With the walls and floor of the bathroom being such a large expanse of space, this is where the eye is naturally drawn, so selecting tiles that will make a focal point and using this as a starting point for the design of the rest of the room is often a good idea.
This doesn’t necessarily mean having to go bold with your colour scheme as tiles in neutral shades can be just as effective at making a focal point, depending on what you do with them. And of course, should you wish to go big with a patterned or brightly coloured tile to make a feature of a particular area of the bathroom, a neutral ceramic tile will help create the balance when used elsewhere.
Large format tiles are a brilliant design idea for the smaller bathroom, making the whole space look and feel much bigger and requiring less grout, which also has its hygiene and ease of cleaning benefits. Ceralsio ceramic tiles are available in formats up to 160 x 320cm, making them perfect for creating a streamlined look that makes a striking impression in the bathroom. These can of course be chosen for the wall and floor for a seamless look, or combined with smaller format tiles or those in a different colour to create an individual effect. If you do opt for smaller format tiles (Ceralsio comes in sizes from 30 x 30cm) then consider making a feature of the grout – an all-white bathroom, for example, can be given ample visual interest with a different coloured grout which will highlight tile lines and make a striking impression and this works with virtually any colour scheme.
Tiling half-way up walls that don’t need to be fully waterproofed gives the effect of a traditional dado rail to give the room a timeless feel. Again, painting the wall above the tiled area in a contrasting colour will create an interesting visual effect.
Extended vanity units are a popular storage option in the modern bathroom and just like in the kitchen can be topped with a generous splashback. White tiles on white walls to create a clean, crisp finish, black tiles on black walls for a sophisticated impression – the options are almost endless. A marble-effect tile is the perfect choice here though, being the ideal backdrop to brassware in the latest alternative finishes such as matt black or brushed metal effect and adding an air of warmth and elegance to a crisp white washbasin. Team the wall tiling with a vanity top made from the same durable material for continuity of design throughout the bathroom.
Whichever style you prefer and however much of a focal point you are wanting to create, there will be a ceramic tile to suit. Aesthetics aside, ceramic is the ideal wall cladding and flooring choice for the bathroom, as it is hard wearing, non-porous and resistant to scratches and stains.