In this article I would like to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of a fully versus half tiled bathroom. Primarily it is more a discussion of aesthetics – however there are a few functional aspects to it as well. Being from Germany I know first hand that fully tiling a bathroom is standard over there. I’m a total advocate for it. Let’s get into the topic!
I noticed in Australia it is still very common to not tile a bathroom up to the ceiling. The reason is to save money on tiles and the labour of tiling. Personally, I do not think it is such a significant cost saving that would matter so much under the bottom line of a build or renovation. If you have the money to spare, it is worth spending it on fully tiling your bathroom.
Let’s look at the pro’s and con’s of a half tiled bathroom first
It usually still looks okay if the shower is tiled up to 2000-2100mm and then the rest of the room is tiled up to about 1200mm. The biggest mistake you can make is having a tile line drop up and down to a few different heights. Out of a decorators perspective it creates a chaotic look. When we enter a room our eye travels throughout the room coming to a rest. If the tile line rises from skirting height to medium height to shower height your eye can’t rest. In addition incorporating feature tiles does not make much sense either. It just does not create that wow-factor it supposed to do.
From a functional perspective you need to keep up with cleaning the dust off from the top of the tile line. Once the dust has settled and starts getting moist as this makes the dust really stick to the tiles as well. The top of the tile line in the shower is much harder to reach for regular dusting and cleaning.
My top tip! If you do not want to tile up to the ceiling, then find one line but maximum two lines all the way around the bathroom. The highest tile line is usually the line of the shower at about 2100mm. However if your ceiling is not higher than 2400mm then it’s worth considering to tile all the way up to the top. In homes with a lower ceiling this can create height in your bathroom as well. There are certain tricks we can use to create the visual effect of height with tiling layouts.
Summary for a half tiled bathroom
- a minus for aesthetics – if your tiling layout shows 3 different heights
- a minus for ease of cleaning – removing settled dust and dirt from the top of tile line
- a plus for saving money – however this should not be your primary focus for long-term fixtures
Fully tiled bathroom – pro’s and con’s
Yes, I do have to admit that the main reason for a fully tiled bathroom is aesthetics. I learnt that a lot of people are worried that a fully tiled bathroom feels too cold and uninviting. The opposite is the truth. Let me tell you why!
Using shapes and finishes to create visual effects
I get so excited when I can have a play with tile shapes and colours for my clients. Tiles have to be my favourite material to play with.
As a designer we play with shapes to create certain visual effects, e.g. height, length, make a room look larger etc. Then there are different finishes available these days too. Tiles come in matt or gloss finishes and then in straight surfaces or organic surfaces. Organic surfaces means that a tile looks hand-made and the surface is not dead straight. I included a few pictures for illustration.
How to use colour in a bathroom
And then of course there is colour we can use to create certain feels. If a bathroom doesn’t receive as much natural light and it remains quite shady you can add warm colours or tiles with a matt finish to create some warmth. To create a relaxing heaven you would add pale greens and blues as colours. These colours provoke the feeling of calmness and relaxation – cool colours are less stimulating. Glossy tiles you can use to create a sense of space as light will be reflected off the shiny surface.
You see there is so much room to play. This is my field of expertise to create the perfect space for you. A space you love and is in harmony with you.
More Top Tips for you to make a bathroom inhabitable and comfortable
- add a textured or patterned bathmat and matching towels
- include plants to your bathroom – a hanging pot from the ceiling is beautiful and doesn’t take up any floorspace
- add other accessories – e.g. timber accessories such as soap dispenser, toothbrush holder etc.
I hope with this post I could teach you something new or even take away your fear of going for a fully tiled bathroom. I’m always curious hearing from you. It is a 100% me responding to your comments 😊
Read our most popular posts here:
