Help please. We can't make up our minds (bathroom tiles)

[Joanna2010]

Tomorrow we are due to pick up the bathroom tiles we have on order. I got in such a pickle choosing that we ended up going for large matt white tiles (to be laid in a brick formation) and a brown/beige border, like these:
www.toppstiles.co.uk/tprod955/section268/Super-Satin-White-Wall-Tile.html and www.toppstiles.co.uk/tprod41724/section1176/Expresso-Marble-Mosaic-48x15cm-040737.html
They tick our boxes in that they are classic, look easy to clean and will hopefully stand up to my messy family of boys. But now that they are in, I am worried that they are a bit boring.

I have an alternative option which I am loving but I am worried they will date quicker, they will be harder to keep clean (husband has a dirty job and have two boys), so much more grout to look after plus as they are more expensive, we will only be able to tile the bath/shower area and behind the sink and WC (we were going to tile at half level all the way round with the other tiles for easy cleaning).

Would you stick to safe and dependable or go out of your comfort zone? No one I have shown likes the second option which is making me doubt myself. Any advice or opinions would be so gratefully received.

Here is the link to the second option:
www.toppstiles.co.uk/tprod43988/section888/Antique-White.html?wishlist=true

I love the second option but for the reasons you've already given id go with option 1. I'm not crazy about the border tbh.

Perhaps you could lose the border tiles and instead incorporate a little of option 2 into the white.

Having Option 2 all around the bathroom would make me feel claustrophobic
I am a big fan of big white tiles in bathrooms - clean, functional and not limestone !
My anti brown stance means I am not crazy about the border, but Option 1 definitely

Thank you both. Option two would just be on two walls but I'm worried that will be a nightmare to clean.

I think the other reason I am reluctant to stay with the white tiles is that our current inherited (absolute hovel of a) bathroom is mostly white tiles so I feel as if is should be doing something different.

Quite like the idea of using both but we originally discounted a ceiling to floor panel due to our bathroom having duel aspect windows so we couldn't get a panel in that was centred anywhere.

I hate choosing tiles. They are so final.

What will the floor be? White bathroom furniture?

I'd go with the white tiles but maybe have a bit of colour in the border? This is what we did with ours - this is the main bathroom and the toilet, en-suite is basically same colour but I don't have any photos for some reason.

As an alternative option, you could use the tiles from option two to create a border? Our border is made from cut down mosaic sheets.

Option 2 is nicer

Option 2 is lovely. Don't like option one border.

If you can afford it, go for option two. Why would it be harder to keep clean?

Thank you all (and thank you for sharing your photos myother). Just to update, we went for the white option but changed the border to something more neutral as I was really worried about committing myself to a specific colour in case I went off it in a few years time.

The second option was a real shock when we actually saw it in the shop as it was nothing like the brochure at all. I really didn't like it at all.

The white option is definitely not how I saw my dream bathroom but after tile hunting for months and sending one lot back already my husband would have throttled me if we didn't come home with tiles today :)

Funnily enough I have had to make almost exactly the same choice - biggish white tiles or the alternative you linked to. I did think the alternatives looked like they'd be dirty so we went with the white (might still have the antique whites in the downstairs loo as a splash back). Not up yet but I think I'm happy, you can always put the colour/interest in with the paint and accessories and these are much easier to change!

I was all excited reading this thread as we have antique white and then you said you didn't like them

they look much better on an actual bathroom wall than in store. They look truly stunning in my bathroom and I can paint the walls any colour to match..I'm to late to now though

also they are super easy too clean had in nearly a year and no mould at all...in fact I'm not sure I've cleaned them

also super easy to clean..up nearly a year and not a spec of mould.In fact I don't think I've cleaned them at all!

also super easy to clean..up nearly a year and not a spec of mould.In fact I don't think I've cleaned them at all!

sorry! they are wady to clean though

I've chosen all white tiles for our bathrooms (work starts this week)
The plain white with white furniture in the family bathroom is offset by a royal blue rubber floor.
The white in our shower room is a soft white textured tile offset against a yorkstone floor & oak bathroom cabinets.
I went for white because I don't want to fall out of love with it in 5yrs & it's a good back drop for other colours.

Here's my antique white we have it round the bath only. We were on a budget so I know my bathroom won't compare well to most mumsnetter's!