Bathroom tiling: tips, techniques, color schemes and ideas for walls and floors.

Rules for laying tiles in the bathroom

Basic rules:

• In a room with low ceilings, you should use a vertical tile layout, which allows you to visually stretch the space in height.
• To expand a small or narrow bathroom in a Khrushchev-era building, you need to use horizontal laying of elements, which should be small in size and rectangular in shape.
• In a combined bathroom, due to different laying, you can highlight the desired area, niche, or create an accent with certain areas, for example, with a washbasin, toilet, shower, heated towel rail. When using tiles in darker tones, the highlighted area appears closer.

Layout methods

There are several layout options, which will completely determine not only the overall appearance, but also the spatial perception of the bathroom.

Standard

This is the most popular and fairly simple method, allowing you to significantly save time and materials. With this layout, the tile modules are placed in even straight rows, seam to seam. A similar standard design option can also be combined, in the form of harmonious multi-colored cladding, due to which it is possible to significantly diversify the design.

The photo shows the interior of the bathroom with a standard tile layout, made in two colors.

With an offset

Such a layout is also called staggered or bandaged. When using it, it is possible to create an imitation of brickwork and, depending on the direction of the rectangular elements, make changes to the geometry of the space.

The photo shows the offset layout of green boar tiles on the wall in the bathroom interior.

Checkerboard pattern

Basically, this classic layout involves the use of black and white square tiles, reminiscent of a chessboard. Also, to create a more interesting pattern on the surface, other combinations will be appropriate, for example, blue and yellow, red and white, beige and brown, or purple and light green.

Herringbone

It has a rather luxurious appearance and is characterized by the placement of elements at an angle of 90°, which repeats the laying of parquet boards. This design is distinguished by the presence of several subtypes, such as French herringbone, double herringbone or triple herringbone, which looks like weaving.

The photo shows a bathroom with narrow rectangular tiles of different colors with a herringbone layout.

Diagonally

Thanks to diagonal laying, you can not only decorate the surface, but also hide its minor defects and visually expand the boundaries of the bathroom. For this method, square tile products are most often used, with a single-color or patterned design. The only downside is that after the tiling there is a lot of excess material left.

With a border

It involves dividing the room by color into two parts, where the tiling of the lower level has darker shades, and the upper one is lighter, or vice versa. With this type of layout, you can make the room lower or wider.

Modular

Looks great both on the walls and on the floor. For a modular layout and to create an interesting geometric pattern, at least three tile elements of different sizes are used.

Linear

Allows you to use tile trim in different colors, which can be arranged in wavy, solid, broken or parallel lines in any order.

The photo shows the interior of a bathroom, with a wall covered with mosaic tiles with a linear layout.

Carpet

This method is similar in appearance to a rug with a magnificent geometric pattern. A tiled carpet or panel can feature bright patterns on a plain canvas or be framed with a colored border.

Ornament

Can have a very diverse, intricate design and ornate ornament with alternating different laying options and the use of tiles or mosaics in three or more shades.

Recommendations for the arrangement by shape and size of tiles

Some basic tips:

• Rhombus-shaped products will look better in a more spacious bathroom. When using this shape in a variety of colors, you can create a three-dimensional effect on the plane. This type of design is often used on the floor or to highlight small accent areas.
• An excellent option would be a laying pattern in the form of vertical stripes of large rectangular or square tiles in the middle of a large wall.
• A particularly interesting result can be achieved by combining the boar or brick pattern with other tile types. Thanks to this solution, you can not only avoid problems with decorating corners, but also achieve zoning of the space.

A particularly interesting result can be achieved by combining the boar or brick pattern with other tile types. Thanks to this solution, you can not only avoid problems with decorating corners, but also achieve zoning of the space.

A particularly interesting result can be achieved by combining the boar or brick model with other tile types. Thanks to this solution, you can not only avoid problems with decorating corners, but also achieve zoning of the space.

Color features of tile layout

A classic and fairly common solution is to design the upper part in a light color, and the lower part in a darker one, using a clear border line. However, this layout option should not be used in a small bathroom. In such rooms, plain tiles in beige, olive, light brown, gray or white tones will look better.

See also the rules for choosing the color of the grout.

When decorating a small bathroom with two-color cladding, it is desirable that the selected elements do not contrast too much with each other.

The photo shows a beige boar tile with patchwork inserts on the walls in the bathroom interior.

Examples of tile layout on the floor

The most optimal solution is considered to be a classic square tile, having a small size, but depending on the interior design, a variety of options can be chosen, for example, combined polygonal, figured or diamond-shaped elements, having absolutely any sequence.

The photo shows the floor in the bathroom with a chaotic layout of multi-colored tiles of a figured shape.

To dilute the monotonous and boring floor design, it will be appropriate to combine large and small decorative tiles.

Photo of tile layout on the walls

Mosaics and a variety of tile finishes of large, standard sizes, square or rectangular shapes are often used for wall decoration. When decorating, first of all, take into account the size of the bathroom, for example, in a small room it will be better to use a finish in light shades with masonry in the form of vertical stripes.

The photo shows the interior of a bathroom with a wall decorated with rectangular tiles of a blue shade with a herringbone layout.

To choose the right layout scheme, you should accurately measure the walls of the room, taking into account the opening from the door, niches and protrusions. In a small room, it is better to use tiles with a smooth surface or use relief elements to highlight small areas.

Tile combinations in the toilet

The most popular solution for the toilet is to finish the walls halfway with a border. This option takes away a little of the height of the room, but at the same time makes it more voluminous.

Be sure to read the article about finishing the toilet with tiles.

In a narrow room, you should not place a long strip of tiles behind the toilet, as this will further stretch and narrow the space.

Original layout ideas

A rather non-standard option is fragmentary laying, which involves background tiles of one color with inclusions, inserts and accent contrasts or a kaleidoscope arrangement, which allows you to create unusual patterns and figures using tile elements that are not similar to each other.

Also no less interesting is the splash or patchwork layout, which includes multi-colored tiles in a chaotic or orderly arrangement.

The photo shows white diamond-shaped tiles with bright splashes on the floor and walls in the bathroom interior.