For homeowners, having the perfect and ideal bathroom is a significant priority. So, what makes your bathroom an ideal one? Not considering your preferred customized paint choice, or your taste in decorative art, your bathroom floor and wall are what to consider first!
For bathroom walls, the shape and size of the tiles matters a lot. Using a quadrilateral shaped tile having a larger size provides luxurious look to the bathroom. Even if your bathroom is small, the larger tiles will make the bathroom look big and spacious.
You can choose the dimensions of 40 x 40 cm to 60 x 60 cm for square tiles and 30 x 60 cm for rectangular tiles.
So, while making or remodelling your bathroom wall and floor, what is the main factor to consider?
The Materials
When we talk about materials as an essential factor, we mean
- Cabinets
- Countertops
- Bath Fixtures
- Flooring
- Waterproofing
- Backsplashes
- Lighting
- Speciality Features
The bathroom materials are important factor to consider while making or remodelling your bathroom. The materials will determine the cost and quality of your bathroom.
For bathrooms, flooring and waterproof materials are an essential factor to consider. These flooring and waterproof materials to use in your bathroom range from what type of tiles to fix on your bathroom floor to choose the best tiles for your bathroom wall.
What is the importance of having bathroom wall tiles?
- Bathroom wall tiles are used to cover all the electric lines, plumbing and crisscrossing all over your bathroom.
- These tiles also help to prevent algae, fungi, and germs, which means that the tiles are hygienic.
- Bathroom wall tiles aid in making maintenance simple and easy. This is because of the tile color and its shade will not change even after many years of using cleaning acid and agents.
The Best type of tiles for your bathroom walls
TO choose the best types of tiles for your bathroom walls, you should consider:
Understanding the various type of tiles used in bathroom
Choosing your bathroom wall tiles requires one to research on the multiple most used bathroom tiles. Doing the research will help you to understand the various types of tiles and what they usually are suited for.
Common types of tiles used in bathroom walls:
Ceramic Tiles
Non-porcelain or ceramic tiles are the surface of the most preferred flooring for bathrooms, kitchens, porches, laundries, basements, powder rooms, and other water prone areas.
Ceramic tiles are made using red, white, or brown clay that gets fired/heated inside a kiln then completed with a durable glaze that carries pattern and color of the tile.
The glazed surface makes the tile non-porous and denser, giving the flooring a stain and slip resistant characteristic.
Ceramic floor and wall tiles are suitable for bathrooms that have moderate traffic, and bathrooms that can be prone to chipping and wear.
Ceramic tiles have a high rate of water absorption, making your surface impervious to penetration of stains and water.
Ceramic tiles come in satin, matt, polish and gloss finish, providing you with endless options to choose for the walls of your bathroom.
Merits in Using Ceramic Tiles
- Ceramic tiles are easy to maintain and clean.
- When well looked after, ceramic wall tiles re among the longest lasting tiles in our market.
Porcelain Tiles
Porcelain tiles will offer more advantages when designing, due to its durable nature, you get to have endless ideas regarding your exterior and interior applications.
Full body porcelain tile has color and pattern running through the entire thickness, thus making it a much denser and harder tile.
These tiles are mostly suitable to use in most wall applications, especially in commercial areas which has the highest traffic and can also be used in home application. Porcelain tiles are also great for bathroom in aspects of wear and tear in areas of high traffic.
Advantages of using Porcelain tiles
- Porcelain floor tiles are resistant to stains.
- These tiles are also resistant to scratches.
- They are easy to clean and maintain.
Stone Tiles
If you want a more natural and earthy feeling, the stone tile is the tile for you. Natural stone tiles are available in variety of colors and designs. The most used are limestone, marble, slate, travertine, and granite.
Note: – The natural stone tiles are usually porous, meaning they are prone to water absorbing. The natural stone tile is also likely to stains and lubricants if you leave for long periods.
Some of you may wonder when then is the natural stone tile in this list?
The stone tile is mostly used in for decorative purposes. For bathroom walls that are not in contact with water. This stone tile gives your bathroom a stylish and flawless look.
