Best Tiles For Bathrooms

• - Porcelain tiles
• - Faux effect tiles over real natural stone
• - Larger tiles with fewer grout lines
• - Slip resistant floor tiles for added safety

Choosing your tiles and paint colour is important in any renovation project but it’s particularly important in the bathroom as it’s the easiest way to add personality to the space. If you’re lucky enough to have a larger budget then you can explore more exciting sanitary ware options however, for most of us, it’s about adding a vibrancy to break up the cold and clinical shiny white basins, bowls and bathtubs!

In this article we explore some of the best tiles to use in a bathroom, whether that be from a technical point of view or from a style perspective, we’re here to bring life to your new bathroom suite.

When tiling a smaller bathroom, it’s important to consider a few things:

• - How much natural light does your bathroom get?
• - Is it an awkward shape or feel overcrowded?
• - How do you want to feel in the space?

Tiles L-R: Emberton Ivory, Astrea Ink Blue, Skandi Birch Slat Decor

If you don’t have much natural light, perhaps it’s north facing, in an attic or just has a small window, you can use glossy bathroom wall tiles to help bounce the natural light around the room. You can also use tile laying patterns to help create the illusion of more space, for example a herringbone pattern will make a room feel wider and a step ladder will provide more height.

If it feels a little awkward or segmented then you can use colour or differing surface textures to zone your spaces, for example using a different complementary bathroom tile in the shower to behind the sink unit. As long as you choose a harmonious palette then the room should still flow whilst the individual areas feeling more purposefully separated.

A neutral colour palette will help a smaller space feel airy and larger tiles with fewer grout lines will also help, however you can go in the opposite direction and choose darker, moodier shades to create a cosy, enveloping space.

If you’d like the space to feel calm and serene then a neutral palette with lots of natural textures and greenery is the way to go but if you like that cocooning sanctuary feel then definitely go darker with more sumptuous and luxurious textures.

Tiles L-R: Apuano, Victorian Flooring Darlington Blue, Flute Bright Skies

You would think that having a larger space to play with would make it easier to style, however this isn’t always the case with a bathroom as it can feel sparse and therefore clinical. The key here is to introduce a theme that will then inform every aspect of the space, from colour to accessories.

Pattern is a great way to add personality into a larger space, but it doesn’t always have to be a geometric shape, natural variation found in materials like marble etc. can feel more of a gentle, abstract pattern whilst still adding interest and depth to your space. We’d advise avoiding real marble in a bathroom though as it really doesn’t like the humid environment which will lead to discolouring over time, even with a lot of maintenance, therefore we’d recommend a realistic porcelain effect tile instead. You could also opt for a smaller tile and create pattern from its laying pattern and using a contrasting grout to make it really stand out.

Underfloor heating

Often considered a luxury purchase, electric underfloor heating is a cost-effective heating solution for your home, especially for bathrooms as they use radiant heat that gradually rises so no heat is lost. Not only does it keep your feet cosy all year round, but it also provides better overall heating in the winter months with no bulky radiators required.

Slip resistant floor tiles

We’ve probably all had a near miss in the bathroom when you’ve not seen a dangerous pool of water or been in the bath a bit too long! Slip resistant porcelain tiles after piece of mind for all the family as the chance of slipping on a damp floor is greatly reduced.

Using textured tiles

Although they look great, using a heavily textured tile in a bathroom can be a bit of hassle when it comes to keeping them clean. Compared to elsewhere in the house, the humidity of the bathroom and heavy water use means a lot more cleaning is required to keep tiles looking brand new. If you want to use a heavily textured tile, make sure to keep them sealed so dirt is easier to wipe away and we’d recommend investing in an electric cleaning brush for those nooks and crannies!

Renovating on a budget

If you’re renovating your bathroom on a tighter budget, we’ve created some articles to help you out, from deciding on how to set your budget to the best bathroom tiles for your budget.

Ready to design your ultimate bathroom? Try our online visualiser to experiment with tile combinations and colourways before buying your tile samples.