How to choose tiles for the bathroom?

Selecting tiles for your bathroom can be exhilarating as well as intimidating. Making the right decision can seem like a difficult undertaking because there are so many options available, ranging from colors and patterns to materials and finishes. But with a little help, you can find tiles that express your unique style while also fulfilling your practical needs.

Your desired bathroom’s overall aesthetic should be your first priority. Which style—slim and modern or cozier and more traditional—does your eye gravitate toward? Because your tiles will be the focal point of the room, consider how well they will complement your overall style. Don’t forget to account for the size of your bathroom. While darker hues and smaller tiles can give a larger bathroom a cozier, more intimate feel, lighter colors and larger tiles can give a small bathroom a more airy feeling.

Next, consider the usefulness of your tile selection. Since bathrooms have a lot of moisture, it’s critical to select long-lasting, water-resistant tiles. Because they are fashionable and practical, ceramic and porcelain tiles are widely used. To avoid mishaps, search for tiles with a non-slip surface in places like the shower or bathtub surround.

Lastly, remember to take care of the grout. The general appearance of your tiles can be greatly influenced by the color and width of your grout lines. A contrasting color can draw attention to the pattern in your tiles and provide visual interest, while a matching grout color will give your space a smooth, cohesive appearance. Additionally, be sure to select mold- and stain-resistant high-quality grout.

You can confidently select tiles for your bathroom that will improve its appearance and usefulness for many years to come if you keep these considerations in mind. Cheers to tiling!

Factor Consideration
Material Ceramic tiles are popular for their durability and water resistance. Porcelain is even more robust and less porous.
Size Large tiles make a small bathroom feel bigger. Small tiles can add texture and detail.
Finish Glossy tiles reflect light and make the room appear brighter. Matte tiles offer a modern look and are less slippery.
Color Light colors make the bathroom feel larger and more open. Dark colors add drama and coziness.
Pattern Simple patterns create a calm space. Bold patterns can add a focal point but might overwhelm a small room.
Grout Choose a grout color that complements the tile. Dark grout hides stains better, while light grout can make tiles stand out.
Maintenance Consider how easy the tiles are to clean. Smooth tiles are easier to wipe down, while textured tiles might require more effort.
Budget Set a budget before you start. Prices can vary widely based on material, size, and design.

Criterias of choice

You cannot choose bathroom tiles based solely on pictures you find online. It will be impossible for you to judge the surface’s dimensions, form, and texture by sight. Furthermore, the photo’s color usually deviates from the original. As a result, you must visit the store and select your material from the samples that are set up at the stands. All the Internet can do is guide you through the array of options and inform you of the tiles that are currently being manufactured.

Tile material

Four varieties of tiles are produced by building material manufacturers that can be used to adorn a bathroom:

  • ceramic or tile;
  • clinker;
  • porcelain stoneware;
  • glass mosaic.

The tiles are also cut from natural stone, but they are rarely used in bathrooms because of their extremely high cost.

The market share of volume ceramic tiles surpasses 80%. It can be cast, pressed, or extruded depending on the blank production technology. It is composed of baked clay. The final goods have outstanding aesthetic qualities and are strong, waterproof, and resistant to wear.

Clinker tiles are first fired using a traditional method and are composed of specific clay grades. Following that, they bake at a high temperature, the value of which dictates the final products’ color. When arranged on a wall, clinker tiles mimic brickwork.

Porcelain tiles mimic many kinds of natural stone. possesses great wear resistance and strength. Furthermore, wooden-like porcelain tiles are available for purchase. The primary drawback is the material’s high cost.

A glass mosaic is made up of tiny, colorful pieces that are adhered to paper. One solid color sets, sets composed of multicolored pieces, and sets in the shape of completed artistic designs are all available.

Matte or glossy

Matte tiles are acknowledged to have a more organic appearance. Its design can mimic wood, colored concrete, natural stone, and other materials. In addition to irritating the eye, the glossy, shiny surface obscures other interior features like furniture, mirrors, heated towel rails, plumbing fixtures, and nickel-plated hangers. Matte tiles’ natural appearance is their primary benefit.

Imitation granite and marble are an exception. Gloss would be appropriate in this instance because the natural materials in this category are typically polished. However, even these materials might be semi-matte rather than completely glossy. Moreover, glossy tiles like mosaic, pure white, and black tiles are exceptions.

For walls or floors

Installing porcelain tiles on the floor is the best option, provided that financial resources permit. It appears sturdy, is heavy, resilient to wear, and solid. Ceramic tiles should only be used on floors, if you choose to use them. This category’s products are thicker and feature a non-slip surface. Wood-like materials have an authentic appearance.

It is advised to use mosaic, clinker, or tile for walls. These are lovely, lightweight materials that are easy to arrange in an elegant and fashionable manner. Stoneware made of porcelain is more challenging. The high strength causes additional challenges when cutting technological holes for fasteners and plumbing fixtures, and the heavy weight makes laying challenging.

