Picking out Bathroom Tile: Simple tips you may not know.
Going into a tile project you usually know what colors you like and you know the general style of tile (stone look, wood look, solid color, patterned, etc. Here are a couple of simple tips to help beyond that.
Things to consider:
Size
Shape
Direction
Border/Transition Pieces
Large Tile vs. Small Tile: Where?
Large Tiles- Walls & Floor (NOT shower floor)
Fewer grout lines for a cleaner look
Easier maintenance
Enhances spaciousness
Small Tiles- Shower Floor & Accents (Can be used for main wall & floor tile also)
Ideal for unique layouts, niches & features
Better on uneven surfaces such as shower bases which are pitched to drain properly
**TIP- As tiles get Bigger, the less error for an uneven substrate- Tile doesn’t bend. Tell your contractor tile size & material before you get a price so there are no surprises. Very Large tiles require more preparation and labor to install and glass tiles are extremely delicate and prone to chipping. Glass wet saw blades are available, here’s a good 10” glass blade
Shape: It’s okay to mix it up.
Don’t be scared! You can mix and match shapes and textures much more than you think! Don’t get hung up on keeping to a certain shape or even two. Use your imagination, you have a better eye than you think.
**TIP- The really small tiles (~2”x2” or less) and intricate mosaics have a mesh backing to keep them together, they aren;’t all individual, phew! These can be tricky when cutting around corners or fixtures. Use a table based wet saw for precision. You don’t need to spend big money, for small cuts, a small saw like this 7” table wet saw is enough
Direction: The most underutilized game changer.
This text is larger intentionally! Changing the direction of your tile to a diagonal or vertical will totally transform the look. USE THAT.
**TIP- Wet cutting is typically easier and certainly cleaner, especially for angles
Borders & Transitions: Metal? Pencil? Bullnose? Stone?
Metal edge creates a clean, flush look. Mind your edges because unevenness will show here
Pencil tiles are a great transition between uneven tile surfaces (thicker tile to thinner tile)
Bullnose is a classic transition although adds a lot of perpendicular grout lines
Stone transitions are best for shower curbs, door saddles between rooms, shower seats as well as a base for a niche
**TIP- A Pencil or scribe piece is a great transition from tile to wall to hide unevenness or rough edges. PAY ATTENTION to tile thicknesses if you are using a flush border or no border.