Bathroom tile can add color, texture, and a bit of glamor to the room. That’s why it’s a popular choice for walls and floors. While their obvious benefit is in their aesthetic qualities, tile can also protect the walls inside baths, showers, and even the basin. A clean and more modern-looking appeal might be all you need to add an upscale feel to your bathroom. Whether you want to choose natural stone, ceramic, porcelain, or glass, you can be sure to find a style of bathroom tile that will fit your personal tastes.
Choosing the Material of Bathroom Tiles
The moisture and condensation inside bathrooms will disqualify some tile materials, but you still have a lot of choices. Real stone or man-made bathroom tiles are very popular. While natural stone has a lot of character, their maintenance requirements are much higher. The tiles will also need to be periodically resealed, especially if you want to keep them protected. Man-made tile are usually great choices for bathroom tile, especially if you’re on a budget. While they’re easier to maintain, they lack the uniqueness of natural stone.
Types of Natural Stone Bathroom Tile
Marble has an opulent look with veins of color running through it. Depending on what you prefer, you can choose from a variety of color tones that vary from dark to light. You can also choose between subtle or more striking vein patterns. You can find marble tiles that will work on both walls and floors, but you should avoid using polished marble on the floor. You also want to make sure it’s sealed correctly.
Travertine is a type of stone tile with warm undertones. While it has natural pits that give them a sense of individuality, you should go with filled travertine to prevent water penetration. Limestone is also a stylish choice. It has a pale finish, but you can find them in darker colors as well. Because limestone is softer than other types of natural stone, it can be easily scratched. So, it may be a better choice for your private en-suite than for the family bathroom.
Slate is a good choice for bathroom tile if you want your floor or walls to be darker, but using this option for both areas of your bathroom might be too much. It’s slip-resistant, so it might be a good choice in bathrooms that are used by people who aren’t steady on their feet. Like most other types of natural stone, it needs to be sealed.
Types of Man-Made Bathroom Tile
Ceramic tiles are affordable, and they’re easy to maintain. They are not, however, as resistant to wear as porcelain. But, because bathrooms aren’t necessarily high-traffic areas, they can be laid on both floors and walls. Just make sure that the ceramic tile you’re considering is suitable for floor installation.
Porcelain tiles have a higher density than ceramic. They’re also more resistant to wear and don’t require as much maintenance. So, it’s a good choice for both bathrooms and walls. Gloss tiles can reflect light. They’re also a good choice if you need a small bathroom to look bigger and brighter. Another advantage of gloss tiles is that they’re easy to wipe down, but smears are more likely to show up on the surface.
Choosing Tiles for Your Bathroom Walls and Floors
You can use the same kind of bathroom tile for your walls and your floors, with the most common choices being natural stone or porcelain. When lighter colors are used, you can give your bathroom a spa-like effect (which can enhance the space). If you want to gloss tile on your walls for a more continuous appearance, look for a matte tile finish in the same color range that you can use for the floor. This will prevent slip hazards without having to sacrifice the continuity you’re going for. You can also use the same tile in a different format, so you can have a subtle variation.
If you like more contrasting floors and walls, you can find a plethora of choices. You can try color on the walls while having a quieter finish on the floor. Cleaning may be easier if you go with dark floor tiles and lighter walls. You can even pick a pattern for one surface and go with a plainer finish on the other.
If you’re looking for one of the best tile stores in Corpus Christi for getting good bathroom tile ideas, be sure to get in touch with Tile Source of Texas.