Tiles are the single biggest visual element in any bathroom, and they are also one of the most permanent decisions you will make. Get them right and they can define a beautiful room for the next twenty years. Get them wrong and no amount of nice fittings will compensate.
Having tiled hundreds of bathrooms across Surrey, Sussex and Kent, I have seen every combination imaginable. This guide covers everything you need to know to choose tiles with confidence: material, size, slip resistance, grout colour, feature walls, and how to avoid the most common mistakes.
Tile Size and Room Scale
The size of your tiles has a surprisingly powerful effect on how a room feels. Large-format tiles (600×600mm, 600×1200mm, or even larger) reduce the number of grout lines, which makes a space feel calmer and more continuous. Used consistently on both floor and walls, they can make a compact bathroom look significantly bigger.
Smaller tiles (300×300mm and below) suit period properties and more traditional schemes, and are a practical choice for curved walls or intricate layouts. Mosaic tiles work well as accents — in a shower niche, for example — but covering large areas with mosaics creates a busy visual effect and a lot of grout to keep clean.
One practical consideration: large-format floor tiles require a very flat, level subfloor. If your floor has any flex or unevenness, the tiles can crack. Your fitter should assess the floor condition before you order.
Porcelain vs Ceramic vs Natural Stone
These are the three main tile materials you will encounter, and each has different characteristics, costs, and maintenance requirements.
Porcelain is the most popular choice for modern bathrooms in the UK, and for good reason. It is extremely hard, highly water resistant, and comes in an enormous range of finishes — including very convincing wood, concrete, and stone looks. Porcelain tiles are durable, relatively easy to maintain, and work for both floors and walls. They are heavier than ceramic and require more skill to cut cleanly, which is reflected in fitting costs.
Ceramic tiles are lighter, slightly softer, and easier to cut, making them a practical choice for wall tiles especially. They are generally more affordable than porcelain and available in a wide range of colours and patterns. They are less dense than porcelain, so less suitable for high-traffic floor areas, but perfectly fine for bathroom walls.
Natural stone (marble, travertine, slate, limestone) creates a genuinely luxurious look that is hard to replicate with manufactured tiles. However, most natural stone is porous and requires sealing before use and periodic re-sealing over time. It is also more expensive to supply and fit, and some stones (particularly polished marble) can become very slippery when wet. If you want the look of stone without the maintenance, good-quality porcelain stone-effect tiles are a compelling alternative.
Slip Resistance Ratings: R9, R10, R11
This is one of the most overlooked aspects of tile selection, and one of the most important for safety. Floor tiles are rated for slip resistance on a scale from R9 to R13 (for extreme industrial environments).
- R9 — Minimum for a dry domestic bathroom floor. Suitable for areas where the floor stays mostly dry, such as in front of a basin.
- R10 — Recommended for bathroom floors generally, and required for shower trays and wet room floors where the surface will be regularly wet.
- R11 — Advisable for wet rooms with high usage, or for households with elderly residents or young children where extra grip provides an important safety margin.
Always ask the tile supplier to confirm the slip resistance rating of any floor tile before you order. Glossy, highly polished tiles often only achieve R9 or below, which makes them unsuitable for wet bathroom floors regardless of how beautiful they look.
Grout Colour: The Difference It Makes
Grout is not an afterthought. The colour you choose affects the entire visual impression of the tiling. Matching grout (same tone as the tile) creates a seamless, continuous look that emphasises the tile surface and minimises the grid effect. This tends to suit large-format tiles and minimal, contemporary schemes.
Contrasting grout (darker grout with light tiles, or vice versa) emphasises the pattern and the geometry of the layout. It can look striking in a feature shower or on a small mosaic wall, but be aware that it will show every slight variation in your grout lines, so the workmanship needs to be precise.
On a practical note, white grout in shower areas will discolour over time. Mid-grey or warm grey grout hides staining better and tends to age more gracefully.
Feature Walls and Patterns
A feature wall behind the bath or in the shower enclosure is one of the most effective ways to add visual interest without overwhelming a small room. This is where you can afford to use a more expensive or decorative tile while keeping the rest of the room in a simpler, coordinating tile.
Patterned tiles, encaustic-style tiles, and handmade-look ceramics are all popular choices for feature walls. Herringbone and chevron layouts add dynamism to plain tiles. Just bear in mind that patterned layouts require more cuts and more careful planning, which increases fitting time and therefore cost.
Tile Cost Ranges: What to Expect in 2026
| Tile Type | Budget (supply only) | Mid-Range | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ceramic Wall Tile | £10 – £20/m² | £20 – £45/m² | £45 – £80+/m² |
| Porcelain Floor Tile | £15 – £30/m² | £30 – £60/m² | £60 – £120+/m² |
| Large Format Porcelain | £25 – £40/m² | £40 – £80/m² | £80 – £150+/m² |
| Natural Stone | £30 – £50/m² | £50 – £100/m² | £100 – £200+/m² |
| Tiling Labour (per m²) | £25 – £35/m² | £35 – £50/m² | £50 – £70+/m² |
Always order 10–15% more tile than your measured area requires. This accounts for cuts, breakages, and future repairs. Tiles from the same batch are matched for shade; a batch bought later may be a slightly different tone.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
In my experience, these are the tile decisions clients most often wish they had thought about differently:
- Ordering to the exact square meterage — always add 10–15% for cuts and breakages, and keep a few spare tiles after the job is finished.
- Choosing floor tiles without checking slip resistance — beautiful polished tiles can become a genuine hazard in a wet shower.
- White grout in a shower — it will look grey within a year regardless of how well you clean it. Choose a mid-tone or dark grout for wet areas.
- Mixing too many tile types in a small room — a single, well-chosen tile used consistently almost always looks better than four different tiles competing for attention.
- Ignoring the transition between floor and wall tiles — a coordinating tile or a simple trim profile makes this junction look intentional rather than accidental.
Care and Maintenance
Good tiling, properly installed with quality adhesive and grout, should last for decades with minimal maintenance. Wipe down wall tiles weekly with a non-abrasive bathroom cleaner. Avoid using bleach repeatedly on coloured grout as it can leach the pigment over time. For natural stone, use a pH-neutral cleaner and re-seal every one to two years to maintain water resistance.
If grout starts to crack or crumble, address it promptly. Failing grout allows water to penetrate behind tiles, which can cause the adhesive to fail and, in serious cases, water damage to the wall structure behind.
Haydn's Tile Buying Checklist
- Check slip resistance — R10 minimum for any floor tile in a wet bathroom.
- Order 10–15% extra — and keep leftover tiles after the job for future repairs.
- Confirm lead time before booking your fitter — some tiles take two to four weeks to arrive.
- View tiles in your own lighting — bring a sample home before committing; showroom lighting can be very different from your bathroom.
- Agree grout colour before tiling starts — changing your mind mid-job is expensive.
Need Help Choosing Tiles?
Haydn is happy to advise on tile selection as part of a free quote visit. We cover Surrey, Sussex and Kent — call 01293 804 790 or use the form below to get started.