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Choosing bathroom tiles can feel overwhelming with so many options. This guide breaks down tile types, sizes, patterns, and finishes to help you make the right choice.
Tiles are the dominant visual element in most bathrooms. They cover more surface area than any other material and set the tone for the entire room. Get the tile choice right and your bathroom will look stunning for decades. Get it wrong and you are stuck with a look you do not love, because retiling is expensive and disruptive. Beyond aesthetics, tiles must also be practical — they need to be waterproof, durable, easy to clean, and safe underfoot. This guide walks you through every decision you need to make.
Porcelain and ceramic tiles are both made from clay, but porcelain is fired at a higher temperature, making it denser, harder, and less porous. Porcelain tiles have a water absorption rate of less than 0.5%, making them ideal for bathrooms, wet rooms, and shower enclosures. Ceramic tiles are softer, easier to cut, and cheaper, making them a good choice for walls where water exposure is less intense. For bathroom floors, porcelain is generally the better choice due to its superior durability and water resistance.
Natural stone tiles — including marble, limestone, travertine, and slate — bring a luxurious, organic feel to a bathroom. Each piece is unique, with natural variations in colour and veining that give the space character. However, natural stone requires more maintenance than porcelain or ceramic. Most types need to be sealed regularly to prevent staining and water damage. Marble is particularly popular in London bathrooms for its timeless elegance, but it is softer than granite and can etch if exposed to acidic products like some bathroom cleaners.
Important
Natural stone tiles must be sealed before grouting and resealed periodically. Unsealed marble and limestone are porous and will stain. Use a penetrating sealer specifically designed for natural stone, and avoid acidic cleaners.
Tile size has a significant impact on the look and feel of a bathroom. Large-format tiles (600x600mm or bigger) create a sleek, modern look with fewer grout lines, making the room feel more spacious. They work particularly well in minimalist and contemporary bathrooms. Smaller tiles, such as metro or mosaic formats, add texture and character and can be used to create feature areas or borders. In small bathrooms, large tiles can actually make the space feel bigger because there are fewer visual interruptions.
The finish of your tiles affects both the look and practicality of your bathroom. Gloss tiles reflect light, making small bathrooms feel brighter and more spacious. They are easy to wipe clean but show water marks and soap residue more readily. Matt tiles have a more understated, contemporary feel and hide water marks better, but can be slightly harder to clean. For floors, a matt or textured finish is strongly recommended for safety, as gloss tiles become extremely slippery when wet.
Grout is an often-overlooked element that has a huge impact on the final look. Matching grout (same colour as the tile) creates a seamless, uniform appearance. Contrasting grout (for example, dark grout with white metro tiles) highlights the tile pattern and creates a more graphic, design-led look. For shower areas and wet zones, use an epoxy grout rather than cementitious grout. Epoxy grout is waterproof, stain-resistant, and does not discolour over time — a worthwhile investment in areas with high water exposure.
Top Tip
Always order 10–15% more tiles than the measured area requires. Cuts, breakages, and pattern matching can use up more tiles than expected, and buying from a different batch later may result in slight colour variations.
Tile costs vary enormously. Budget ceramic wall tiles start from as little as £15–£20 per square metre, while premium porcelain tiles range from £40 to £80 per square metre. Natural stone tiles typically cost £50–£150 per square metre. Handmade and designer tiles can be significantly more. Labour costs for tiling in London are typically £40–£60 per square metre for walls and £45–£65 per square metre for floors, including adhesive and grout. A typical bathroom with 15–20 square metres of tiled surface might cost £1,500–£3,500 for materials and labour combined.
Porcelain tiles with a matt or textured finish are the best choice for bathroom floors. They are extremely durable, have very low water absorption, and provide good slip resistance when wet. Choose a tile with an R10 or R11 slip rating for maximum safety.
Yes, and it is often recommended. Large-format tiles with minimal grout lines create a seamless look that makes small bathrooms feel more spacious. Tiles of 600x600mm or 600x1200mm work particularly well. Using the same tile on floors and walls enhances this effect.
Porcelain is more practical — it is harder, less porous, requires no sealing, and is easier to maintain. Natural stone offers a unique, luxurious look that porcelain cannot fully replicate, but it requires regular sealing and careful cleaning. If you love the look of stone but want low maintenance, consider a high-quality porcelain tile with a natural stone effect.
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