Photo Credit: networx
When it comes to designing a shower in a small bathroom, one of the most important decisions you’ll make is choosing the right tiles. With so many options available, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. But don’t worry, we’re here to help. In this article, we’ll explore the best tile shower ideas for small bathrooms, covering everything from size and color to installation and budget. First, let’s talk about the importance of choosing the right tiles.
A mismatched or poorly chosen tile can lead to a costly replacement down the line, not to mention the stress it may cause each time you take a shower. So, what are the best tile options for small bathrooms? When it comes to size, medium-sized tiles are often the way to go. These tiles strike a balance between style and functionality, providing a clean and modern look without overwhelming the senses.
Of course, large and small tiles can also work well in small bathrooms, so don’t be afraid to experiment with different options. But what about color? Choosing a neutral color scheme for your small bathroom will help create the illusion of space. Cream, white, and light gray are all great options that will reflect more light and make your bathroom feel bigger. And if you want to add some personality to your design, consider incorporating soft green, pale gray, or soft blue tiles.
Now, let’s talk about installation. While it may be tempting to take on the task yourself, shower tiling is a relatively difficult process that’s best left to the professionals. If you’re looking for a hassle-free experience and want to ensure your tile job turns out perfectly, consider hiring a pro. In terms of budget, tiling a shower can cost anywhere from $20-25 per square foot on average. While this may seem like a lot, remember that high-quality tiles are an investment in the long run.
And if you’re looking for a way to make your small bathroom look luxurious without breaking the bank, consider incorporating some of our favorite tile designs. Ultimately, the best tile shower ideas for small bathrooms will depend on your personal style and preferences. But by considering size, color, installation, and budget, you can create a stunning and functional space that’s all your own.
Add Drama With Retro Hex Tiles
Infusing visual appeal into a small bathroom without overwhelming the space is easily achievable by incorporating small hexagon tiles. These distinctive pieces add depth and interest to the area without inducing clutter. By utilizing a light-colored grout, you can further emphasize their unique shape, effectively turning the floor into a focal point that permits minimal yet effective wall decor.
Hexagonal Tiles Are Not Just For Floors
In many bathrooms, the shower takes on a starring role, providing a natural focal point that can be elevated with clever design choices. A bold blue hexagonal tile installation is an excellent way to create a spa-like atmosphere, and adding gold-colored grout adds a touch of luxury. The addition of golden fixtures and a stunning inlaid hexagon mirror completes this opulent design, as seen in the work of Justina Blakeney.
A Small Bath Can Still Be Bold
In small bathrooms, simplicity is key, but that doesn’t mean you can’t introduce some visual interest. One way to do this is by using illusion tiles, which create a sense of depth and make your space feel like a work of art. To really bring out the effect of these tiles, keep the rest of the room’s design streamlined with minimalist fixtures and a sleek, rectangular mirror. We particularly love how the gold accents add a touch of vintage charm.
Cottage Flair With Pretty Pink And White
In tiny bathrooms, a rainbow explosion of colors can be overwhelming and visually chaotic. However, one clever homeowner discovered a solution that adds visual interest without feeling too busy: a bold and bright floor color. The unexpected pop of color on the floor injects energy and life into the space, creating a sense of excitement and playfulness.
To balance out the vibrancy of the floor, pair it with a clean and crisp all-white design and subtle nods to the floor’s colors elsewhere in the room, allowing each element to complement the other perfectly.
Add Light But Go Interesting With Chevron Pattern
Transform your bathroom into a serene oasis by embracing the power of white. One effective way to achieve this is by incorporating herringbone tile, also known as chevron, in subtle shades of white and grey. This low-contrast design maintains the airy feel, while the subtle pops of grey create a stunning contrast with the silver fixtures and hardware throughout the space.
Go Big With Bold Color
Embrace bold bathroom design by adopting a striking monochromatic aesthetic. The key lies in selecting hues that harmonize across floors, showers, and walls. This approach allows you to creatively combine different tile shapes, as seen in the clever pairing of leaf-shaped floor tiles with subway-style shower tiles. A perfect solution for small spaces, this unifying design element creates a visually stunning and cohesive look.
Tile Walls Create A Bright Backdrop
In this compact bathroom, the tile work seamlessly integrates with the surrounding fixtures, creating a harmonious visual effect that’s easy to miss at first glance. The use of white subway tile in a herringbone pattern adds a touch of sophistication without overpowering the bright and airy atmosphere of the space.
Create A Cool Pattern With Subway Tile
The timeless appeal of subway tiles lies in their understated elegance, which makes them a staple in many bathrooms. This particular arrangement stands out due to its alternating squares, cleverly arranged to feature both horizontal and vertical orientations. The striking black grout adds a touch of industrial chic, perfect for creating a modern look that’s both sophisticated and effortlessly cool.
Go For Classic White With Gray
Incorporating high-contrast grout into a shower design can be an excellent way to make stunning tile installations pop. However, when it comes to smaller spaces, this bold choice can be overwhelming. The owner of this space wisely opted for a grey grout, which successfully complements the traditional subway-tile layout and adds a touch of sophistication to the overall aesthetic. Additionally, the simple slate floor tiles seamlessly blend with the grey hue, creating a harmonious visual balance.
Make A Dramatic Impact In A Small Space
Incorporating marble tile into your small bathroom can instantly evoke a sense of luxury without the hefty price tag. By applying it to an entire wall, you can create a sophisticated look that makes a big impact without breaking the bank. The floor-to-ceiling design provides ample visual interest, while the soft color palette and white grout maintain a fresh and airy feel.
