Toilet tiling, useful tips, possible practical ideas for use in your toilet

The toilet is a room where it is very important to maintain cleanliness and sterility. It would be ideal to decorate walls and floors with tiles. Photos of toilet renovation with tiles are given below in the article. To make your choice, you should study the characteristics and functions of finishing materials. This will allow the repair to be carried out quickly, efficiently and effectively.

When choosing tiles for the toilet room, you should consider many nuances

Toilet tile design

In different houses and apartments, the bathroom has different sizes and layouts. It can be adjacent to the bathroom or separate. Not so long ago, when renovating a toilet, people did not think about the possibility of design solutions in the interior. The main task was to provide it with functionality. In the modern world, this position has changed. Increasingly, they began to resort to the help of professionals who develop beautiful and relevant projects for premises even with a very small square footage. Here are photos of options for finishing a toilet with tiles.

You can tile all the walls of the toilet

Or you can use combinations of tiles with painting, wallpaper or panels

Textured tiles

Almost all ceramic manufacturers now offer collections of textured tiles. It allows you to add variety not only in the color of the decor, but also in its sculpture. Although the cost of a textured finish is often higher than a classic glazed finish, the stunning end result is worth it.

An interesting idea is to decorate one wall of the bathroom in a textured style. It will look advantageous against the background of other smooth surfaces made of tiles or wallpaper. Relief tiles with waves are popular - the smoothness of its outlines brings regularity, calmness and comfort to the interior.

The function of textured tiles can also be performed by porcelain stoneware, in particular, types with imitation of dark and bleached wood. Tiles can even imitate other materials - fabrics, leather, wallpaper, brick, concrete, wooden slats, plastic, bamboo, etc.

The main criteria that play a role in the design of a bathroom

1. Room area and ceiling height.
2. Layout. The bathroom can be square, rectangular, or possibly L-shaped.
3. General style of the apartment. It is desirable that the toilet does not stand out too much from the general style of the living space, but rather fits harmoniously into it. In an apartment with a classic renovation, designed in light colors, a bathroom decorated in flashy bright shades of modernity would not be appropriate.
4. Presence of a window. If for small apartments this phenomenon is not frequent, then for private houses it is more likely the norm. The window makes the bathroom much lighter, which is important when choosing the color of the tiles.
5. Functionality. Before renovation, you should decide in advance on the functional elements: shelves, bedside tables, hooks, towel racks, hand racks (for adjacent bathrooms), etc. Their number and location also plays a role in the design of the room.

Organic interior of a compact toilet with snow-white fixtures and black decorative tiles

With an integrated approach, and taking into account the above criteria, tiles for the bathroom will be selected in the shortest possible time and without any problems. It will fit perfectly into the interior of the toilet and will delight all household members.

Soft lighting

Harsh light emphasizes the boundaries of the room, while soft light, on the contrary, smoothes out the corners. This makes it seem like the room ends further than it actually does. How to create soft lighting?

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The first solution is LED strip. It's impossible to overdo it. You can run the tape in various ways.

• Run the tape around the perimeter. On the one hand, this method emphasizes the boundaries of the room, but, on the other hand, dim lines do not attract attention.
• Create a decoration from the ribbon. It is not difficult to arrange LEDs in any shape. In this way, you can simultaneously light and decorate the room. However, you should not apply too much tape on the walls so that it does not take all the attention to itself.

The second option is lamps. Lampshades soften the bright light of lamps; they also help in the matter of decoration. There are all kinds of shade options on the market. From laconic to ornate with all kinds of decorations.

The use of lamps can be combined with laying LED strip. An important point in combining types of lighting is the warmth of the light. If the LED strip gives cold light, then the lamps should also have lamps with cold light.

Features, advantages and disadvantages of toilet tiles

Perhaps tiles are the most common finishing material used in bathroom renovations. Tile options for toilet design can be seen in the photo. Its popularity is not accidental. It has a number of advantages, which we will look at below.

• Tiles come in a huge variety of sizes, textures and colors.
• The level of moisture resistance is high. This indicator is important when using it in the bathroom, since all kinds of water procedures are carried out in it regularly.
• Tiles come in different types. Each of them has its own advantages. We will look in more detail below in the article.
• The service life is very long.
• Caring for tiles is easy. Cleaning products do not worsen its condition and are easy to clean.
• The drawing does not lose its color and does not fade over time. Neither clarity nor brightness changes.
• With the right choice of tiles, the toilet acquires an irresistible appearance.

Ceramic coating is reliable, durable and practically does not limit design imagination

There are also some disadvantages, but they are insignificant compared to the advantages.

