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Ultimate Bathroom Tile Buying Guide: Styles, Sizes & Finishes

Choosing the perfect tiles for your bathroom may seem daunting, given the myriad of options available in terms of colours, styles, textures, shapes, and sizes. Whether you’re revamping a compact guest ensuite or sprucing up a spacious family bathroom, the tiles you select play a pivotal role in setting the tone and style of your space.
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For instance, understanding the difference between porcelain and ceramic tiles and the various natural stones is crucial as it affects their suitability based on the traffic your bathroom endures. Our guide aims to simplify these choices, helping you find the perfect match for bathroom floors, walls and any feature areas. You can be sure the tile choices you settle on will meet your design taste and the daily practical demands all bathrooms and ensuites must withstand.

We’ll walk you through everything you need to know to make an informed decision, ensuring your new bathroom achieves the perfect balance of practicality and visual appeal. Let’s dive into the essentials of selecting the best bathroom tiles to enhance your home.

What are the benefits of bathroom tiles?

Bathroom tiles offer many benefits, making them the ideal choice for both functional and decorative purposes in any bathroom or ensuite setting. Let’s discuss some key advantages of choosing bathroom tiles over other market alternatives, such as acrylic or laminate shower panels.

Durability and Longevity

Bathroom tiles, particularly porcelain, are known for their remarkable durability. Manufactured at high temperatures, around 1000°c, these tiles possess a hard, dense body resistant to impacts, scratches, and moisture. This makes them ideally suited for installation in frequently used bathrooms, both in wet showering and bathing areas and, more generally, in any room with high humidity.

Low Maintenance

One significant benefit of choosing bathroom tiles is their ease of maintenance. Porcelain tiles, for instance, do not require sealing and can be cleaned effortlessly with most regular cleaning solutions without the risk of causing damage. This low-maintenance aspect ensures they remain a practical choice for busy bathrooms.

Aesthetic Flexibility

Tiles come in a wide array of designs, colours, and textures, allowing you to customise your room according to your personal style and chosen bathroom theme. Whether you seek a sleek, modern look with glossy finishes or a traditional atmosphere with matt textures, bathroom tiles can meet diverse aesthetic needs. Moreover, porcelain tiles have a luxurious finish, enhancing the bathroom’s overall appeal.

Hygienic

With smooth, impervious surfaces, bathroom tiles do not harbour allergens or absorb odours, making them hygienic options for bathroom walls and floors. Their easy-to-clean nature supports a healthy bathroom environment, crucial for personal wellness. Choosing the right bathroom tiles allows you to blend practicality and style, ensuring your bathroom or ensuite looks appealing and functions efficiently under daily demands.

Popular Bathroom Styles

Our comprehensive guide to selecting the right tiles for your bathroom has provided insights into various factors like durability, maintenance, and aesthetics. Now, let’s explore some of the most popular bathroom styles that can transform your personal space into a unique, relaxing bathing or showering sanctuary.

Contemporary Bathrooms

Contemporary bathrooms are defined by sleek, modern, clean lines that blend functionality with simplicity. Opt for large, minimalistic tiles up to 600x1200mm to reduce grout lines and create a seamless look. Neutral colours like beige, grey, or subtle greens and blues enhance the modern feel, and materials such as polished porcelain will give a chic, clean finish.

White Marble Bathrooms

Embodying luxury, white marble bathrooms are all about sophistication. Calacatta and Carrara marble, or their porcelain imitations, feature distinctive veining, adding opulence and timeless elegance. Consider using large slabs on walls for an uninterrupted marble effect, complemented by smaller floor tiles for contrast.

Traditional Classic Bathrooms

Traditional classic-style bathrooms are a nod to the past, featuring patterns and colours that reflect historical eras. Choose subway tiles in muted colours like soft greens, creams, or any pastel shade of your favourite colour. These can be arranged in traditional patterns such as herringbone or basketweave to enhance the vintage charm.

Hotel-Style Bathrooms

Hotel-style bathrooms echo the sumptuous and luxurious feel found in five-star hotels. Use high-gloss, large-format tiles to create a reflective surface that adds depth and brightness. Incorporating elements like a freestanding bathtub or a walk-in shower with a glass enclosure can elevate the opulence of the space, especially in windowless bathrooms or ensuites.

