Choosing bathroom tiles is one of the most important decisions in any renovation. The right tiles can transform a functional space into something genuinely beautiful, and the wrong ones can undermine an otherwise well-designed room. With hundreds of options available, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. This guide takes you through everything you need to consider, step by step, so you can approach your project with confidence.
Step 01
Start with your space: size, light, and layout
Before you think about colours or finishes, understand your room. Two key factors will shape almost every decision you make:
Room size
Large format tiles (600x600mm and above) make a small bathroom feel more spacious because they create fewer grout lines, which tricks the eye into perceiving a larger, calmer surface. In a larger bathroom, you have more freedom. Oversized slabs (such as Grespania Coverlam tiles, which reach up to 3.6m x 1.2m) create a dramatic, seamless look that feels genuinely luxurious.
Natural light
A north-facing bathroom with limited natural light will benefit from lighter, reflective tiles: glossy finishes, pale stone-effect porcelain, or white ceramics. A well-lit south-facing room can handle bolder choices: dark matte tiles, rich natural stone, or dramatic feature walls.
Visit our Exeter showroom and bring a photo of your bathroom. Our team can immediately spot which formats and finishes will work best in your space.
Understand tile materials
Not all tiles are created equal. The material you choose affects durability, maintenance, and the overall feel of the room.
Porcelain
The most popular choice for bathrooms. Porcelain is dense, low-absorption, frost-resistant, and highly durable. It comes in a vast range of finishes, from polished marble-effect to matte concrete-look, and is suitable for both walls and floors.
Ceramic
Lighter and easier to cut than porcelain, ceramic is ideal for walls. It’s generally less expensive but less water-resistant, making it less suitable for wet room floors.
Natural stone
Marble, travertine, limestone, and slate bring genuine luxury and one-of-a-kind character to a bathroom. They require sealing and more careful maintenance, but nothing else quite replicates their depth and texture.
Large format slabs
Tiles such as Grespania Coverlam and Marazzi can cover entire walls with a single panel. Almost zero grout lines create a sleek, ultra-modern look that is also very easy to clean.
Step 03
Choosing the right finish
Finish affects both the look and the practicality of a tile. Here’s a quick breakdown:
| Finish | Look | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gloss | Bright, reflective, light-enhancing | Walls in smaller bathrooms | Shows watermarks and fingerprints |
| Matte | Soft, sophisticated, contemporary | Floors and feature walls | Can require more cleaning on floors |
| Polished | Stone-like, high-end, dramatic | Walls and low-traffic floors | Slippery when wet if used on floors |
| Textured / grip | Natural, tactile, grounded | Shower floors, wet rooms | Can trap dirt in heavy texture |
| Satin / semi-matt | Versatile, balanced sheen | Anywhere – the safe choice | Less distinctive than extremes |
Colour and pattern
Colour is the most personal element of tile choice, but a few guidelines will help you get it right.
Keep it cohesive
Limit your palette to two or three tile types per bathroom. A classic approach is a neutral field tile (walls and floor) with a single statement tile: a handmade zellige, a marble-effect slab, or a patterned encaustic, used as a feature wall or shower niche.
Think about grout
Grout colour is often overlooked but dramatically changes the finished result. Contrasting grout (dark grout with light tiles, or vice versa) emphasises the tile pattern. Matching grout creates a more seamless, minimal look. For large format tiles, minimal grout joints (1–2mm) look most sophisticated.
“The most common mistake we see is people choosing tiles in isolation, without considering the sanitaryware, fixtures, and lighting they’ll be living with. Bring samples and photos when you visit us.”
La Fabrico design team, Exeter
Floor tiles: safety and slip resistance
Never use a wall tile on a floor. They are not designed for foot traffic or the compression loads a floor must bear. For bathroom floors, check the tile’s slip resistance rating:
- R9: Suitable for dry areas and low-risk wet zones
- R10: Good general-purpose bathroom floor choice
- R11: Ideal for shower trays and wet rooms
- Textured and grip-finish tiles score higher
- Polished tiles typically score R9, which is fine for walls
- Always specify slip resistance when ordering
Step 06
Wall vs floor tile combinations
Matching your wall and floor tiles perfectly can look flat. The most considered bathroom designs use contrast and texture to create visual interest:
- Same material, different finish. E.g. polished marble-effect wall tile with a matte version of the same for the floor: cohesive but with depth.
- Tone-on-tone. E.g. warm grey walls with a slightly warmer, darker floor tile. Grounds the room and avoids the sterile ‘all-white’ look.
- Feature wall. Keep three walls simple (large format, neutral) and use a bolder tile on the wall behind the bath or vanity.
- Large walls, small floor accents. Oversized wall panels with a smaller, more intricate floor tile (hexagon, penny round, or mosaic) adds richness without overwhelming.
Order at least 10% more tile than your measured area to account for cuts, breakage, and future repairs. For patterned tiles, allow 15%. Always order from the same batch (same lot number) to ensure colour consistency.
Budget: how to get the most from your spend
You don’t need to spend a fortune on every tile in the room. A smart approach is to invest in the tiles that have the most visual impact:
- Spend more on the feature wall: this is what people see first when they walk in
- Use a high-quality, simple field tile for the rest. It doesn’t need to be expensive to look good
- Don’t cut corners on the shower floor. Grip and durability matter here
- Remember: fitting costs are often more than tile costs, so buying slightly better tiles is rarely a false economy
- At La Fabrico, we offer Guaranteed Best Prices, and with free UK delivery over £250, you won’t find better value
Ready to find your perfect bathroom tiles?
Visit our showroom in Exeter, Devon’s largest tile and bathroom destination. Free samples, expert advice, and Guaranteed Best Prices.
lafabrico.com | 01392 848487 | Marsh Barton, Exeter EX2 8QX