• Laying tiles in the bathroom is not an easy task. It will not be easy for an ordinary person to cope on his own. To do this, you should turn to professionals. Such services are not cheap, but the results are worth it!
• The tiled surface has a huge number of joints. Over time, such places tend to darken, or even become covered with mold. To avoid such events, you should choose high quality grout for joints. It is less vulnerable and will help maintain the seams in proper quality.

Using tiles of different colors, the space of the toilet room can be divided into functional zones

Base color + accent color

When choosing this design, designers present the most advantageous option. Not everyone likes single-color toilets, just like multi-colored ones, but a combination of two colors can be chosen to suit everyone.

From a combination of beige and gray, to combining orange and green in one room. This version of the toilet color scheme is the easiest, both in execution and in selection.

Types of tiles and their features

1. Tile (ceramic tiles). The advantages include strength, resistance to chemicals and high humidity. It cleans well and has high dielectric properties. The downside is its fragility to mechanical damage. Tile in the toilet design photos are presented below.

   
   Ceramic tiles are the most common option for finishing toilet walls and floors.

2. Porcelain tiles. Strength and wear resistance are much higher than those of tiles. Chips and cracks are not a problem for such material. The load it can withstand is 500 kg per 1 sq. cm, and even higher. It is used for both wall and floor finishing. Disadvantages are heavy weight and slippery surface.
3. Stone tiles. The material is eternal with high environmental qualities. It does not react to dampness and humidity. Mold and mildew are not scary for him. There is natural stone and artificial. The second is different in that it weighs less, is easier to install and is inexpensive.
4. Glass tiles. Used as a decorative element when decorating the interior of a bathroom. Glass can be: – colored; – transparent; – translucent; – glossy; – matte; – textured; – smooth.

The effect of using glass tiles is impressive. Often a design is applied to it to create a unique style.

When decorating bathroom walls, glass mosaics are most often used, which allows you to create original interior compositions.

The service life of tiles is more than a dozen years. Thanks to this strength, you can safely install furniture and household appliances on it.

Advantages and disadvantages

Despite the abundance of modern finishing materials, tiles continue to hold the palm. Moreover, now manufacturers offer non-standard solutions in color, design and dimensions, improving the quality and durability of the material.

The secret to the popularity of tiles lies in its beneficial properties:

• high rigidity coefficient – ​​resistance to deformation and moderate mechanical stress;
• fire resistance and electrical insulation – serves as an effective fire protection, works as an antistatic agent;
• resistance to aggressive chemical components;
• hygiene – not a breeding ground for bacteria, meets the most stringent sanitary requirements;
• wear resistance and durability;
• unpretentious during operation - easy to clean from dirt;
• variety of colors, designs and configurations.

Thanks to its high thermal conductivity, ceramic tiles will be an excellent option for installing a heated floor in a bathroom.

With a lot of advantages, tile is not without its disadvantages:

• fragility of the external decorative coating - enamel and glaze;
• low thermal insulation - the tiles are cold to the touch at any time of the year;
• installation difficulties - requires an ideal base, easily breaks when cutting;
• relative high cost - there are more budget finishing options;
• low maintainability - if the tiles crack, the entire problem area will have to be dismantled.

Tips for choosing tiles for a small toilet

Tiles for a small toilet should be chosen carefully, since the main task is to visually enlarge the room. First of all, we pay attention to the color. The main tone, of course, needs a light one, but to create a colorful interior, bright spots are allowed, which will become an accent in the interior.

A small toilet room needs to adjust the visual perception of space

There are design tricks for a rectangular bathroom. So, a short wall can be made bright and decorated with a wide stripe of a contrasting color. This will visually lengthen the short walls. Rectangular tiles can be laid in two ways - vertical and horizontal. The second method is ideal for a small toilet.

If the toilet has a low ceiling, it is better to buy rectangular tiles and lay them vertically

In order to expand the dimensions of the bathroom, there is a mosaic - this is the use of ceramic elements for decoration. Diagonal laying is good for flooring. Creating a border under the ceiling or at the baseboard level will make the space wider.

Horizontal laying of rectangular tiles will make the space visually wider

Floor tiles for a small toilet should be large, on the contrary. The color may be darker than for the walls, but not stand out. It is important that they combine into a single whole.

If the walls are glossy, the floor should be matte, and vice versa

Multicolored tiles

Tiles made in different colors are a great way to cheer up and lift your spirits. But such cladding will look successful only if the shades are selected correctly - they must be in harmony with each other.

The best option is a combination of several related tones of the same color spectrum. Eg:

• blue, azure, blue with elements of emerald;
• purple, lilac and light lilac;
• cream, coffee and dark chocolate.