Keep It Bright With Light Gray
In contrast to an all-white bathroom design, pale grey can be a fantastic alternative for maximizing natural brightness. Soft grey glass subway tiles, in particular, create a fresh and calming ambiance while introducing a touch of relaxation into the space. The addition of wooden elements further enhances this unique and stunning aesthetic.
Metallic Modern In An Eclectic Bath
Transform your bathroom into a luxurious oasis by incorporating metallic bathroom tiles that radiate a soft, opulent glow. For an added layer of drama, consider extending this aesthetic to other elements like tarnished mirror tiles, a concrete countertop, and a high-contrast floor tile featuring a bold geometric pattern. This cohesive design will create a thrilling visual experience, with the similar color palette working harmoniously together.
Add Luxe To Pale Gray With Gold Accents
In small bathrooms, the harmonious pairing of grey and gold can create a visually stunning space. This tiny area is a prime example, where the calming ambiance of the soft grey tone is elevated by the sophisticated touch of gold fixtures. To maximize this combination’s impact, consider incorporating a clear, fixed shower wall that maintains visual continuity and creates an illusion of greater size.
Let The Walls Take Center Stage
In this charming artisan-style bathroom, vintage and cottage styles harmonize seamlessly. The pièce de résistance is the wainscoting, boasting a striking high-contrast paint job that adds depth and visual interest with its vertical lines. To introduce subtle texture to the floor without overwhelming the senses, simple cream-colored tiles can be employed, effectively warming the space without stealing attention away from the show-stopping wainscoting.
Subtle Pattern Complements Vibrant Walls
Bold wallpaper has taken the bathroom scene by storm, transforming even the smallest powder rooms into stunning works of art. If you’re looking for an alternative to traditional tile, consider a subtle yet versatile pattern that can adapt to changing trends with ease. For instance, this marble-look tile pairs beautifully with floral paper, while also effortlessly transitioning to new styles as they emerge.
Marble Look Tiles Work With Traditional Style
Infusing a vintage bathroom with modern flair is a great way to give your historic home a unique touch. One simple yet effective method is to incorporate picket-shaped tiles into your design. The light color of the tiles and white grout work harmoniously together, creating a beautiful contrast with delicate floral wallpaper and wainscoting. This classic combination is sure to add a touch of elegance to any cottage-style bathroom.
Floor To Ceiling Pink
Transforming a small bathroom into a sanctuary is achievable by giving it a thoughtful makeover. One effective way to do this is by incorporating all-over tile, which can instantly elevate the space. The key to success lies in selecting a lighter color scheme that creates the illusion of a larger area. Consider opting for a soft pink hue, as seen here, or choose any other shade that resonates with your personal style.
This design trick will not only add visual appeal but also make the room feel more airy and inviting.
Vary Tile Sizes For Visual Interest
Reinvent the pattern mixing trend in your bathroom by combining tiles that create a visually appealing contrast. In smaller bathrooms, it’s all about striking the right balance between color, size, and detail. A harmonious blend can be achieved by pairing tiny white hexagons with pale-pink subway tile. The resulting light-colored palette exudes freshness, making it suitable for both modern and vintage-inspired designs.
Bring Natural Style With Verdant Green
Incorporating vibrant hues into a small bathroom can be a daunting task, especially for those who adore color. However, with some creative flair and strategic design choices, it’s possible to transform this space into a lively retreat. In this example, the homeowner opted to cover the walls in a bright, cheerful green tile that adds warmth and energy to the room.
A slightly lighter shade of green was used on the floor, cleverly defining the space and creating visual contrast with the surrounding surfaces. By keeping the rest of the bathroom’s design elements simple and unobtrusive, the focus remains squarely on the stunning tile work, allowing its unique charm to take center stage.
Reflect Low Light With Bright White
In a long, narrow bathroom lacking natural light, white emerges as an intuitive color choice. To prevent the space from feeling dull, consider incorporating striking tile shapes with dark grout. The subway tiles mentioned, for instance, would bring visual interest to the room. Furthermore, introducing a bold geometric floor tile can subtly introduce contrast and elevate the overall aesthetic.
Black And White Gives A Stylish Contrast
In this compact bathroom, a striking visual impact is achieved through a bold and modern design scheme that revolves around the striking combination of black and white hues. The shower area boasts white subway tiles with crisp black grout lines, which cleverly juxtapose against the black and white hexagonal tile flooring.
To further enhance the contemporary aesthetic, matching accents and a few strategically placed green plants are incorporated, resulting in a visually stunning space that belies its small footprint.
Elegant Traditional With Subway And Hex Tile
Draw inspiration from this stylish small bathroom, where contrasting styles come together in harmony. The hexagonal floor tiles and subway tiles on the walls create a striking visual combination with the half-height wallpaper, all united by a cohesive black-and-white palette.
Save The Drama For The Floor
In a small space, bold floor tiles can make a big impact – just look at this striking black and white geometric pattern that grounds the room. What’s particularly clever is how the owner has used a combination of materials to add depth without overwhelming the senses. The lower half of the room features crisp white subway tile, while the upper half boasts a soothing pale beige paint job. This thoughtful design choice creates visual interest without feeling too busy or chaotic.
When it comes to adding extra decorative elements, it’s best to stick with a limited palette and introduce one bold accent color to prevent visual overload.
Small Patterned Tiles Add Subtle Style
Combine the clean, neutral look of metro white shower tiles with small, subtle floor tiles featuring a black accent. This simple yet effective design trick creates the illusion of openness without overwhelming the senses with excess color or pattern.
