7 Tile Ideas to Make a Small Bathroom Feel Bigger
These tiling patterns can trick the eye into seeing a bigger space
Amanda Pollard
27 March 2019
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors and architecture.
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors... More
If you’d like to make your small washspace feel bigger, these stylish schemes could provide inspiration. Read on to find out how the colour, size and layout of your bathroom tiles can have an impact on how spacious the room looks and feels.
1. Minimise grout lines
You might think smaller tiles would work best in a compact bathroom, but in fact larger designs are a great option. Wide-format tiles result in fewer joints, and therefore show up less fussy grout lines, so the room feels less cluttered and more spacious.
Here, the designers have laid large marble tiles on the floor and along the walls and surfaces to create a clean finish.
You might think smaller tiles would work best in a compact bathroom, but in fact larger designs are a great option. Wide-format tiles result in fewer joints, and therefore show up less fussy grout lines, so the room feels less cluttered and more spacious.
Here, the designers have laid large marble tiles on the floor and along the walls and surfaces to create a clean finish.
2. Direct the eye
A chevron or herringbone pattern can make a room appear bigger, as the shapes move the eye along the surfaces.
In this bathroom, the tiles lead the way along the floor and up the wall to make the space feel longer and taller.
Know your tile pattern
A chevron or herringbone pattern can make a room appear bigger, as the shapes move the eye along the surfaces.
In this bathroom, the tiles lead the way along the floor and up the wall to make the space feel longer and taller.
Know your tile pattern
3. Dabble with a diagonal
Similarly, a layout that creates diagonal lines can help the room to feel more spacious. Here, the grout lines and yellow stripes go from one corner to the other, encouraging the eye to sweep along the surface and read the space as larger.
Similarly, a layout that creates diagonal lines can help the room to feel more spacious. Here, the grout lines and yellow stripes go from one corner to the other, encouraging the eye to sweep along the surface and read the space as larger.
4. Rise up
Another clever layout for a small space is subway tiles laid vertically, as they create the illusion of height.
In this bathroom, the rectangular tiles are stacked one on top of another to pull the eye from floor to ceiling.
Another clever layout for a small space is subway tiles laid vertically, as they create the illusion of height.
In this bathroom, the rectangular tiles are stacked one on top of another to pull the eye from floor to ceiling.
5. Ration pattern
Patterned tiles are beautiful, but too many of them could make a small bathroom feel even more compact. This can be quite effective if you want to create a cosy feel, but not if you’re hoping to make your space look larger.
Instead, use patterned tiles wisely by introducing them on smaller surfaces. Here, the geometric design is featured on the floor and in the recess, while the rest of the surfaces are clean white. There’s just enough pattern to add interest without making the room feel cluttered.
Patterned tiles are beautiful, but too many of them could make a small bathroom feel even more compact. This can be quite effective if you want to create a cosy feel, but not if you’re hoping to make your space look larger.
Instead, use patterned tiles wisely by introducing them on smaller surfaces. Here, the geometric design is featured on the floor and in the recess, while the rest of the surfaces are clean white. There’s just enough pattern to add interest without making the room feel cluttered.
6. Use black as an anchor
Although pale colours give the impression of space, that doesn’t mean you have to rule out black altogether. Lay dark tiles on the floor, as the designers have done here, and contrast them with bright white walls.
The black colour is recessive, and makes the white above it feel lighter. The eye is drawn upwards to focus on the spacious feel created by the walls and ceiling.
Although pale colours give the impression of space, that doesn’t mean you have to rule out black altogether. Lay dark tiles on the floor, as the designers have done here, and contrast them with bright white walls.
The black colour is recessive, and makes the white above it feel lighter. The eye is drawn upwards to focus on the spacious feel created by the walls and ceiling.
7. Reflect the light
Create a visual impression of space by choosing tiles that reflect the light. In this bathroom, the designers have gone for a standard grey tile colour, laid out in a conventional brick-bond pattern.
The surface of the tiles is key, however, as the glossy, mottled finish helps to reflect the light and bounce it around the room.
TELL US
Are you tempted to use any of these tile ideas in your small bathroom? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
MORE
12 Ways to Wow With Patterned Tiles
Create a visual impression of space by choosing tiles that reflect the light. In this bathroom, the designers have gone for a standard grey tile colour, laid out in a conventional brick-bond pattern.
The surface of the tiles is key, however, as the glossy, mottled finish helps to reflect the light and bounce it around the room.
TELL US
Are you tempted to use any of these tile ideas in your small bathroom? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
MORE
12 Ways to Wow With Patterned Tiles
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This is a tiny ensuite shower room with a window in the ceiling only. It originally had wall-to-wall beige tiles & boxy built-in sanitary ware, all giving it a dated and dull look. Our client was advantageous enough to go for something bold and classy. We used a dark leafy wallpaper on all the walls outside of the shower cubical with a glass splashback behind the basin. The shower was tiled with metro tiles, used in the classical format to give the area extra width. The overall look is exciting and surprisingly spacious! WALK INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN walkid.co.uk
I gonna save rise up!
I am currently remodeling a master's bathroom. Any suggestion on what type of wall tile to make it look larger or spacious? I already have a penny mosaic for the flooring as well as to match on this jetted tub. The left bottom corner is the original flooring tile of the master's bath.