Nobody denies the merits of bathroom tiles. Whether on floors or walls, they offer water resistance, protection against mold and mildew, durability, and easy maintenance. But when nearly everyone you know in Atlanta uses tiles for their bathroom remodel, how can you make your project—and your space—stand out?
1. Branch out from the basic
We all know what bathroom tiles tend to look like: solid-color squares, lined side to side and top to bottom, with the choice of hue sometimes livening it all up. Basic as it is, this approach works. But more creative tile design can work even better.
Consider using patterned tiles. These come in different colors and designs – zigzag, curlicue, floral, and cross, among them. Compared to plain tile, they definitely make a room more visually interesting.
You can still line these up to maintain a traditional, uniform look on your floor or wall. You can also have each tile designed as an individual piece of a mosaic, ultimately forming a patchwork picture for a visual anchor.
Stenciled tiles are a kind of patterned tile that can achieve the same effects. Since these typically feature thinly drawn and elegant line art, they make for a subtler look.
2. Don’t be a square
Contrary to what many people might think, bathroom tiles don’t always come as squares. Examples of other styles include the following:
- Herringbone and Chevron, which resemble arrowheads
- Honeycomb, which, when laid out, look like connected hexagons
- Fish Scale, which are fan-like and curvilinear like their namesake
- Penny, or small circular tiles
- Basket Weave, which look like overlapping strips
Even if you stick to the basics in choosing colors and textures for these tiles, their shapes alone would immediately lend your bathroom some flair.
3. Mix up the formula
All that being said, you need not take the four-sided tile out of consideration! If you want to stick with square (or rectangular) cuts, there are options more aesthetically striking than run-of-the-mill tiles. Long and thin subway tiles, for example, have been a popular choice for years, especially among homeowners aiming for an industrial-chic bathroom remodel.
You can also mix up the four-sided formula by laying out square tiles differently. Even the plainest solid-color tiles will look more interesting—even elegant—if they were laid out in a checkerboard pattern.
4. Get out of line
There’s more room to experiment beyond shape and design. Who says tiles always have to follow horizontal or vertical lines? Tiles set diagonally, or in another geometric alignment, can be striking on a wall or a floor.
You could also stop thinking in terms of tiles and start imagining slabs. That is, try envisioning a bathroom highlighted not simply by a mosaic of tiles, but by enormous decorative marble or ceramic wall accents. It might make your Atlanta bathroom remodel project a bit more challenging, but the unique end result may be worth the effort.
Sources:
Top 7 Bathroom Flooring Trends for 2019, TheFlooringGirl.com
The Best Tile Ideas for Small Bathrooms, TheSpruce.com
30 Beautiful Bathroom Tile Ideas That Will Inspire Your Next Renovation, CountryLiving.com
