Quick answer
Choose bathroom tiles by function first, then style. Decide where each tile goes (floor or wall), pick a slip-rated porcelain for floors and the right size for the room, then let colour, finish and pattern follow. Order samples and view them in your own bathroom light. Get the practical decisions right and the look almost takes care of itself.
Why people get tile choice wrong
Most tile mistakes happen because people start with the pretty picture and work backwards. They fall for a beautiful polished tile, only to find it’s lethal on a wet floor, or they pick a tiny mosaic for a whole room and end up with grout lines everywhere that go mouldy and are murder to clean. The fix is to choose in the right order — sort the practical questions first, so that whatever you fall in love with afterwards is one that’ll actually work. It sounds less romantic, but it’s how you avoid expensive regret in a room you can’t easily redo. A bathroom isn’t a feature wall you can repaint on a whim — once tiles are fixed and grouted they’re there for years, so the few minutes spent thinking about function first save a great deal of frustration later. We see the consequences of the looks-first approach often enough to recommend the other order every time.
A simple order to decide in
1 · Floor or wall?
Floors need slip-rated porcelain (R10+, R11+ in showers and accessible rooms). Walls can be lighter ceramic. Never put a floor tile choice second to its looks. See best floor tiles.
2 · Size for the room
Larger tiles suit most rooms and even make small ones feel bigger with fewer grout lines; tiny mosaics look great as a feature but are high-maintenance over large areas. See large-format tiles.
3 · Finish
Matt hides water spots and grips underfoot; gloss bounces light and feels brighter but shows marks. Textured for grip, polished only on walls. Match finish to where the tile lives.
4 · Colour & pattern
Now the fun part. Lighter, warmer tones open up a room; a single feature wall or band adds interest without overwhelming. Keep busy patterns to one area.
Practical tips from fitting hundreds of them
- Order samples and look at them in your own bathroom, in daylight and at night — showroom lighting lies
- Buy 10% extra for cuts, waste and future repairs from the same batch and shade
- Mind the grout colour — it’s a design choice in itself; a contrasting grout makes a grid, a matching one disappears
- Fewer grout lines mean less cleaning and less mould, so lean larger where you can
- Don’t over-feature — one statement, quiet supporting tiles, is more timeless than several competing patterns
If you’d rather not wrangle all this alone, our design service helps you choose tiles that work together and suit your room — and we’ll always tell you honestly if a choice will cause problems down the line.
Pick function first — slip rating, size, finish — then the colour and pattern that brings it to life.
Common questions
Should floor and wall tiles match?
They don’t have to. A quieter floor with a feature wall is a classic combination, as is the same tile throughout for a seamless look. The key is that the floor tile is slip-rated regardless of what the wall does.
What colour tiles are best for a small bathroom?
Lighter, warmer neutrals reflect light and make a small room feel bigger, especially in large formats with minimal grout lines. A single accent keeps it interesting without closing the space in.
How much should I budget for tiles?
Tile choice is a big lever in the £800–£3,500 tiling range on a Plymouth bathroom. Concentrating budget on a standout tile in the wet zone and a simple tile elsewhere often gives the best value — see tiling costs.
For help choosing and fitting, see our tiling & flooring service or the FAQs.
Choose with confidence
Stuck on tiles? We’ll guide you
Bring your ideas or a blank slate — we’ll help you pick tiles that look right, perform right and suit your budget, then fit them properly.