Bathroom tile doesn’t have to be boring. It may not seem that way, since many people grew up with basic white or beige tile or visiting their grandparents’ house to face pink tiled bathrooms popular in the 1950s. All you need to do is pick the right tile to express your individuality, the right grout to highlight the color and add some accent pieces.

There are several solid choices when it comes to bathroom tile. Homeowners choose vinyl tile the most for any room in the home, including bathrooms, because of its durability, low cost and maintenance. Today’s vinyl tile products come in more styles and colors, so it wouldn’t look the same as in your parents’ home. Here are our tips on using creative tile in your bathroom.

Ceramic and Porcelain Tile

Ceramic and porcelain tiles offer more options than vinyl and are a step-up in style. They cost more than vinyl, but also add more value to your space. They are highly durable and are also low-maintenance. You can choose a small penny tile or stone look-alike tile. Ceramic also comes in a wood look-alike too.

Glass Tile

Glass tile can add radiance to your bathroom and is easy to clean. It comes in a multitude of colors. The most popular way to use glass tiles are as accents around showers and sinks. If you use it on floors, be sure to use a textured tile to prevent slipping.

Natural Stone

Many people like the look of natural stone in bathrooms to get a spa look. That can be a great choice. The color choices vary with beige, gold, red, green and blue being some readily available. You will also need to choose a texture with natural stone from polished, tumbled, etched, cleft and sandblasted being some of those choices. If you choose a stone, be sure to pick one that isn’t porous. A porous stone, like limestone, would collect water behind it. Also be sure the grout is one that works well in the bathroom to help prevent water absorption. Also, be sure to seal your tile to keep it water resistant.

A good professional tile installer is capable of using most types of tile to update your space and give it a new look. You should choose an installer who can help you maintain your tile should you have any problems, like chips or streaks, over the years to come. Broken or chipped tile can be replaced without redoing the whole space if you have the right installer.

Tile and Style

Regarding style, there are some basic things to understand about using tile in bathrooms. White tile creates openness. That may sound dull, but it can become dramatic if you combine it with a colored accent tile or a contrasting color grout. Large tiles can work in small bathrooms to create the illusion of more space. Small tile, like penny tiles, can add a classic vintage look. You can change the pattern of the tile install to create visual interest. That could mean installing them diagonally rather than rectangular. Another new idea is to use a bright color tile for the floor, like blue, blue or even pink. This gives it a vintage look but in a modern way. Once you pick your tile, accent your space with colored towels, soaps, curtains and other items to pull it all together.

Tile, when used with forethought, lays the foundation for your bathroom design. It is an important element to consider first. It also offers practicality and that makes it an important choice when remodeling. Once you are done, you will be happy with both aspects.