Kitchen & Bathroom Design Blog

In today’s bathroom design, the shower is more likely to be a centerpiece of the design than a bathtub.  While a tub is often still included in the bathroom, the shower has become the focal point and often sets the tone of your design.  The style of shower can turn your bathroom into a spa retreat, a sleek modern design statement, or a classic traditional bathroom.  In addition to the shower enclosure, other factors like the showerhead and the tile play a big role in setting the tone for your design.  Your shower tile in particular can be the starting point for selecting the tile and color scheme for the rest of your new bathroom. 

The only must-haves in selecting a shower tile are that it must be water-proof and durable, and you must ensure it is grouted properly, as this is a high-traffic area exposed to a lot of moisture.   Other than that, your shower tile is an opportunity to define your bathroom style, so let your imagination be your guide!  If you are planning a bathroom renovation, here are a few tips for selecting the ideal tile design to suit your new shower.

Go Big or Keep it Small?  A larger tile size or a glass slab means less grout, which will make your bathroom simpler to clean, but also a sleek design that can facilitate easier access from the shower to the rest of the bathroom.  Larger tiles also tend to be more slippery, so if you select a larger tile format make sure it has a good slip-resistance rating.  Smaller tiles or a mosaic tile design can be both attractive and have much better slip-resistance.  One option is to include a mosaic tile design on the shower floor surrounded by larger tiles for the best of both worlds.

Material Matters:  There are a number of factors to consider when selecting a material for your shower tile.  Durability is very important since this area must withstand a lot of wear and tear, as well as a constant onslaught from moisture, dirt, soap and more.   In addition, shower tiles must be slip resistant even under wet conditions, and they have to look good and complement your bathroom design.  That’s a lot to ask of a tile material!  The good news is there are a number of tile materials to choose from that fit these criteria, and your bathroom design professional can help you find the right material for you.  The most common materials for tile floors are ceramic, porcelain or stone, while glass slabs or tiles are sometimes also used for shower walls.

Creative Colors and Designs:   While a single color and tile design can make a smaller bathroom look larger, mixing up colors and designs can be an excellent way to add a creative accent to your bathroom design.  Consider adding a colorful accent tile to a storage niche, select a different tile to create an accent wall or ceiling like the shower pictured here, or pick one area of the floor or a bench to create an eye-catching pattern with mosaic tiles or pebbles to serve as a focal point within the main shower tile.

Use your imagination and create a shower tile design that will be a centerpiece of your bathroom for years to come!  Visit our design gallery for more bathroom ideas.