Your Comprehensive Guide To Choosing Bathroom Wall Tiles

While designing a bathroom, tiles play a very important role – they don’t just add to the aesthetics of the space but are also an integral part of making the bathroom safe and functional by waterproofing your walls. Today bathroom wall tiles are available in a wide variety of colours, designs, materials, finishes, shapes, and sizes, thus making the process of tile selection difficult. While choosing the tile for the bathroom walls, there are a number of factors that one needs to consider – especially keeping the wet and humid environment of the space in mind. Here are some pointers you should remember while purchasing bathroom wall tiles.

1. Choose the Bathroom Concept

There are several designs you can use to decorate your bathroom. From choosing the number of tiles in your concept to selecting the style of tiles to use, choosing your bathroom concept is an essential step before you start looking for tiles for your bathroom walls.

Bathroom Concepts based on the number of tiles:

1. Single Tile Wall Bathrooms Concept

If you have a small bathroom area where bathroom fixtures occupy walls, opting for a single-tile wall concept where you use only one tile design for all walls is best. Doing so creates an illusion of more space as the walls have a seamless look.  2. Tile Bathroom Wall Concept Using two different tiles on your bathroom walls is a great way to add colour or pattern to the space without overwhelming it. The most popular concept right now is to use a mix of dark and light tiles of the same pattern and colour to create visual depth and interest in the space. This kind of wall concept works for both small and large bathrooms. For example, the SBG Armani Marble Grey LT and SFM Armani Marble Grey DK can be used together to create a modern bathroom concept.  3. Different Tile Bathroom Wall Concept Since you use different designs and/or colours while designing a 3 or 4-wall tile concept for your bathroom walls, it is best to do so in larger bathrooms. In smaller bathrooms, the visual clutter increases with more designs and colours, making the space feel claustrophobic.  This design concept can be done in two ways. One way is to use different tiles to distinctly demarcate the different zones of the bathroom, such as in the image above or use multiple tiles on all walls to create a running concept with design borders, such as in the image below. You can also design your bathroom around the design of the tile you wish to use, such as 4. Plain Tile Bathroom concept If you want a simple, no-frills bathroom wall concept, there can be nothing more straightforward than using plain tiles on your walls. But this does not mean you can not add a “designer” element to your simple space. As evident from the image above, despite using plain tiles, the addition of the GFT Anti Viral Teal Blue tiles on the sea of GFT Anti Viral Sea Green tiles helps make the area behind the basins pop while still keeping the look simple and elegant. 5. Marble Bathroom Concept Looking to give your bathroom a grand look most bathrooms in 5-star hotels possess? Well, marble wall tiles are the way to go. They give you the same opulent look at a lower cost and require lesser maintenance! 6. Wooden Bathroom Concept Wooden tiles are a highly trending choice for bathroom walls. They bring home the look of natural hardwood without the issues usually associated with natural wood being used in moist spaces, such as decay, mould growth and puffing.

2. Set Your Budget

While choosing tiles, make sure you keep the installation charges in mind, too – some of the larger tiles incur higher installation costs.  While designing a bathroom, it is essential to set a budget so that your project stays within budget. Every aspect of the space needs to be budgeted for – especially tiles. The cost of tiles will depend upon the material, size, finish, design, etc. and the number of tiles required. Accent tiles are marginally more expensive than plain tiles, so it is best to set a budget, so you do not end up going overboard. At Orientbell Tiles, bathroom wall tiles range between Rs. 33- Rs 67 per sq. ft. Depending upon your needs, budget and the extent of the coverage; you can choose the tile accordingly. 

3. Choose The Right Design

Let's look at different bathroom wall tiles trends that are taking a front seat among homeowners.

• Tiles that mimic the look of natural materials are becoming highly popular. Wooden plank tiles make a significant and robust alternative to natural hardwood and help make the space feel warm and relaxing.

Walnut Strip Wood Brown, tile has increased stupendously due to the distinct wood look it gives the bathroom while still giving the space a glossy look.

