The No1 Guide on LVT Flooring in the Bedroom

June 5, 2023

Many people enjoy furnishing their dream house, and choosing the right floor type is an essential part of this project. 

Each room has specific needs, but LVT flooring in a bedroom and other premises is a proven solution. And this guide will go through everything you need to know about how LVT flooring can improve your home.

LVT flooring in the bedroom

What Is LVT Flooring?

Luxury vinyl flooring is a popular solution for homes. It can be in the form of planks or tiles made of several PVC layers firmly compressed into a dense core and heated to stiff. There are also added compounds that enhance the sturdiness of LVT and an upper wrap coating that can be customised to any design. 

Despite so many layers, LVT flooring is thin and easy to handle. A final layer comes in many different styles resembling wood, stone, and ceramic. That makes vinyl a decorative and affordable alternative to more expensive flooring materials.

Why Have LVT Flooring in the Bedroom?

Your bedroom should be a quiet, cosy place. As that’s where you relax, rest, and prepare for the day, making it a pleasant environment is a priority, and suitable flooring contributes to that. 

More and more homeowners opt for luxury vinyl tiles or planks for their bedrooms and nurseries because this flooring provides a host of benefits at a very affordable price. Whether you're a homeowner, a landlord, or a property investor, investing in LVT flooring will improve and add value to any room.

LVT Flooring Suitability for the Bedroom

Modern LVT floors have improved design and features, making them the perfect choice for bedrooms. Manufacturers made this flooring durable, quiet, and easy to lay and clean, giving it excellent value for your money. Here are other reasons: 

  • This floor doesn’t creak when you step on it due to the backing layers.
  • It can last for decades with good maintenance.
  • As it has minimal maintenance needs, no daily moping is necessary.
  • A variety of vinyl tiles design makes LVT suitable for every interior.

Bedrooms With Underfloor Heating

Due to its ability to conduct heat, LVT flooring is an excellent choice for underfloor heating in your bedroom, but ensure it’s no more than 27 degrees Celsius. These tiles are made sturdy but thin enough (only 2 to 5mm) to emit heat evenly. 

What Kind of People's Bedrooms Is LVT Flooring Suitable For?

  • Young: Young people will love various LVT floor designs and styles which can fit any room interior and achieve the upscale look of their bedrooms.
  • Old: Seniors will enjoy the ease of maintenance and warmth of LVT flooring, as the non-slippery surface of these tiles makes them safe to walk on.
  • Babies: Warm, soft underlayers of LVT floors create a quiet and cosy environment for your little ones; plus, these tiles are waterproof and easy to clean, so you don’t have to worry about spills and other “accidents.”
  • Men: For men into DIY, LVT flooring can be the next project for their bedrooms, as it’s easy to instal, durable, and needs as little maintenance as occasional sweeping.
  • Women: Ladies will appreciate the aesthetic moment of luxury vinyl tiles or planks as an excellent way to add a touch of luxury to their bedrooms for a fraction of the hardwood cost.

Is LVT Flooring Suitable for Any Sized Bedroom?

Luxury vinyl tiles come in different dimensions so you can lay them in any sized room. This material is easy to cut and shape; it can fit any room corner where other floors like laminate or ceramic have no chance.

Types of LVT Flooring Best in the Bedroom

There are several LVT flooring types depending on the fitting, such as:

  • Glue-Down LVT: It’s glued to the subfloor, cost-effective, and suitable for larger rooms.
  • Click/Float LVT: It rests on the subfloor without any adhesive, and it’s easy to install without professional help and remove when damage occurs.
  • Loose Lay LVT: It needs no glue or locking system, as it “sticks” to the subfloor tightly using friction, which makes them easy to instal and de-instal.
  • Rigid Core LVT: It has a locking system and an acoustic underlay, so it fits any subfloor.
  • Peel-and-Stick LVT: As the name says, all you have to do is stick these tiles to your floor, which is good if you need an affordable, temporary solution.
  • Grouted LVT: Ceramic or stone-look-a-like groutable LVT can be installed to prevent water and debris from getting under the tiles. 

LVT Flooring Styles and Designs for the Bedroom

Here’s a variety of designs of LVT floors you can choose for your bedroom:

  • Herringbone
  • Chevron
  • Brick/Offset
  • Basket Weave
  • Random/Modular
  • Parquet
  • Straight Lay
  • Diagonal
  • Mosaic

Best LVT Flooring Patterns for the Bedroom

Depending on your bedroom interior and style, you can opt for different LVT patterns like:

  • Wood-Look
  • Stone-Look
  • Tile-Look
  • Abstract and Geometric Patterns
  • Customisable Designs

Bedroom Ideas With LVT Floors

If you strive for a minimalist, contemporary look in your small bedroom, you can lay simple, hardwood-look-a-like vinyl tiles in a light brown or greyish shade. Darker shades will go well with brighter walls in larger bedrooms.

