Bathroom floor tiles should be chosen taking into account the characteristics of the space. It is important to consider that the bathroom is a place of high humidity and constant temperature changes. To avoid the appearance of fungi and mold, as well as the rapid deterioration of the material, you need to pay attention to all the characteristics of the product.
Tile is the best flooring for the bathroom, both in terms of practicality and its design capabilities.
How to choose the right bathroom flooring
To make the right choice when buying tiles, you need to pay attention to a number of important parameters:
- Hardness. This parameter is measured on a Mohs scale of 1 to 10; the higher the number, the harder the material. The floor covering must correspond to an indicator of at least 7 points.
- Wear resistance. This parameter is measured on a five-point PEI scale. For flooring, it is better to use tiles with a III PEI index.
- Moisture absorption. Here, less is more. Optimally – no more than 4%.
- Slip level. The slip resistance index must exceed 9 points.
- Heat resistance and resistance to cleaning agents.
- Hygiene. If the material meets this characteristic, then it is not afraid of accumulations of microbes and bacteria. However, regular maintenance and cleaning is still required. Treating the seams with a high-quality mixture protects the bathtub from the appearance of fungus.
Tiles must be taken with a margin of 5–7% of the total quantity - approximately this amount of material is spent on cutting
Choice of colors and designs
The most practical solution will always be flooring in a light color scheme. On such a floor, traces of dried water drops and stains are not visible. If a dark floor needs to be thoroughly washed, then a light floor can simply be wiped and cleaned with cleaning products once a week.
For a small bathroom it is better to choose a light flooring
On dark-colored tiles, various marks, splashes and drops of water are always very visible. If you do not have the desire and ability to clean every day, then it is better not to purchase such material. Although it looks quite stylish and original.
The color and design of floor tiles are selected depending on the style of the bathroom.
The same goes for glossy black tiles, which are so popular among lovers of elegant solutions. Stains on such a coating will appear literally from every “splash”. And every time after taking a bath or shower you will need to wash the floors.
An interesting design solution would be to combine matte and glossy tiles. It is better to lay the matte one where splashes of water fall, and the glossy one - in more remote places
The bathroom floor, decorated with wood tiles, looks original
If you still really want to use dark colors in the design of the bathroom, then you can put dark tiles where water does not get in, and put light tiles in the area of the bath, shower, and washbasin. This way you can make an original and practical color scheme.
Green tiles will make your bathroom interior luxurious and cheerful.
Yellow color gives warmth and comfort, goes well with white walls
Purple tiles are suitable for a large bathroom
Shades of blue represent purity, freshness and pleasant coolness.
Red tiles look harmonious when paired with white, which reduces the negative impact of aggressive red color
Decorating old tiles ↑
There are ways to decorate the interior of a bathroom not only by tiling with new tiles and decorating it with decorative elements. Old tiles can also be restored to their original attractive appearance. To do this, carefully, using a slightly blunt tool (so as not to damage the enamel), clean the seams. Mold often appears in these places, so treatment with an antiseptic composition is necessary. The cracked tiles need to be removed and replaced with a homemade mosaic.
To remove the tiles, use a chisel, hammer, or chisel. In order for such mosaic inserts to look logical, it is necessary to sacrifice several whole tiles, arranged in a checkerboard pattern, but with some randomness. We also fill the vacant spaces with mosaics.
Mosaics made from broken tiles may look better than store-bought ones
You can decorate old tiles using another type of mosaic, which is obtained using a stencil and paint. For this use:
- acetone;
- sandpaper No. 100;
- level;
- roulette;
- breadboard knife;
- brush or foam swab;
- masking tape;
- epoxy gloss paint;
- strengthening primer.
Mosaic from broken dishes
You will also need protective equipment: gloves, mask, goggles. Old tiles in places where decor is applied must be degreased and lightly sanded with sandpaper. Then, using a level, you need to stick masking tape onto the tiles in several rows. Using a simple pencil we apply geometric (it’s easier) patterns. Using a breadboard knife, cut them out, and degrease the free areas again with acetone.
