Can you help me find tiles for the bathroom please?

[Overwhelmingbathroomchoice]

I have NC'ed so I can share the thread with DH.

Can you help me find some tiles (wall and floor) for our bathroom please. There's so much choice I don't know where to begin.

Can you narrow it down a bit, do you prefer a modern look or more traditional? Whats your budget? Do you like colour or more neutral? Gloss or Matt? What's the rest of the bathroom like?

What are you looking for? Colour scheme? Your personal style? Age and style of the home?
Let’s narrow it down a bit.

It's an average sized bathroom with bath, shower, sink and toilet which doesn't get much light sadly. It's a blank slate really we are replacing everything.

It's currently got ivory marble effect tiles on the wall and light grey tiles on the floor.

DH prefers neutral colours (white/cream/ivory/beige/grey) and will veto anything with too much colour. It is something I have to compromise on. I think this part of the problem, we have very different tastes.

The rest of the house is modern so veering towards a more modern look here too. The house was built in the 90's, so although not a new, new build it's not a period property either.

Budget isn't a problem as we are using inheritance as long as the new bathroom will last.

I really like plain white tiles but a darker grout and a more interesting lay pattern. I think this would look lovely against black or brushed brass fixtures that are popular now

What’s the layout? I would suggest trying to have one wall without tiles but that’s only possible with some layouts (ie where there is a wall which doesn’t have the sink/shower on)

If you have something on each wall then a half tiled wall all the way round can work well.

I would suggest two tiles, something quite large for the floor and shower (to reduce amount of grout to get grubby) and then smaller more decorative tiles for everywhere else. The side of the bath can be tiled in either.

Mid colour and/or slightly patterned is good for the floor tile. I have had terrazzo style (but porcelain) in one bathroom, a warm mid grey in another, and whitewashed wood style (but ceramic) in another. Then some kind of smaller white tile on the wall with all these.

Have a look on Pinterest to see what you like? Also if you are having a vanity unit you might want to choose that first and then find a tile that goes well, it will be harder the other way round.

I really like the look of white textured tiles. White is a colour that doesn’t date. I thought plain white looked a bit “cheap” and the textured part adds to the luxury feel:

www.directtilewarehouse.com/new-white-textured-tiles/

You can't beat good old metro tiles, especially as you can lay them in many different ways and play around with grout colour. Also, the tiles themselves don't have to be white and they suit both period and modern looks

If your bathroom doesn't get much light, I think you need to add warmth so trendy grey tones might not be the way to go and fashionable metro tiles can also sometimes look too stark/utilitarian.

If it was me I'd go for a light/medium neutral wood effect LVT on the floor and a pale beige/white coloured stone effect tile on the wall (to tone in with the light browns of the wood floor). A flat tile will also be easier to clean than a textured tile would be. Maybe something like this: www.toppstiles.co.uk/torino/torino-avorio-tile or this www.toppstiles.co.uk/salerno/salerno-beige (first things I quickly found, but you get the idea).

You could then add small amounts of colour with accessories - soap dispenser, pot plant, towels etc, hopefully your DH won't object to that!

[quote roses2]I really like the look of white textured tiles. White is a colour that doesn’t date. I thought plain white looked a bit “cheap” and the textured part adds to the luxury feel:

www.directtilewarehouse.com/new-white-textured-tiles/[/quote]
@roses2 These tiles look lovely! Thank you for posting the link, I’ve been looking for textured white tiles. Will order a sample.

For the walls I'd say glass all the way. So much easier to keep clean and you can have the colour made to any BS or RAL shade.

Beware textured tiles - unless you want to have to dust your walls. I wish I was kidding.

I personally wouldn’t use metro tiles - I think they’ll date quickly.

Ive used big white tiles in one bathroom - 6”x15” and they’re absolutely brilliant - I don’t really notice them so I’ll be able to live with them forever.

The other bathroom has the textured ones in. They looked great but need far too much cleaning.

Whenever I have too much choice I pick three retailers and choose from them. At least til I know my own mind better.

I had textured tiles in previous house, they looked great and I didn’t notice lots of dust? We had a good cleaner though 😁

@Yellownotblue

I had textured tiles in previous house, they looked great and I didn’t notice lots of dust? We had a good cleaner though 😁

Maybe it depends on the texture.

Or it’s because we have a crap cleaner.

Thanks for all your replies. Terrible sketch of the bathroom attached. It is currently all tiled.

Roses I too like those tiles. We have a cleaner but more cleaning is a bit off putting especially with a DC allergic to dust mites.

IamnotwhoyouthinkIam I haven't considered LTV flooring.

We've narrowed it down to beige or similar colour large tiles. I want to avoid grey.

Completely ignorant question is it best to get ceramic or porcelain wall tiles? Is it porcelain tiles for the floor?

Ooh good layout

I’d go with some feature decorative tiles on the window wall behind the sink and loo. (Chevron or herringbone or hexagon for example). Maybe half wall height. Then you could carry that on round the bath. Then a different large tile on the floor and in the shower.

You could use the same tile all over but it’s a lot more boring!!

Porcelain generally tougher and often thinner

@Overwhelmingbathroomchoice - I think porcelain is tougher than ceramic but also generally more expensive - so not really necessary for walls imo (where they shouldn't get a lot of wear and tear, unlike floors).

Popular LVT brands include Karndean and Amtico but there's a lot of choice out there now. I decided on a waterproof wood effect laminate myself (Quickstep Impressive), but I understand LVT is very popular with a lot of people as it can feel a bit softer and warmer underfoot (and you can get stone tile effects if you don't like the wood plank look).

@UtilityLayout sadly our cleaner left and it’s all now down to me. I so wish I could sack myself right now.

Whatever you choose for the floor, get a sample and chuck some water on it. Seriously, we're renting and the floor tiles in the bathroom show EVERY drop of water etc. I can even see my slipper prints straight after I've cleaned it

@MiddlesexGirl have you had glass cladding put in in a bathroom? I ask because (being in the same position as the OP) I can see the attractions of glass, but it's not common and I'd be worried about screwups in the fitting. E.g. how is it attached without blobs of adhesive being visible from the bathroom side, how is it removed if there is an issue, how do corners and where it joins the bath get sealed blah blah blah.

I've had it in bathrooms, laundry room and kitchen. All except one with no issue in 15 years. Still looking as good as new with just standard cleaning.
The one with an issue is just a small bit of discoloration which I should have notified to the fitter at the time as it was within guarantee.
No adhesive visible. There is sealant but that has been fine.
I don't know how it gets removed but I'll find out soon as we're having one bathroom redone.

minipie I like your idea of having 2 tiles, one more decorative and one larger and plainer.

iamnotwhoyouthinkiam LVT looks like it may suit us, definitely one to look at when we can get to look in person. There's both solid wood and engineered oak flooring elsewhere in the house so plank look may fit in well.