But if you like to experiment with room designs or plan flooring for kids’ rooms, you can mix two colours of vinyl planks in the same texture. You can make a mosaic, for instance, or a path, which your kids enjoy playing on.

Advantages of LVT Flooring

These are the benefits of luxury vinyl flooring:

  • LVT flooring comes in a variety of designs, styles, and textures to meet any interior requirements
  • These floors are versatile. Aside from the bedroom, you can also lay them in a kitchen, restroom, hallways, etc.
  • They’re durable and sturdy enough to withstand heavy traffic and bulky furniture.
  • Installation is a breeze, even over the existing flooring; you can lay these tiles even without professional assistance.
  • LVT resembles more luxurious flooring options but costs a fraction of their price.
  • Modern luxury vinyl tiles have a dense, multiple-layered core making them almost 100% waterproof.

Disadvantages of LVT Flooring

Before installing LVT flooring, it’s good to know some of its downsides:

  • While installing LVT flooring is a no-brainer, removing it is a labour-intensive job as glue can harden too much.
  • This floor is soft and prone to marks, scratches, and even superficial layer piercing.
  • Vinyl isn’t UV-resistant which can cause your floor to change colour or fade over time when exposed to sunlight.
  • Vinyl is not the most eco-friendly solution since it’s not bio-degradable.

LVT Flooring Durability

Modern LVT flooring features a sturdy layer which makes it long-lasting and scratch-resistant. With proper maintenance, its expected life span is up to 30 years. But it’s not indestructible, as heavy use and negligence can lead to tile denting, fading, and superficial damage.

How to Lay LVT Flooring in the Bedroom

Laying vinyl tiles isn’t much of a job, as you don’t need any particular knowledge and tools. But you need essentials like a tape measure, a pen, a Stanley knife, spacers, and a spirit level. You can do LVT laying by following these simple steps:

  1. Remove the furniture and prepare the subfloor.
  2. Make sure the surface is even by using a spirit level.
  3. Fix all uneven areas, fill the gaps with suitable floor levelling compounds, and remove all lumps. If you lay LVT flooring on a new concrete subfloor, it needs to rest for at least two months before tile installation.
  4. Bring in the boxes of vinyl tiles in the room to acclimatise for 24 to 48 hours at room temperature.
  5. Mark the start line and use spacers to make 7mm expansion gaps between tiles and walls, doors, radiators, etc.
  6. Start spreading the LVT foam or adhesive and laying vinyl tiles into it.
  7. Lay tiles in any pattern you want until you cover the entire floor. If tile cutting is necessary, use a ruler and a Stanley knife to get a clean cut.
  8. Lay tiles section by section as glue starts to dry within two hours.
  9. After covering the entire floor, use transition and threshold stripes to hide the gaps.
  10. Wait at least 24 hours before walking and bringing the furniture into your bedroom.

Can LVT Flooring Be Installed Directly Over the Existing Bedroom Flooring?

You can instal luxury vinyl tiles over any existing flooring in your bedroom; just make sure it’s as even as possible and without trapped moisture.

What Do You Do With the Furniture When Laying LVT?

There’s no need to remove all your furniture from your bedroom when installing vinyl planks or tiles; you can move it from one place to another as you finish with floor laying.

Maintaining LVT Flooring in the Bedroom

The great thing about luxury vinyl flooring is its ease of maintenance. You can sweep and vacuum it daily and use a mop to remove spills and loose debris as needed. As for cleaning, you can wash this flooring once a week to remove stains.

Good floor maintenance includes prevention, so you should use carpets and rugs over your LVT flooring to prevent scratches. It’s also good to wear soft-padded shoes and put some felt on furniture legs. If you have to move the furniture, always lift it instead of dragging it.

How to Clean LVT Flooring

Use warm water and mild detergent or LVT-friendly chemicals for more stubborn stains, and wipe the floor with a mop or soft brush. Wipe it again with a cloth and clean water, and dry it thoroughly before stepping on it.

How Does LVT Flooring Handle Spills and Moisture?

Since LVT flooring is made of multiple layers, it’s almost 100% waterproof. It can hold superficial spills, but removing them as soon as possible is desirable.

luxury vinyl flooring for the bedroom

The Best LVT Flooring Brands

Once you decide on installing LVT flooring in your bedroom, you can shop around for different tile models of many renowned brands in the UK:

Do You Need Underlay With LVT Flooring?

