Tiles

Bathroom Tiles

Buyers Guide to Tiles

When shopping for bathroom tiles there are so many shapes, textures, colours, and materials to choose from that it may seem difficult to know where to start. The obvious factors to consider are your available budget and how you would like your bathroom to look. The level of waterproofing and durability required may influence your choice of material, particularly when deciding whether to buy porcelain or ceramic tiles. With a little research and planning, you are sure to find tiles that will help you to create a haven that is uniquely yours, or a functional family bathroom that will last until the kids have left home! ##Bathroom panelling Bathroom panelling refers to large pieces that can be fitted quickly and easily. This includes bathroom flooring and waterproof backing for areas that require extra protection against leaks and condensation. Reef Intergrip flooring planks and Reef Intergrip flooring tiles are easy to install because they lock together, so they do not need to be glued. The planks come in three attractive finishes: natural oak, heritage oak (a darker shade), and premium maple. The vinyl flooring tiles come in seven natural stone and marble shades and are very hard-wearing. [Imperial](https://www.premium-plumbing.co.uk/manufacturers/imperial-bathrooms/) New England ceramic floor tiles have a nostalgic design, remniscent of parquet flooring. They would look fabulous in a Victorian or Edwardian style bathroom, but would complement a variety of modern styles too. Four shades are available: champagne, emerald, nero, and chestnut brown. New England floor tiles are part of Imperial's tasteful Period Tiles collection, which also encompasses Elizabethan and Tudor-inspired styles. Wedi Tile Backer Board is water repellant, making it ideal for wet rooms. It is far easier to mount tiles on top of a backer board than straight onto bathroom walls. Tile backer boards are available in thicknesses ranging from 6mm up to 50mm and in various sizes, and can be cut to fit. ##Ceramic tiles Ceramic tiles are a popular choice for bathrooms and other wet areas because they are hard-wearing and highly waterproof. They are also easier to cut to size and somewhat cheaper than porcelain tiles, but have a similar appearance. Ceramic tiles are suitable for both walls and floors. At Premium Plumbing, we supply Imperial ceramic tiles, which combine high quality modern workmanship with vintage inspired designs, and Villeroy & Boch ceramic tiles - another top quality brand with a more contemporary range of styles. Imperial Antique Crackle tiles are designed to mimic Victorian tiling, and are available in six off-white shades. They have a subtle crystalline crackle finish and are made with slightly irregular edges, enhancing their handmade and antique look. The Imperial Antique Crackle range includes all the ceramic tiles you need to create a vintage style bathroom: square wall tiles, rectangular wall tiles, capping tiles, and dado tiles. If Victorian style is not quite for you, Imperial manufactures several other antique look tiles. Imperial Edwardian bathroom wall tiles feature narrow vertical stripes like classic wallpaper patterns. They are available in airy shades of striped white, verdi (white and very pale green), or rose (white and very pale pink). They also produce matching lower wall panelling tiles, corner tiles, dado tiles, border tiles, skirting tiles, and floor tiles. Guests are bound to comment on the attention to detail if you choose this style. Imperial's Tudor tiles hark back to an even earlier era, utilising strong yet serene colours - chalky white, taupe, charcoal, and verde (muted green). They make mosaic effect tiles in all colour combinations as well as plain colours. Why not mix mosaic and plain tiles to create your own original geometric patterns? Imperial's Plaza ceramic wall tiles evoke the Art Deco styles of the early to mid 20th century, bringing vintage European style to your bathroom. These square tiles come in four colours: white, cream haze, grey ecru, and nero (black). As well as plain flat tiles, Plaza tiles are available in an indented square geometric version. These three dimensional tiles create fabulous accents when interspersed with matching or contrasting flat tiles. They create a dramatic, almost space-age effect when mounted diagonally all over a wall. It is up to you to put these together into an exciting, calming, or noteworthy bathroom space, just as you desire. If you prefer a more up-to-date style, Villeroy & Boch offers a great selection of modern ceramic tiles. Bianco Nero Decor tiles come in black or white with various patterns (all shown on our website). Choose from an angular geometric pattern that tricks the eye into seeing a three-dimensional polygonal surface, a pattern of raised 'scales' arranged in overlapping circles, or a plain gloss finish. Each tile pattern is available in several different rectangular sizes, allowing you to customise your bathroom design according to your preferences. Intersperse black and white tiles to make a bold statement or create intriguing patterns across a wall or the side of the bathtub. Villeroy & Boch's Moonlight Mosaic bathroom tiles cleverly combine ceramic and glass to create a glittering feature wall or accent border. Contrasting squares within the mosaics reflect light in astonishing ways. These tiles come in shades of warm golden beige or cool silver grey, with mosaics made either from small squares or long thin rectangles. Moonlight decor and border tiles co-ordinate with Moonlight Mosaic tiles very well, adding a tasteful repeating floral pattern to the overall vision. These are available in grey and natural hues. Moonlight Dark tiles are available in two opulent shades (red and anthracite). Their gloss finish, together with subtle surface patterning reflects light beautifully, creating a luxurious, modern bathroom space. Ivoire is a slender ceramic tile with classically inspired design, ideal for borders and accentuating features. Villeroy & Boch Melrose tiles are simple ceramic tiles in white or natural, with either a gloss or matt finish. Melrose Decor tiles are available in