Bathroom Tiles

Bathroom Wall Tiles

During the winter months and seasonal holidays, thoughts may turn to DIY projects for the new year. A popular project among many homeowners is a bathroom face lift. One of the quickest and most effective ways to completely transform your bathroom is to re-tile, or to add new wall tiles in place of existing painted surfaces.

Bathroom Tiles provide a decorative and bright appearance and their ‘easy wipe’ surface helps to keep the bathroom fresh and hygienic. Unlike alternatives such as wallpaper and some paints, tiles are hard wearing, completely waterproof and almost immune from degradation – making this a really worthwhile investment in your house.

If you think a new tiling project is for you, here are some handy tips to help select the best option for your needs. First of all before visiting a tile stockist to view designs, you should first consider the type of tile which best complements your bathroom layout, and the existing fittings and decor.

Choose from a range of bathroom wall tiles or bathroom floor tiles.

Bathroom Tile Materials

The most popular bathroom tile materials include:

• Stone Tiles: There are many options to choose from including marble, granite, and travertine. Stone is naturally water resistant and tough – perfect qualities for both shower walls and wet rooms. However remember that Stone tiles may not be suitable for all walls due to its weight. Also the ground extraction and finishing costs of this natural product can make it one of the more expensive choices.
• Most Glass Tiles are made using recycled material making it an excellent “green” option. These come in a huge range of shapes, sizes, and colours, and will give you a sharp, contemporary look.
• The most popular and cost effect choice on the market is the Ceramic Tile. It can be glazed and fired in just about any colour and design you can imagine, from soft earth tones to hand painted designs, and its water resistance is perfect for the bathroom setting.
• Mosaic Tiles are becoming more popular and you can create stunning designs using a combination of ceramic and glass material.

Choosing Bathroom Tile Sizes

Having selected the most appropriate material the second thing you should consider is the size and shape of tile. It is best to avoid using large tiles (e.g. 60x30cm) in a small bathroom, as they will dwarf the room significantly. Small tiles (e.g. 10x10cm) can look good in smaller bathrooms, however, the many grout lines (compared to using bigger tiles) can give an unappealing effect.

As a result, many people choose medium sized tiles (e.g. 40x25cm), which are a common choice for large and small bathrooms today. The tiling supplier will be able to calculate how many tiles you require.

Most designs are available in different shapes including square, rectangle, triangle and even an irregular cut. These choices may influence your design approach.

Bathroom Tile Colours

Bathroom Tiles also come in different colours and textures giving you the chance to create a unique environment, tailored to your specific tastes. Light coloured tiles (i.e. white or cream) can make small bathrooms look bigger as they reflect the light more than darker colours, giving an airy and spacious feel to your bathroom.

Using the same colour wall tiles as the floor tiles will give the appearance of spaciousness. To introduce warmth in the bathroom use terracotta colours and under-tile heating is also an option to radiate warmth through your tiled floor.

Bathroom Tile Grout

Bathroom Tile Grouts are now available in a wide range of colours that blend with or complement the main tile design. Grouts with antibacterial protection are also available to offer increased hygiene and resist mould discolouration.

It you would like to create your own bespoke design, then Amtico, with over 40 years experience in design, engineering and manufacturing, can help you to create a truly unique and sophisticated tiling scheme. Ocean Bathrooms stock Amtico Tiles so visit their showroom or call for friendly informed advice.

And remember this is a job really worth doing well – so if on reflection you feel it may be beyond your DIY skills, then Ocean Bathrooms can also advise on how best to use professional fitting services.