What Type of Tiles are Best for Bathrooms?

Many tilers will tell you that you should go for porcelain tiles for your bathroom if you have the budget. This logic is because porcelain tiles have many unique designs, colour options and styles. They are sturdy, not prone to scratches and cracking, and can last you for a long time.

Tiles are the most suitable choice for bathrooms because they are waterproof. You will still have to apply and seal the grout properly, but the tiles themselves will be a sufficient barrier from moisture. The only downside to using porcelain bathroom tiles is their price.

Ceramic tiles offer a bit less quality but a more approachable price. However, you can plan your budget and try fitting the porcelain bathroom tiles. This means something will have to be a bit cheaper.

One way to save money is to ask for several quotes from Australian tilers for your bathroom tile installation and see which fits your budget. In that way, you can save the money that you would otherwise spend overpaying somebody for tile installation and still keep the cost of tiling at an acceptable level.

What Colour Tile Is Best for a Small Bathroom?

Many people will tell you that light colours work best in small bathrooms. Lighter colours make your bathroom look more spacious, while the darker colours will visually shrink your bathroom. But is it as simple as that? Haven’t you seen some small bathrooms with dark tiles that work just as well?

This rule about light tiles for small bathrooms comes from dark colours making the space look more enclosed and cosier. Therefore, if you opt for dark bathroom tiles, ensure they are satin or glossy to add light and not cover the entire bathroom.

If you go easy on dark tiles, they can give your small bathroom a pleasant, safe atmosphere perfect for relaxation – just what your bathroom needs to be.

Another benefit of the darker bathroom tiles is that the wiping lines and sometimes even dirt are not as clearly visible as on the lighter tiles. Still, all this doesn’t mean you should completely forget about the light tiles.

On the contrary, this should only serve as a reminder that there are excellent small bathroom design ideas, including dark bathroom tiles.

Do Larger Tiles Make a Room Look Bigger or Smaller?

The truth is – it all depends on the grout lines. The fewer grout lines, the more spacious your bathroom will appear. This may lead you to conclude that larger tiles are better for small bathrooms; while that can be true, it doesn’t have to be.

Using small tiles in regular and repetitive patterns that allow the eye to follow interrupted straight lines will create the illusion of ample space. What you want to avoid here are overly complicated mosaics on the bathroom floor. A bit flower-mosaic needs a spacious bed to work. Otherwise, all your eyes will notice is that the flower doesn’t have enough space.

Image source: perini.com.au

Also, ensure that the grout lines on the floor match the grout lines on the walls. Ideally, you would have the same size tiles so that the grout lines continue to be interrupted. However, if your bathroom tiles are not the same size, try to pick them so your grout lines can continue.

For example, pick the wall tiles in a dimension that fits twice or three times in the floor tile. This means that if your floor tile is 15 cm wide, pick the wall tile that is 5 cm wide. That way, you can fit three wall tiles into one tile, and the grout line won’t be interrupted.

What Is PEI Rating for Bathroom Tiles?

This is a rating that explains how slippery your tiles are. Bathroom tiles are put through a test that attempt to determine how much friction they provide and, in that way, asses if they are suitable for different uses.

Also, this test measures how long the tiles will wear after use. It also considers the environment's characteristics, maintenance, traffic, and installation process.

This rating is essential for all those who need to pick bathroom tiles. You will have a world of choices regarding colours and designs. You have tons of materials to choose from and even different tile layouts.

However, your first pick should be based on the PEI rating. If your tiles are too slippery, you will be in constant danger in your bathroom. Here are the different PEI ratings and their meaning:

Keep in mind that all porcelain tiles are PEI 5. That makes them the most durable and the most versatile tiles of all. However, you can start with bathroom tiles as low as PEI 2.

You should also know that the type of tiles, their size and the complexity of the layout can influence the tile installation cost. If you have second thoughts about whether you’d like your tiles to be arranged in a mosaic or just a simple straight layout, make sure you know how much both versions of your will tiling cost.

Ask for several quotes from local tilers and determine the precise cost of tiling for different types of tiles and tile layouts. That way, you can get what you want without overlaying the tiling.