Choosing Bathroom Tiles: Everything you Need to Know
One of the most crucial decisions you'll face is choosing the right tiles. The tile market offers an overwhelming array of styles, sizes, and costs, making it a challenging design selection. So, where do you start? What do you choose and why? Let's dive into key considerations that will empower you to select tiles like a pro!
1. Determine Your Design Style First
Before diving into tile shopping, ensure you've chosen and finalised your design style. This step is vital because you'll want tiles that match your design requirements. If you haven't done this yet, we have a free Bathroom Design PDF to guide you through the process that you can down load here: Bathroom Design Secrets. Once you understand your design's colors, textures, and tones, you can begin your tile selection.
2. Understand the Tile Types
Base Tiles: Base tiles serve as the foundational floor or wall tiles that flow through the majority of the room. These tiles don't have to be plain or boring. Instead, they are consistent, unifying elements.
Feature Tiles: Feature tiles are designed to stand out and add a wow-factor to the room. They are typically used on 1-2 walls or even throughout the bathroom. For instance, you can pair plain vanity fixtures with a striking mosaic feature tile to create balance and impact in your design.
3. Consider Tile Sizes
The wide range of tile sizes can be overwhelming. To guide your tile size selection, start with a budget in mind. Also, remember that tilers may charge extra labor fees for laying extra-large or intricate small tiles. We recommend starting with 600x600 and 300x600 tiles for your floor and wall base. If you opt for small rectangular or square tiles, make sure they align with your design style. Small tiles often mean more grout lines, which can affect your cleaning, cost, and style preferences.
4. Tile Prices
Tile prices vary based on size and intricacy. Smaller, detailed tiles like mosaics and mosaic sheets tend to be more expensive. Remember that your tiler's labor fees will also affect the cost. Ensure you budget adequately to compensate your tiler for their time and rates. Additionally, quality plays a significant role in the price, especially when considering real stones. They can be costlier and more expensive to install. If you seek budget-friendly options, consider 600x600 or 300x600 porcelain tiles, ranging from $29-$69 per square meter. Tiles over $69 per square meter offer a higher-end finish.
5. Plan Your Tile Layout
Tile layout and combinations are crucial when planning your bathroom design. If you're a beginner, it's best to keep it simple because sometimes simplicity creates the most beautiful bathrooms. A straightforward design ensures your style remains timeless. Our recommended approach:
1 feature tile wall (e.g., mosaic tile or herringbone) on the vanity or shower wall.
Base wall tiles (plain white or simple) for the remaining walls.
Base floor tiles (a standard floor tile, textured stone, or concrete look tile).
This balanced approach saves costs, making it a common choice in successful bathroom designs. By using a feature wall tile on one wall, you achieve a cost-effective and balanced design.
With a better understanding of tiles, you can confidently make selections beyond aesthetics. When choosing tiles, consider your design, project budget, and cleaning preferences. These factors will lead you in the right direction to select the perfect tiles for your bathroom renovation. Share this guide with someone struggling to choose tiles, and embark on your tile shopping journey with confidence! Happy tile shopping!
If you need more help creating your bathroom design..
Download our free “Design Secrets” PDF guide for a more in-depth how to on designing your bathroom.
