Bathroom tiles types, how to choose 75 photos

Features of tiles

The choice of tiles according to the manufacturing method

There are three types of tiles according to the manufacturing method:

• cast - clay mass is poured into special forms;
• pressed - production under high pressure from a mixture of powder structure with additives;

Pressed tiles

tiles made by extrusion - punching through a certain shape.

Extruded tiles

Choice of tile sizes

Before you choose a tile tile, you need to decide on the size of the tile, which is suitable for laying tiles in the bathroom.

1. Ceramic tiles are rectangular or square plates.
2. The most common are the following sizes in centimeters:

• • 15x15;
  • 20x20;
  • 20x30.

Dimensions of ceramic tiles

1. The thickness of the tile can vary from 8 to 20 millimeters.

What kind of tile coating

How to choose the right tile, what is the coating of ceramic tiles?

The tile happens:

• glazed (enamelled);
• without enamel.

enamel tiles

The top layer of enameled tiles is of two types:

• glossy;
• matt.

The colors of glazed tiles are quite diverse, they also come with decorative patterns or simply one-color.

Matte cbvf tiles

Ways of heat treatment of tiles

How to choose tiles for floors, walls and ceilings in the bathroom? What you need to know about heat treatment of tiles?

There are two categories:

• single firing;
• double firing.

1. Single firing (monocoturra) - glaze is applied to wet clay, then the tile is placed in the oven, as a result, the base and glaze are fired at the same time. When firing occurs, these two components are very tightly soldered to each other and the tile is quite strong.

1. Double firing (bicoturra) - first, the base is placed in the oven, then the glaze is applied. The tile is then fired again at a lower temperature, resulting in a smooth and shiny glaze with bright, saturated colors.

1. The number of firings is indicated on the packaging with a special symbol - a flame petal with a number drawn next to it.

Double and single fired tiles

Choice of style for the bathroom

A very important aspect, without having worked through which you can direct all efforts to nothing, is the stylistic key that underlies the interior. And if the owner of the living space is not a designer himself, then it is better to use ready-made solutions that have proven themselves more than once in practice. Of course, nothing prevents you from coming up with your own version, but it is better to discuss its details with a specialist.

A classic-style bathroom is a universal solution that does not lose its relevance over the years. As a rule, for the implementation of such projects, light and dark tiles of a related palette are used, where the plinth is laid with a darker one, and the top to the ceiling with light tiles. For demarcation, a border is used, which usually contains a pattern from both colors used. In this case, it is better to lay the floor in the same tone as the panels - use dark floor tiles. However, the option with a light floor will be quite interesting, visually deepening the room.

If the owner likes natural motifs, then with the help of green, blue, beige and brown tiles, you can create real oases in the apartment. Tiles of natural shades are used for full wall cladding, including finished panels or laying out drawings from borders or mosaics. Of course, the greatest revelry of fantasy is available to owners of large bathrooms, here you can implement a themed beach or aquarium decoration, dedicate the design to a particular culture or convey tropical notes.But even for small spaces, a lot of tricks have been invented today: what is only worth 3D tiles, giving a deep and realistic feeling of the absence of walls.

An oriental-style bathroom is a kind of hamam, which is always bright and original. Today, this style can be realized with the help of collections of tile manufacturers using intricate motifs and ultra bright colors for design. And it can be supplemented with small mosaics laid on the facades and side parts of furniture and plumbing. This style is perfect for spacious rooms, if your bathroom is modest in size - the solution should be sought in less saturated colors and with a medium-sized pattern. A plain tile decorated with a border in Turkish cucumbers or birds, hieroglyphs or oriental mosaics looks good. To embody this style, it is best to use red, yellow, gold, green, blue and turquoise.

A mirror is a great addition to any bathroom, and if you want to be extra special, you can use mirror tiles on the surface of the bathroom walls. This will make it just limitless for your eyes, but will also add the work of polishing and removing dried drops. These tiles can be used as separate inclusions and are a successful solution to the problem of irregularly shaped or undersized bathrooms. If you lay it on the ceiling, then you will feel incredible spaciousness even in a small room.