Multi-colored contrast is also used as a bright accent near the mirror, washbasin, and individual interior elements. The classic solution is to lay multi-colored tiles around the perimeter of the room in the form of a strip, contrasting bright friezes, interspersed with several bright tiles on a plain ceramic background.

If you are not short on funds to create a non-trivial design, take a closer look at 3D tiles and hand-colored painting on tiles.

Choosing the shape and size of tiles for the toilet

Cladding tiles come in many standard sizes. If you take this into account in advance when planning repairs, then you will not have to trim it in the end, which means that the appearance and integrity of the design idea will be preserved.

Wall tiles come in a variety of sizes. It starts from 10 by 10 cm, then 20 by 10, 15 by 15, 20 by 20 and up to 30 by 60 cm.

In a small bathroom it is advisable to use large tiles; small ones may look uncomfortable here.

It is customary to use square or rectangular tiles for the floor, but there are also non-standard shapes, such as triangles, octagons, etc. They can be used as decorative inserts.

In a large room, tiles of any size look good - from fragments and mosaics to large-format products

Square tiles have standard side sizes: 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 33 and 60 cm. As for rectangular tiles: 20 by 10, 20 by 5, 30 by 15, 30 by 20 and 40 by 30 cm.

During the tile production process, clay has the ability to contract or expand. So the actual size of the tile may not coincide with that declared by the manufacturer. The error is acceptable within 5-7 mm, and this should be taken into account.

How to do everything yourself?

The modern toilet design of 2020 can be made in absolutely any color, style, from any materials, tailored to the needs of each consumer. But the most important thing in this matter is that everything can be done independently.

As a rule, the design of a toilet does not include any complex elements that require professional training. Of course, it is impossible to install the wiring without a specialist, but the rest (laying tiles, installing panels or placing shelves) can be carefully done yourself.

However, laying tiles is not as simple a process as it might seem. What problems might I have?

Color and design solutions

The color of the tile plays an important role in creating a cozy interior in the toilet. The main rule is that the smaller the room, the colder the shades. Warm colors make the room visually smaller.

The interior of a small toilet room should be dominated by light shades

For small rooms, the ideal tile color can be: cream or white, soft blue or silver, light pink, lilac, emerald.

White tiles make a small bathroom lighter and more spacious, which is why they are most common

Dark shades work well for the floor, but they should not be too bright. The ideal option is brown or gray.

If you lay rectangular tiles along a short wall on the floor of a narrow toilet, you can achieve a visual expansion of the room

Tips for choosing the color of floor tiles:

• Light floors have the ability to visually expand spaces. Used for tight spaces.
• The main property of dark tiles is to warm. The disadvantage is that dust and dirt are very noticeable on it.
• Rich and bright shades attract attention, but in low light they can be tiring.
• For the classic version, natural ceramic colors are suitable, which always remain relevant.
• An interesting option is one with a pronounced pattern (national motifs, wood, etc.).

To prevent the interior from being boring and monotonous, you can combine several colors

Decide on a color scheme

The color scheme is half the success of a good toilet room. The color wheel will help you understand the compatibility of colors. There are color wheels in the public domain that reflect a combination of two, three or even four colors.

If you choose colors without a color chart, then the risk of creating a room that is catchy and harsh to the eye becomes higher. It is especially difficult to combine options containing more than two colors. As a rule, designers prefer one of the following options:

Nuances of choosing materials

When choosing tiles for bathroom walls, it is important to take a closer look at the quality. Tile is the best option. It is strong and resistant to moisture. If the tile is not intended for use in conditions of high humidity, then it is better to discard it.

To decorate a toilet in the popular Scandinavian style, you usually choose light boar tiles, which go well with wooden furniture

When choosing flooring, we pay attention to strength and durability. Stone tiles have proven themselves to be one of the best options for toilet floors. It can withstand heavy loads and will last a long time.

As a rule, tiles are not used for ceilings. For such purposes, special ceiling tiles have been created. It has a number of advantages for use specifically for ceilings. The materials from which it is made are, first of all, lightweight.

The rack system is a practical and modern solution for finishing the ceiling in the toilet

Mosaic tiles for bathroom cladding

Mosaics made from high-quality materials will look expensive and luxurious in the bathroom and can decorate both classic and modern interiors.

Mosaics are produced both individually and in ready-made blocks. The blocks are ordinary ceramic tiles of large dimensions, the surface of which is covered with horizontal and vertical notches - they create an imitation of a real mosaic. Mosaic modules are a more practical and cheaper solution than natural piece mosaics.

