Lab tested and suitable for all weather and water applications.
PURCHASES ARE MEANT PURELY FOR SAMPLING PURPOSES, as we do not complete with our retail representatives and are very limited in the design and installation advice that we can provide. We offer this service as a convenience to customers to help them with the design and selection process. Purchase does not guarantee item is currently in stock for shipping, but may be on order with our manufacturer for restocking. If you are at a great distance from a retail store for consultations, then please contact us by email or phone.
5 Tips for Using Decorative Tile in Small Bathrooms
As if it weren’t challenging enough!
Choosing the right decorative tile for your home can be even more difficult when the area you’re looking to design is small.
Here is a fair warning. The most beautiful accent tile can end up looking cramped and out of place.
There are a few things you can do to ensure that the decorative tile design you choose for your bathroom will result in the look you’ll enjoy.
How to Create an Awesome Illusion with Decorative Tile
When working with a smaller room, your tile and its’ layout, can contribute to the illusion that the room is much bigger than it is. This effect is similar to one that mirrors provide.
There are three rules for achieving this:
- Use diagonals
- Take advantage of lighter colors
- Employ larger tiles
Laying your decorative tiles in a diagonal pattern can trick the eyes into viewing the room as much larger. Lighter colors also give the appearance of a bigger room, especially when the walls and ceiling are a lighter color as well. Finally, choosing larger tiles (though not too large) can make small spaces appear voluminous.
Consistency Can Help You Reach Your Goal
In the same way that lighter-colored decorative tile can make a smaller room look bigger, using consistent colors is also important.
Conversely, tiling one wall darker and the other lighter can dramatically shrink the appearance of a small room. Instead, colors and color schemes should be kept as consistent as possible to effectively open up the room and make boundaries less noticeable.
Don’t forget the grout! A stark contrast between the colors of the tile and the grout used to fill the spaces in between can force the mind to view your bathroom as smaller. We want to accomplish the opposite effect!
Use a Glossy Finish
In addition to the above tips, using decorative tile that features a glossy finish can further enhance the image of your small bathroom.
Glossy tile reflects light better, which produces results similar to that of hanging a mirror on the wall to create the illusion of adding extra space to the room.
Have you considered including a skylight in your renovation? Notice the effect this can have on your bathroom. Natural light that pours in through a skylight can add more life to the room. The natural light reflecting off the tile can create an even more spacious feeling than artificial lighting.
Is Porcelain Tile the Right Fit?
When aiming to create a loftier feel in a smaller bathroom, choosing porcelain tile is a wise investment.
Unlike other options, porcelain tile comes in a wide variety of styles, colors, and even textures. As a bonus, porcelain tile has a lower water absorption rate and requires much less maintenance than other types of decorative tile.
This is particularly beneficial for bathrooms that feature steam showers.
Extend Your Shower Tiles
A creative design trick when using decorative tiles in a small bathroom renovation is to extend the tiles in the shower area.
Strategically place the tile up the wall to the ceiling. Similar to using consistent color schemes, extending shower tiles helps by creating fewer transitions and therefore much less contrast. This provides a more expansive feel.
Having a small bathroom doesn’t mean your options for decorating are limited.
In fact, with the right approach and applying the tips found here, you can easily transform even the tiniest of spaces into beautiful, spacious-looking rooms.
To see some examples of bathroom applications using our decorative tile or for further design inspiration, please visit our indoor photo gallery.
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5 Practical Uses for Porcelain Tile
What comes to mind when you think of porcelain tile?
The term porcelain typically conjures up images of delicate dishes or dainty dolls. Porcelain is quite durable, at least in terms of its use in tile work.
Porcelain tile is ideal for use on everything from indoor work in kitchens and flooring to outdoor patios and more.
What’s more, porcelain Catalina tile comes in a huge variety of colors and patterns – perfect for just about any project you’ve got in mind. Need some ideas? Here are five areas for which porcelain tiles work great.
The Path to Beautiful Walkways and Entryways
Porcelain tile is excellent for use in any high-traffic area of your home or office.
It will not scratch or fade. It also has a great anti-slip element, which means your family and your guests will not have to worry about sliding when not wearing shoes.
Because of its durability, porcelain tile is also a wise investment for large family households.
A Walk Up the Stairs
Many people are surprised to learn that porcelain tile can come in colors and patterns that are designed to look identical to wood.
This makes it very popular for use in areas where daily wear and tear could result in damage to actual wood flooring. For instance, using porcelain tile on stairways can provide the design you want while using a more durable material. The material is low maintenance, with frequent refinishing.
Porcelain Flooring for the Bathroom
Most bathrooms feature tile flooring, and porcelain is the ideal option thanks to its excellent PEI rating. The rating measures the amount of heavy use the tile can take before it begins to show visual signs of wear.
Porcelain tile is low-maintenance and not impacted by things like water and other external factors that are common in bathroom settings.
It also provides many options in terms of color, patterns, shapes, and sizes to create that beautiful bathroom design you’ve always envisioned.
High-traffic bathrooms, such as those used for kids or guests, can benefit greatly from floors made of porcelain tile.
Porcelain Tile Bathroom Walls
One challenge to designing a bathroom is the fact that it’s an area where water and humidity are common.
With the wrong material, you could end up having to deal with the dangers of mold and mildew.
Because porcelain is a non-porous material, it doesn’t absorb moisture. It also repels water. As such, using porcelain tile for your walls can help keep your bathroom cleaner and safer.
It Can Beautify Your Home’s Exterior
The walkways, patios, and other outdoor areas of your home are subject to much more wear and tear than those inside.
Outdoor porcelain is always exposed to the elements. Such exposure can discolor and damage other types of material used for walkways and patios.
Porcelain tile is non-porous. Therefore, rain and snow that falls on it will be repelled. This means the tile will not expand and contract and therefore will not break down like other exterior materials will. It’s also ideal for use in pools and fountains.
The possibilities are virtually limitless!
To learn more about our porcelain tile options, please visit our Catalina and Talavera tile pages. Or, click here to find a Latin Accents retailer near you.