three different patterns. The first, available in sandy beige or anthracite, features a graceful flower motif with a subtle glimmer. The next is available in either white or natural hues and has a pleasant abstract pattern of flowing lines that seem to wind around each other across the wall. The other pattern (available in white or nature tones) depicts pale flowers. These tile sets are a wonderful way to create an atmosphere of calm in your bathroom. Villeroy & Boch Salamanca ceramic tiles would be another good choice for those wishing to create a serene and relaxing bathing area. They are textured to resemble limestone, and there are three mellow sandy tones to choose from (beige, limestone, or rose). These pair well with plain white bathroom suites for a sunny Mediterranean feel. If your bathroom requires a splash of colour too, try the Melrose border tiles, also from [Villeroy & Boch](https://www.premium-plumbing.co.uk/manufacturers/villeroy-boch/) . Flowers drawn in three contrasting styles and three co-ordinating colours seem to dance against a paler background. Choose from red-beige or red-grey tones to set off the other colours you have chosen from the Melrose range. ##Glass Tiles Glass tiles are a great choice for feature areas, or to add an intensely coloured light reflective border. Colour is added to glass tiles by printing onto the back of the glass, meaning that glass tiles yield a more reflective and shiny surface than ceramic tiles. They can be expensive, but they undoubtedly add a layer of sophistication to any bathroom. [Villeroy & Boch](https://www.premium-plumbing.co.uk/manufacturers/villeroy-boch/) Nero glass decor tiles give the appearance of a mosaic without having to lay each piece individually. They are available in 30x30cm squares, in black, with randomly alternating matt and gloss mosaic pieces. If full sized glass tiles are a little out of your price range but you like the idea, consider using glass border tiles instead. Villeray & Boch Ivoire glass border tiles are 60cm x 1.5cm strips intended to be placed onto the wall between ceramic tiles. These are available in burgundy, a red wine shade which will complement most other colours, providing a luxurious accent at a relatively low cost. Their Moonlight border tiles are slightly wider at 5cm, and feature a pleasing combination of natural stone and glass, giving wonderful contrasting light reflecting qualities. The edges of the strips of stone and glass are staggered to disguise joints between the tiles, and this also gives a pleasing random appearance to the tiles. These are available in beige or grey tones, with a matt finish to the glass. ##Porcelain Tiles Porcelain tiles are durable and attractive, making them a good choice for the discerning homeowner. Porcelain is a good quality type of ceramic, which explains why porcelain tiles are usually somewhat more expensive than ceramic tiles. The two have broadly similar uses and properties overall, but porcelain is superior in terms of hardness, durability, and water permeability. An important difference is that porcelain tiles are coloured throughout whereas with ceramic tiles, the colour only lies on the surface. Therefore, any chips or marks that do occur will be less obvious on porcelain. We supply a number of different Villeroy & Boch porcelain tiles. Many of these are suitable for walls, floors, and outdoor use (check the product detail pages for more information). Bernina tiles have a quartzite finish, marrying the appearance of natural stone with the lightweight durability of porcelain. They are available in neutral shades with one to suit most bathroom decors (beige, cream, brown, grey, and anthracite). Plain tiles, mosaic look tiles, and plain and multi-coloured border tiles are also included in the Bernina range. Bernina decor tiles come in two patterns. One has a gently curving pattern giving the appearance of tesselating curved tiles, whereas the other features an elegant flower pattern (the same as the ceramic Melrose Decor tiles mentioned above). For a dramatic metallic-looking finish, choose Fire & Ice tiles or tiling sheets. Your colour choices here are copper red, steel grey, or platinum beige. Many different shapes are available, making these a good option for those who wish to design their own metallic mosaic style tiling schemes. Villeroy & Boch Ivoire tiles and Ivoire Decor tiles are another co-ordinating range of porcelain tiles. In either ivory or beige with a highly textured yet soft finish, Ivoire Decor tiles include a pattern of small rose-like flowers. Landscape tiles resemble natural stone with their vein-like patterns and subtle colour variations. They are manufactured in creme, beige, or grey. This range also includes mosaic effect tile sheets and border tiles. Matt and polished finishes can be alternated to create interesting patterns. Villeroy & Boch also produce their Bianco Nero and Moonlight tiles in porcelain, as well as many different border tiles. ##Shower Wall Panels Shower wall panels are large pieces that can be fitted into either corner or recess shower cubicles, making fitting out your shower far quicker and easier than placing tiles individually. These large panels are also suitable for wet-rooms or placing behind the washbasin or bath. Bushboard's Nuance shower wall panels are completely waterproof and easy to install. These shower panels come in 11 different effects, including marble, wood, granite, soapstone and quartz, and encompass colour schemes from the understated Ice to the dramatic Dolce Vita. The laminate panels are smooth and hard-wearing, making them a great alternative to tiles in an area that is in daily use such as your shower. In summary, when shopping for bathroom tiles there are options for all budgets and all tastes. Good planning is key to choosing the right tiles for your bathroom or wet room. If you have a strict budget, decide where you can compromise and where you cannot. You can always include a few fancy tiles to set things off and cover large surfaces and floors with plainer tiles or panelling. Research your options carefully, considering both visual design and practicality. It's your bathroom to enjoy.