Kitchens and bathrooms take a battering. Particularly if you live with a big family indulging in multiple uses during the day, most of whom have yet to learn how to pick wet towels off the floor and keep the shower head pointed inwards in the shower cubicle.

Yet if you choose the right materials to fit out your bathroom, it doesn’t take long for it to be restored back to its former glory.

Equally in kitchens, the hub of the house is a source of constant activity, with clumsy teenagers opening and shutting fridge doors in the frantic search for something that will cook itself. Or work surfaces which bear the brunt (burnt) of many a hot pan. Or floors that welcome the spillages of every possible liquid, from boiling hot pasta water to the sticky residue of fruit cordials.

The biggest enemy is water, water in every form – spillages, steam, condensation, overflows, leaks. A steady stream of moisture can burrow its way into shoddy workmanship and non-permeable materials, creating problems that are not just an inconvenience, but can lead to expensive and extensive repairs if not caught quick enough.

Ceramic and porcelain tiles

Both porcelain and ceramic tiles are the go to choice for most bathroom and kitchen fitters. Not only are they highly durable and, when fitted properly by a professional, completely water resistant, they also come in an unlimited variety of colours, shapes and sizes. As the most popular choice for these rooms of high volume traffic, they can also come in a variety of budgets – from the cheapest, bog standard choices for a quick and easy job, to more luxurious, expensive options.

MDF – a great choice in your kitchen

Because it is fundamentally constructed from wood shavings, MDF is not immediately an obvious choice for use in rooms of high humidity. Cut to size MDF is a common material for kitchen cabinets,  but its water resistance actually makes it more than suitable for more unusual applications.

Luxury worksurfaces for those with bigger budgets

Materials like marble, granite, quartz and travertine offer a luxurious look and feel, even if they do come with a price tag to match. However, they took take a degree of care and maintenance. Although they are resistant to high temperatures they can crack in time of not regularly They're durable and can withstand heat, but they require regular sealing to prevent stains and water damage.

Vinyl – the perfect waterproof flooring cover

If you are particularly concerned about bathrooms or kitchens leaking into downstairs properties, particularly in blocks of apartments, then you may want to consider vinyl as a floor covering. Exceptionally durable, versatile, and cheap to buy and fit, it is an extremely popular product in many social housing projects. While it may not be the most attractive, the range of colours, patterns and choices is increasing, but in terms of practicality and peace of mind you will not do better than a well laid vinyl bathroom floor.

Bringing a note of the industrial to your design

Stainless steel is widely used in professional catering kitchens, and over the years has found its way into domestic environments too. As a kitchen material it is brilliant. Easy to clean, resistance to heat and stains, smooth surfaces giving bacteria no place to hide and linger – and will put up with no amount of water being thrown at it.

Similarly, with concrete, though adapting the use of concrete to domestic bathrooms and kitchens may be pricey if you are employing someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing. However, the finished look is brutal, industrial, totally unique and completely waterproof.