Interesting ideas for decorating toilet walls with mosaics:

• creating panels with thematic images - flowers, starfish, dolphins, sea waves, still lifes;
• highlighting a contrasting area near the washbasin with a mirror;
• finishing individual areas or the ceiling with mirror mosaic tiles;
• doorway edging;
• gradient design - creating a smooth stretch of color on the wall;
• gray and metallic shades for a high-tech style bathroom;
• shades of wine, gold and silver for baroque interiors.

Mosaic goes well with any type of finishing materials - ordinary tiles, wallpaper, porcelain stoneware and plastic.

What type of tile to choose based on appearance and characteristics

Criteria that will help you choose tiles for the toilet:

• The size of the bathroom is height, length and width.
• Stylistics.
• Location of plumbing. The choice of tile size and method of laying it depend on this.
• Additional accessories.

Tiles for walls and floors differ significantly in their characteristics. Flooring products are thicker and more durable, wall tiles are thinner and smoother

In order for the tile to last a long time, and its appearance to remain unchanged, you should consider the following points when purchasing:

1. Plane. The complexity of installing tiles depends on this indicator. To check, you should take two tiles and place them face to face. If the tile is of high quality, then the gap will not exceed 1.5 mm.
2. Diagonal. You should measure the diagonal of several tiles at once. It is important that they are the same, with minimal error.
3. Glaze. Inspect the surface of the tile, preferably against the light. There should be no small cracks on it that resemble a cobweb.

Each person creates the interior the way he wants. Even after using all the recommendations given in the article, it is important that the choice of tiles pleases you. Your preferences are a very important criterion. Experiment, create your own unique designs. You will succeed!

Develop a concept

Before selecting all the elements, you need to understand what the toilet should be like as a whole. For example, decide on a style. The design of the toilet can use elements that create a certain atmosphere. And such elements, as a rule, are not combined with complex decorations. New toilet designs are constantly being developed, but there are a number of classic solutions that allow you to replace some elements over time, refreshing the appearance of the room. It is important to decide what style the toilet will belong to.

Tiles in the toilet - photo examples

Pattern mismatch

Intricate tile patterns can create problems matching similar pieces together. In order to avoid problems with creating the same pattern, you can lay the selected tile on the surface before proceeding to connect it to the floor.

It is also not easy to handle different sized tiles. Smaller parts must be calculated in advance to avoid problems with suddenly appearing gaps.

Same batch of materials

Sometimes it happens that some of the materials are missing and you have to buy them separately. In such situations, there is a risk of buying goods from another batch. What could be the problem? In color.

Any color is a combination of a certain number of other colors. In production, approximately the same proportions are used to create colors, but shades may vary slightly from batch to batch. This becomes noticeable when, for example, two shades of paint are applied side by side.

To avoid such situations, carefully calculate the amount of materials needed so that you don’t have to buy anything else later.

Otherwise, you can create a fashionable toilet design for 2020 yourself. Following the steps described above will help with this.

Laying tiles on the walls

Parts are laid on the walls, starting from the door and from the side walls. The renovation begins with the installation of the first tile. Since the floor is already level, the tiles are placed on it and laid in the first row from the door. Be sure to check the top edge for horizontalness.

Laying the rows, we reach the ceiling slope on the door. At this stage, it is important to bring the seam of the tiles together with the side walls. You need to select the end of the tile on the wall, and attach the rail horizontally to the door so that it is the bottom of the element that will be installed above the door.

The end wall can be finished in the center, directing the tiles in different directions. But you can glue the tiles towards the riser, starting from an empty corner. Considering that the riser will be hidden in any case, the trim will not be visible. The result is a beautiful, neat design with less tile.

Important! After finishing, you need to wait a few days for it to dry completely.

Emphasis on the floor

Who said that the accent must be placed on the back wall of the toilet? A floor decorated with expressive tiles can cope with this task perfectly. It will look cool if the paint or plain tiles on the walls match the color of the floor perfectly.

This is a good solution for very small bathrooms. The floor does not eat up the volume of space, but the toilet looks thoughtful and stylish. By the way, among the most popular colors this season are all shades of turquoise, dark blue and emerald.

You can safely combine 2-3 techniques mentioned above. It is important that the color and stylistic solution be consistent. It is better to take only one bright color and one active pattern or texture. Good luck!

What material should I buy?

