choosing tiles for Your bathroom renovation
- Gabrielle Glasson
- May 1
- 5 min read
When it comes to designing your dream bathroom, the tiles you choose for your floors and walls have a huge impact on the overall feel and aesthetic of your space. They're not just a practical necessity, they're an opportunity to make a statement, inject personality, or create a calming backdrop that sets the tone for your entire bathroom. Whether you're aiming for a sleek, modern look, a relaxed and natural feel, or a spa-like retreat, the right tiles can transform your bathroom into a space that's both functional and beautiful.
Walking into a tile shop with hundreds of options can feel a bit overwhelming, so it helps to have an idea of what type of tile or features you're looking for before you go.
Here are a few factors to consider when selecting bathroom tiles:
CHOOSING TILE and wall COLOUrs: go warm or cool
The first decision to make about your bathroom is the overall feel you want to achieve. This will then determine the colour palette you go for. Stick with a WARM palette, or a COOL colour palette.
WARM colours are colours like beige, creams, pinks, natural / linen tones and whites with a warm creamy undertone.
COOL colours are greys, blues and whites with a cooler grey/blue undertone.
Crisp white can be used in conjunction with a cool or warm colour palette and will bring a light-filled brightness to your space.
AVOID combining warm and cool tile colours between floors and walls. Combining warm and cool tile colours risks creating a look that isn't cohesive. (E.g. beige floor tiles tend to clash with grey wall tiles. Blue toned floor tiles tend to clash with cream-toned wall tiles.)
FEATURE Decide whether you'd like a feature tile to create a strong visual accent, or whether you'd like the more calming feel of a single colour palette across floors and walls. Feature tiles tend to be more expensive to purchase and to lay, so consider using these above dado-rail height (just above your vanity and below your mirror) to manage cost. Feature tiles also tend to be smaller with more grout lines, so this can avoid them being used around the lower part of the shower where maintenance is more challenging.
If you're after a calming, day-spa vibe, we recommend using a single colour palette and introducing interest with a contrasting texture or tapware as accents.
MATERIAL: porcelain, natural stone, handmade zellige tiles
PORCELAIN TILES
Porcelain is the most popular, durable and robust material for use in bathrooms. Non-porous, easy to clean and with countless colours, sizes and design options you'll have no trouble finding a beautiful and low-maintenance solution for your bathroom.
In recent times new porcelain products have emerged doing an excellent job of imitating natural stone.
NATURAL STONE
When it comes to creating uniqueness and opulence, nothing quite beats natural stone. It is a hugely versatile - if higher maintenance - material to use in bathrooms. It can be cut from slabs to create one-of-a-kind vanities, or as tiles for a beautifully opulent, natural feel ranging from 5-star hotel looking marble, through to the rustic mediterranean feel of matt-finished outdoor crazy pave products for flooring.
Natural stone is porous and prone to staining, so must be sealed every few years to ensure it maintains its original beauty. You will need to be more careful to promptly clean any spills or stains. It is usually a more expensive option, but creates a stunning finish.
ZELLIGE
Handmade tiles have been experiencing enormous popularity of late, with a fantastic range of bejmat zellige tiles making their way into tile stores from far-flung, exotic places like Morocco, Italy and Spain. These provide a tactile beauty with a uniquely handmade finish. With significant variances in the height, edging and glazing of each tile, they create a textured look that imbues a raw, natural finish into your space. These undulations can result in larger grout-lines and small water-traps that require higher maintenance to avoid mould build-up, so if you love the look, it may be worth using them as a feature above dado-rail height to minimise their exposure to pooling water lower down in shower areas.
Be aware that these size irregularities mean that zellige tiles are more expensive to lay, but we think they're worth it for their unmatched beauty!
Choosing your tile SIZE
For ease of cleaning to ensure your bathroom looks new for as long as possible, we recommend going as large as you can for tiles, except where a smaller tile is to be used as a feature. Larger tiles means fewer grout lines that can build up mould or darken over time and creates a smoother, cleaner overall look. 1200x600 tiles, especially those imitating natural stones are experiencing enormous popularity at the moment for creating a luxurious bathroom finish. Before finalising your tile selection, be sure to speak to us about which tile sizes are possible in your space and how size can impact laying cost and drainage design.
RECTIFIED VS PRESSED tiles - choose wisely!
One of the first decisions you’ll encounter is whether to choose rectified or non-rectified (pressed) tiles. Here’s what you need to know:
Rectified Tiles: These tiles are mechanically cut to achieve precise, uniform edges. This allows for tighter grout lines (as small as 1-2mm), creating a seamless, modern look. Rectified tiles are ideal for large-format tiles or when you want a sleek, contemporary aesthetic.
Non-Rectified (Pressed) Tiles: These tiles are molded and fired without additional cutting, resulting in curved and sometimes slightly uneven edges. They require wider grout lines (3-5mm) to accommodate these imperfections. Non-rectified tiles are often more affordable and work well for traditional or rustic designs.
Pro Tip: If you’re aiming for a minimalist look with concealed grout lines using large tiles, go for rectified tiles. For a more budget-friendly option with a handmade feel, non-rectified tiles are a great choice.
Fully Tiled Walls vs. Partially Tiled Walls
Deciding whether to fully tile your bathroom walls or only tile partway up depends on your budget, style, and practical needs:
Fully Tiled Walls: Create a cohesive, luxurious look and provide excellent water resistance. Ideal for wet areas like showers. However, this option can be more expensive due to the increased material and labor costs.
Partially Tiled Walls: A cost-effective option that still offers protection in splash zones. Pair tiled lower sections with painted walls or other materials (like waterproof VJ) for a stylish contrast.
Factors That Impact the Cost of Laying Tiles
Several factors can influence the cost of tiling your bathroom:
Tile Size and Shape: Larger or irregularly shaped tiles may require more labour to cut and install.
Material: Natural stone and handmade tiles are often more expensive to install due to their weight and fragility.
Pattern Complexity: Herringbone, chevron, or mosaic patterns require more skill and time to install.
Final Tips for Choosing Bathroom Tiles
Consider Maintenance: Choose tiles that are easy to clean and resistant to mould and mildew, especially in wet areas. For example, if you love natural stone for flooring, you may opt for a different tile in the shower to the rest of the bathroom floor.
Test Samples: Always view tile samples in your bathroom’s lighting to see how they’ll look in the space.
Plan for Drainage: Make sure you understand before selecting your tile, how it will impact where your drainage is positioned, for example whether you'll need diagonal cuts for fall to the centre of the room / shower, vs straight to the back wall to a strip drain.
Balance Cost and Style: Splurge on feature tiles or natural stone for impact areas, and save on simpler tiles for less visible spots.