Therefore, if you decide to install porcelain tiles on the walls, hire professionals to handle the bathroom renovation instead of doing it yourself.

Shape and size

The tile’s shape can be polygonal, square, rectangular, or have intricate geometry. The size of the bathroom as a whole and the design choices chosen influence the shape that is chosen.

It is advised to begin with square tiles that are at least 60×60 cm in size. Smaller-sized material has long been thought to be out of style, and there will be a lot of unsightly seams. Mosaics and tiles with target patterns are the exception.

Usually, when we discuss the dimensions of rectangular products, we are referring to their aspect ratio. A 2:1 ratio works well for very large tiles, but a 3:1 or 4:1 ratio works better for smaller options.

It should be noted that while large tiles from overseas manufacturers, natural stone, and porcelain stoneware may have these ratios, these products are limited to use in large spaces.

The range of sizes between accent and polygonal tiles is currently the same. As a result, your options will be limited, and your only decision will be whether or not you like it.

Color and design

Considering all of the aforementioned suggested circumstances makes selecting a color a secondary task. The only thing to keep in mind is that very bright and acidic tones should be avoided. Vibrant hues are limited to zoning and pattern creation. Nonetheless, your bathroom will look good in any natural shade.

Light-colored coatings are the most practical and aesthetically pleasing, as most designers will admit. The colors of this are cream, light green, blue, pink, beige, and pastel. Dark walls typically compress the space and have a depressing effect on people, whereas light walls visually expand the space.

White tiles require far less frequent wiping than dark tiles because they do not exhibit as many splashes of dried water. On the dark tiles, everything is visible, including fingerprints and detergent residue that has been improperly wiped.

By bathroom area

Big tiles seem unattractive in a tiny space. The coating is generally viewed as unharmonious and the seam pattern vanishes. Your bathroom should be roomy and have high ceilings for this type of material. If your building dates back to Khrushchev’s time and the ceiling is low, it is advised that you use a rectangular tile and arrange it vertically. There will be a guarantee that the ceiling surface will appear higher.

Large rooms also employ square. Rectangular products with a 1:3 aspect ratio work best in small bathrooms. Mosaic should not be used in tiny spaces; instead, it should be used as a feature element to decorate a different area of the wall. We went into great detail about small bathroom tile selection here.

Chemical resistance

The majority of smooth tile varieties are completely unaffected by common household chemicals. There are less marks left on this surface, and it is simple to clean. However, the surface of textured materials is frequently porous, so some of the chemically active ingredients get trapped inside the tile covering after using detergents.

Remaining materials could discolor or destroy the coating. As a result, you must ensure that the tiles you choose for your bathroom are resistant to common household chemicals. Tiles with pores are designed to complete other rooms.

Injury hazard

Only the floor covering is affected by the safety concern. When choosing tiles to finish the floor, look for ones with a rough or textured surface to provide an anti-slip effect. But bear in mind that it won’t be porous and that washing will be more difficult. Using artificial stone or porcelain tiles with anti-slip properties is the best option.

It is safe to say that there are far more design decisions made for bathroom finishes than there are designers, as most choices are chosen by the homeowners themselves, often with the advice of skilled artisans. As a result, the applications for floor and wall tiles from various price ranges that this article will highlight are limited. In these patterns, the set comprises not just the tiles but also panels, mosaics, and a border.

Provence style bathroom

This is conceivably the most widely used bathroom décor style. Light neutral tones serve as this style’s primary point of differentiation. Here, the tiles are light green, pink, blue, milk, cream, and beige.

The room’s interior is serene because it lacks any vivid or striking details. Floral inserts are frequently utilized. Just one or two shades separate the flooring from the walls in terms of color. The intersection of the wall and the floor is where a border is always positioned. Using porcelain stoneware that mimics wood can be a useful solution.

"Loft"

A chic, modern interior with shades of coffee and brown. Wooden themes are acceptable. The floor is made somewhat lighter, but the upper portions of the walls receive the majority of the design attention. The stark minimalism and even asceticism of the Loft style, which is reflected in the lack of extra ornamentation and decorative elements, set it apart.

Semi-matte and glossy tiles are not utilized. The walls and floors are only covered in matte, frequently textured material. In addition to being used for flooring, porcelain tiles are also used to decorate walls. Furthermore, clinker tiles are highly well-liked.

Natural motives

To decorate a bathroom in the "Nature inspired" style, green hues are not required. Ironically, wood, beige, and sand tones are the best choices.

However, only a few accents are highlighted with green tiles. Seldom does the total green area surpass 20% of the total finishing surface. You can use darker shades of the same color as the walls or bright accent colors for the floor.

"Romantic"

In bathrooms that are small to medium in size, this style works well. It cannot be utilized in combined bathrooms because it is ridiculous to have a toilet in a romantic bathroom design.

