Are you thinking of updating your current bathroom? As such, it's imperative that you give careful consideration to the tiles you choose for your bathroom. When picking out tiles for your new bathroom, there are a number of factors to think about. To what extent do you plan on utilising this area, for instance? When these tiles have been used, how long will it take to clean them? Do they come with an adhesive backing?
These are all important considerations while shopping for tile for your home. Do you need more information about the advantages of different types of tiles and how to choose the best one for your needs? To learn more, check out our topic "What are the tips in picking tiles for your bathroom?"
Choosing the Right Tiles for Your Bathroom
Pick the Thing That Will Make People Gasp
When you enter your bathroom for the very first time, what do you think will attract your eye? Can we expect a fantastic shower inclosure from it? Don't discount the idea of putting your focal tile here. A freestanding roll-top tub, perhaps?
The following step is to settle on an appropriate background tile for the feature wall. Do I dare suggest that your vanity is actually an antique piece of furniture that you have refinished?
Think about the kinds of tiles you'd like to use for the kitchen's back splash. If you know from the start what you want to be the focal point of your bathroom, you may choose tiles that draw attention to and enhance that element.
Pick A Tile That Really Pops
If you're having trouble deciding which tiles to use in the bathroom, start with a design you really like. An strategy as simple as this one makes it easy to begin. Perhaps the design, colour, or shape of something has caught your eye and gained your affection.
This tile can be used as an accent on the walls, as a dramatic focal point on the floors, or even as a shower inclosure, making it the focal focus of any space it's installed in. The tiles used as accents should be chosen based on the tile that stands out the most (which gets me to my next trip's inspiration).
Think About Using Accent Tiles
Consider using just one or two additional tiles to compliment the tile you've chosen as your feature. You should check that the tiles you've chosen to go with the eye-catching one really do go well with it. To avoid overwhelming the eye with competing points of interest, it's best to complement a tile with something neutral, plain, or textured that draws attention away from it. Many of our collections feature multiple tile patterns and styles that are intended to complement one another, making it easy to create a consistent look.
Pick Out Some Floor Tiles
If you have already chosen the tile that will be the centre point of the room, the tiles you choose for the bathroom floor might function as basic accents.
The newest trend is to create a little bit of a wow factor by choosing a patterned floor, especially if you have opted to go with something a little bit more plain for the walls. If you're looking for the ultimate rustic or Scandi finish for your house, our wood effect floor tiles are the way to go. You can create a boho design, something a little bolder, or even acquire the appearance of actual wood with these tiles.
When Comparing Tiles to a Room
Large format tiles can be beautiful, but putting them in a tiny space (like many bathrooms) may be impractical for now. This is the rule of thumb.
Select tiles in a size that works with the square footage of the room you're remodelling; for instance, mosaic tiles would be perfect for a tiny powder room. A great place to start is with an article we have on our site titled "How to Choose the Right Tile Size," which should help you figure out what you need.
Arrange your tiles in a way that expresses your personality.
Simple-patterned tiles need not connote a boring floor. If you're looking for a simple method to give your design a little bit extra, try incorporating metro tiles or rectangular tiles into an interesting pattern. Both sorts of tiles allow for an almost infinite variety of possible designs. Our guide on the many different ways to lay tiles will provide you with a wealth of inspiration.
Create Variation in Surface Texture
Installing tiles with a natural motif might give your bathroom the feel of a high-end spa. Slate, travertine, natural stone tiles, and tiles with a marble feel can all be used to create a style that is firmly rooted in nature. The addition of natural wood tones to these textures creates an environment that is at once restful and invigorating.
Feelings Should Be Taken Into Account
You should choose tiles for the shower floor carefully, as they must be both slip-resistant and comfortable to walk on barefoot.
Smaller tiles or mosaic tiles are preferable here since the extra grout lines improve slide resistance without irritating your feet. However, if you are thinking about building a wet room, you will find that we have a large selection of tiles that are suitable for that purpose.
