A Guide To Bathroom Tiles
Whether you’re building from scratch or renovating, when designing a bathroom the type of tiles you choose will have a huge effect on the overall look, feel and functionality of the space.
With so many varieties and styles to choose from, the first step is deciding on the look you want to go for – modern, traditional, or maybe something more decorative?
Once you’ve decided on a style, you will also need to consider practical aspects such as the size and layout of your bathroom and of course, your budget!
Before talking about the different ways to tile a bathroom and how to add features or character, it’s important to understand the fundamentals of size, so here’s a quick guide.
Traditionally, smaller format tiles are used on a floor, because of the “fall”. This means that when there’s water on the floor, it will make its way to the floor waste or drain. This is especially important in the shower, where water pooling can be an issue.
For this reason it’s common to use a 300mm x 300mm floor tile, as it can easily be laid slightly sloping from the walls toward the central floor waste.
That said, large tiles have become very popular for floors, although they will generally require additional cuts by the tiler. Alternatively, when a larger format such as a 300mm x 600mm is used, a long stainless steel grate can be installed instead of a single central floor waste. The grate collects a larger amount of water, which means the floor can slope in one direction, so cuts in the tiles are not required.
For walls, larger format tiles are great as you use less grout, which makes the bathroom much easier to clean. This is because tiles are generally non-porous and water proof, whereas the tile grout is where dirt and mould can form.
Much smaller tiles, such as mosaics or hexagon tiles, work very well for feature walls and niches. They are more expensive, too, so it makes sense to use them as a feature rather than to tile a large area. Although larger, subway tiles are also hugely popular for feature work, but they require more grout.
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To give a brief explanation of bathroom colour schemes, I usually break it down to two main looks.
To achieve the hotel look, use a medium to dark tile on the floor and run that same tile up one or two feature walls to provide interest, with the rest of the walls remaining in standard white or off-white. This is commonly used in hotels because it creates contrast in a cost-effective way.
It works because rather than introducing a new colour, you’re repeating a colour that is already in the space – in this case, on the floor. Since most quality tile ranges come in a smaller size for the floor, you will be able to run matching tiles up the wall in a wider format. I usually place these feature walls to the rear of the shower, or behind the bath as it highlights these two spaces to striking effect.
These coin-sized tiles make a really stunning feature. To make them more budget-friendly, run them up one wall, for example at the rear of the shower, and use standard, cost-effective tiles everywhere else.
Hexagons or diamonds usually incur extra laying charges, but the finished result is impressive. Alternatively, use them in a shower niche to enjoy the look, watch the budget and still make a statement.
I’m in love with these tiles at the moment. They look amazing, especially in greeny-blue tones such as turquoise. You can lay them upside down or even sideways to create interesting effects.
As a rule, straight format tiles such as square or rectangular are most common as they are easier to lay, incur less waste, save you money and provide a low-grout finish. They will also appeal to the widest audience. However, creating a stylish bathroom is not always about budget or appealing to others – most importantly, it’s about what works for you.
A niche in the shower or a long niche in a wall by the bath create a luxe feel minus the dollars. It’s an ideal space for accessories such as bath oils and toiletries. Using [mosaic tiles(
- writer:James Treble
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