Tiles shape a bathroom more than almost anything else. They set the colour, decide how bright the room feels and do the hard work of keeping water away from walls and floors. Picking them can feel overwhelming with so many sizes and finishes on offer, so it helps to think about the room in zones, each with its own demands, before falling in love with a sample.
Think in zones, not just looks
| Zone | What matters most | Common choices |
|---|---|---|
| Floor | Grip when wet, durability | Matt or textured porcelain, natural stone with a honed finish |
| Shower walls | Low water absorption, easy cleaning | Porcelain, glazed ceramic, large formats with few grout lines |
| Other walls | Style, budget | Glazed ceramic, patterned or coloured tiles |
| Niches and splashbacks | Detail and accent | Mosaics, glass tiles, small handmade pieces |
Porcelain is denser than standard ceramic and absorbs less water, which suits wet areas. Natural stone brings warmth and character but needs sealing and gentler cleaning. Vinyl tiles are a budget-friendly alternative for floors and are simpler to fit, though they do not suit every look.
Colour, size and pattern
Light tones bounce light around and make compact rooms feel larger; deeper shades give a cosy, enclosed mood. Large tiles mean fewer grout lines and a calmer surface, which can visually stretch a small floor. Small mosaics follow curves and slopes well, so they work on shower floors that fall towards a drain. A patterned floor with plain walls, or the reverse, usually looks more balanced than pattern everywhere.
Preparation and laying
- Measure each area and order extra for cuts and breakages, ideally from the same batch.
- Prepare the surface so it is clean, dry, sound and flat; in showers, apply a tanking or waterproofing system first.
- Dry-lay the tiles to plan the layout, centre the pattern and avoid thin slivers at edges.
- Spread adhesive with a notched trowel in small sections so it does not skin over.
- Set the tiles with spacers, checking level often and wiping excess adhesive straight away.
- Grout once the adhesive has cured, working diagonally with a float, then clean the haze.
- Seal stone and grout where recommended, and use flexible sealant at corners and around the bath.
When a professional fitter makes sense
Simple wall tiling is a manageable project for a patient beginner. Wet rooms, large-format porcelain, uneven old floors and anything involving plumbing or electrics are a different matter. Mistakes in waterproofing may stay hidden until damage appears under the floor. Homeowners planning bathroom renovations London often find that an experienced team handles the whole sequence, from stripping out to final sealing, with a neat finish and less stress. Getting a written quote that lists preparation, materials and waterproofing helps compare offers fairly.
Keeping tiles looking good
Wipe down shower walls after use, ventilate well to keep mould away from grout lines, and choose cleaners suited to the material, especially for stone. Reseal where needed every so often. With the right choice in each zone and careful installation, a tiled bathroom should look fresh for many years.
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