Think About How Finishes Will Be Used
A tile with a smooth surface will always be easier to clean than one with a rough one. Keep in mind that water may have a stronger tendency to accumulate on strongly embossed tiles, natural tiles with dips and crevices, and pebble tiles and the like, so you may need to be a little more stubborn about a cleaning strategy.
While tile shopping, ask yourself if you are prepared to take the necessary precautions to keep your tiles in pristine condition for the duration of your bathroom's use. You'll be able to make a better choice after reading this.
Identify The One Tile You Absolutely Need.
At the outset of each bathroom renovation project, we always have one certain tile in mind to incorporate into the final design.
It's sufficient to know that you want white subway tile, or that you require a unique accent tile sometimes. Choose the tile that best suits your aesthetic preferences and use it as a starting point for picking out the rest of the tiles you'll need for your bathroom's decor.
Limit Your Selection Of Tiles To No More Than Three.
Using your first option—the one you've established as crucial to the success of your design—as a jumping-off point, decide which other tiles to use in your layout.
If you have a certain colour scheme or pattern in mind for your design's focal piece, you can pull softer tones from that to use in the tiles that act as accents. If, on the other hand, you're stuck with a boring main option (like white subway tile), consider spicing things up with an accent tile of contrasting colour or a smaller-scale white penny tile.
Floor tiles, wall tiles (for the shower/tub surround or maybe all of the walls in your bathroom), and an accent tile (the primary centre of focus) are the most common types of tiles to choose when redecorating a bathroom. This is merely a recommendation, so please do not take it too seriously.
Don't worry too much if you break the rules once in a while; it won't have any lasting negative effects. When it comes to choosing the best tile for your bathroom's shower, we've got you covered.
Use only one truly spectacular piece in your performance.
There is a wide variety of beautiful bathroom tiles available now, and this area is perfect for trying out a bold new colour scheme or daring design pattern. If you insist on pressing the issue, though, make sure you only bring up one particularly compelling point.
The result will be an appearance with timeless appeal and the desired impact, even if it can't compete with the room's other features.
(Many of these highly odd tiles can be pretty pricey, but if you're working in a small space like a bathroom, they might be worth the expense you need because you won't need too many square feet.)
Size-wise, you can make whichever area you like your show-stopper.
White tile covers much of the floor in this bathroom, but this gorgeous tile was installed near the ceiling to provide some flair. This concludes the bathroom's tiling project.
Again, the colours utilised in this bathroom are on the muted side, but the wall behind the shower is where your eyes should be drawn.
Remember to budget for repairs.
Floors made of porcelain or ceramic tile are ideal for the bathroom and the shower because they are easy to clean. This is due to the fact that ceramic and porcelain tiles hardly ever need to be cleaned.
(You should recheck more than once to see whether they need to be sealed.) Natural stone tiles require additional upkeep and maintenance, including frequent sealing.
Due to their bigger pores, dirt and filth are more likely to become embedded in them. If you're looking to add some texture to your space using stone, it's better to use it on the floor or in a less moist place. Last but not least, glass tile is aesthetically pleasing and functionally useful as a wall or accent tile. The slippery surface, however, makes it inappropriate for use on the floor.
Scale is something to think about.
These days, large-format tiles are all the rage in bathrooms. If you decide to go this route, you can use the same tile in a different area of the bathroom by having it cut into smaller pieces.
For instance, if you have tiles that are 12 inches by 24 inches on the floor, you may use the same tile in a 2 by 2 format in the shower to maintain the colour and make a nonslip surface.
Do Something Extraordinary With Your Bathroom
If your bathtub is located next to a wall or walls, you can give it additional visual prominence by tiling the area around it.
White subway tiles work well here, but a travertine pattern or beige tiles would also look great on the walls and provide some depth. These two solutions are both watertight and will aid in maintaining a sanitary environment.
Put some groove in your floor tiles.
Tiles for the floor don't have to be boring just because they're meant to last a little longer than tiles for the walls. In reality, you may try out wood-effect tiles now to make your floor look weathered and aged.
If you want your bathroom to have a monochromatic look, you can do this by using basic black and white tiles to create an attractive chessboard pattern.