How to choose bathroom tiles. Lots of photos.

Finishing living space always begins with bathrooms. It is laborious and marco, noisy and most costly.

Having every reason to start repairs with a bathroom, the user becomes a victim of countless views of fashion catalogs and visits to building markets, long thoughts, throwing and doubts. And given the variety offered by the modern market of finishing materials, the search for reference tiles and equipment can take much longer than originally planned. In order to choose the right color, texture, shape and performance, you need to understand the basic principles of the influence of tiles on the appearance and functionality of the bathroom.

Choosing ceramic tiles technical specifications

The most important thing when choosing a tile is to choose the one that is suitable for the bathroom. This room is not simple. Firstly, it is always humid here, water will constantly fall on the walls. Secondly, soap stains will remain on the walls, respectively, you will often wash them.

All tiles, depending on the quality, are divided into several classes: AA, A, B and C, where AA is the best. you can see it for yourself by comparing different samples. On the material of the highest class, the number of pores is minimal, this can be seen on the reverse side of the tile and from the sides. It is the number of pores that is the most important criterion for a bathroom material. Water can get into these pores, even through waterproof grout. Moisture can lead to mold and mildew. It is very difficult to get rid of them. Therefore, give preference to class AA. In addition to its good quality, it is resistant to chemicals, that is, it can be washed with detergents without fear. If you did not find the class on the packaging, then contact the sellers, it is always indicated in the product certificate.

Scheme of phased laying.

We decided on the class, now we are looking at the packaging with tiles. It has many different icons. If you saw a hand icon, then this is a tile for walls, including walls in the bathroom. Give preference to a smooth surface, ribbed will be difficult to wash.

We figured out the ceramics for the walls. Let's go to the floor. On the packaging, floor tiles are identified with a foot icon. A foot on a black square means that you can't slip on this tile - it's what you need for a bathroom. Choose AA class tiles for the floor as well.

For floor tiles, such an indicator as wear resistance is also applicable. It is designated by Roman numerals from I to V, where V is the most wear-resistant. You can save on this indicator, the lowest, class I is enough for a bathroom. A higher class tile is used in walkable areas, for example, in the corridor, where people do not just walk a lot, but walk in shoes.

Porcelain stoneware is considered a good option for the floor in the bathroom, as it meets all the requirements: durable, non-slip, moisture resistant, can be washed with various means.

If we talk about manufacturers, then Italian and Czech-made tiles are now recognized as the best on our market.

After choosing a tile, inspect it carefully. If a drawing is applied to it, then make sure that it is even, without scuffs, smudges. The reverse side must be smooth, without any waves or depressions, otherwise it will not adhere well to the wall.

How to choose ceramic tiles

As you know, there are two main types of tiles: floor and wall. Manufacturers often offer collections in which both types are created within a related palette or contain the same pattern. They are offered with a plinth and a frieze, ideal for this particular design. This approach allows the consumer to implement thematic design or use matching tones without any hassle.

On each package of tiles, the manufacturer places pictograms, which, according to the international system of standards, are material markings.

This designation will help to choose the main characteristics, and the consumer should pay attention to:

• tile size;
• segment shape;
• integrity (implies the absence of chips and cracks on the surface);
• surface resistance to abrasion;
• thermal stability;
• resistance to mechanical damage: scratches and chips;
• moisture resistance;
• resistance to the use of chemicals;
• pigment durability: no reaction to ultraviolet and color loss over time;
• durability;
• no risk associated with slippery surfaces.

These parameters are the alpha and omega for each consumer. And in order to check the quality of the tiles visually, several samples should be randomly selected from the box and leaned against each other with their sides, alternately changing sides.

To choose the optimal safety qualities, in particular, the absence of slipping on the floor, you can apply one simple way. Without waiting for the tiles to be laid on the floor, you can drop a little water on the surface right on the display case. By the intensity of sliding your finger, you can always determine how the material behaves in domestic conditions.

