Vinyl tile is the easiest flooring to install in a bathroom. Specifically, luxury vinyl tile (LVT) designed with "click-lock" or "peel-and-stick" mechanisms is considered the most beginner-friendly.
Porcelain tiles are the most popular choice for bathroom flooring. They are more budget-friendly than natural stones and more water-resistant than ceramic tiles. Porcelain tiles come in a variety of sizes, colors and shapes. Vinyl is the easiest flooring to install in a bathroom.
Porcelain tile is recommended for bathrooms, including floors, tub and shower surrounds and countertops. Porcelain is recommended for kitchens, but glazed ceramic tile is a budget-friendly option. Glazed ceramic tiles are a good choice for a kitchen backsplash.
Bye-Bye Subway Tiles: 10 Bathroom Tile Trends Every Interior Designer Is Talking About in 2026
Avoid These 7 Bathroom Tiling Mistakes
Classic colors like white, grey, beige, black, and natural stone-inspired tones ensure that your space remains elegant and relevant for years to come. These hues provide versatility, longevity, and a timeless aesthetic that can adapt to evolving trends and tastes.
For concrete subfloors, use an unmodified mortar. For plywood subfloors, use modified mortar. Apply the mortar to the subfloor with the flat side of a tile trowel. Then comb over it with the notched side.
Chipped tiles, stained grout, and brightly colored porcelain tubs and toilets (think avocado green, mustard yellow, or bubblegum pink) instantly make a bathroom look neglected. No matter how clean the rest of the space is, damaged surfaces or retro fixtures give off a dated vibe.
Avoid overused tile colors like gray, navy, brown-beige, black, and white marble. Skip nostalgic shades like avocado green and overly bright tones that clash with today's softer style. Opt for warm neutrals, natural stone looks, or nature-inspired hues for a fresher, more timeless finish.
For those drawn to richer hues, navy and forest green are also gaining traction, and their classic colors are great for offering a pop of color if you just want a hint of it among neutrals. Soft pastels are also making a comeback, adding a gentle, uplifting energy to any bathroom space.
Generally, glossy tiles look best in small bathrooms, modern kitchens with light-colored or lacquered furniture, and on walls that receive little light. Matte tiles are an excellent alternative for floors and also for living rooms, terraces, and open spaces where we want to achieve visual continuity.
Porcelain tiles are one of the best tile options for a small bathroom floor because they're water-resistant and easy to clean. Ceramic tiles offer an affordable and stylish choice with plenty of designs.
In the UK, tilers typically charge a day rate, which generally falls between £200 and £350. For example, Checkatrade notes that this is a common range, while MyBuilder reports an average daily rate of £300.
The following tiles are not recommended for use on a shower floor:
However, when compared to regular porcelain tiles 12x12, porcelain tiles 12x24 are more challenging to set up. However, with a bit of preparation and following the few tips provided below, you can quickly install these tiles even if you have no prior experience.
This time-tested pairing remains popular for good reason. Dark floors anchor the space while light walls keep things bright and open. The contrast creates visual interest without making smaller bathrooms feel claustrophobic.
Pastel colors are the trend par excellence in 2026. They allow you to design a colorful and lively bathroom without losing the relaxing touch. Green bathrooms are particularly modern. Shades such as sage green are especially popular and look particularly good in combination with black faucets and ceramics.
Checkerboard + Classic Patterns
Case in point, checkerboard tile and other classic layouts are back in a big way, only with modern tweaks. “The checkerboard tile in a large scale is really trending now. We've placed it everywhere from laundry rooms to outdoor rooms,” says Marcelle Guilbeau.
Simple, safe, and seriously effective: Just mix: 💧 Warm water 🧴 A splash of Dawn dish soap 🧪 A little hydrogen peroxide or white vinegar Spray it on, let it sit, and wipe clean — your tile will thank you.
Flat, One-Dimensional Lighting
Relying solely on ceiling spotlights is one of the quickest ways to make a bathroom feel cheap. It creates a flat, stark, clinical atmosphere that does little to enhance materials or finishes while also creating impractical shadows in uncomfortable directions.
5 Common Bathroom Design Mistakes to Avoid
Rich, Bold Bathrooms
Dark paint colors make a statement. Luxuriously deep hues look especially sumptuous in a higher sheen. Just like with lighter colors, assessing lighting in your bathroom is critical as light directly affects how your paint color will appear on the wall.
We recommend that the toilet bowl be placed on top of the tiles on a finished floor. That's the long and short of it, unless you used a thin material for your tile, like vinyl.
Tile Gone Wrong: Top Tile Mistakes to Avoid By Chip Wade
Start by measuring the length and width of the area. For example, if your room is 1.6m by 3m and you're using 600mm square tiles, you'll need about five tiles for the length. Next, find the centre of the room. Measure half the width of a tile (in this case, 300mm) and mark this point with a chalk line.