• Stone-look tiles are also trendy since they allow you to give your bathroom a natural look without spending much on natural materials or hours on maintenance. For example, tiles like the OHG Armani Marble Cutting HL provide a detailed look that works well with both light and dark tiles without indulging in the intricate and time-intensive cutting of marble slabs into strips.

•  Marble tiles are a popular choice – not only due to the natural and organic look they give the bathroom but also because they are a better choice than natural stone in terms of maintenance. Using the same tile for the wall and floors can give the bathroom a spacious feel. For a more organic and personalised look, light and dark shades of the same marble tile can also be used.

4. Choose the Right Material 

The material of the tile you select can have a great impact on the functionality as well as the look of your bathroom. While tiles are available in various different materials, ceramic tiles and vitrified tiles are two of the most popular material choices.  So, which tile should you choose for your bathroom walls? Here is a side-by-side comparison of both:

Property	Ceramic Tiles	Vitrified Tiles
Strength	Ceramic tiles are robust and are a great choice for walls.	Vitrified tiles are stronger and generally preferred for floors.
Water Absorption	It has a low rate of porosity and is ideal for walls.	It has a lower rate of porosity and is better for floors.
Installation	Easy to install.	More difficult to install than ceramic tiles.
Look	Have a natural look.	Have a more artificial look as compared to ceramic tiles.
Price	Ceramic tiles are some of the most affordable tiles.	Vitrified tiles are priced higher as compared to ceramic tiles.
Design	Available in a large variety of colours and designs.	Available in a smaller number of colours and designs.
Size	Available in smaller sizes, making them an apt choice for the bathroom walls.	Primarily available in larger sizes (though some designs are available in smaller sizes too) as they are preferred for floors than walls.

5. Plan Your Bathroom Design

The design of your tiles can also depend upon the space you are decorating. Marble tiles work well for a master bedroom, while mosaic or granite tiles in darker colours can work better for shared or common bathrooms.  When it comes to decorating the kid's bathroom, it is best to indulge a bit and opt for designs that are attractive to kids. You can also opt for never-ending, non-repeating aquarium wall tile. Aquatic-themed bathrooms are quite a popular choice, not just because of their bright colours and eye-catching design but also their learning opportunity. At Orientbell Tiles, we currently have 12 designs you can mix and match randomly. The beautiful combination of OHG Sea Fish Top HL tiles with ODG Sea Pebbles Multi can also be a fun element in your kids' bathroom, as you can ask them to spot the difference in each tile. The best part of these tiles' design is that they get repetitive only after 4 tiles.  The Cave Dolphin tiles are a great way to make bath time fun for your little ones. Ask them to count the number of corals or teach them the names of the fish - your kids will love spending time in this aqua theme bathroom!

6. Size Matters

Choosing the right tile size for your bathroom is very important, as the number of tiles you use can greatly impact the overall look of your space. Medium to large-sized bathroom wall tiles is the preferred choice for bathrooms of all sizes since they reduce the number of grout lines, reducing visual clutter. But this does not mean smaller tiles cannot be used. Smaller tiles can help you control the flow of the space and give it a streamlined look.

• Large rectangular tiles, such as 600x1200mm, can be used horizontally or vertically, depending on your space. If you have a smaller ceiling height, install the rectangular tiles vertically to create the illusion of a higher ceiling. Similarly, install the rectangular tiles horizontally to create the illusion of longer walls.

• With smaller-sized tiles, such as 300x450mm tiles, you can save on installation costs as these smaller tiles are easier to handle and install. They also require minimal cutting, reducing the time needed to install them.

7. Choose A Colour Scheme

Before you start looking for tiles, it is best to decide on a colour scheme so that you can streamline and hasten the process of tile selection. Once the colour scheme is finalised, you can start thinking about the look you want to create.  Do you want a seamless look with matching floor and wall tiles? Or do you want to create contrast by mixing and matching the floor and wall tiles? Take into consideration accent walls and pattern tiles, too, so that you can create a cohesive look.

• White colour works as an excellent base for almost all colours, and white bathroom wall tiles will always be popular. Adding blue and grey in the form of a feature wall helps uplift the bathroom's look.