Timeless and Transitional Bathrooms

Timeless and transitional-style bathrooms focus on designs that transcend current trends, offering a look that remains classic year after year. Think traditional colours such as white, black, and grey in rectangular or hexagonal tiles. A polished finish helps maintain elegance, whereas matte provides a more understated beauty.

Moroccan Bathrooms

Moroccan bathrooms are distinguished by their vibrant patterns and colours, featuring intricately designed tiles that command attention. Consider colourful mosaic tiles for the floor or a feature wall, using geometric patterns which characterise the authentic Moroccan charm.

Designer Bathrooms

Designer bathrooms cater to bespoke elegance; each tile choice contributes to a coherent aesthetic narrative. Experiment with textures and unconventional tile shapes like hexagons or scallops; aim for a tile choice that contributes to the bathroom’s visual impressiveness and ‘wow’ factor.

Cottagecore Bathrooms

Cottagecore bathrooms aim for a rustic yet whimsical charm, emphasising natural beauty and simplicity. To achieve an earthy feel, use tiles with natural finishes, such as stone or wood-look porcelain tiles. Smaller, hand-painted tiles can also add a touch of personal craftsmanship.

Stylish Bathrooms

Stylish bathrooms are about expressing your personal style through the endless choices the ever-evolving tile market offers. Mix and match tile sizes and finishes; pair high gloss wall tiles with matt floor tiles for a dynamic texture contrast. Bold colours or geometric patterns can also serve as statement pieces that showcase individuality.

Each of these styles offers a different way to enhance your bathroom or ensuite space, ensuring functionality blends with your design preferences to create a truly personalised retreat.

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What shape and size of bathroom tiles should I use?

Determining the correct shape and size of tiles for your bathroom ensures you maximise both aesthetic appeal and functionality. Let’s explore some popular options and their best uses.

Rectangular Tiles

Rectangular tiles, such as 600x300mm, are perfect for bathroom walls, creating a visually larger space when laid horizontally. Larger sizes, like 600x1200mm, are ideal for more extensive wall and floor areas, reducing grout lines. The versatility and popularity of rectangular tiles and the many size options available allow for classic or modern designs and can be installed in various layouts.

Metro Tiles

Metro tiles (also known as subway tiles), characterised by their bevelled edges, add a timeless charm to any bathroom. Commonly used sizes include 75x150mm and 100x200mm. These tiles work exceptionally well in both traditional and modern settings, and mixing colours can offer a unique, customised appearance.

Fishscale Tiles

Fishscale tiles provide a distinctive look, ideal for creating a feature wall or a striking showering area. Their unique shape helps to add texture and depth to the space, making them a perfect choice for those looking to add a playful yet elegant touch to their bathroom.

Square Tiles

Square tiles remain a popular choice due to their simplicity and versatility. Sizes range from 100x100mm to 800x800mm plus, supporting various layout patterns like grid or staggered. Smaller square tiles are excellent for splashbacks, while larger ones can make a bathroom feel more spacious when used on the floor.

Plank Tiles

Tile planks, often imitating wooden floorboards, offer the timeless beauty and charm of wood with the durability and practicality of a tile. They typically measure around 150x900mm and can be laid in a staggered, brick-bond pattern, ideal for urban or rustic-themed bathrooms.

Hexagon Tiles

Hexagonal tiles add geometric flair and can vary in size from small mosaics to statement large tiles, suitable for both floors and walls. They allow for creative bathroom installations, such as clustered honeycomb patterns or randomly mixed colours, to add a modern twist.

Small Bathroom Tiles

Installing smaller tiles, such as mosaics or small hexagons, in smaller bathrooms and shower rooms can add depth and interest with more grout lines. Additionally, small-format tiles can also be beneficial for adding character to compact showers and backsplashes.

Large Bathroom Tiles

Large bathroom tiles, like 600x600mm or bigger, contribute to a streamlined look with fewer grout lines, enlarging the perception of space. They’re effective for both walls and floors and lend a luxurious, open feel to any bathroom.

Mosaic Tiles

Mosaics are a splendid choice for adding intricate detail and vibrant colour to your bathroom. Commonly used in sizes less than 50x50mm, they are perfect for feature walls, borders, or as an accent to other tiles, providing unlimited creative possibilities.

