10 TIPS FOR CHOOSING BATHROOM TILES

With an array of colours, shapes, sizes, patterns and textures to choose from, selecting the right tile for your bathroom can seem overwhelming at first.
Read on for our tips and guide to making the right selection for your bathroom, and be satisfied with your choice for years to come.

1. Drain type

When choosing a drain, a traditional round point drain can impact your tile choice and require extra work to cut and align the tiles.
We recommend choosing a tile insert strip drain that allows you to feature your tile, without the interruption of a traditional point drain, throughout your bathroom. You can learn more about them here.

2. Look and style

Have you considered what style or look you want to achieve with your bathroom? While your tile choice can be dictated by your budget, having an overall goal for your style is important to help keep you on track for your bathroom design.
Some popular styles include:

• Minimalist - Neutral colour choice with a classid grey floor tile paired with a clean white wall tile
• Geometric - choose to feature a hexagonal or elongated tile
• Contemporary - Clean minimalist tiles with a good contrast between floor and wall tile choices
• Retro - Crisp white and neutral tiles to feature a retro pattern or brushed brass tapware

Now that you’re ready to go shopping, colour, tile size, shape and pattern can be considered.

Size

Consider the size and shape of your bathroom when selecting tiles. If the shower is separate, you could opt for a different tile within the shower vicinity and allow for a tile with a toothed (grippy) finish.
Smaller spaces can benefit from a larger tile¹ size to reduce clutter, however if you’re adventurous, smaller geometric tiles can make a retro feature piece for your bathroom.
The horizontal alignment of oblong tiles can also create the illusion of more space.

Colour

Traditionally a darker tile is chosen for the floor and a lighter colour for the walls, but rules were made to be broken. As long as you’re not creating clutter, feel free to bend the rules and play with colour and texture.
While a popular colour choice is monochrome, grey and white, choosing a deep green or blue for a floor tile can add depth and interest to your bathroom.
Choosing a feature tile with a pattern, or natural marble look is also a popular consideration, and when paired with a neutral tile, can have a big impact on the style of your bathroom.

3. Less is more

Try to select at most a floor tile, wall tile and feature tile. That’s only 3 tile choices, and many bathroom renovations only feature 2, to give a sleek minimalist appearance.

4. Maintenance

While you will be enjoying your tile choices for years to come, you’ll also be cleaning them regularly, so choosing a colour and surfaces that’s easy to clean will make cleaning less time consuming.
Think about cleaning the surface of the tile and in between the tiles in the grouted area. Smaller tiles mean more grout.

Summary

Choosing tiles and renovating your bathroom can be an enjoyable process, once you’ve got the basics covered and arm yourself with tile knowledge and our helpful tips.