Using a foam rubber swab and acrylic paint of different colors, fill the cut out areas. After the paint has dried, the masking tape must be completely removed. Using these simple methods, you can transform the tiles in the bathroom, spending a minimum of money. You can combine various design techniques, but it is important not to overdo it: everything should look harmonious. And then your bathroom will look no worse than those for which expensive materials were used.
Sizes and shapes
The choice of bathroom floor tiles in shape is very diverse and unlimited. On sale you can find not only square or rectangular options, but also products in the form of honeycombs, puzzles, wavy elements and all kinds of polygons.
Pebble flooring is an excellent solution for a bathroom in an ethnic or marine style
There is an opinion that non-standard shaped tiles significantly complicate the installation process. However, today this is not at all the case. If you abandon such stereotypes, you can create a truly unusual and original design using non-standard forms.
The flooring in a spacious room can be laid out in the form of a carpet
A very impressive coating comes out when using the patchwork technique, when a combination of tiles with different patterns is laid on the floor.
Kaleidoscope - a colorful option with a chaotic arrangement of color spots
Checkerboard styling looks good both in the traditional black and white palette and in multi-colored variations
Mosaic for bathroom decor ↑
Stores that sell ceramic tiles always have discounted broken tiles on sale. There you can always choose several interesting specimens for making mosaics, which you can use to decorate your bathroom, replacing an expensive border. To do this, perform the following steps:
- Using a marker on the tile, we outline the geometric shapes that will need to be cut out;
- Using a glass cutter and special wire cutters, we cut out the intended elements;
- Using waterproof glue, we attach the tile fragments to a nylon mesh, laying out a pattern invented in advance;
- We attach the made mosaic to the wall using tile adhesive;
- After drying, use colored grout to seal the seams.
Panel on the wall made of broken tiles
Characteristics and types of floor tiles
There are several types of tiles:
- ceramic;
- stone;
- glass;
- metal.
Let's look at the features of each type.
Ceramic (tile) is a very popular look and is suitable for any room. It is strong and durable, resistant to moisture, temperature changes, and also does not limit the apartment owners in the choice of color and design.
Ceramic tiles have high wear resistance and attractive appearance
There are different types of such tiles:
- clinker;
- Cotto;
- Cottoforte;
- earthenware
Stone tiles are not at all picky to clean and are very durable. It also has several subspecies:
- marble;
- granite;
- sandstone;
- from slate.
Stone coating can be a good option for finishing a bathroom floor in a country house
Glass bathroom floor tiles look very elegant. It is expensive, but the quality matches the price. The tiles are very safe, since a special production technology reduces the chances of slipping on such tiles to zero. For lovers of original solutions, the Austrian manufacturer offers glass options with constantly changing patterns inside. This creates a floating effect that looks very impressive.
Glass tiles are highly resistant to moisture and are easy to clean. A significant disadvantage of glass coating is low resistance to strong mechanical stress.
Metal tiles are very durable and are perfect for use in home decoration. Can be combined with tiles.
A floor made of metal is rightly considered the most durable, but also the most expensive.
Peculiarities
Tiles with a matte surface are pleasant to the touch and do not dampen like a glossy surface. That is why it creates a feeling of comfortable and cozy space in the bathroom.
Some may not like the fact that, compared to gloss, matte tiles for the kitchen and bathroom do not look so elegant and lack an active, eye-catching shine. However, it is precisely for this soft calm that the matte surface is valued, as it looks more noble and elegant.
Using matte tiles you can create truly stylish interiors. Modern designers increasingly prefer this material, appreciating its practicality, soft beauty and noble appearance.
Tiles with a matte surface are non-slippery, so in addition to walls, they are also perfect for decorating floors. The material has a non-slip surface due to the fact that it has a porous structure, unlike glossy specimens. This property of ceramic tiles will be appreciated by families with small children and elderly people (especially vulnerable categories). Gray floor tiles are especially popular now.