Intricate designs can be inlaid using mosaic tiles into an otherwise dull floor. If you're in the mood to be very inventive, you can try this. To create a unified look, match the tiles on your walls and floors.
Inviting Shower Enclosures
The tile pattern on the inside of your shower inclosure can be different from the rest of your bathroom's. There's no reason not to try a new hue or texture. Lighter blues, along with contrasting whites, blacks, browns, or greys, have a chance of being successful. Different designs can be made by arranging the metro tiles in different ways.
When redecorating a small bathroom, remember to use miniature tiles.
If your bathroom is already on the small side, don't make it look even smaller by installing floor tiles that are too wide or tall.
While there are many beautiful options to choose from, the simplest, smallest tiles often used in bathrooms have a timeless beauty. The extra time and effort required to tile is the only potential downside, but the end product will be well worth it.
Select Appropriate Colors for Your Audience
The tastes of the end user should guide your colour selection. If, for example, you rarely use your bathroom, there's no use in splurging on high-end tiles when budget options will do just as well. On the other hand, if you want your family bathroom to be more kid-friendly, you may want to consider painting the walls in primary colours.
If your family is mature or you don't have young children, you can get away with a more sophisticated colour choice. Fabulous grey glazed tiles or tiles with a wood-look contrast would work wonderfully.
Guidelines for a More Comfortable Lavatory
Use Your Imagination and Think of Bright Colors
Subway bathroom tile in light colours has seen a recent uptick in popularity. It's also possible that painting the walls white, off-white, or another light colour will help the space feel more open. However, while choosing the grout's colour, care must be taken that it does not stand out too much against the tile.
Aesthetically Pleasing Wall and Floor Tile for the Bathroom
Think about how the tiling on the floor of the bathroom will feel under your bare feet. Will there be a bench in the shower, for instance? Sitting on a slab or huge tile in the shower is more pleasant than sitting on smaller tiles.
To Visualize, Picture Bathrooms With Diagonal Tile
Laying tiles in a diagonal pattern in a bathroom that is on the smaller side might provide the illusion of more space. As unbelievable as it sounds, you might not have to rip up the floor of your bathroom in order to tile it.
Go Big
When laying large tiles in a bathroom, the minimum grout joint width is 3/16 of an inch. In addition, you need to ensure that there is at least 90% mortar contact below the tiles to reduce the likelihood of cracking caused by their large size. Despite tile's low maintenance requirements,
Fractures in the Grout
Can you describe the bathroom floor tile you have in mind? More gaps between the tiles will result. To lessen the grid-like effect mosaic tile can have, you can use grout that is coloured to mirror the colour of the tile.
Expanding on Mosaic
In the bathroom, you want a mosaic tile that makes at least 95% contact with the backer board. This contact should prevent the tile from sliding on the wall, but glue isn't always sufficient to guarantee this outcome.
The Golden Rule
Using no more than three tiles from the same colour family can help you create a truly unique tile design. In the bathroom, employing tiles of more than one colour might be visually distracting and difficult to organise. Make sure the bathroom tiling isn't too ostentatious, either.
Care and Feeding
If you're looking for a durable and low-upkeep material for your bathroom floor or walls, porcelain and ceramic tiles are fantastic options to explore. More upkeep is needed for natural stone tiles over time because of their porous nature.
Constant Variable
Despite its beauty and suitability as a wall or accent tile, glass bathroom tile becomes an extremely hazardous surface when wet. Do not use glass tile on the floor, especially in bathrooms with a bathtub or shower.
Arguments on Both Sides of the Glass Table
If you're thinking about installing glass bathroom tiles in your shower, keep in mind that the transparency of the tiles could make any trapped moisture behind them readily apparent. You might replace the larger tiles with smaller ones made of coloured glass in the bathroom's shower. Glass tile is another alternative for enhancing a frame's aesthetics.
Make It Global
Do you want the bathroom tile to look great for many years to come? If you need a tip, here it is: Pick one larger tile in a simple colour to use throughout the whole project. As a bonus, this will make cleaning a breeze and give the room an optical illusion of greater size.
