Create A Bathroom Sanctuary With Tiles

April 15th, 2008 Posted in Bathroom Tiles

For most of us, there are precious few moments in our busy schedules in which we can really enjoy some quality ‘me-time’ alone. In fact, the only time that we truly have to ourselves is in the bathroom in the mornings before we leave for work, or in the evenings when we unwind before going to bed to enjoy some well-deserved rest. With a bit of planning, your bathroom can be transformed into a tranquil safe haven, away from the hassles of everyday life (if only momentarily). The correct bathroom tiles can enhance this experience significantly. Use vibrant, bright tiles to stimulate the body and mind in the mornings to prepare you for the day ahead. Use warm, welcoming tiles to create a soothing environment to be enjoyed after a long, hard day’s work. A combination of these two approaches will create the perfect bathroom retreat. For example, a lively diamond pattern in the center of a serene tiled wall will create the perfect setting for either circumstance.

Selecting The Type

Personal preference and design elements play a role in knowing which tile choice will get the job done. One of the best tile choices in terms of bathroom projects is ceramic. This non-porous tile is also slip resistant. Maintenance is a breeze as they can virtually be wiped off with a damp cloth or sponge.

Besides ceramic tiles, there are numerous other tiling options available to you, each with their own advantages. Travertine tiles are easy to maintain and provide a clean, consistent look to your bathroom. Granite tiles are very durable and can handle a lot of wear and tear. Slate tiles are perfect for bathroom floors due to the fact that they do not become slippery when wet. You can add a touch of class or elegance to your bathroom by using marble tiles to accentuate your bathroom design. Glass tiles can also be used to add color to your bathroom on the fringe of a tiled wall or as a mosaic.

Deciding On The Look And Feel

The size, shape, and color of tiles must be determined before that first tile is cut and placed anywhere in a bathroom. Large size tiles can create a dramatic end result in a bathroom, providing there is not a great deal of cuts to be made. Medium and small sized tiles are typically reserved for smaller bathroom settings and around areas such as the sink, toilet, and windows.

Tiles can be bought in many different shapes and sizes to suit any bathroom design. Common shapes include squares, hexagons, rectangles, octagons, and triangles. Your choice of color can make a huge difference to the ambiance of your bathroom. White or beige tiles create the feeling of spaciousness. Warm colors promote a welcoming, comfortable feel; while cooler colors promote a more serene, tranquil feel.

Now Decide The Layout

Ensure that you have a clear image in mind of how you would like your bathroom to look. A simple but effective idea would be to use a contrasting grout color to the dominant tile color. This makes each tile stand out, which is aesthetically pleasing to the eye. On the other hand, using the same color grout as the tiles also creates quite a striking effect. Different size and color tiles should only be selected to create a dramatic effect. Too many different shapes and colors might appear gaudy.

A combination of small hexagon tiles and large square tiles is quite popular. As is the practice of accentuating the main tiles using smaller accent tiles as border pieces. Scattering different colored individual tiles randomly amongst the main tiles is also a very attractive and popular design.

Do not hesitate to design your dream bathroom today! Do not be overwhelmed by the vast number of options that are open to you. Bathroom tiles can be found in any shape, size, or color that you can imagine. Your options are infinite!