Bathroom Tile Ideas

A great bathroom requires an even better base, and one of the first creative decisions you’ll get to be part of is tiling. There are many different types, colours, patterns and overall designs of bathroom tiles to choose from, so we’ve compiled a few pointers for complementing your bathroom style and size with the right tiles. Whether you’re choosing tiles for your walls or floor, this article will help you explore your options and make the best decision!

Types of Bathroom Tiles

The primary difference between tiles is the material they’re made of, such as ceramic, porcelain, stone, etc. Let’s look at each material below:

Ceramic tiles

Popular in Australia, ceramic bathroom tiles are typically made in red, brown, or white colours using clay and glazing. These tiles are also available in matt, satin, gloss, and polish finishes. These tiles can last long and are highly resistant to water penetration when properly maintained. Ceramic tiles are ultimately a popular and cost-effective option. Terracotta is a well-known ceramic tile, distinguished by its rustic red appearance.

Porcelain tiles

Porcelain floor tiles are one of the most durable tiles on the market, suitable for high-traffic areas of the home and can be easily cleaned and maintained. While porcelain is a more expensive option than ceramic (up to 62% more on average), it is more water-resistant and durable.

Stone tiles

Suitable for a more rustic style bathroom, stone tiles come in various natural, earthy colours and styles, including marble, limestone, slate and granite. Natural stone tiles also create a beautiful, unique look, with no two stone tiles appearing the same.

Mosaic tiles

Mosaic tiles refer less to the type of material used and instead to the tiling method. Available in numerous materials but often done using glass tiles, mosaic tiles are tiny tiles placed together to create exciting designs and patterns. This style of tiling is fantastic for eclectic style bathrooms.

Glass tiles

Also suitable for modern style bathrooms are glass tiles. Available in multiple shades and tints, glass tiles are easy to clean. However, they are only suitable for walls due to their easily damageable nature.

Terrazzo tiles

The classic terrazzo tile may be for you if you want a little bit of everything. These tiles, which originated in 16th-century Italy, are made by combining marble, glass, and granite chips with cement to create a stunning textural aesthetic. Terrazzo tiles are a great eco-friendly option, but they must be sealed regularly to prevent stains and absorption.

With so many options, finding the right tile for your bathroom depends on your style, budget, and the amount of maintenance you’re willing to commit to. After you’ve decided on the material for your bathroom tiles, you can choose appropriate colours, sizes, and patterns.

Bathroom Tile Colours

Colour can significantly impact your design, sometimes in ways you’d least expect, like making the space feel smaller or larger. Some useful ways to utilise colour in your bathroom include:

Ambience

Colour can help you set the tone. Warmer colours such as yellows or oranges can create a homely bright tone whilst pastel colours create a calm meditative mood.

Space

Light-coloured tiles can often create the impression of a larger area; however, if you are more inclined to a dark palette, darker tiles can create depth when correctly utilised. Darker palettes are generally a bit more complicated, but a well-versed bathroom specialist can help to ensure you succeed.

Style

Colour greatly informs aesthetic stylings, with most styles often including trending colours. Popular examples include coastal styles, which lean more towards a blue palette, whereas shabby-chic bathrooms typically feature soft pinks.

Maintenance

Depending on your lifestyle, you may not have the time to keep pristine white tiles gleaming all the time and instead prefer darker tiles. However, lighter tiles will make any buildup easier to see if you’re more concerned about keeping your bathroom at peak cleanliness.

Ultimately, there is no right or wrong colour decision, but you should work with a trusted team of professionals when choosing bold colours. Detailing the style, mood, and space you want to create can help you use colour effectively and create a polished final design.

Bathroom Tile Size Advice

Sizing your bathroom is essential in selecting the correct tile size. In Australia, the most common tile size is 300x300mm. Homeowners should avoid small tiles in small bathrooms because they can create visual clutter. However, you can still use small tiles on surfaces like showers and splashbacks. Small bathrooms should predominantly feature large tiles as they require fewer grout lines and strengthen the illusion of space. Some recommended tile sizes include:

Bathroom Area	Recommended Tile Size
Small shower floor	300x300mm
Small shower wall	75x200mm to 600x600mm
Medium to large shower	300x600mm to 381x762mm
Bathroom floor	300x300mm to 600x600mm
Bathroom wall	75x200mm to 600x600mm

You can of course mix and match tile sizes, which is best done when creating patterns!