Just one piece of adornment
Try out a bold hue or pattern, but don't go crazy by using only one type of tile design in the bathroom as an accent. As an added bonus, it will lend a more refined air to your lavatory. When there are too many distinct hues and designs, they will clash with one another. Accent pieces can also be used as a backsplash in the kitchen.
For the kiddy bathroom, we went with
As a result, we settled on a design for the kids' bathroom that is at once classic and light.
There are no windows in this restroom, so we required a way to properly reflect and disperse light.
Instinctively, we knew we had to use this tumbling hexagon tile on the floor the moment we saw it in The Tile Shop. I knew right away that this tile would be a focal point in my home because to its unusual design and assortment of patterns.
Conclusion
When picking out tiles for your bathroom, there are a number of factors to consider. From the start, choose tiles that will be the focal point of your bathroom. These tiles can be an accent on the walls, a focal point on the floors, or even a shower inclosure. Select tiles in a size that works with the square footage of the room you're remodelling. Large format tiles can be beautiful, but putting them in a tiny space may be impractical for now.
Our guide on the many different ways to lay tiles will provide you with a wealth of inspiration. Choose tiles for the shower floor carefully, as they must be both slip-resistant and comfortable to walk on barefoot. Slate, travertine, natural stone tiles, and tiles with a marble feel can all be used to create a style that is firmly rooted in nature. Floor tiles, wall tiles (for the shower/tub surround or maybe all of the walls in your bathroom), and an accent tile (the primary centre of focus) are the most common types of tiles to choose when redecorating a bathroom. Many of these highly odd tiles can be pretty pricey, but if you're working in a small space they might be worth the expense.
Glass tile is aesthetically pleasing and useful as a wall or accent tile. The slippery surface, however, makes it inappropriate for use on the floor. If your bathtub is located next to a wall, you can give it additional visual prominence by tiling the area around it. If your bathroom is already too small, don't make it even smaller by installing floor tiles that are too wide or tall. Extra time and effort required to tile is the only potential downside, but the end product will be well worth it.
The tastes of the end user should guide your colour selection. If you're looking for a durable and low-upkeep material for your bathroom floor or walls, porcelain and ceramic tiles are fantastic options to explore. Glass bathroom tile becomes an extremely hazardous surface when wet, especially in bathrooms with a bathtub or shower. You might replace the larger tiles with smaller ones made of coloured glass in the bathroom's shower. When there are too many distinct hues and designs, they will clash with one another. Accent pieces can also be used as a backsplash in the kitchen.
Content Summary
- As such, it's imperative that you give careful consideration to the tiles you choose for your bathroom.
- When picking out tiles for your new bathroom, there are a number of factors to think about.
- If you know from the start what you want to be the focal point of your bathroom, you may choose tiles that draw attention to and enhance that element.
- Pick A Tile That Really PopsIf you're having trouble deciding which tiles to use in the bathroom, start with a design you really like.
- Consider using just one or two additional tiles to compliment the tile you've chosen as your feature.
- You should check that the tiles you've chosen to go with the eye-catching one really do go well with it.
- Pick Out Some Floor TilesIf you have already chosen the tile that will be the centre point of the room, the tiles you choose for the bathroom floor might function as basic accents.
- If you're looking for the ultimate rustic or Scandi finish for your house, our wood effect floor tiles are the way to go.
- Select tiles in a size that works with the square footage of the room you're remodelling; for instance, mosaic tiles would be perfect for a tiny powder room.
- Arrange your tiles in a way that expresses your personality.
- Installing tiles with a natural motif might give your bathroom the feel of a high-end spa.
- While tile shopping, ask yourself if you are prepared to take the necessary precautions to keep your tiles in pristine condition for the duration of your bathroom's use.
- Choose the tile that best suits your aesthetic preferences and use it as a starting point for picking out the rest of the tiles you'll need for your bathroom's decor.
- Using your first option—the one you've established as crucial to the success of your design—as a jumping-off point, decide which other tiles to use in your layout.
- If you have a certain colour scheme or pattern in mind for your design's focal piece, you can pull softer tones from that to use in the tiles that act as accents.
