How do you pick bath tile?

Posted on: 21:07:21

The style of your home may also dictate the style of tile you select. If you have a contemporary home, ensure that this style flows through to your bathroom. Likewise, if you have a period home, you may wish to use a tile that gives a subtle nod with the use of colour or style of your tile.

Selecting the material and finish can depend on your overall design and function. While natural stone has character, care requirements are higher, and the tiles will need resealing over time to maintain the protection.

Below is an easy go to guide on the ups and downs of the various types of tiles:

Ceramic Tile

Water & stain resistant
Easy to cut & install
Ideal for interior walls and flooring
Floor | Wall | Countertop

Porcelain Tile

Waterproof & stain proof
Scratch & chip resistant
Great for almost any room or surface
Floor | Wall | Countertop | Outdoor

Glass Tile

Waterproof & stain proof
Easy to clean – perfect for shower walls, pools, & kitchen backsplashes
Wall | Outdoor

Natural Stone

Water, heat, stain & scratch resistant
Can last a lifetime with proper care
Sealing recommended
Floor | Wall | Countertop | Outdoor

Metal Tile

Easy to install & maintain
Makes a stunning kitchen backsplash or feature wall
Floor | Wall | Countertop

Quarry

Stain resistant
Easy to maintain
Superior slip resistance in wet conditions
Floor | Outdoor

Sizes of tiles are also quite personal. Trending currently is large format tiles for bathrooms. They can feel luxurious, look fantastic and require less grout. Of course, the size of the bathroom to be tiled will need to be taken into consideration, and tiles size should be in proportion to the size of your bathroom.

Colour plays an important part of tile selection for your bathroom. Light coloured or neutral tiles will always make any space; appear larger, as pale colours reflect more light. They will also help your bathroom to feel more open, spacious, and bright. A darker tile on the other hand can make your bathroom appear smaller and cosier. Dark tiles also create a wonderful moodiness and sense of drama, which creates an air of warmth and sophistication.

The colour selection of grout is also important. There was a craze recently that saw many people using a contrasting colour of grout to the tile (i.e., black grout with a white tile) however; err on the side of caution with this, as you may grow tired of this visually, relatively quickly. A safe design option is to match your grout colour as closely as possible to your tile colour, and to also minimize the grout width to as little as possible.

Tiles can do many things, they can protect walls in baths and showers, even behind the basin, and the obvious benefit of tiles is that they decorate a space like nothing else can. A clean and modern update may be exactly what you are looking for, and whether you want to choose natural stone, ceramic, porcelain, or glass (plus there’s a multitude of shapes and finishes to choose from too), Gilded Home will be able to help you find clarity.

If you need to know how to choose bathroom tiles for a brand-new bathroom design, or to revamp an existing room, contact Gilded Home for a consultation.