Throughout history, people have tiled their bathroom floors. However, today many are finding new and innovative ways to design an interior with tiles. You’re probably familiar with a few types of tile, such as ceramic, porcelain, and marble but once you discover the vast variety of shapes, materials, and patterns that are available, you may feel overwhelmed. The various options can make revamping your bathroom seem like a daunting task, but Decor Aid’s interior designers are here to offer their expert advice in this weeks interior design guide, which will help you select the perfect bathroom tiles.
The Materials:
Everyone is searching for tiles that look good, that’s a given. However, don’t forget that you should also choose your tile based on durability, tile hardness, porosity, and installation. As you can probably guess each tile variation differs from one another, so it’s best to know all of your options and then choose the right one depending on your budget, bathroom layout, and overall desired bathroom style. We have grouped tiles into three major types: Glass, natural, and ceramic, read on to learn which will work best for your interior design project.
Glass
A type of mosaic tile, glass tiles have been used in buildings and homes throughout history, dating back to the Byzantine empire, and have maintained their popularity. Due to its lack of porosity, glass tiles are completely waterproof, making it an ideal choice for bathrooms. These tiles are great for adding pops of color and can be dyed in a multitude of color variations. With glass tiles you won’t have to worry about fading or discoloration, glass tiles easily retain their color for years. These tiles are perfect for those who want to add charm and personality to their home’s bathrooms.
Natural
Natural tiles are used in both residential and commercial buildings. Cut from the earth, this makes natural tiles reliable, resilient and will resist scratches. However, these tiles will be more porous than glass or ceramic tiles. Natural tiles offer a unique option, due to the fact that no two rocks look exactly the same. These tiles are practical and come with a long lifespan unless you like chipping away at rocks! If you are looking to be eco-friendly and tech-savy, natural tiles are great conductors and placing them above underfloor heating systems, will help lower your overall heating cost. Globally, Natural tiles are great for those who want to add a bit of luxury and nature to their home bathroom design.
Ceramic
All made from clay, there are various types of ceramic tiles, such as porcelain, terra cotta, glazed and unglazed. Ceramic tiles are practical as well as visually pleasing. Like glass tiles, ceramic tiles come in a variety of colors and patterns, while still being affordable. Ceramic tiles become strong and durable once they have been glazed. After glazing, they are less likely to stain from continuous contact with water. Ceramics like porcelain are excellent because through the firing phase they lose posterity. Ceramic tiles pair perfectly with those looking to attain an affordable yet chic bathroom design for their home.
Shapes and Designs
Once you have decided on the type of tile material you would like in your bathroom, you should think about tile sizes and designs. Next, you’ll need to determine where exactly you want the tile placed. This is guaranteed to help you narrow down to at least a few sizes that should work. Irregular bathroom tile shapes can help create a fantastic and distinct look. However, these forms will be more challenging to install versus the standard tile shapes. You will want to order sample tiles to be sure the tiles work well in your bathroom.
Plank Tile
With all the new bathroom tile-printing technology, plank tiles are a new take on the standard rectangular tiles. This new technology also allows for printed patterns on ceramic tiles. A popular trend is to use plank tiles that closely resemble wooden planks or stones. Usually smaller than actually wooden planks, most opt to place plank tiles in elaborate patterns such as herringbone to fool discerning eyes.
Subway Tile
You’ve not only probably heard of subway tiles, but I’m sure you’ve seen them before. Simple, versatile and elegant, these bathroom tiles got their name from once lining the walls of New York City subway stations. These tiles come in various sizes, and most designers incorporate subway tiles into backsplashes in kitchens and bathrooms, yet they can be quite chic when used as a floor tile.
Mosaic Tile
Tied to the ancient world and usually made of glass. However, you can find mosaic tiles made of materials like natural stone and ceramics. Smaller than both plank and subway tiles, the small dimensions of mosaic tiles make these tiles versatile, which is why they can create an array of different patterns. Mosaics are a great way to bring texture into your interior since the size makes the grout lines more prominent than your regular square tile.
Penny Tile
The exact opposite of the traditional square tile penny tiles is circular tiles that have been becoming popular in interior design in recent years. Available in various finishes and made in all three of the tile materials. Though smaller than the average square tile, these penny-like bathroom tiles do require a bit more work, yet like mosaic tiles will integrate texture into your space. Penny tiles work great in bathrooms due to their slip-resistant nature.
Installation
When looking to find the perfect tile for your home’s bathroom, you’ll want to look into the installation process of each type. The installation will be a factor in the decision-making process and will also determine if you need professional help or not. Tiles like stone don’t necessarily need to be installed with grout, yet ceramic tiles will need grout. If going with glass tiles, you’ll want to find those that come pre-mounted on a back mesh; unmounted glass will take a little longer to install.
With both glass and ceramic, depending on the color schemes in your bathroom, you’ll want to go with grout in earth tones or darker colors, this will help blend any dirt. You will need to clean lighter color grout almost daily. When in doubt, always go to a professional, it is better to get help before installing and avoiding the cost of having wrongly installed tiles removed then reinstalled. If unsure of your installation skills, partnering with an interior design company like Decor Aid will guarantee professional results and an overall end-to-end design experience for your entire project.