- Floor tiles, wall tiles (for the shower/tub surround or maybe all of the walls in your bathroom), and an accent tile (the primary centre of focus) are the most common types of tiles to choose when redecorating a bathroom.
- When it comes to choosing the best tile for your bathroom's shower, we've got you covered.
- Use only one truly spectacular piece in your performance.
- This concludes the bathroom's tiling project.
- Remember to budget for repairs.
- Floors made of porcelain or ceramic tile are ideal for the bathroom and the shower because they are easy to clean.
- The slippery surface, however, makes it inappropriate for use on the floor.
- These days, large-format tiles are all the rage in bathrooms.
- Put some groove in your floor tiles.
- To create a unified look, match the tiles on your walls and floors.
- Inviting Shower EnclosuresThe tile pattern on the inside of your shower inclosure can be different from the rest of your bathroom's.
- If your bathroom is already on the small side, don't make it look even smaller by installing floor tiles that are too wide or tall.
- Select Appropriate Colors for Your AudienceThe tastes of the end user should guide your colour selection.
- On the other hand, if you want your family bathroom to be more kid-friendly, you may want to consider painting the walls in primary colours.
- Aesthetically Pleasing Wall and Floor Tile for the BathroomThink about how the tiling on the floor of the bathroom will feel under your bare feet.
- To Visualize, Picture Bathrooms With Diagonal TileLaying tiles in a diagonal pattern in a bathroom that is on the smaller side might provide the illusion of more space.
- As unbelievable as it sounds, you might not have to rip up the floor of your bathroom in order to tile it.
- Go BigWhen laying large tiles in a bathroom, the minimum grout joint width is 3/16 of an inch.
- Can you describe the bathroom floor tile you have in mind?
- More gaps between the tiles will result.
- Expanding on MosaicIn the bathroom, you want a mosaic tile that makes at least 95% contact with the backer board.
- In the bathroom, employing tiles of more than one colour might be visually distracting and difficult to organise.
- Care and FeedingIf you're looking for a durable and low-upkeep material for your bathroom floor or walls, porcelain and ceramic tiles are fantastic options to explore.
- Do not use glass tile on the floor, especially in bathrooms with a bathtub or shower.
- Arguments on Both Sides of the Glass TableIf you're thinking about installing glass bathroom tiles in your shower, keep in mind that the transparency of the tiles could make any trapped moisture behind them readily apparent.
- You might replace the larger tiles with smaller ones made of coloured glass in the bathroom's shower.
- Make It GlobalDo you want the bathroom tile to look great for many years to come?
- If you need a tip, here it is: Pick one larger tile in a simple colour to use throughout the whole project.
- Just one piece of adornmentTry out a bold hue or pattern, but don't go crazy by using only one type of tile design in the bathroom as an accent.
- Accent pieces can also be used as a backsplash in the kitchen.
- For the kiddy bathroom, we went withAs a result, we settled on a design for the kids' bathroom that is at once classic and light.
- Instinctively, we knew we had to use this tumbling hexagon tile on the floor the moment we saw it in The Tile Shop.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tiles
Top Tips for Choosing Bathroom Tiles
- Choose Your Wow-Factor Feature.
- Choose a Stand Out Tile.
- Consider Your Accent Tiles.
- Choose Your Floor Tiles.
- Tile Size vs Room Size.
- Get Creative with Tile Layout.
- Add Texture.
- Consider the Feel Factor.
Ceramic tiles are the most suited and most preferred tiles when it comes to bathrooms. Glazed or polished ceramic tiles make a great option for the walls of your bathroom; however, they aren't best suited for the floor as they can be slippery when wet.
Deciding on floor colour for the material
A good rule to follow is to keep the flooring darker than the walls and ceiling, but feel free to be adventurous and break away from this rule.
White tiles
White tiles are still the most popular tile colour choice, especially for small bathrooms. A light tile colour will make your tiny bathroom feel bigger and brighter. Especially when you have little to no natural light coming into your bathroom, will a white tile be a classic and right choice?
A large format tile is great for small spaces. The reason has to do with grout joints. The larger the tile, the fewer grout joints you'll have and the greater sense of spaciousness you'll feel.