We can't find the right tile

If you asked me about a flooring, I would always answer "wood." Just not in the bathroom - but even in the kitchen. Resistant in the sense that it is a natural floor to which scratches and dents (if you make any) give a cozy and lived-in feel. If you take hard wood like oak, not much happens. Even with pets like big dogs. You clean it with the vacuum cleaner and every few months with a damp mop along with a care product. Every few years (if necessary) you apply new oil. Done. It has been a sought-after floor for centuries and is still timeless today.

I agree with you, but we have 3 kids - already at the end of the property and higher - who still keep spilling the contents of a glass, and a cat, and my current tiled kitchen floor always looks like - grease splatters, etc.

I am also a tile person. You just feel safer that way. You don’t constantly have a rag or mop in your hand cleaning afterwards. I can understand the choice. Whether it then has to imitate the look of wood, I would see as limiting in the choice. We knew before choosing: not a "solid color" without nuances, but lively, so that small spots or hairs are simply not visible. The choice fell on a "natural stone look" with an uneven surface (Atlas Concorde), but not consciously, just picked. What you like, what not. Took three tiles, had two sent... took them to our old home and placed them in front of the patio door and sofa. It actually didn’t take two days... It has a natural beige look, and white and black fit with all nuances as well as all brown tones.

Children are known to grow, and a decent laminate or vinyl floor can withstand a lot. We decided on vinyl in most rooms back then and have not regretted it so far. In the rental house, we had a good laminate floor upstairs for 6 years, and despite children, cats, and a dog, it still looked like new after moving out.

With animals and a larger family, I would never choose a single-colored floor; otherwise, you are cleaning all the time.

I would probably choose linoleum instead of tiles. It comes in all colors and shades. It is less sensitive than wood and handles animal paws of all kinds quite well.

I myself have oiled wood, which is more sensitive than previously thought and explained by the person who laid it. There are permanent stains, especially under the table and in the kitchen.

I think you can do a lot wrong with tiles when it comes to the final atmosphere of the room. Wood is always nice, linoleum too. Tiles can also be cold, industrial, retro-charming, or so nondescript that they add nothing to the room. The latter is not necessarily bad, but also not a gain for a room. There are certainly nice tiles as well. In the living room, I definitely did not want tiles.

I am also a tile person. You just feel safer. You don’t constantly have a rag or mop in your hand cleaning afterwards. I can understand the choice. Whether it then has to mimic the look of wood, I would see as limiting in the choice. We knew before choosing: not a "solid color" without nuances, but lively, so that small spots or hairs are not visible. The choice fell on "natural stone look" with an uneven surface (Atlas Concorde), but not consciously, just picked. What you like, what you don’t. Took three tiles, had two sent… took them to our old home and placed them in front of the patio door and sofa. It actually didn’t take two days… It has a natural beige look, and white and black match with all nuances as well as all brown tones.

Yes, we also want something lively and not monochromatic.

Tiles are still the best choice even after 20 years. Especially with underfloor heating.