If you’re looking to create the spectacular bathroom design that you deserve, choosing the right tile is vital. After all, the walls and flooring set the tone for the entire room while also influencing choices on bathtubs, sinks, cabinets and other key fixtures.
With so many different options to choose from, finding the perfect tile for your bathroom will take some planning and research. Here are some pointers to ensure you make the right selection.
1. Consider the Existing Fixtures
When planning to have a complete bathroom renovation, think about whether new fixtures will be necessary. If you’re looking to keep your existing fixtures and simply revamp the room with new tile, it’s important that the color and design style of the tile go with the existing style.
Adding modern tiles to a bathroom that uses vintage faucets and fixtures, for example, would create a disjointed esthetic. Essentially, since tile sets the tone, you mustn’t overlook the influence of other items in the room.
2. Think About Cost, Maintenance, & Durability
Even if money isn’t a major issue, it’s always beneficial to get as much value as possible. As such, you should always weigh the costs against the benefit that they will add.
In addition, it’s important to think about both the long-term durability and looks of the tile you choose. If the moisture and other attributes associated with the bathroom are going to cause wear over the long term, you’ll want to factor this into your decision. Minimal maintenance requirements and durability will ensure the bathroom sparkles for years.
3. Choose the Right Material
While colors and patterns are important, most of the decisions in this arena come down to personal taste. Aside from that, the most important consideration should be with the type of material. With bathroom tile, you have many options and there are pros and cons to each. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular choices:
Ceramic Tile – Ceramic tile boasts a porous clay backing and is suitable for floors and walls. It’s easy to install, easy to clean, and offers excellent durability. However, colors can sometimes vary noticeably from one batch to the next, which is why you need to be sure buy slightly more than what you actually need. This way you can ensure color variances are less of a potential issue. Having to add or replace tiles later could be costly and problematic.
Porcelain Tile – Porcelain tile is a little more expensive but is also very durable and is often used in commercial properties. Porcelain is available in large sizes for easy installation and has a very stylish appeal. It’s a very popular choice for flooring and, with the right color and surrounding fixtures, can bring a look of elegance to the room.
Granite Tile – Granite tile looks particularly impressive in rustic styled rooms and its unmistakable appearance is universally associated with luxury and affluence. Granite’s durability, and stain resistant properties are also very desirable features. Granite is available in various shades and finishes and can be a good choice when you have granite in other areas of the home, such as the kitchen.
Of course, there are a number of other materials including marble, limestone, and slate. We’ll cover these tile options in more detail in upcoming posts.