Bathroom tile is both functional and aesthetic. As long as you get the right grout for the tiling you want and the right tile material for your home’s construction and location, and you get it installed correctly, you’re covered on function. Water locked out, home infrastructure protected.
But getting the aesthetics right for your bathroom remodels and tastes is much more interesting. You have to choose from appropriate tile materials, colors, shapes and sizes, find a grout color that works, and even decide how far apart to space your tiles. If you’re floundering for a design plan, these five popular ideas can inspire you.
1. Simple geometric designs in neutral colors
Think big picture as you choose all the details of your bathroom tiling. Everything works together and influences everything else. For example, as your tiles get bigger, the individual pattern on each tile, the sturdiness of the material, and the color of the grout becomes more important.
So consider this basic approach if you are overwhelmed by the idea of coordinating everything. Find a geometric tile pattern you like such as classic hexagons or subway tile rectangle. Pick a neutral base color that matches your home’s aesthetic, like ivory white, and two accent tile colors, like slate grey and light turquoise. Then just carry that tiling throughout the entire bathroom, doing the floor, the backsplash and the shower walls in the pattern.
With this bathroom tile design idea, you’re creating a blank canvas that looks clean and classy, giving yourself the space to personalize your bathroom with accents, details and accessories that you can change more easily.
2. Marble and ceramic mosaic designs on the floor
Sometimes the most classic classics are the best. Take a page out of Greek design and combine small ceramic tile mosaics with larger pieces of marble or a marble substitute into a floor mosaic pattern.
Although you can have a picture created in your mosaic, this is better reserved for the shower wall. This can be a great touch in a kid’s bathroom — choose warm, primary colors and put a favorite animal or rubber ducky on the wall in tiling to make the bathroom fun and playful.
For the floor tile, it’s best to have an abstract design created. Mosaic tiles and natural stone elements lend themselves beautifully to patterns based on elegant and timeless lines. If you try this idea, be sure you work with a designer to manage the amount of dark stone and colors you use so the tiles don’t overpower the bathroom and make it feel heavy.
3. Mix large stone tiles
Whether you can afford marble, slate and other beautiful, natural elements, or decide to opt for slightly more affordable alternatives like travertine, you can’t beat the look and feel of stone in your bathroom. If you’re tiling your bathroom, make sure you use Wedi board underneath.
Use larger porcelain tiles to give naturally beautiful elements like marble the space they need to be enjoyed. You can mix complimentary color patterns by using different types of tiles on different surfaces. For example, marble is very strong, so it makes great floor tiling. Slate is stunning, but can be fragile, so it makes better trim or wall tile. Combine with granite vanities for maximum power and effect.
4. Focus on color and create a simple, solid, two-tone motif
You can do a lot just using simple, one-inch squares if you pick your tile colors creatively. One very effective application of this aesthetic is to select two colors that work together, such as a coffee brown and a steel blue color, like Air Force or cerulean. Do the walls around the shower and sink in brown but put in floor to ceiling “pillars” of blue behind the sink and showerhead as accents.
The simplicity and contrast can be striking and beautiful, especially if you pick a glazed finish and the right hues so your bathroom still feels warm and bright.
5. Create a focal wall using a simple color palette
If you don’t want to tile your entire bathroom, you can focus on the shower area. Select a color range you like, such as light blue or turquoise-green, and then do the entire will in a random mosaic of small tiles that range from lighter to darker than that color. This creates one focal wall to define the bathroom, and gives you the ability to use more adventurous colors elsewhere.
You can turn your bathroom into a serene, rejuvenating oasis if you take the right approach to selecting your tile. Follow these ideas to see what appeals to your aesthetic.
Featured images:
License: Creative Commons image source
License: Creative Commons image source
License: Creative Commons image source
License: Creative Commons image source
License: Creative Commons image source
License: Creative Commons image source
License: Creative Commons image source
License: Creative Commons image source
Rachel Wright is a home improvement editor and writer at QualitySmith with more than 10 years editing experience and five years working within digital media. For more help, see her comprehensive review on additions and remodels for your home.
