Main criteria: what kind of tiles to choose in the bathroom?

For a long time, in the question of which tile to choose in the bathroom, the answer is one - ceramic or tile. This material has long won trust among consumers. Thanks to modern technology, manufacturers are able to produce high quality material with excellent characteristics. A diverse assortment poses the challenge, which tile is best for the bathroom in terms of size, color, style? In order not to make a mistake in the choice, it is necessary to take into account many subtleties. This will be discussed further.

What is this article about

Material Description

Despite the fact that the construction market is full of other good flooring materials, most people still opt for tiles. This is due to many benefits. Here is some of them:

• natural material, it is chemically passive;
• safety for human health;
• the tile is easy to use and does not require complex cleaning;
• does not deteriorate from exposure to harsh chemicals;
• easy to mount;
• a large selection of colors, styles, sizes;
• environmental friendliness;
• the material is not flammable.

When choosing a tile for the bathroom, you should pay attention to the fact that it contains water and clay, which indicates that the material has a natural basis.

What qualities should the tiles meet?

Tiled material can be used for wall and ceiling decoration. Often you can find whole sets that are harmoniously matched to decorate a room. In this case, the proposed material is identical in color, pattern and direction. In general terms, when wondering how to choose a tile, it should be borne in mind that the material must meet the following requirements:

• the dimensions indicated on the packaging must match the actual parameters;
• fragments should not have cracks and chips;
• the surface must not be abraded;
• resistance to high and low temperatures;
• should not leave scratches;
• moisture resistance;
• the surface does not change under the action of chemical reagents;
• does not lose the saturation of the shade;
• has a long service life;
• has an anti-slip effect.

Before choosing a tile, you can easily check the degree of slip. To do this, you do not need to lay the material, just place a few drops of liquid on the product and check with your finger how easily it slides on the tile.

Range

If you are going to choose a tile or ceramic material, you should familiarize yourself with its assortment. According to the method of manufacture, the following varieties can be distinguished:

1. Bicottura. In this case, the tile is fired 2 times, after which it is glazed. A good option for walls, but for floors - not the most suitable. Although resistant to chemicals, it is prone to low strength.
2. Monocottura. This type of material can be safely laid on the floor. The tile is fired only 1 time. The result is high strength.
3. Clinker. One of the most common options. In the process of manufacturing tiles, modern technologies are used that make it possible to obtain particularly durable products with a low-porous structure. The only downside is the small selection. Basically, these are natural shades.
4. Porcelain tile. It scores high on almost every count. Usually the range is represented by imitation of marble or granite. In addition, the tile has a slight roughness, which even more resembles the original.

Despite the fact that most often preference is given to tiles, you should also remember about other types of products:

1. Mirror and glass. Basically, walls and ceilings are trimmed, since the strength of the material is low, but durability and moisture resistance keep a good level.
2. polymer material. The most economical option with a wide range.
3. A natural stone. Natural material is the most expensive. With the help of modern equipment, stone cutting is carried out quickly and accurately, and thanks to high-quality processing, the stone is adjusted to standard sizes.

The most necessary data is always placed on the label, so do not ignore this information. The most commonly seen markings are:

• a foot on a dark background means that the tile can be used for flooring;
• high wear resistance is marked as a hatched background;
• if a palm is indicated on a black background, then the material is used only for wall decoration;
• if the tile is resistant to chemical aggregates, a flask will be shown on the label;
• gear with numbers indicates the level of wear resistance.

But there are so many design solutions in this case that it is quite difficult to determine which tile is better to choose for the bathroom. In order to facilitate the task, it is better to deal with the manufacturer first, and only then with the collection. As a rule, tiles are chosen based on color, texture and pattern.

You should not stop at one collection in different shades or one color from different series. Such a finish will look inharmonious. It is better to choose one, already thought out design solution, which includes many variations of decor and rates.

When purchasing bathroom tiles, it is important to always fulfill one condition: the number of colors that are included in one combination should not be more than three. This number includes not only the main color, but also shades from a particular collection. Otherwise, such a glut will irritate the eyesight and look too clumsy.

And now let's try to figure out how to choose the right tile based on color. First of all, it is necessary to carefully consider the color scheme, it should be purchased, taking into account the opinion of all the people living in the house and the degree of lighting. Consider the most common colors:

1. Green. Classic variant. Good for mood and very invigorating.
2. Blue. It is used to create a solid interior, however, for many, such a cold shade can cause stiffness. At the same time, against a background with light tones, any pollution is very striking.
3. Red. The color perfectly tones and excites.
4. Orange. The color scheme in this shade is able to cheer up and tune in a positive way.
5. Lilac. Great room for ladies. When combined correctly with another color, it can be a wonderful solution for the whole family.

direction in style

Determining the design of a tile is one of the most difficult and responsible issues. The choice of ceramic tiles for the bathroom based on the stylistic direction will further influence the overall mood and perception. Without a great imagination, it is better to trust the professionals.