Bathroom Tile Patterns

The final step to unique and stylish tiling is choosing a pattern. Some common tile patterns include linear, brick and herringbone tile patterns. Learn about these and more below:

Stacked horizontal

This pattern, also known as linear, uses square tiles in a grid shape to create a uniform and simplistic layout, ideal for tiles with multiple colours or complex designs.

Stacked vertical

A vertical stacked style can be a highly-effective tool for emphasising the height of your bathroom. This style is also an excellent option for flooring.

Brick pattern

Also known as an offset or staggered brick style, brick patterns typically use subway tiles to create an industrial-style layout.

Herringbone

The herringbone pattern uses rectangular tiles to form v-shaped rows with tiles placed at a 45-degree angle. With the help of glossy black tiles, you can adapt this pattern to a modern style bathroom.

Hexagon

If you prefer fun and exciting styles, hexagonal tiles can create an eclectic aesthetic when paired with bright contrasting colours. You can also experiment with depth by using uneven tiling to create exciting textures.

Versailles

Best suited to natural stone tiles; the Versailles layout is an elegant pattern using square and rectangular tiles.

Basket weave

The mosaic-style basket weave pattern uses tiny squares to simulate the over-under stitching technique used in real woven baskets. This pattern is a versatile fit for many different bathroom types.

What is the best tile pattern for a small bathroom?

The best way to use tile patterns to make a small bathroom appear larger is to use horizontal/stacked light coloured tiles, extending the sightline and creating the illusion of space. This illusion is especially noticeable when using the herringbone pattern. There is, however, some distinction between the appropriate tiles for bathroom walls and floors.

Best Tiles for Bathroom Walls

For your typical bathroom, the best tiles for bathroom walls would be ceramic tiles in the chosen colour and size. Ceramic is cost-effective, highly durable, easy to clean and maintain, extremely resistant to water penetration and lighter than most tiles, making installation on walls easier. They also come in various colours and finishes, making them viable for different bathroom styles. The colour you choose will ultimately depend on your chosen style, but lighter colours are easier to work with when designing for a small bathroom.

Bathroom walls generally have quite a bit of leeway, however, because walls do not suffer the same wear and tear as bathroom floors. As such, there are plenty of other materials to experiment with. Porcelain, for example, is an excellent choice for walls due to its increased durability and water resistance. Stone tiles are also a great option for creating a more luxurious feel. Other materials that you can use for bathroom wall tiling include glass and stone.

In terms of sizing, bathroom wall tiles also vary depending on the size of your bathroom. The recommended dimensions for bathroom wall tiles range from 102mm² to 304mm by 610mm. Wall and floor tiles do not need to be matched, though it is a common design trend. By mismatching wall and floor tiles, you can create interesting designs and a sense of depth. So what are the best tiles for your bathroom floor?

Best Tiles for Bathroom Floor

Ceramic tiles are still an all-around go-to for bathroom floors, withstanding time and heavy foot traffic. However, if you prefer a more rustic look, you could go with a natural stone tile, a great durable option and excellent for those who suffer from allergies due to its non-porous texture. We recommend typically avoiding anything glossy when selecting floor tiles to reduce the possibility of slip hazards.

Floor tile sizes typically range from 300mm² to 300mm², but when selecting tiles for a smaller bathroom, it is recommended to stay at the larger end of the scale to create a sense of spaciousness, while choosing lighter colours and matching grout lines to reduce visual clutter. Smaller tiles should be reserved for areas like splashbacks and showers.

There are no hard and fast rules for planning your bathroom, but you can have a beautiful and well-designed bathroom when guided by a few standard design conventions. Your bathroom tiles should perfectly complement your taste if you understand the limitations of each material and use the appropriate sizes, colours, and patterns. We hope that this article has given you some ideas for tiling your bathroom and that it will assist you in finding the perfect tiles for you! If you’d like to work with us to create the bathroom of your dreams, get in contact today.