• There has been a marked increase in the use of light and dark tiles of the same pattern to add visual depth to the space. For example, the DR Carving Armani Marble Grey LT and the DR Carving Armani Marble Grey Dk can be used together to create a showstopping monochromatic bathroom (another trending idea!) that does not look too single-faceted.
• If you are not a fan of grey bathrooms, you can opt for a soothing blue bathroom with ODG Dyna Blue Lt and Dyna Blue Dk. These blue marble tiles are unique (since blue marble is very rare in nature) and can infuse a calming and relaxing vibe into your bathroom. 
• Soft and neutral colours, such as beige or sand dune, also work well in bathrooms since most sanitary ware, such as wall-mounted WCS and basins, are white.

• You can also go classic and opt for the timeless black-and-white colour scheme. With a plethora of black and white marble tiles available, you can create a timeless opulent bathroom that oozes luxury. Tiles like the DGVT Portoro Marble White and DGVT Portoro Marble Black can be used in conjunction with marble highlighter tiles, such as OHG Line Portoro Marble HL, to elevate the look of the space.
• For a small-sized bathroom, it is always better to opt for lighter colours since they reflect the lightest and create an illusion of more space. Bright colours can be used sparingly to add pops of colour to the bathroom and also to add a happy vibe to the space.

Brighter colours will always make your bathroom look upbeat and bright – helping set the mood for the day. The subtle addition of pink in the form of the floral tile has an unbelievable impact on the overall look and feel of the space. Different tile designs can be used to demarcate different spaces efficiently.

8. Don't Forget To Consider the Shower Wall

• The tile size for shower walls will depend upon the size of your shower area. It is better to use regular or large tiles for shower areas that are moderate-sized or slightly large-sized. This would mean tiles that are 300x450mm, 300x600mm, 600x600mm, or 600x1200mm in size can be used on shower walls.
• While purely considering the visual aspect of the shower, using smaller-sized tiles can give the shower a very busy and cluttered look. They are also more difficult to clean as smaller tiles also have more seams and grout lines, making it double the work to get them clean and gleaming.
• But for smaller shower areas, it is best to use smaller-sized tiles, the same size as the ones you would use for the floor. Smaller tiles can help improve the flow of the space, especially since the spacing between the shower, taps, geyser, and other fixtures will be very compact in a smaller space. Using tiles like mosaic tiles can give your space a streamlined look and also require very little cutting of tiles.

9. Choose The Finish

Choosing suitable tiles for a space can be difficult, and bathroom wall tiles require extra careful consideration. Since most bathroom wall tiles have low porosity, you do not need to worry about water-related damage. While you can use any finish for your bathroom walls (compared to bathroom floors, where glossy tiles are a no-no), glossy tiles are the preferred choice since they reflect more light and make the space look brighter and bigger. Measure your walls and calculate the number of tiles you will require based on your chosen tile size. Ensure that you calculate the quantity based on the design of your walls – for example, if you plan to install a tile border, consider that while calculating the number of base tiles needed.   Similarly, if you plan to create a feature wall, calculate the number of accent tiles separately. This will ensure that you have the correct number of tiles and do not run out mid-project or end up with too many leftover tiles. With Orientbell Tiles, you can use the tile calculator tool present on each product page to calculate the number of boxes you will need to cover your space. Simply plug in the measurements of your wall, and the tool will provide you with the number of boxes you will need for that particular tile for your project. You can also use the tile calculator page to generally calculate the number of tiles needed without needing to zero down on a tile in particular. Whatever your bathroom project may be like – whether you are building a new bathroom from scratch or refurbishing an existing bathroom - the tiles you use in your bathroom play a major role in the aesthetics and functionality of the space.

How Can Orientbell Tiles Help?

With an extensive bathroom wall tile collection, Orientbell Tiles can cater to all your tiling needs. With TriaLook you can see how your chosen tiles will look in your space before buying, making tile buying a breeze! Confused as to where to start your tile journey? Well, our in-house tile experts will help you in every way possible! Impressed? Head to the website or a store near you to get your tile journey started.