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Choosing a Bathroom Tile - Help
& Advice
Why Have Tiles in the Bathroom?
Bathrooms need to be a place of hygiene,
which tiles can certainly offer. With their ‘fresh’ appearance
(particularly gloss finished tiles) and ‘easy wipe’ surfaces, hygiene is
one of the first things that come to mind when using tiles in the
bathroom.
Tiles are also waterproof (when using the
correct adhesive and grout) which is essential for a bathroom. This
cannot be said for alternatives such as wallpaper and some paints.
In addition, tiles are now available in
different sizes, colours, textures, materials and designs, giving you
the chance to create a unique environment, tailored to your specific
tastes.
What Size Tiles Would Look Best in My
Bathroom?
Most tile FAQ pages will advise you to avoid
using large tiles (e.g. 60x30cm) in a small bathroom, as they will dwarf
the room significantly. Although this is true for some cases, if the
majority of the tiles can be applied without any cuts, the end result
can be very impressive.
Although small tiles (e.g. 10x10cm) can look
good in smaller bathrooms, the many grout lines (compared to using
bigger tiles) can give an unappealing effect. Consequently, many people
choose medium sized tiles (e.g. 40x25cm), which are a common choice for
large and small bathrooms today.
You should also take note of the spacing
between your washbasin, toilet, windows, etc. If the spacing is very
compact, small tiles may be the better option, as they will ‘flow’
better than larger tiles.
How to Make a Small Bathroom Look Bigger
Light coloured tiles (i.e. white or cream)
can make small bathrooms look bigger as they reflect the light more than
darker colours, giving an airy and spacious feel to your bathroom.
Using the same colour wall tiles as the
floor tiles can also give your bathroom a spacious effect. To enhance
the effect, you could use a similar coloured grout with the tiles (ask
our sales staff for details).
Extra tip: Use mirrors in your bathroom to
give the effect that your bathroom has more depth.
Will Tiles Make the Floor Cold on My
Feet?
Okay, tiles can feel cool on bare feet, but
this may also depend on the surface underneath the tiles. For example,
tiling onto wood (which can ‘breath’) will create a warmer feel than
tiles that are placed on top of concrete.
However, you can further minimise the
feeling of cold floors by using the following tips.
Firstly, under-tile heating is available to
radiate warmth through your tiled floor. If you would like to learn more
about under-tile heating (which can be purchased at the YTC), visit our
products page.
Choose warm looking floor tiles such as
creams and terracotta colours to give an impression of warmth in the
bathroom. Also, by choosing warm looking colours for the wall (whether
this be tile or paint), the effect can be increased.
Use stylish small rugs that fit around the
washbasin and toilet to offer your feet some insulation when using the
facilities within your bathroom. However, be careful not to use large
rugs in danger of covering up your beautiful tiles.
Suitable Bathroom Grouts
Grouts are now available in a wide range of
colours that will help disguise your grout lines. Grouts with
antibacterial protection are also available to offer increased
protection against bacteria.
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