To ensure that the stone tile gives your bathroom walls a fabulous aesthetic view and still serves the purpose of most tiles, you should opt for sealing.
Sealing is done to your tile after being laid and also during tile maintenance. Sealing will leave your bathroom wall stone tiles looking flawless and also help in preventing any damages or stains to your surface.
The primary seal purpose is creating a barrier that separates the water and the stone, preventing liquids from absorbing to the surface, ensuring longevity. The earth is among the best creators for materials. You are assured of getting a surface that is hard to wear plus a bonus of aesthetically pleasing. The beauty in natural stone varies from one tile to the other.
The only disadvantage in using the stone tile is that bleaches or any harsh chemicals will eat away the surface.
Mosaic Tiles
Mosaic tiles are mostly used in creating a unique feature in bathroom design. With endless options in style, color and size, mosaic tiles will truly mesmerize you.
Mosaic floor tile can be quite slippery when wet, thus, its ideal for bathroom walls but not bathroom floors.
If you are choosing mosaic tiles to install on your bathroom floor, it is advisable to check its slip rating and its warranty. Glass mosaic tiles are easy to clean.
Vinyl tiles
Vinyl tile is a popular bathroom wall tile because of its availability, high degree of practicality and low cost.
From the powder room to the master bath, the vinyl tile is suited for all bathrooms in your house. This vinyl tile overtakes other popular tiles choice for comfort, durability, and safety. The vinyl tile material can also be cut with a utility knife.
Ceramic and porcelain tiles
Whether you prefer stone to run, lattice-patterned tiles, or lawful penny tiles, you will find that the porcelain and ceramic tiles are the best for your bathroom wall tile.
Advantages of ceramic tiles
- Ceramics are cheap and easy to maintain.
- Easy to clean.
Disadvantages of ceramic tile
Ceramic tiles are not comfortable when barefoot because of two reasons.
- Its floor is hard and cold.
- Not easy to install
Porcelain tiles on the other hand, are harder and more robust than clay based tiles. The tile has what is called through-body color, which is an advantage when chipping occurs.
Resin Tiles
Resin tiles can be used in creating the type of styles you want. This resin tile is water resistant. While using resin tile, you can make tile patterns of your choice.
Those looking for aesthetic beauty, this resin tile can reflect light creating beautiful light patterns. Those looking to remodel their bathroom for beauty purposes, this tile is your best choice.
Resin tiles main disadvantage is that it is prone to chip. This type of tile also changes color to yellow over a period of time, mostly when exposed to the sun.
Granite Tiles
Granite tile is a natural stone that has a similar feel to the marble tiles due to their natural flecks. Granite is usually overused and thus tends to be cheap.
These tiles are mostly used in bathroom walls and secondary space where lower cost and performance are the top proprieties.
Travertine Tiles
Travertine tile offers an aesthetic prospect for your bathroom walls. Like limestone, this type of tile is mostly used for decorative purposes.
Advantages of using travertine tiles
- Easy to clean
- Easy maintenance
Disadvantages of using travertine tiles
- Easily stained
- Easily chipped and scratched
Other Factors
Another factor to consider in choosing the best type of tile for your bathroom wall is:
The Size of your tile
Rule number one when making or designing your bathroom is by considering the size of your room first.
Large Format tiles look elegant on both floors and walls. This type of tile will give your large bathroom a stylish and flawless finish.
For smaller bathroom design or make, you should equip your bathroom with a type like the mosaic tiles or penny rounds.
If your bathroom space is limited, getting an oversized diamond pattern on your bathroom wall will make diagonal lines, which will give your eyes a longer path for them to follow, starting one side of your room to the other. This will make your bathroom feel bigger than it is.
Many people might see this as contradictory, but if you choose a larger tile for a small bathroom, it will work because having less grouted joints gives an illusion of having more space.
For those looking for bathroom wall tiles, it is advisable to know what type you want? Aesthetic types, they have a fantastic look but are easily damaged.
For more durable tiles, most do not have an aesthetic characteristic.
If you already have a tile in your bathroom and you want to remove it then you must go through this article of mine where I discussed about how to remove old tile easily.
