Tiles for a compact bathroom: how to choose size, color, style and pattern.

What size tile to choose for a small bathroom?

If you take into account several subtleties, then you can lay tiles of any size. To give the finish a finished look, it is advisable to combine different products. But ultimately, everything depends on the preferences of the apartment owner, even if it is a small bathroom in a Khrushchev-era building.

• Large products (for example, 30×40) are laid horizontally, this method will visually expand the walls. Grout for the seams should be chosen in the same tone, so as not to break up the space with thin contrasting lines.
• Medium-sized tiles (20×30, 30×30) are the best option for a small bathroom.
• Small-sized products (these include the 10×20 “hog” and 10×10 square ones) can break up the space if you use different colors and contrasting grout. It is recommended to choose a single-color material, due to which the room will visually come together.

The photo shows large-format tiles with inconspicuous grout in the same color.

• Mosaics are usually used to decorate one wall or, for example, a shower stall. If you want to decorate the entire room with mosaics, they should be the smallest and lightest shades to create a general background without affecting the geometry.

The photo shows a combined bathroom, the walls of which are decorated with ceramic mosaics interspersed with mirrors.

Recommendations for choosing tile colors

Designers do not recommend decorating a small bathroom with dark-colored products. You need to choose neutral shades: white, sand, blue, light green, gray. When combining different colors, it is also recommended to use muted tones.

Products of a rich palette are appropriate as a decor for niches, mirrors, a bath screen: the choice depends on taste preferences and the layout of the room.

Choosing the right tile design to make the space look bigger

To distract attention from the modest size of the bathroom, designers offer several interesting ideas. For example, you can lay the same tiles on both the walls and the floor, uniting the space. Or vice versa: make the flooring rich in color – it will draw attention to itself – and decorate the walls in neutral tones. This technique also works with bright furniture and accent pieces.

Be sure to check out other ideas for visually enlarging a room.

In the photo, a small bathroom is visually expanded due to the same covering on the wall and floor.

In a small bathroom, you can also combine local zones, for example, the shower and the floor.

The photo shows compact bathrooms with wide marble tiles.

Which type of surface to choose: glossy or matte?

Any type of surface will suit a small bathroom, but each has its own characteristics:

Visually increases the area of the room, adding depth.

Shiny tile reflects light, expanding the space. Suitable for walls.

Water drops and fingerprints are more noticeable on them, but the surface is easy to clean.

Since the goal of decorating a small bathroom is to expand the space, glossy products are preferable.

The photo shows a glossy “hog” that adds depth to the space in a small bathroom.

What tile shape is best?

The modern ceramic tile market is replete with a variety of shapes. But not all options will look good in a small bathroom.

Standard rectangles and squares emphasize the geometry of the room, look unobtrusive: just what you need for a small room. Walls with volumetric, relief or hexagonal tiles look impressive and attract the eye, but you should not overload the space with them.

Look at the options for finishing the bathroom with tiles.

The photo shows rectangular tiles “under a brick” of a milky shade.

Irregularly shaped tiles (such as scales) or triangles are only suitable for decorating individual areas.

How does the layout affect a small bathroom?

Here everything depends on the proportions of the bathroom: the layout can lengthen or expand the space. Long horizontal pieces – expand the walls. The same effect is achieved by lines of contrasting tiles, ceramic or glass mosaics.

Vertically laid tiles visually raise the ceilings.

The photo shows narrow wood-effect tiles laid out along the wall.

Diagonal arrangement gives an interesting effect in a small bathroom.

A selection of ideas for a small bathroom

If a monochromatic white bathroom seems boring, you can use contrasting elements to decorate the border or lay out a pattern. Bright accents give the interior a finished look. Decor from details with a ready-made pattern will be appropriate.

Be sure to look at how you can decorate the toilet with tiles.

By combining different colors and textures, you can “dissolve” the extra corners that appear as a result of combining a bathtub and a toilet. The classic black and white combination looks impressive in the interior of a small bathtub.