Flower Love
You can have the most wonderful bathroom ever, but poor tile selection can be absolutely devastating to aesthetics and feelings.
Suitable tiles, on the other hand, give bathrooms a central role in the house. Plus, tiles are always a good idea when you need a modest facelift as they offer a brand new look with almost no renovation.
However, choosing and laying bathroom tiles is not easy. So, be careful when choosing the style and design. While they are simply a decorative feature of other rooms, tiles can be the accent element of your bathroom.
Image source: Canny Design
How to choose the best bathroom tiles First, think of the colors, shapes, and patterns that you would like. The second step is to make sure these apply to your bathroom.
Inspirational moods and feelings
Image source: Case Design / Remodeling, Inc.
Thinking about the emotions you want to inspire is the cornerstone of the tile planning process. Once you do that, you have a narrow range of choices.
Your solution may also depend on the overall style / theme of your home, as you don’t want your bathroom to appear completely disjointed (modern homes, for example, go for a modest color palette).
Choosing the right material
Image source: Carolina V. Gentry, RID
- Glass tiles: While glass is a very popular solution for bathrooms, it comes with a “high” price tag and requires constant maintenance. Even so, the investment can really pay off, because nothing is as beautiful and shiny as glass tiles.
- Ceramic Tiles: Ceramic tiles come at surprisingly low prices when you consider their amazing functionality. Thanks to ceramic tiles, you have a sturdy bathroom that is easy to maintain and suitable for all types of decals (your kids will appreciate it!). The biggest advantage is that they are great for painting or for future renovations.
- Stone Tiles: Stone tiles are a neutral and organic choice that creates a deep natural feel. Plus, there are a multitude of types to choose from, which means you can go for cute pebbles / stones and their amazing structural touch too.
- Porcelain tiles: Last but not least, porcelain tiles are the masters of bathroom tiles. You look great; and at the same time are very moisture-resistant (which is noticeable in the price). Still, if the budget allows it!
Colours
Image source: Webber + Studio, architects
The thing about restricted size bathrooms is that they are really prone to bad color solutions. There should always be harmony and simplicity, with no more than two pastel shades.
Size is crucial in choosing the color of your tiles. Note that you can only make this decision twice.
The win-win for small bathrooms is made up of light palettes (anything from plain white to sleek brown can be an idea). Get creative with pastel colors and create your own shades. The more you care, the cozier your bathroom will end up looking.
Image source: CONTENTS Architecture
Dark and saturated shades (rich brown, deep navy blue, etc.) go perfectly with large or even oversized bathrooms. They are also a good choice for very bright bathrooms.
Size and shape
Image source: ZeroEnergy design
The first thing you need to do is analyze the layout of your bathroom. Is it big enough Which tile shape could be ideal for it?
Designers recommend that we use large tiles for larger spaces. and small tiles for smaller spaces. However, there is no rule. You are absolutely free to choose which tiles you like!
Fortunately, manufacturers offer all models, colors, sizes or shapes of tiles. The most popular idea is rectangular / square tiles, ideally in a neutral color or with a special pattern that will make the bathroom unforgettable.
Image source: chalet
The generally accepted concept is that large tiles are not suitable for small bathrooms because they visually reduce their size. However, this is not always the case: sometimes larger tiles have exactly the opposite effect, making the bathroom a unique and impressive piece of design.
You would need to choose a tile set for the floors, walls and showers / tubs. The most passionate of you could also surround the bathroom with certain mosaics or apply a small, impressive serving to make it a focal point. However, remember that these are just tips. It’s your bathroom and you are the one who makes the rules!
Textures
Image source: Change Your Bathroom, Inc.
The main consideration when it comes to textures is to get a floor that is not slippery. Regardless of the tiles chosen, a matte finish is likely to solve this problem.
Don’t be too worried if the walls don’t match: safety is your top concern (especially if there are kids around)! In addition, you can always combine colors with other elements and materials.
Grouting
Image source: Lake Country Builders
Most of the time, grouting comes to mind when people are actually faced with a problem. The reason for this is that people choose tiles without considering their attractiveness after grouting.
While there aren’t any particular problems with the tiles, you may be surrounded by numerous grout lines that “stifle” the place and make it seem too busy.
Grouting should also be considered when buying a prefabricated mosaic. Remember that what you see in the catalog has not been grouted, so it will look completely different when you apply it at home.
Before buying, ask the seller if they can show you a grouted copy and compare it to the expected result.
Patterns and prints
Image source: Bill Fry Bau – Wm. H. Fry Const. Co.
Consider adding a particular pattern / print to your bathroom. Geometric patterns, for example, can easily be achieved with “subway tiles” on them.
Another good idea is to choose an attractive print and apply it to your shower enclosure to make it unique.
Maintenance is important
Image source: Dijeau Poage construction
We don’t like cleaning. We also switch from “dislike” to “hate” when it comes to showers and pipes. Why is it like that? Perhaps it is the wrong tile choice that often plagued us before we finally decided to replace it.
That’s why porcelain and ceramic tiles are housewives’ favorite choices: They look great; and almost no maintenance is required (provided they are properly sealed). Stone, on the other hand, is more prone to dirt and grime. and can be very problematic when applied to it with textures.
Image source: Smart design studio
In conclusion, glass isn’t exactly the maintenance broker you would love. and it can also be very slippery. Have you decided to use it because of its beautiful appearance, we recommend that you choose a coated version with no textures.
Make it easy
Image source: James Patrick Walters
Dark bathrooms, or those that have almost no access to natural light, should use lighter colored tiles to reflect the glare and distribute it throughout the room.
Bathrooms bathed in direct sunlight should avoid this solution, as a number of shiny tiles can be enough to create uncomfortable glare. Instead, they can benefit from darker tones or semi-gloss tiles with a satin sheen.
make it personal
Image source: Susan Jay Design
You and the members of your family should really have the final say on tile colors. While rare rooms with simple tiles can “sneak out”, a cozy family bathroom needs more.
So, you’re welcome to make bold and vivid decisions or add kid-friendly decals. Older people, on the other hand, can choose a more sophisticated scheme, such as beautiful gray or creamy white.