Small Bathroom Tiling Ideas - How to Think Outside the Box

Lacking in the idea department when it comes to choosing tiles for your tiny bathroom? If you manage to do it right, it could look a lot more spacious than it actually is. How can you go about choosing the perfect, size-appropriate tile for a bathroom? What colours and patterns can make a room appear bigger? Every decision must be guided by the room’s square footage to maximize comfort and aesthetics.

What Type of Flooring Best Suits a Small Bathroom?

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Bathroom flooring must have at least the following three characteristics:

• Non-porous 

• Rot-proof 

• Moisture-resistant

As such, three main types of flooring can be installed in a bathroom:

• Tile

• PVC

• Wood

Next up, all things aesthetic. Tiles are second to none in the realm of interior decoration as they mimic all materials (leather, wood, textiles, stone, metal, etc.). 

Its main asset remains the wide array of colours to choose from. In a bathroom with a limited amount of floor space, colour can make or break it. Furthermore, there’s a range of finishes possible: glossy, satin, or pearl.

How to Tile a Small Modern Bathroom

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Generally speaking, modern interior decorating relies on three materials:

• Metal

• Glass 

• Cement

Tiles have the added benefit of mimicking both cement and metal. In terms of limitations here, it’s very ingrained in colour choices. Metal-like tiles are often too dark for small bathrooms. 

That leaves you with cement-like tiles, which are perfect for a modern-inspired, small bathroom. However, be careful as such tiles are often adorned with chic or retro patterns. When it comes to a small bathroom floor, avoid them at all costs. Limit yourself to plain, light-coloured tiles. 

Glass tiles are retailed in an almost limitless inventory of colours and shapes. But, a poor choice of glass tile can quickly put a damper on your idea of a spacious-looking bathroom. However, if you find yourself inspired and can hire a skilled professional, you can always add a beautiful mosaic to your small bathroom. A modern touch can make all the difference. 

What Colour Tiles Are Best for Small Bathrooms?

In a space-restricted room, your ideas in terms of tile colour should adhere to the following principles:

• Light and uniform colour

• Glossy finish

To create a sense of openness in your bathroom, use colours that are on the cool side of the spectrum:

• Green

• Purple

• Blue

These colours will not only visually make your space feel bigger, but will also instill a sense of calmness to it. Result: a tranquil setting that invites relaxation.

You can also stick to neutral colours. As such, favour the following neutrals:

• Taupe grey 

• Spanish white

• Powdered pink

Avoid creating a contrast between your bathroom flooring and walls. As far as flooring colour rules are concerned, the same applies to wall colours.

Black and White Tiles: Yay or Nay?

Yes, but only if you’re playing off the space’s visual dimensions. While white is by far the best colour to use in a small bathroom, black is quite the opposite. However, it can work wonders. The trick here is to know precisely where and how to use it. 

There’s only one area where black is most suited, and that’s the far-end wall. If your small bathroom is shaped rectangularly, lay light-coloured tiles along both side walls and dark tiles at either end. 

Here’s an alternative: Lay black tiles on a piece of furniture in a completely white space, or tile your entire walk-in shower with black tiles. Offsetting your shower area from the rest of the room can have a really satisfying outcome. 

Ideas for Visually Enhancing a Room

As mentioned, visually enhancing a small bathroom hinges on the following:

• Light and uniform tiles on walls and floor

• Wall-mounted furniture

• One or more mirrors

• Task and ambient lighting

• Black accents, items, or sections, according to preferences

Avoid Ruining the Outcome with the Poor Layout

To create a sense of spaciousness in a small bathroom, you really don’t have much of a choice other than to play off continuity. To do so, items featured in your bathroom shouldn’t disrupt the visual flow. 

A walk-in shower is the answer to the pursuit of visual spaciousness. By tiling the shower base with the same tile as the rest of the bathroom, you’re using the space as efficiently as possible. 

The same concept applies to your toilet and other furniture. Choose them according to their installation method. If you happen to have them all wall-mounted, you’ll have achieved the basics: maintaining a sense of space in a confined and often enclosed environment.

Use Lighting to Visually Enhance a Space

In a small bathroom, there are two types of lighting to consider:

• Task lighting

• Ambient lighting

Task lighting is white, cold, and bright. True to its name, it’s designed to light up a workspace to better carry out specific tasks. Task lighting is thus positioned over the sink, typically in a flush mount fixture levelled above the mirror. 

As for ambient lighting, it really shouldn’t be overlooked. Avoid thinking about saving money by limiting yourself to task lighting only. This type of lighting won’t showcase the glossy aspect of your tiles. 

Ambient lighting consists of several light fixtures embedded in your ceiling. Without ambient lighting, all the work you put into designing a bigger-than-it-looks bathroom will go to waste. 

Reconsider Your Small Bathroom Tile Choice

When it comes to tiling a small bathroom, think outside the box when transforming this space-restricted part of the house into a unique and stylish room. By selecting the right type of tile, you can make a space look bigger by giving it some flair. By daring to be original, you can turn your small bathroom into a space that mirrors your personality while remaining user-friendly and modern.

FAQ Tiling a Small Bathroom

What size tile looks best in a small bathroom?

To make a space appear bigger, using a large format or oversized tile is recommended. According to Yanick Dupré, Dupré Carrelage Inc., it’s best to use 24-inch by 24-inch rectified ceramic tiles in a bathroom. 

Is it better to pick a matte or glossy finish?

There’s no secret about it, but the overall brightness in a small bathroom hinges on tile sheen. Other than being pretty, a glossy finish is also meant to better reflect the sun’s rays or artificial light beam in your bathroom. To visually open up the space, it’s all about using subtle lighting techniques. 

What type of tile to use in a windowless bathroom?

To make up for the lack of natural lighting, the answer remains the same—opt for a light and uniform-coloured tile with a glossy finish. To fully benefit from artificial lighting, you can also use mirrors to your advantage. Light bounces off mirrors and can make a room feel bigger than it actually is.