Modern technologies make it possible to produce phototiles. In this case, a photographic image is applied to ceramic tiles, and the photo is used. Let us remind you that tiles and photos are best used in toilets of a fairly large area. Such tiles are made either by the Decal method (in which a high-precision image is applied to the tile with paint, and then it is fired in a kiln; during firing, the organic component of the paint burns out, and the inorganic component penetrates into the top layer of the tile and is fixed there), or by the sublimation method. When using the sublimation method, an image is applied to the tile, and then, under the influence of temperature, the paints are converted into a gaseous substance that penetrates into the polymer surface of the tile that was previously applied to it.

There is also a way to make photo tiles using ultraviolet printing, but such tiles are susceptible to mechanical stress and high humidity.

It is best used in the kitchen. It should be noted that a photo drawing can be applied not only to ceramic tiles, but also to glass, porcelain stoneware and even metal. Using photo tiles you can make your toilet and bathroom unique. Nowadays they sell sets of photo tiles, from which, like puzzles, you can assemble a whole picture on various topics. You can also order your own painting from tiles. Our experts will create a beautiful image for you.

Variety of designs

Ceramic tiles are a material with which you can achieve a unique design in the toilet, not only in terms of color, but with the help of different textures, sizes, combinations of tiles and a variety of surfaces. This assortment allows you to choose a material that suits the style and can delight the owners throughout the entire period of use.

For example, a toilet with an arch, uneven walls or asymmetrical wall planes would be ideal for mosaic tiles. A small room requires finishing with light shades of material with a glossy surface. Those who carry out a modern or futuristic design can be encouraged to use dark, cold tones, but only if the toilet has sufficient space. In this case, it is important to choose the right lighting for the toilet.

Among all ceramic tiles, porcelain tiles can be distinguished separately. It is more durable and resistant to damage, so it is commonly used for flooring. But more and more often they are also used on walls. Larger sizes allow you to complete work faster. The design of the floor and half of the wall in one color looks especially relevant. The laying of porcelain stoneware material in the toilet, which imitates the surface of wood, is also original.

Textured material is new to the construction market and is often used to decorate an accent wall in a toilet or create an interesting design on the walls. Tiles with ornaments are also used.

Tiles with imitation brickwork look interesting not only for installation in the kitchen as an apron, but also in the toilet. In addition to the classic horizontal installation, vertical installation is often used. Laying tiles in neat diamond patterns on the floor complements the toilet area especially well.

Important! The material for the toilet floor should have a rough surface and not be slippery.

Kinds

Today, many manufacturers are engaged in the production of ceramic tiles, each of them tries to attract customers and offer new textures, colors or properties.

A type of ceramic tile is textured tile, which is also called sculptural or convex. It comes in a wide variety of shapes and colors.

It allows you to create a textured decoration in the interior of the room . Although it costs more than regular smooth tiles, the effect of the cladding will exceed all your expectations.

Often textured tiles are used to decorate only one wall, which becomes a bright accent. The remaining walls can simply be tiled with plain tiles or painted.

Multi-colored tiles, which are decorated with an ornament or pattern, look original . It will help create any mood in the bathroom, and will also become indispensable for adding accents or highlighting some interior items. Patchwork style tiles are perfect for decorating a small bathroom. It can also be used to finish those areas that are most exposed to moisture or dirt.

Mosaic allows you to create an original pattern, a luxurious panel or a geometric pattern on both the floor and the walls. Mosaic tiles can be used for cladding various surfaces: convex, asymmetrical, arched, concave and so on.

Porcelain tiles are often chosen for flooring. Today you can choose stylish solutions that offer imitation of stone, wood and other natural materials.

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Ceramic granite is characterized by increased strength, high wear resistance and an anti-slip coating. Thanks to these properties, it is ideal for floor coverings, but today the trend of using this material for wall finishing is gaining popularity. Porcelain tiles are usually presented in large tiles, so their installation is faster than when using regular tiles. A variety of colors and shades allows you to turn the most daring and original stylistic decisions into reality.

Style for bathroom renovation

The design of the toilet should be harmoniously combined with the design of the entire apartment. If you have a separate bathroom, you should choose the same style for the bathroom and toilet.

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Toilet design ideas:

• Scandinavian style. This direction involves the use of white for the walls, a large amount of lighting (natural is best), and elements of wood trim. Using this direction in a small room will visually expand it.

• Palace style. Baroque and Rococo involve the use of gilded details, rich decoration, elaborate lamps and many decorative elements.
• High tech. This style is characterized by the use of the most modern materials, minimalism in decoration, and the predominance of black and white colors.
• Japanese. This style involves minimalism in all details, the use of simple forms. The walls can be decorated with tiles with the image of sakura.

There are many design options for bathrooms and toilet rooms. You can stick to certain trends or combine several styles. Your imagination should not be limited by anything, including materials.