Tiles for flooring have a whole list of differences from other materials. With its help, they realize not only a perfectly smooth surface, but also “cut out” at all corners and non-symmetrical joints. To do this, it must lend itself well to processing and laying in places with architectural "features". The ideal indicator of water absorption is considered to be 20%, and the enamel must cover the surface completely in order to prevent the destructive action of detergents and mechanical stress. In places where the contact of the wall with water is the closest, it is recommended to lay large-sized glazed tiles, thus reducing the number of seams - weak areas in a humid environment. The optimal thickness of the tile is 6-9 mm, this indicator corresponds to the generally accepted standard.

Do-it-yourself tiling. Is it possible?

Choosing bathroom tiles

Regardless of the technology and from which building material the tile was made, it must have the following characteristics:

• comply with environmental standards;
• have chemical resistance class AA;
• have water absorption from 7% -20%.

Characteristics that you need to pay attention to in the process of purchasing a tile:

The tiled pattern should be of good quality - uniform brightness and color saturation.
Tiles should have a reduced level of moisture absorption.
When choosing a tile, pay special attention to its porosity on the reverse side. If the surface has a small amount of pores, then the product will absorb less water.
The reverse side should be flat, without depressions, bulges and irregularities.
The product must be chemical resistant.
The material must be tolerant to temperature changes and steam exposure.
The tile class must correspond to its purpose. As for the flooring, a number of requirements are added to it:

As for the flooring, a number of additional requirements are added to it:

• it must not be exposed to abrasive substances;
• have resistance to bending;
• have a durable surface that is not subject to abrasion.

The best manufacturers of ceramic tiles

Spanish tiles - products for the production of which white and red clay is used. In this country, various types of products are manufactured, ranging from terrace and floor tiles to wall tiles. The best factories: Novogres, Tilegres, Aparisi, Ceramica, Saloni, Pamesa, Cabrera.

Turkish tiles have long gained immense popularity around the world, with more than 50% of the total production coming from the Kalebodur factory. When it is created, white clay is used, which is of high quality and availability.

The tile of the Lithuanian production differs in frost resistance and wear resistance. It is made by the company "Dvarchenu ceramics". At the same time, the factory creates several types of products intended for residential and technical premises, as well as workshops.

As for the ceramic tiles produced in Slovakia, they are distinguished by their exclusive design and durability. The famous Gres factory supplies fairly inexpensive products that are available to our consumers.

Bathroom tile photo:

How to choose bathroom tiles video:

Types of ceramic tiles

There are two types of tile material:

1. Wall - designed for wall decoration in the bathroom. Due to the rather soft structure, it is perfectly cut, which provides a wonderful opportunity to customize products when installing plumbing.

2. Floor - resistant to abrasion, characterized by a small degree of water absorption, has a denser structure.

Today there are five classes of floor tiles:

• first class - used in a room where there is low traffic and shoes are not used;
• second class - used in rooms where there is not very high traffic density (apartments, cottages);
• third class - floor cladding is made with such tiles, which does not have access from the street;
• fourth class - used for flooring in general buildings;
• fifth class - used for facing various types of premises.

Thus, the difference between floor tiles and those created for wall cladding is as follows:

• it is inert to the effects of chemical environments;
• designed for high friction loads;
• has excellent pressure and impact resistance;
• more wear-resistant and durable;
• thickness 9-12 mm.

Types of tiles, which are classified by type and method of manufacture:

Clinker is a tile that is obtained by mixing high-quality materials with colorants and clay by extrusion. Such products have a variety of geometric shapes, are resistant to temperature changes and do not require special care.
Bicottura is an enameled tile that has been double-fired and pressed. In this case, the material has low strength and is used as small decorative elements.
Monocottura is an enameled tile that has been fired once and pressed.It has excellent wear resistance and strength, can be used for the improvement of the floor and walls.
Monoporosa - a tile that has been fired once, pressed and covered with a special glaze

It is used for additional decor and is installed with extreme care.