This ceramic material does not absorb moisture well, so it is the best choice for finishing a bathroom.
Wall and floor tiles with a matte texture perfectly withstand the effects of aggressive chemical powders, gels and other cleaning agents, therefore they are very simple and easy to maintain. If glossy tiles need to be additionally wiped with a dry cloth after wet cleaning to avoid streaks, a matte surface does not require such labor. Matte tiles do not have to be washed daily, fanatically bringing them to perfect condition. There are no visible stains on its surface, and minor dirt is also invisible, so you can easily limit yourself to weekly cleaning of the bathroom. Not a bad benefit for busy people.
The wear resistance of the tiles is very high. This is exactly the material that, having used it once, you can then forget about renovating your bathroom for many years. Moreover, ceramic tiles with a matte surface do not lose their presentable appearance over the years. He is only afraid of too sharp and strong mechanical shocks, and even then he still has to try hard to break the material or put a crack in it.
A variety of textures and shades will allow you to choose the right tile for any bathroom interior, even the most intricate and unusual. Matte tiles look especially beautiful in a bathroom in a country, eclectic, ethnic, or antique style. The classic design also goes well with the matte surface.
The surface without shine does not irritate the eyes and does not tire vision. The surface does not reflect, and therefore you can see perfectly without strain.
The matte surface looks extremely aesthetically pleasing. This material can give a presentable look to any bathroom. Moreover, this look will be “dear”, noble. As a kitchen finishing material, such tiles are also appropriate.
A non-shiny surface, especially if it is light - gray or white - can visually expand the space. This can be a good advantage when decorating standard small bathrooms.
Furniture, plumbing fixtures, and decorative items look interesting against its background. They should also be chosen with a texture that is not too shiny, so that there is no unpleasant contrast. This material has a unique ability to attract attention not to itself, but to those objects that are located against its background, so pay special attention to the choice of plumbing fixtures, cabinets, and bathroom accessories - they should be attractive.
Medium-sized material looks best in the interior of a standard bathroom. These parameters are suitable for both walls and floors. If your bathroom is large, you can choose large tiles, which also look interesting in their own way.
Marking
Floor tiles for the bathroom should be selected depending on the specifics of the room and the compliance of the characteristics of the tile with these features. The characteristics of a product can be “read” from the markings on the packaging, but not everyone knows how they are deciphered.
The symbols on the packaging will tell you about the quality of the tile, its scope of application and operating features.
- The sole on a black background indicates that this material is suitable for floors, but not for walls or ceilings.
- The snowflake indicates the frost resistance of the material.
- If the sole is shown on a shaded background, then these are products with an increased level of durability and can be used even where many people regularly pass by.
- The color of the marking indicates the type of product. Red color is a first-class product, blue or green color is a low-grade product.
Video instruction
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Quality of floor tiles
Defects can be found even among the most famous and reliable manufacturers. However, it is precisely such companies that will never pass off a defective product as good. If the batch turned out to be not as high quality as it should have been, it is also sold, but with a special mark. Such a product is marked as a second category product and sold at a low price. The second category means that the batch's products have noticeable flaws.
“Raznokaliber” – different thickness of seams when laying
“Raznotone” – different shades of tiles in one box
“Cobweb” – appears 1–2 years after installation
Whether to buy such a product or not is a personal matter for everyone. However, a manufacturer that does not hide the imperfections of its products can be trusted.
A good product should have a smooth front side, without cracks or smudges. The base of high-quality tiles will be a natural clay color.
Classification by size
Usually the tiles on the bathroom floor are larger than those on the walls. The most popular sizes are 30*30 or 35*35. The largest size is no more than 60*60 cm.
Standard sizes of floor tiles
As a rule, a square shape is chosen for bathroom flooring, and rectangular products are purchased for decoration.
