If you have a small bathroom, which tiles should you choose? As part of our celebration of The Great British Bathroom, we’ve come up with some handy tips and tricks to help with your small bathroom tile ideas.
It’s one of the more obscure things you’ll need to consider when planning a small bathroom. However, your choice of tiles can make or break the look and feel of your entire space.
In this blog post, I’ll share with you all the tips and tricks I’ve learnt over the years when working with small spaces, to make them feel bigger. Check out these 10 small bathroom tile ideas, complete with inspirational bathroom tile ideas pictures.
Small bathroom tile ideas
1. Use lighter tiles
It may seem pretty obvious, yet many people could make their small bathroom feel much bigger and brighter by using a lighter shade of tile. Darker tiles only serve to make your bathroom feel small, dim and oppressive.
2. Matt or gloss?
This one is certainly up for debate. Gloss tiles, which have reflective qualities, work marginally better in small spaces, as they can add a sense of depth to your bathroom. However, matt tiles are also perfectly suitable for small bathrooms, as they provide definition. It’s simply a matter of personal preference.
Gloss tiles are great at reflecting light
3. Mirrored magic
Using mirrors to create the illusion of space is a tried and tested trick that has been handed down through the generations. So why not apply this to your choice of tiles? Mirror tiles are an excellent choice for reflecting light, although it pays to use them sparingly.
4. Small format in key areas
My fourth tip in these small bathroom tile ideas is to do with small format tiles. Generally measuring somewhere around 100mm x 200mm, designs like the highly popular Metro tiles can be used to enhance the look and feel of a small bathroom. However, they should be reserved for key areas, like the interior walls of your shower enclosure or behind your basin. I wouldn’t recommend using them extensively throughout a small space.
Use small format tiles in key areas, like behind your basin
More small bathroom tile ideas
5. Larger format for full coverage
If you’re thinking of tiling an entire small bathroom, I’d recommend larger format tiles. With bigger gaps between grout lines and a greater surface area, this will create the illusion of space.
6. Be all white with your grout
Whilst it’s tempting to be bold with your choice of grout, in a small bathroom it’s best to stick to lighter shades. If you’re in any doubt, go for classic white, as it won’t intrude on your space.
7. Make a feature of your floor
Patterned tiles are proving very popular these days and you’ll see them pop up time and time again in small bathroom tile ideas pictures. However, I would suggest using patterns exclusively on your floors, rather than your walls (unless you're looking to create a feature wall, like in our Ideal Standard cloakroom).
These patterned floor tiles from the Girona range are ideal for small bathrooms
8. Avoid tiling from floor to ceiling
Floor to ceiling tiles can make a larger bathroom look simply stunning, however, in a small space, it can actually create a more claustrophobic feel. If you do wish to use tiles on both your walls and floors, make sure they are different designs or, alternatively, use a different type of bathroom flooring like vinyl or laminate.
9. Fancy flooring
Speaking of flooring, there are plenty of great small bathroom tile ideas for a great underfoot look and feel. Long, thin wood-effect tiles create a sense of space. Try to avoid square format tiles for the floors of your small bathroom.
Create fancy flooring with wood-effect floor tiles
10. Be social
For more small bathroom tile ideas and bathroom tile ideas pictures, follow us on social media. Click on any of the links below to be inspired.
And while you're at it...
Shop tiles
Our tile range is now bigger and better than ever before, with a superb selection for small spaces. Simply click on the image below to begin browsing.
The Great British Bathroom
No matter how palatial or petite your pad may be, at Victoria Plum, we’re celebrating The Great British Bathroom with fresh inspiration for the nation. Simply click on the image below to discover all our latest ideas.
Small Spaces
At Victoria Plum, we're full of big ideas when it comes to making the most of your small bathroom. From small bathroom tile ideas to space-saving solutions, you’ll find all the ideas and advice you’ll need by clicking on the image below.
