Quick answer
You should always tile the wet zones — the shower, around a bath and splashbacks — but tiling the rest of the walls is a choice, not a must. Full tiling is durable, easy to wipe and feels premium; part-tiling with painted walls above costs less, is easier to update and can feel warmer. Both are valid; it comes down to budget, look and how you live.
The part that isn’t optional
Let’s separate the must from the maybe. The wet zones have to be tiled (or otherwise fully waterproofed) — there’s no sensible alternative. That means inside the shower enclosure, the walls around a bath used for showering, and the splashback behind the basin. These areas take direct water daily, and tile over a properly tanked background is what keeps that water out of your walls. This part of the decision is made for you; it’s the rest of the room that’s genuinely up for grabs.
Everything above and beyond those wet zones — the upper walls, the wall behind the toilet, the run by the door — doesn’t get soaked, just the odd splash and steam. So there you have a real choice between carrying the tile all the way up or stopping it at a sensible height and painting above with a good bathroom-grade paint. Neither is wrong; it’s simply a question of where you’d rather put your budget and how you want the room to feel. Plenty of beautiful, hard-wearing bathrooms are only part-tiled, and plenty of others are tiled floor to ceiling — the right answer is the one that suits your home and how much upkeep you want.
Fully tiled
- Most durable and easiest to wipe down everywhere
- Seamless, high-end, hotel-like finish
- No paint to refresh as steam takes its toll
- Best where moisture and ventilation are a concern
- Higher cost; harder to change the look later
Part-tiled, painted above
- Lower cost — less tile, less labour
- Easy to repaint and restyle down the line
- Can feel softer and warmer than all-tile
- Lets a feature tile shine without overwhelming
- Needs good ventilation and the right paint
A popular middle route in Plymouth homes is tiling to around 1.1–1.2m (a ‘half-height’ or splash height) with painted walls above, plus full-height tiling only in the shower. It balances cost, durability and a fresh, light feel.
How it affects the budget
Tiling is one of the bigger variable costs in a bathroom, so this choice moves the number meaningfully. Going from part-tiled to fully tiled adds both materials and labour, and large-format or premium tiles amplify that. Tiling on a Plymouth bathroom typically runs £800–£3,500, and where you land in that range is driven largely by how much wall you cover and which tiles you pick. If budget is tight, concentrating the spend on a beautiful tile in the wet zones and painting elsewhere is a smart way to get a premium look without a premium bill.
For the full breakdown, see our guide to bathroom tiling costs, and bathroom costs in Plymouth for how tiling sits within the overall job.
Full tiling in the shower, painted walls above the splash line — a common, cost-smart balance.
Common questions
Is painting instead of tiling a false economy?
Not if it’s done right. A good moisture-resistant bathroom paint over properly prepared walls, with decent ventilation, holds up well outside the wet zones. The wet zones still need tiling — but the rest can be painted with confidence.
Does full tiling add more value?
A well-finished bathroom adds value whichever route you take; buyers respond to a clean, well-presented room more than to tile coverage specifically. Spend where it shows — see how much a bathroom adds to value.
What height should part-tiling stop at?
Commonly around 1.1–1.2m for a splash-height finish, or to picture-rail height for a more traditional look. We set it out to suit the room and your fittings so it lines up neatly.
We fit both full and part-tiled bathrooms — see our tiling & flooring service or the FAQs.
Spend where it counts
Not sure how much to tile?
We’ll help you balance budget, look and durability — tiling the wet zones properly and being honest about where paint will do. Fixed written quote, either way.