What’s the best tile finish for a bathroom or ensuite?

Selecting the right tile finish is crucial for enhancing the functionality and appearance of your bathroom. Each finish offers unique characteristics that cater to different preferences and requirements.

Matt Tiles

Matt finish tiles are known for their non-reflective surfaces, which provide a soft, understated look. They’re an excellent choice for high-traffic areas as they hide smudges and watermarks more effectively than their glossy equivalents. Additionally, matt tiles offer better slip resistance, making them a safer option for wet areas. For bathrooms, we recommend matt tiles with at least an R10 slip rating.

Gloss Tiles

Gloss-finish tiles feature a shiny surface that reflects light, enhancing the brightness of a room. This finish can make small bathrooms appear larger and more open. Gloss tiles are trendy for walls but can also be used on floors where there isn’t a high risk of slipping. It’s important to note that while gloss tiles are easy to clean, they show water marks and smudges more readily than matt tiles.

Textured Tiles

Textured tiles are ideal for adding depth and interest to bathroom spaces. With their raised patterns and varied tactile surfaces, they can prevent slipping, making them suitable for shower floors and other wet areas. Textured tiles also effectively hide dirt and grime, reducing the cleaning effort required to maintain them. They come in various designs, from subtle bumps to pronounced ridges and are best used in areas free from bathroom fixings.

Crackle Glaze Tiles

Crackle glaze tiles provide a vintage or hand-crafted look with their unique crackled finish. This glaze is applied over the tile, which then crazes, creating a crackled appearance after firing. Sealing these tiles properly is essential to prevent moisture from entering the cracks and causing damage. Crackle glaze tiles are primarily used for decorative wall sections in a bathroom as they offer a distinct, classic aesthetic that can complement both modern and traditional decors. However, due to their textured nature, they might require more maintenance than other finishes.

Tiling FAQs

Which materials should you choose when tiling your bathroom?

We recommend opting for ceramic or porcelain tiles as they are highly durable and resistant to damp conditions. Natural stone tiles are another luxurious option, though they may require more maintenance and cost more to install.

What is the most popular colour for bathroom tiles?

Until recently, neutral colours like grey, beige, and white have been favourites because they create a clean, modern look and offer versatile styles. However, we are now seeing a rise in people making bolder colour and pattern choices.

What colour tiles make a bathroom look bigger?

Lighter colours, such as whites and pastels, are great for making a small bathroom feel larger. They reflect more light and give an airy, open feel, especially in windowless rooms.

How many tiles do I need?

To calculate the number of tiles needed, measure the height and width of each wall area to be tiled and multiply to find the square meterage. Always allow approximately 15-20% more than you calculate to account for cuts and breakages. Bathrooms often need a larger cut allowance because more cuts are required, for example, for WC boxings. Keep in mind that the larger the tile, the more wastage you need to allow for; this can be up to 30%.

Are bathroom tiles waterproof?

Tiles are waterproof, making them ideal for bathrooms; however, you must ensure they are correctly installed with waterproof adhesive and grout. Keep an eye out for any silicone splits and grout cracks that can appear over time. We recommend thoroughly cleaning, repairing, and replacing grout and silicone as necessary. Just like cars, bathrooms need regular maintenance to keep them functioning their best for years to come.

Are bathroom tiles expensive?

The cost can vary widely based on the material and design. Ceramic tiles are more budget-friendly, while high-end materials like marble can be expensive. We also recommend taking into consideration installation costs when choosing your tiles, as the time (and therefore cost!) can vary quite dramatically depending on what material and size of tiles you choose.

Are bathroom tiles on trend?

Absolutely, tiles are a timeless choice for bathrooms. Current trends include large-format tiles, geometric patterns, and bold colours for accent walls.

Are bathroom tiles easy to clean?

Yes, tiles are relatively easy to maintain. Regular cleaning with mild soap and water is sufficient to keep them looking pristine. Avoid harsh chemicals to preserve the glaze. Natural stone tiles, such as marble and limestone, require more care and attention and specialist stone cleaning products must be used.

Can tiles be used with underfloor heating?

Yes, tiles are an excellent flooring choice for underfloor heating systems. They conduct heat well, making them very efficient at warming up and retaining heat.

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