A universal solution is a classic style. The easiest option, but at the same time absolutely win-win. The upper part of the wall is finished with light tiles, the lower part is darker, and between them is a narrow insert with a pattern. It is best if the lower part of the wall matches the color of the floor or is completely identical to it.

Natural design looks bright and refreshing. To do this, it is better to give preference to collections in green, blue, beige tones. Wood shades will perfectly fit into the interior. Against the background of plain tiles, you can place elements with a pattern of grass, flowers, shrubs or bamboo. You can create combinations on a marine theme.

For lovers of extraordinary style, the eastern direction is suitable. Tiles with Turkish ornaments and hieroglyphs will create a unique atmosphere. The color scheme should be saturated. The room should have shades of gold, turquoise, red, blue. Bathroom tiles in the form of a mosaic will convey the flavor of the east even more.

Mirror reflection can be advised to connoisseurs of everything original. Such material is able to visually enlarge the room, so it is perfect for a small bathroom, for this it is enough to make a few mirror inserts.

Which tile to choose for the bathroom - glossy or matte? The first one is most often found on sale, it reflects light, and it is convenient to take care of it. The matte surface is calmer, but in any color it always looks brighter than the glossy one, so this type of finish is mostly done in soothing colors. This is the perfect floor covering. The surface of the textured coating will look spectacular, it unusually realistic conveys natural material, such as stone, snake scales, pebbles, metal.

In addition to the criteria already listed, the following characteristics can help you choose ceramic tiles for the bathroom.

1. Absorption. With a high value of this indicator, it will be difficult for the adhesive solution to keep the material on the wall, and over time it will fall off. This tile is more suitable as a floor covering. In order to determine the degree of absorption, it is enough to pay attention to the inside of the tile. The fewer pores it has, the better. Ideally, they should not exist at all.
2. When selecting tiles for the bathroom, consider the evenness of the wrong side. It must have cavities, which are subsequently filled with an adhesive solution.
3. Front side. There are several factors to consider here. First, the surface must be perfectly smooth. Secondly, bubbles and roughness should not be observed. And, thirdly, it is the uniformity of distribution over the surface. When choosing a material, it is necessary to carefully examine and probe the goods.
4. The form. It is very important to purchase products with the correct geometry. The edges should be even and clear and coincide with each other.

When choosing a tile for the bathroom, special attention should be paid to its size. As a rule, it is divided into 4 types:

1. Large. It starts from 25 × 40 cm. Fewer seams are required for its installation, while moisture resistance increases. This option visually makes the space larger, but is not suitable for walls with defects, as it is difficult for them to correct the curvature.
2. Average. Usually it is 20x25cm. The best option for a small bathroom. Laying it vertically, you can increase the height of the ceiling, and horizontally - expand the space.
3. Small. The size of such a tile does not exceed 10 × 10 cm. Hides imperfections well. It is better to use in large rooms and combine with other types.
4. Mosaic. Consists of small squares. Sometimes you can find a round tile. Most often it serves as a decorative element, fits between the transitions from one shade to another, when facing the bathtub and other components of the room.

Room to tile ratio

It is generally accepted that the choice of bathroom tiles for large sizes should stop at the material of a small format. Due to the small number of seams, the room visually becomes larger. Therefore, if the room is small or medium, then it is better to choose large tiles. But in this case, the surface must be perfectly flat.

Mosaic tiles are suitable if the bathroom has curly ledges or niches. Tiles with ornaments or in the form of a decorative border can also be attributed to this group. It is best to separate certain zones in this way. In addition, it is important to note that in a large bathroom, as well as in a small one, you can harmonize materials of different sizes, the main thing is to do it right so as not to visually narrow an already small room or make it larger and so spacious enough room.

1. When choosing tiles for a small room, it is better to focus on light shades. If you still want to add a darker color, then it is better to finish the floor with it.
2. When buying a dark tile, remember that no matter how high-quality it is, any stains and dirt will be more noticeable on it.
3. If there is no possibility or desire to regularly carry out wet cleaning, it is better to give preference to a matte surface, the ideal option is stone imitation.
4. Tiled mosaics will perfectly decorate walls with a complex configuration.
5. You should not lay bright tiles over the entire surface, it will irritate your eyesight, it is better to use such elements to highlight zones and focus on certain areas.
6. In order to significantly simplify the task, it is better to buy a ready-made kit. It will take into account all the parameters, the ratio of shades, patterns and shapes. Often, they immediately include elements for finishing the ceiling and walls, various decorative combinations.

Please note that marble imitation tiles look especially impressive and expensive, and in order for the surface to look as smooth and even as possible, it is necessary to accurately select the color of the grout for the joints. The manufacturer matters. It is better to give preference to well-known and proven brands, although this rule does not always work. Sometimes a little-known manufacturer can produce a product of really high quality.

Conclusion

Setting yourself the difficult task of how to choose tiles for the bathroom, it is important to take into account all the characteristics and external parameters. Since the selected material has a long service life and is not cheap, it is better to think about the future design of the room in time so that in the future it will please its owners and create a great mood!