Adding an underlayer isn’t obligatory for glue LVT, as most luxury vinyl tiles have built-in underlayers. But it’s desirable to lay it under click LVT or when you need extra sound and motion insulation for bedrooms in apartments or multi-storey houses.

The Best LVT Flooring Alternatives

Vinyl tiles look great but aren’t as durable as some other flooring materials. And they contain PVC and materials that can be harmful to the environment. So if you’re concerned about laying LVT flooring in your bedroom, check out these alternative flooring options:

  • Hardwood: Unlike LVT, hardwood is a sustainable flooring option. It’s easy to lay and comes in many trendy designs, but it’s costlier than vinyl and not the best choice for rooms with high moisture levels.
  • Linoleum: This material has similar features to vinyl, except it's less water resistant. As it's made of natural matter (linseed oil), it's suitable for bedrooms. It lacks aesthetics, but linoleum can be a good choice if you strive for a plain, uniform floor to match your room's interior.
  • Cork: It’s another eco-friendly alternative to LVT flooring with more or less the same features. It provides a warm, comfy environment but is not as good as vinyl in withstanding moisture and high traffic. It’s also not a good option for homes with kids and pets as it’s prone to scratching and denting.
  • Tiles with high recycled-material content: A high percentage of recycled materials in these tiles makes them a good solution for eco-conscious homeowners. They’re a good choice for bedrooms as they’re durable and decorative. Tile installation can be tricky, so you better call professionals to handle this task.

LVT Flooring Costs for Bedrooms

Costs of laying LVT flooring in your bedroom can vary depending on the tile quality and thickness, but also the fitting, room size, subfloor preparation, and even your home location.

An average price for glue-down LVT ranges from £15 to £30, while click LVT goes from £30 to £70 per square metre for tiles only. When you add the costs of subfloor preparation and installation, you can expect to pay anywhere from £45 to £80 per square metre.

Difference Between LVT and LVP Flooring

Both LVT and LVP are types of luxury vinyl flooring. Both are good solutions for bedrooms as they carry all the benefits of vinyl as a durable, easy-to-maintain, and affordable flooring solution. They have similarities but also differences that make them suitable for different purposes, such as:

  • Size and shape: LVP is rectangular, while LVT is square tiles. Both are constructed the same way, so they come in thickness from 2 to 5mm.
  • Look and designs: LVP usually resembles wooden or stone floors; LVT is more tile-like, with textures like concrete or ceramic.
  • Installation: Both LVP and LVT are easily installed even over existing floors, but this job will be a bit faster with tiles because it's easier to lay them in a desired pattern. Also, the tiles are smaller, so they will be easier to fit, and less cutting will be required.

Maintenance: Both forms of vinyl flooring have the same maintenance needs, although LVP might be a bit less demanding due to fewer laps and gaps.

Main Considerations for LVT Flooring in the Bedroom

Laying LVT flooring in your bedroom is a project that requires some money, so you should think carefully before diving into it. It’s good to have a couple of things in mind before, as removing vinyl isn’t as easy as installing it. Here are the main considerations:

Noise

When laid correctly on a flat surface, LVT flooring is quiet and soft, so there are no odd sounds when walking over it. But LVT isn’t soundproof; to achieve that, you can put it over an acoustic underlay.

Grip

If you instal LVT flooring in your bedroom correctly, it shouldn’t shift or move. But over time, these tiles can become slippery due to cleaning and heavy traffic. You can fix that with an anti-slip underlay or anti-slip coating over vinyl tiles or planks.

Pet-Friendliness

Quality LVT flooring is pet-friendly, as it’s resistant to scratches and marks. It can hold up your pets, but you might want to trim their nails before letting them on your LVT flooring in the bedroom.

Temperature

LVT flooring in your bedroom won’t make it any warmer or colder, as it follows the room temperature. But an underlayment can make you feel warmer, as it acts as insulation. You can also put some rugs over vinyl tiles.

Furniture Size and Weight

Vinyl can stand heavy furniture, but you should add some pads on its legs to avoid superficial damage. And there might be some troubles with bulky furniture on click LVT, as the weight can damage the lock system. 

Conclusion

A new floor in your bedroom doesn’t have to be a demanding and costly project. LVT flooring can be one of the options to refresh your rooms and enjoy a quiet and cosy environment. 

So go on your quest for the best solution for your bedroom. But remember, whatever design and style you opt for, always buy quality LVT flooring for your bedroom and instal it properly, alone or call experts.