Each time we reveal a bathroom we've designed + built, I get asked a lot of the same questions.
Where do you start when designing a bathroom?
How do you know what tiles to put where?
The options are endless, so I completely understand why it might seem overwhelming + even paralysing.
While each space has been unique, having gone through the process of designing, selecting products for + building 18 bathrooms in the last 12 years, I tend to follow the same process for each + have come up with some 'general rules' that I hope are helpful to share. I want to highlight that this is what I do, I'm not saying it's the right or only way.
1. Perfect your layout
If you've followed us for a while you're probably tired of hearing us say this! But we can't stress enough how important it is to not start any colour or product selection until you have nailed your layout. Draw it up to scale, make sure of your sizes of walkway, shower screen, vanity, door + window placement - have everything planned perfectly.
If you're not sure you have made the best use of your space or struggle to convey your ideas clearly, we offer $245 bathroom designs that come with a full set of generic 3D renders + job notes so everything is clear for you to get sourcing + communicating with trades.
2. Collect your inspiration
There's no point going into tile shops if you don't know the type of look + feel you're after. You'll be like a deer in headlights, + even staff won't be able to help you if you don't have a general idea of the look you are going for.
So once you've got your layout nailed, start searching + saving bathroom inspiration. My favourite place to do this is Pinterest + Instagram as they allow me to create folders where I can easily see in one place the images I've saved. As you save things you like, patterns will emerge that spotlight the style that you like.
There'll be other factors to consider in this stage such as the overall style of the home -
Is this a new build/full home renovation where everything is getting an overhaul to match or are you needing to design a bathroom that fits in with an existing style?
This is important for cohesion throughout the home, + can be tricky because what you absolutely love + gravitate towards may not work with the rest of the house or make sense for the style of home.
It's also important to consider at this stage if you are designing your forever home bathroom, something that may become a rental or something that you plan on selling in the near future.
3. What tiles go where?
Depending on your budget, layout + the look you're going for, this will look different for everyone. Typically though, this is what I do:
I start with a larger format (minimum 300 x 600), matte, neutral tile base. This same neutral tile will go on the floor + select walls all the way to the ceiling. It may cost a bit more, but in my opinion, there's no quicker way to cheapen the look of a bathroom than to finish the tiles 3/4s of the way up a wall. I typically use the same neutral tile for all shower walls + the floor, + if there's a half-height tiled ledge (which often there is because I love them) it will go up there as well.
If it suits the style I'm going for, the opportunity for a feature tile often comes in the form of a full wall behind the vanity, or on or above a half-height ledge. This can often be a nice opportunity to introduce a gloss tile with a bit of texture to it. Not always, but I do think feature tiles can often date quickly + sometimes cheapen the look of the bathroom so I tend to tread carefully here.
The other thing I think cheapens the look of a bathroom is a stand alone vanity splashback. I prefer to do a whole wall of tiles to the ceiling, have the vanity in front of a half-height tiled ledge or do the entire wall in a wet-area panelling such as VJ.
4. Do some physical recon (awareness)
Once you're clear on the style of bathroom you're designing + roughly where you want the tiles, it's time to start shopping! By far the most time consuming part of designing anything (+ one reason why interior design prices can be quite high!), the first thing I do when I have a bathroom to design is hit the pavement + go to as many local tile places as I can. I pull out anything I like, take photos + then put them back. This step in the process is about being aware of what's out there + giving your brain something to ponder. I view it as a type of funnel, where my brain processes all the options as sort of a creative drip - so to explain what's in my head, I created the graphic below:
5. Sample time (Initial Selections)
Once I've had time to process the options I have that could work within the style I'm going for, I return to make some selections + take home my favourites.
Oftentimes samples look completely different at home in the space, so it's important to get tiles out of the store + on the floor in the area they're going to be if possible. If not, similar natural light is still more helpful than in the flourescents of the store. I typically have 3-6 samples laying around for a couple of weeks where I check in on them at different times of the day - sometimes a long ponder, sometimes a quick pop in/glance that helps give a gut reaction. Sounds strange but I've made some important decisions based on the surprise spin!
As you go through this step in the funnel you'll be able to eliminate some from the equation at various points. Sometimes leaving you with clear winners, other times making you need to repeat this step!
6. Lock it in
Once I've got to a point where I'm left with my favourite one or two tiles, I sit with that decision for a minimum of a few days, preferably longer. I put other elements such as tapware, paint colour + vanity material in the mix + make sure everything works together. This is also the stage that you can seek opinions from other people if that doesn't make things harder for you! I tend not to 😅
Then before I start second guessing myself it's time to pull the trigger + order! By this stage I've given myself the time + space I need to assess the design from all angles so I can move forward with confidence. Which of course gets easier each time you do it.
You can of course go through this same process online if you're not able to access good tile stores in person or if there's a particular look you're after that your local places just don't offer. There's loads of online tile stores these days that ship samples. It just can be a little more tricky doing it this way because the samples you receive are often small (100 x 100).
Bonus considerations/tips:
One other thing to consider with tile selection is your budget. If you are paying a tiler, know that standard 300 x 600 or 600 x 600 tiles are going to be the cheapest to lay. Whereas smaller selections like penny rounds or kit kats laid in curve for example are very time consuming + therefore will cost a lot more.
I couldn't chat about tile selection without mentioning the functional aspect of cleaning! I tend to go for a grout colour most similar in colour to the tile, unless it's white + then I go for a light grey because white grout it a nightmare to clean (unless you shell out the extra $$$ for epoxy). But obviously, the more grout you have, the harder it is to clean + that's especially important in a shower.
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