The finishing is easy. The most common choices have floral motifs in shades of pink, lilac, crimson, or purple; however, red is viewed as aggressive and is hardly ever used. The walls and floor are nearly the same color.

Sea style

This is yet another widely used and well-liked choice for bathroom finishing. It allows your imagination to run wildest. The primary hues include sea green, but also blue, cyan, aquamarine, and turquoise. It is acceptable to dilute some, especially in the lower portion of the wall, with sand and green tones. Mosaic inserts and volumetric tiles featuring 3D images offer intriguing solutions.

There are just too many tile manufacturers to list in this article due to their sheer quantity. As a result, we will list five manufacturers who hold prominent positions and are well-known in numerous nations worldwide.

The Factory. Italian high-quality porcelain stoneware and ceramic tiles. A variety of avant-garde and classical style collections are made nowadays. You can realize any design solution with a range of product designs. It should be mentioned that although these are some of the priciest products, the craftsmanship is of the highest caliber.

Marazzi Kerama. a well-known and well-liked trade brand in the Russian Federation among Russians. More than 800 different kinds of porcelain tiles, mosaics, and borders are supplied to Russia by this manufacturer. There are also numerous decorative elements displayed. Even though it is twice as expensive as La Fabbrica, only those with above-average incomes are able to attend.

Jasba. Superior quality German ceramics with minimal water absorption, strength, and resistance to mechanical damage. The original round mosaic is the company’s unique offering. The availability of multiple collections enables you to view and use pre-planned design solutions.

Aparici. Spanish-made cladding products for walls and floors. Renowned designers from around the world are working on new tile designs. Superior and extensive.

Thank you. Chic Italian tiles with coatings applied by hand. As a result, the products gained much more aesthetic value and became the center of attention in interior design.

The pricing range for tile materials is broad and is determined by:

  • type of finishing material;
  • brand awareness;
  • applied manufacturing technology;
  • quality level.

Furthermore, you can purchase materials with minor flaws and leftovers of collections at a reasonable price. For instance, with a color variation that is no greater than one tone.

Which tile should you not choose?

It is well known that a small percentage of the tiles up for sale are blatantly flawed. They cannot be purchased for a bathroom; they can only be used to finish a garage or cellar.

Refusing small square ceramics is also a better option. It appears excessively dated, and there are way too many seams. Materials with an applied pattern might be an exception.

Don’t purchase tiles that are too cheap. A low price could be the result of a small amount of leftovers in the warehouse, a defect, or poor quality.

The final appearance and atmosphere of your bathroom can be greatly influenced by the tiles you choose. To make sure your bathroom is both lovely and useful, it’s critical to take both aesthetics and functionality into account. Begin by considering the dimensions of your bathroom and the ways in which various tile patterns and sizes can impact the sense of space. Smaller tiles can add fine details to larger bathrooms, while larger tiles can elongate a small bathroom.

Next, think about the tiles’ composition and feel. Since they are long-lasting and resistant to water, ceramic and porcelain tiles are popular options. Natural stone tiles, such as marble or granite, can give an air of refinement and luxury, but they do need more upkeep. Remember to take the tiles’ resistance to slippage into account, particularly when installing bathroom flooring, to avoid mishaps in damp environments.

Considerations for color and design are also very important. Darker hues can create a warm, intimate atmosphere in the bathroom, while lighter hues can make it feel larger and more airy. To create distinctive patterns and accents, like a feature wall or a mosaic shower area, you can combine different types of tiles. Observe the grout lines as well. While matching grout can produce a more seamless appearance, contrasting grout can highlight the tile arrangement.

Lastly, the cost and simplicity of installation should play a role in your selection. Although expensive tiles can have long-term advantages and beautiful aesthetics, there are many less expensive options that are just as good in terms of quality and design. To guarantee a perfect finish, think about hiring a professional for the installation, particularly if you choose more intricate patterns or materials.

In conclusion, selecting bathroom tiles requires striking a balance between cost, style, durability, and safety. You can design a bathroom that is not only aesthetically pleasing but also practical and secure for regular use by carefully taking these factors into account. To choose the ideal choice for your space, take your time considering your options and don’t be afraid to consult a professional.

The appropriate tile selection can turn your bathroom into a chic, practical, and long-lasting haven. With so many options, it’s critical to take into account aspects like texture, color, size, and material to meet both your functional and aesthetic needs. Whether you like the clean appearance of ceramic, the organic charm of stone, or the vivid patterns of mosaic, knowing the advantages and drawbacks of each type will help you make a well-informed choice that strikes a balance between aesthetics and practicality.

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Timur Kiselev

Professional builder with 15 years of experience. I know everything about the construction of houses, cottages, bathhouses and other buildings. I will be happy to share my knowledge and experience with you.

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