Are you going to renovate home?
Follow our tips to choose the tiles for your bathroom in an easy – and correct – way!
Due to some very convenient financial contributions by the government, here in Italy many people decided to renovate their homes this year. Also, because of the lockdowns, many people realized how important is to have a comfortable and healthy place where to live, noticing the flaws in their homes, and deciding it was the right time for a renovation. With our interior studio we are also working on several interior renovating projects and I would like to take this as an opportunity to share some new contents and tips with you here.
One of the most difficult rooms to be renovated is for sure the bathroom. In fact, there are so many elements to take into consideration when renovating a bathroom: fixtures, faucets, shower/bathtub, coverings…and for each element, there are thousands of options, which makes everything very challenging and quite confusing.
In this short guide, I am sharing as a start some tips to choose the bathroom tiles, in collaboration with Italian ceramic brand Casalgrande Padana.
How to choose the right bathroom tiles
for a bathroom renovation
#1
Understand the style you want / How to choose the bathroom tiles
The very first thing to do – and, let me tell you, the most difficult one – is choosing the style you want for your bathroom and then follow it.
In fact, the worst thing to do is trying to include many different elements from very diverse styles into a bathroom: in the best scenario, you would get an anonymous bathroom design – while, in the worst one, you will get a visually unpleasant room. That’s first because usually bathrooms are not so big, comparing to other rooms – second, because you cannot change a bathroom design so easily as it happens for the other rooms.
My suggestion is – when in doubt, opt for a “less is more” philosophy. If you are more into very decorative spaces, choose an element – for example, one kind of tile covering – and use it together with neutrals, on a focal point.
For example: do you love colorful spaces but at the same time would like a minimalist bathroom design? You can choose a large format tile in color block and decorate only one part of the bathroom with that. Or, do you love elegant and classy atmospheres? You could opt for a marble effect tile.
Color block decor with Atelier Ottanio large-size tiles and flooring in Pietre di Sardegna Caprera
Opus beige Decorative bathroom design with Opus Beige and Cementina Multicolor Beige
|| Know more: INTERIOR QUIZ | What’s your interior style?
#2
Consider if and where do you need tiles / How to choose the bathroom tiles
When choosing the tiles for your bathroom, you should also always have very clear in mind where you are going to place your tiles. That looks like an obvious point, but as long as you will start designing your bathroom in detail, you will understand that is not.
In fact, while there are some points like the shower niche of the vanity wall the usually needs covering, there are some other surfaces that may be covered with tiles or not. This really depends on the final effect you would like to get – and makes the difference at the end.
For example you could consider about covering the whole surfaces with tiles- maybe with the same kind of tile, for a clean and minimal effect, or you could also opt for covering only the lower part of the walls – maybe in a decorative kind of tile.
A clean and modern space totally cover in Macro tiles
A bathroom covered only on lower walls, with Terrazzo tiles
#3
What’s your focal point? / How to choose the bathroom tiles
What do you imagine will be the first thing you will see when entering your bathroom? Maybe you have a bathtub corner and you want to make it even beautiful, or a walk-in shower and you want it to stand-out. This is your focal point.
Remember: you should not have more than a focal point, otherwise the final result will be very confusing. The wall behind and near your focal point should be the surface where you put your accent tiles – that is, the “special” tile you like so much, for its color, its effect, or maybe just for its size. On the rest of the surfaces, you should opt for a complimentary tiles or neutral ones, that will make your accent stand out. Another option is – no focal point at all- and this is the case for a very minimal bathroom design.
Focal point into the shower with Nuances tiles
Total look wooden effect with Country Wood tiles
#4
Then choose the 3 variables: color, size, effect…and have fun!
Now it’s the funnier part – choosing the tiles! That could be also the very confusing and difficult part, I know this, as you have so many options – and each one with different color, size and effect.
So first, decide whether if you want a cold or a warm color palette – and, if a neutral one or a palette with pop of colors. Put together the three different colors and see how they work together in terms of color balance.
Second, imagine the kind of format you would like for your tiles – also considering, other than the style, the practicality of your bathroom. For example, if you are looking for a surface to be very easy to clean – probably you could opt for a large format tile.
Third, take into consideration the different effects of the tiles: as you know, now with ceramic it is possible to get many different effects. From wood, to stone, to marble, cement and granite – effect options are endless, and anyways an option which is always good is also just colored ceramic. Again, you should then put together your 3 kind of tiles and see how they work together.
To make things easier, you could start from one tile you really like – and, then, matching the other ones to that!
Same tile in three different formats – Petra, Casalgrande Padana
Walls and floor covering in Marmosmart Adria
#5
Choose no more than three different tiles! / How to choose the bathroom tiles
I know that, at this point, when choosing among the endless collections available on the market, you may feel very confused. To help yourself, remember that usually three kind of different tiles are enough to decorate your bathroom floors and walls, including focal points. Too many kind of tiles will give you a too busy result – not elegant at all.
When I choose the tiles for a bathroom, usually I start with the floor ones. You can work by contrast between walls and floor, or in continuity. Once I decide this, then I choose the wall tiles – by considering where I place the tiles ( point 2 ) and which one is my focal point ( point 3 ). Finally, I put together my three kind of tiles and see how they work together ( point 4 ).
Hope these tips will help you when choosing the tiles for your bathroom renovations – and, again, before starting, always ask yourself: would I like a minimalist or a decorative bathroom design?
A very warm bathroom design with Geowood floor tiles
Three different tiles for a decorative effect. Floor : Macro Bianco – Walls: Brickworks Nuances Neve and Brickworks Nuances Petunia Nera
All the images are by Italian ceramic brand Casalgrande Padana. Discover all the collections at this link.
|| More inspirations about tiles and flooring:
- Minimalist floor tiles ideas to renovate home
- Decorating with concrete effect tiles
- Creating a vertical garden indoor with tiles
