5 Tiling Strategies To Enhance Your Bathroom
Selecting bathroom tiles is easy, right?
Actually, as designers, before we even pull out a product sample or set foot in a tile store, we’re plotting our overall tiling strategy for the room. Sounds serious, right!?
A tiling strategy is the way we plan for the whole rooms surfaces, and strongly influences the results of the design, as well as the atmosphere and aesthetic we’re creating. Beyond picking the actual tile product, our tiling strategy will explore how we’re going to use placement and positioning, the set-out of the tiles, the use of contrast, pattern and tone within these surface materials.
1. Placement
To start developing your tiling strategy, have a good look at your room's layout first and foremost. Consider the location of fittings and fixtures and where you want to draw the eye. You might have a free-standing bathtub that you'd like to be a statement piece or maybe its a beautiful custom vanity that's not quite getting the love it deserves. Think about if your room feels narrow or small. Maybe you have low ceilings and the space just feels too small. Continuing your floor tiles up the wall can visually create more height, length and width to the overall space. Clever placement of tiles will have a huge impact on the atmosphere and dimension on the room.
TIP: Consider the location of fittings and fixtures and where you want to draw their eye.
2. Set-Out
Prepare yourself for the big question... What type of lay would you like?
This is what your tiler will ask you. Tiles are a series of shapes on a plane, and they can be applied in a number of ways including uniform, brick lay, herringbone, angled, basket weave and a whole lot of other options. The set out you choose is going to influence the movement and texture of your space. Want a seamless finish? try a bond stack (directly on top of each other) of a large format tile. Want to create some drama? Apply a herringbone pattern to some subways!
TIP: The set out you choose is going to influence the movement and texture of your space.
3. Contrast
Contrast is such an effective tool in design. We use it to create visual impact and to make specific elements pop. If we keep contrast minimal, it will create softness and simplicity.
Here are some ways contrast could be incorporated:
Colour: This could be through grout and tile colour, e.g. a white tile with a dark grey grout, or a dark or coloured floor tile pared with a light wall tile.
Size: Playing with tile size can be really fun. We often specify a large format tile for the flooring and mix it up with small mosaic tile on the wall. It may only be a feature wall in the shower or behind the vanity, but a feature tile can add great interest and contrast to the space against the larger tile sizes.
Shape and Line: Have fun with tile shapes and pattern by creating movement and flow with geometric forms between the floor and wall.
4. Pattern
There is an endless selection of patterned tiles on the market. Even the simplest of tile can be laid with a contrasting grout in a creative setout to create a complex pattern. Think about pairing a feature pattern surface as a statement with a softer and more minimal space for the eye to rest.
Creating a balance of the strength of a pattern across the room is really key otherwise it can lead to visual busy-ness and clutter. Remember, a bathroom is a space to pause and rejuvenate, so you really want to reflect that in your design and well-thought tile selections.
TIP: Consider strength of pattern across the room for a balanced space.
5. Tone
The underlying tonal foundation to your tiling palette will have a huge impact on the atmosphere of your room.
Also have a ponder about the mood you want to create. For a more moody space, consider darker grey tone tiles. If you want something bright and refreshing, cool whites paired with other cool tones would be the most effective. Or if it’s some drama you want to create, mix up the tone by going light or white in some sections and bold and deep in others. Make sure all your tiles have the same underlying tonal base for example blending warm whites with warm neutrals. Or maybe you prefer a cool grey with cool blues.
TIP: Make sure all your tiles have the same underlying tonal base.
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