"Timeless" bathroom tiles

[9GreenBottles]

If you had to choose between travertine tiles ( 450 x 301mm) and white metro tiles (200 x 100mm), which do you think would be less likely to date in an ensuite bathroom?

White metro. Hands down.

White metro with white grout

Definitely white metro tiles.

Travertine looked dated to me a few years ago and I am not a trendsetter!

I think white metro with black grout had their moment a couple of years ago, so may date. Maybe with white grout it would be less of an issue?

I think both are quite dated but metro are the better of the two.

If we did white metro, it would be with white grout but I had larger white tiles for several years and got a bit bored of how bland it was after a while.

I do love travertine though. Six here's the colour and size I'd likely go for (but not the bathroom fittings!). They would be stone and not a stone effect.

I wouldn't use travertine or metro tiles, they're both everywhere. Unless you have a Victorian / Edwardian house, in which case metro tiles are period appropriate.

We're considering limestone. I think plain tiles or natural stone tiles are less likely to date generally, but I'm hoping plainer / large format tiles will help make it more timeless. Realistically though, everything dates.

Yes, you're right, everything does date. I agree, natural stone is less jarring than other styles. You would never go into a roman building and think it was horrific in the same way as you likely would with a 70's avocado bath and psychedelic tiles

I love travertine tiles. They are warm and to me still look luxurious.

I think the travertine tiles already look old fashioned. Metro tiles are very in at the moment, which means they'll be out of fashion soon.....?

What would people suggest as a more timeless type of tile (I'd not be expecting to redecorate this guest room ensuite for at least 20 years once complete) - or does no such thing exist and I should do it on personal preference?

If you're going to live there for 20 years, choose what you love!

We put off-white metro tiles in our Edwardian house six years ago and they still look good. I'm not sure what the current thing is, maybe Moroccan style patterns?

I'd go for white, but larger that metro, which I think are a bit of a passing fad (which always make me think of toilets in public buildings, or the underground!).

Agree, prefer travertine tiles.

We have natural stone tiles, in the largest size available at the time, to cut down on the dreaded cleaning of the grout. It looks very understated and untrendy, and I hope will stay that way for many years to come. Bathroom fittings all white, with no fancy bits, very plain single lever mixer taps. We really wanted to try to future proof, and four years on I still feel my blood pressure go down in our bathrooms, so I think we have got a good classic, relaxing but unfussy look.

Only proper vintage tiles are timeless. Portuguese azulejos &c. Anything bought new will age in no time, no matter how plain (plain is just a fad, like any other).

I think the thing with metro tiles (with white grout - dark grout is dated) is they'd been around forever (well, as long as the subway and public toilets!) before they were trendy. So they won't look trendy in ten years but I don't think they'll look "dated" in the same way as travertine or (for example) chevron. I do think Moroccan type tiles are gorgeous and one well will obviously look dated when trends move on, but in an ok way, like classic 70s bathroom.

I think either choice is likely to look timeless. Both are classic and lovely.

I'd go for whichever you prefer and not worry too much about which might look dated in the future.

It will be the taps etc that will be more likely to age than the tiling.

Here are some blog post comments on classic tiles from an interior designer in Canada. Food for thought.

www.mariakillam.com/installing-encaustic-patterned-tile/

My ex PIL had a 1930's house with an original bathroom which they eventually updated circa 1990 but they kept the original tiles which were quite flat white metro tiles. They really looked lovely once they had been regrouted so I do think of them as being timeless.

Our main bathroom is travertine, a bit like yours by the sounds of it Ivory, and it has the same effect

is it going to be fullt tiled or some plaster/paint? that makes a difference to me. with white you can change paint colour / towels etc and create a whole new look very easily.
if its fully tiled then travertine is warmer.
dp picked our tiles without me and wont hear of part tiling and plastering but i prefer it for versatility.
hes opted for grey tiles so ive chosen graphite grey gloss units and kept it looking quite modern and masculine.

Thanks Empress, that was interesting to read.