All you need to know about bathroom tiles

Choosing bathroom tiles can be a challenge. As well as sorting through hundreds of patterns, materials and colours to find a tile that fits your particular bathroom space, there are countless ‘rules’ you need to understand.

Don't worry – we’ve put together everything you need to know about tiles and bathrooms.

Find your base tile

If you’ve been browsing through Trends bathrooms for a while, chances are you’ve come across tiles you’d love to include in your bathroom. It’s best to pick one tile as your ‘must-have’, and plan using other tiles around this base tile.

You really don’t want to go crazy with tile varieties in the bathroom, unless you want the space to feel cluttered and potentially overwhelming. After you’ve chosen your base tile, choose up to two more. You may want to use your base tile for the walls, for example, but go with a different colour for the floor and shower walls.

Balance colours

Balance is an important consideration in every part of the home, but especially so in a space as confined as the bathroom. If you’ve decided to go with a really unique or strong coloured tile as your primary tile, use tiles with softer colours to accent it.

The opposite applies, too. A white, grey or soft pastel primary tile would look much better with an interesting small tile alongside.

If you have a small bathroom, keep it simple

For those working with small bathroom spaces, it’s best to ignore what we’ve said above and stick with one tile in one colour. By going with a single tile for walls and the floor, and running it right into the shower (if possible), your bathroom will look that much bigger.

Tip: Install a floating vanity to add floor space and open up the bathroom.

Consider size

From tiny mosaics right up to giant ceramic panels, tiles come in sizes to fit basically every possible bathroom situation. If you’d like variety in your bathroom, consider using the larger tiles for the majority of the space, and use smaller tiles to add detail and character.

Know the materials

Glass, natural stone and porcelain/ceramic. These are the most popular tile options – and for good reason. However, there are also new options like Ceramin Vario which offer unique advantages of their own.

• Glass has limitless colour and style options, is durable, resistant to humidity and moisture and easy to maintain.
• Natural stone is very durable, natural look and has a number of different material options.
• Porcelain/ceramic options are quite affordable, versatile and moisture and stain resistant.
• Ceramin Vario: An alternative to natural stone and ceramic tiles, this is a combination of polypropylene with natural materials. It’s light, durable and you can easily install it yourself.

Story by: David Renwick