bring contrast to a more rustic family space full of exposed beams and natural materials,' she says.

If you're looking to inject pattern into a small bathroom while keeping the walls pale and light reflective, you can't go wrong with a geometric floor, which can be a clever way to trick the eye, too.

‘Using a bold floor tile is a wonderfully effective way to elevate a bathroom – it grounds the room, emphasizes the sense of space and scale, and packs a chic punch without being too overwhelming,’ advises interior designer Samantha Todhunter.

When the boundary between one tile and another is not clearly defined it can give the illusion that the floor spans a greater area, so for a neat way to make a small bathroom floor appear larger try a tessellated geometric tile design.

With its beautiful natural grain, wood is a fabulous way to bring warmth and texture to a small bathroom. But as an alternative to the real thing, consider wood-effect porcelain tiles. Available in a huge array of tones and textures, these tiles have the rustic appeal of real wood with the added benefits of being durable and easy to install and maintain, plus they are also compatible with radiant floor heating.

'Wood-effect tiles have grown in popularity in recent years and bring warmth, color and durability to any space with a wide array of styles and texture available,' says Harriet Goodacre, tile consultant at Topps Tiles. 'If you’re working with a small space, we advise going for a simple grain in light shades to ensure it doesn’t feel too claustrophobic.'

In this 19th Century style bathroom, the beautiful Victorian tiles in contrasting colors blue and yellow make a stand out feature of the small flooring space. 

George Miller, Designer at Neptune states it’s all about quality and not quantity in small bathrooms, ‘choosing flooring for a smaller space, like a bijou bathroom or cloakroom, shouldn’t feel limiting. In fact, with a smaller area to cover, you can afford to invest in quality materials that will make a statement’.

When choosing colors for your bathroom floor tiles, using the color wheel will ensure you create harmonious and stylish color combinations that can stand the test of time.

White bathroom ideas are some of the most popular when it comes to designing and decorating bathrooms in the home. White is a color associated with purity and cleanliness and is a very practical choice for the bathroom when it comes to cleaning. 

To create a truly tranquil bathroom space, an all-white scheme with matching white flooring will make a small bathroom feel much bigger and brighter.

Whether you choose white tiles, vinyl or painted floorboards, an all-white design for small bathroom flooring ideas is timeless, and allows for you to easily adapt and tweak the scheme later down the line. You can then simply add color and texture through your accessories, fixtures and fittings.

Blue bathroom ideas remain one of the most popular and versatile choices for when decorating a bathroom space. 

With its connections to the sky and the ocean, the color blue is guaranteed to evoke feelings of calm and relaxation, perfect for a bathroom. With many bathrooms using blue paint and tiles, or finished with blue accessories, why not take your design one step further with blue flooring. 

Whether you choose a decorative blue floor tile, or large, block color vinyl designs, blue flooring can lift a small bathroom space, enhancing your existing blue scheme by adding character and charm to your floor space.

Matching bathroom floor tiles with wall tiles will open out the space, especially if you pick a pale tone with a natural pattern, such as these Carrara marble-effect tiles. 

Stick to one uniform tile or look for ranges that offer different shapes in the same finish for added creative interest. 

Geometric tiles can shake up perceptions of a small space. Here they unfold like a long carpet, leading the eye up to the skylight and beyond. It’s a great trick to use when you lay bathroom floor tiles in a narrow space, as it brings some personality to the scheme.

These Parisian Café Tri Rosa tiles are porcelain, designed to replicate old encaustic cement tiles. 

Linoleum and rubber are both natural products that have long-been used to add a pop of color to the bathroom. 

Okofloor is the next generation; an even greener form of sheet flooring that is colorfast and suitable for use with underfloor heating. Made from organic castor and rapeseed oils, it has a subtly textured finish and is available in seven modern colors.

Monochrome bathroom tile ideas are timeless – think Art Deco black and white. The irregular laying pattern of these diagonal striped tiles creates interesting movement – are they chevrons or stripes or both? 

While running the patterns across the bath panel boosts the sense of floor space and doubles the impact. 

Real stone is the luxury bathroom idea that will bring unique pattern and texture to your floor. Stone needs proper sealing and there are some cleaning products that should be avoided, but it has solidity, it holds warmth well and has enduring style. Check that joists can take the extra weight, although this is unlikely to be a problem in a small bathroom. 

‘When you are laying stone on a suspended floor, look for a minimum of 20mm thickness to reduce flexing and floor movement underneath,’ advises James Cherrington, Director of Lapicida. ‘Good sub-floor preparation is essential.’ 

Lapicida offers a range of natural stones and mosaics as well as porcelain tiles that replicate the effect.

Stone effects on a porcelain tile combine a sense of luxury with practicality and affordability, and the current trend for onyx is a real gem. 

Mandarin Stone has taken inspiration from this mineral, capturing much of its reflective qualities, depth and character in a porcelain tile, which looks every bit as precious as the real thing. 

You can use real wood in a bathroom. Engineered planks have the stability to weather the changes in temperature and humidity, but luxury vinyl can be a better and more practical idea for small bathrooms. 

Luxury vinyl tiles are built of several layers of material compressed at high temperatures to give stability and a tough finish, and are available in a wide range of wood effects. 

Smaller tiles work well in compact spaces and are easier to cut around awkward fittings. The hexagon continues to be a popular motif, creating a more organic patterning than squares and rectangles. Many ranges have matching tiles in squarer formats too so you can get creative with your tile-laying.

These porcelain Chalkstone Honeybee Bone tiles have a matte finish and are suitable for floors and walls. 

Adding a little pattern can be a beautiful thing, but do consider the balance of the room. A small patterned floor in an all-white room may get lost but a matching splash back boosts its presence and creates a beautifully layered scheme.