The Safety Reason You Should Consider Mosaic Tile For Your Bathroom Floor

An intentional, well-designed bathroom can bring serenity and relaxation to any home. The bathroom should be a place to unwind and reset, but one simple design oversight can carry a mountain of risks. When choosing the best non-slip material for your bathroom floor, it's important to consider functionality in addition to aesthetics. It may be tempting to opt for a glossier, sleek tile design, but these come with potential hazards.

Smooth ceramic and porcelain tiles can become extremely slippery when wet. The larger slabs of stone offer less grout for foot grip, and they're considered one of the outdated tile trends that are going away in 2025. Smaller mosaic tiles, however, come together with intricate grout lines that are ideal for traction. Mosaic floors can be sealed with epoxy grout, which is water-resistant and long-lasting. The array of stone shapes and textures creates a slip-resistant masterpiece that doesn't sacrifice style for safety.

Mosaics come in a wide variety of patterns and material, all of which can be tailored to your personal taste. You can explore textured, natural stone arrangements for a spa-like shower or colorful, slip-resistant glass as a vivid accent. Classic patterns like herringbone and hexagons provide plenty of ridges to improve foot traction when the surface is wet.

Designing with improper material can make a wet shower floor become a problem. According to a 2011 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 235,000 people in the U.S. sustain injuries in the bathroom yearly, making it the most dangerous room in the house. Slip-and-fall injuries can occur at any age, but they are especially common in children and the elderly — all the more reason to consider your loved ones when choosing your tile.

Yearly, over 43,000 children seek medical treatment for injuries that occur in the shower or bathtub, according to the Nationwide Children's Hospital. Most incidents occur with children younger than 5, making toddlers high risk for slipping on slick stone surfaces. Smaller mosaic tiles will be easier for little toes to grip while toddling through bath time routines. 

Elderly family members are also susceptible to falling on slippery floors, with one in four older adults falling every year (per the CDC). Prevention is key to avoiding shower-related injuries. When considering materials for renovating your bathroom floor, be mindful of safety risks to ensure your shower's tiling is both accessible and stunning.