A small bathroom can actually benefit from a large tile. With fewer grout lines the walls and floor are less cluttered and the room visually expands.
Use large plain-coloured floor tiles
It's a common mistake to use smaller floor tiles in a small bathroom. This actually makes the room look smaller as it creates more dividing lines between the tiles. Choosing a large, plain-coloured tile will give the impression of more floor space and a cleaner, less cluttered look.
1. Larger Tiles Make Small Rooms Appear Bigger. Because grout lines are thinner and fewer as part of the layout, smaller rooms appear bigger when using larger tiles. Large-format tiles make floors look more streamlined – therefore, creating the illusion of more space.
Not only will large tiles make a room look bigger than what it is, but also longer shaped tiles will make a small bathroom look bigger. Try using elongated tiles. Not only do elongated tiles make a bathroom look much larger, but they also bring an appearance that the room has more depth than what it is.
Floor tiles and wall tiles can match, but certainly do not have to. Most importantly, floor and wall tiles should create a cohesive look by either combining monochromatic colors, coordinating patterns with colors, or pairing complementary solid colors together for an aesthetically pleasing result.
The bigger the tile, the more the tile will feel the effects of deflection in the subfloor, and as a result the stronger the subfloor should be in order to use large format tile. As for the thicker tile being less prone to cracking, yes, you're correct.
Laying ten large tiles is much easier because you only must do a little measuring and placing. Smaller tiles, on the other hand, require you to repeat the same process over and over for a considerable amount of time. Bigger tiles only require leveling of the four sides, which may quickly multiply to 24 or 32 sides.
A large format tile is great for small spaces. The reason has to do with grout joints. The larger the tile, the fewer grout joints you'll have and the greater sense of spaciousness you'll feel. Take this notion to an extreme and you might have just one very large format tile in that small space.
The classic design feature is usually between 34 and 54" high, with 36" being the average height. A classic offset or straight set pattern in a standard field size tile works best for this wall height. For a truly classic look, finish the top with a decorative trim or a bullnosed edge.
Deciding on floor color for the material
A good rule to follow is to keep the flooring darker than the walls and ceiling, but feel free to be adventurous and break away from this rule.
Should a bathroom be fully tiled? No, it doesn't have to be. Traditionally, tiles are used in wet areas of a bathroom (around the bath and within the shower enclosure) as a means to waterproof walls but there are now alternative materials to add a decorative, waterproofing to bathroom walls.
Well, square tiles are kind of on their way out. I mean, they'll never be totally out, but the trend is moving toward wood-look planks. The exception to this is the bathroom, where large format tile is still super trendy and probably will be for a good, long time.
Tiles for a small bathroom costs an average of $1,000, or $12 to $23 per square foot. Measure the size of your bathroom to calculate how many you'll need. A 6-by-6 bathroom is considered tiny, while a small family-sized bathroom is 5 by 8 feet. Remember labor fees differ per contractor and area.
A larger tile means less interruption of the flooring surface, which makes the floor look more streamlined and open. They also tend to have more movement and colour variations, making them more consistent than smaller tiles.
Installing 12×24 tile can be a little tricky compared to smaller tiles, but with a little planning, and a few tricks up your sleeve, this can be a great DIY project even if you don't have a ton of tiling experience. 12 x 24 tile is everywhere lately.
One consideration when purchasing large-format tiles is that installation could be more costly than for traditional tiles. This is because of sheer size, which means that special care must be taken during transporting to ensure minimal breakage.
But large-format tile also has its installation challenges. Working with large-format stone requires tighter tolerances in the substrate. In addition, its weight makes it harder to handle in both floor and wall applications.
If there is a vibration in a floor there is a moving deflection in its flatness; the larger the tile, the greater the chance of cracking grout or the tile itself.
Cracked tiles are usually the result of other underlying issues, mostly likely incorrect installation. However, it could also be due to extreme temperature changes, cracks in the substrate (or surface the tile is laid on), supporting too much weight or something as simple as a heavy item being dropped on them.
In general, a shower should measures at least 36 inches square. However, if your bath space is especially petite, 30 inches square is the absolute minimum space requirement for a shower. To determine the minimum shower size you'll need, step inside a few showers at a plumbing showroom or home improvement store.
The ADA suggests a minimum size of 36 inches by 36 inches for a walk-in shower, which features a bench attached to one wall for sitting. Even if you eschew the bench, 36 inches by 36 inches is a good minimum size for ease of showering.