Bathroom tile design

When choosing a tile, the consumer is almost always guided by personal preferences, however
today it is possible to identify general trends that offer the most successful design using this material. So, for example, the classic version, in which the advantage is given to pastel colors, never goes out of fashion and does not get bored for a long time. On the contrary, there are bright shades of orange, green or yellow, which have an exciting effect on the psyche and irritate perception.

In terms of size, large tiles, complemented by a pattern with repeating elements, look great in a large bathroom. In addition, it is able to visually enlarge the space, so it is sometimes used in medium-sized rooms. Small tiles work well with other building materials in large or medium-sized bathrooms. For small spaces, it is best to use medium-sized products.

Quality standards

Let's start the review of the range of ceramic tiles by considering the quality criteria that are regulated by state standards. Tiles are produced in three main ways:

1. Casting. With the help of casting, thick ceramic tiles are made, its surface is not perfectly smooth. This option is not suitable for finishing the bathroom, as dirt and harmful microorganisms accumulate in the irregularities of the tile, which makes it difficult to maintain the cleanliness of the walls and floor;
2. extrusion. Most modern bathroom tiles are produced in this way. Extruded tiles are flat, smooth, with perfect corner geometry and uniform thickness;
3. Pressing. The pressed ceramic tile differs in the increased durability, low porosity. These qualities make it an excellent choice for flooring.

Tiles are produced in five strength classes from PEI I to PEIV, the higher the class of the tile, the greater its strength and wear resistance; for finishing the bathroom, class I or II tiles are used.

All the necessary information about the characteristics of a vending tile is contained on its packaging, it is presented in a graphic code:

• Snowflake denotes resistance to low temperatures;
• A hand on a dark background says that the tile is for walls;
• A foot on a dark background means it's a floor tile;
• The flask is a sign of resistance to aggressive chemical compounds;
• Crystal - degree of hardness;
• The letters AA are a class of moisture resistance, the closer the second letter of the encoding is to the end of the alphabet, the worse the tile is protected from water.

Choice of style for the bathroom

For a modern interior, designers recommend Scandinavian or urban design. Both are characterized by conciseness, restraint, practicality. However, it is impossible to throw off the eternal classics, and the revived modern, and cutting-edge hi-tech.

Classic

The classic style has always had many supporters, remaining at the height of fashion. Classic bathroom decor allows you to combine darker tiles at the bottom of the wall and light ones at the top. A border from the same collection can separate them. A sample of the classic bathroom design is shown in the photo.

Classic bathroom interior with natural stone tiles

It can be supplemented with decorative inserts, panels. Often in the collection there are borders of various types, including three-dimensional ones.

Bathroom in modern classic style

Scandinavian style

It is characterized by light shades, so white or very light materials are often used. It can be white tiles, including those with a textured pattern or imitating brickwork.Such an interior design will look modern and stylish, as in the photo:

• In dry areas, white or very light tiles, laid out to the middle of the wall and ending with an interesting border;
• The remaining part is painted with moisture-resistant paint in light colors - gray, turquoise, purple.

White tiles in a Scandinavian style bathroom

The floor can be done in black and white, using hexagonal tiles, an unusual ornament.

Stylish Scandinavian-style bathroom with tiles of different formats

Loft

Loft, or urban style, is a modern trend in interior design that has become popular in recent years. The younger generation is attracted by the lack of "decorations" in the house. The simplicity of the lines, the absence of bright colors - this is what characterizes the style.

The design obliges to emphasize the naturalness of the interior, which came from factory workshops. Imitation on the walls of "bare concrete" is what you need.

To create a modern style in the bathroom, it is better to choose natural stone or its imitation, such as porcelain stoneware. The recent trend is large-sized tiles that have the texture of natural stone or wood. The interiors shown in the photo characterize the design of a modern bathroom with dark tiles.

Brown tiles in a loft-style bathroom

High tech

Ultra-modern style is often chosen for studio apartments, small dwellings. Hi-tech is the realm of technology and metal. When creating a hygiene room in this style, choose gray finishes, especially since they are in trend today. White, silver inserts, borders, mirror tiles, metal and glass mosaics will be appropriate.

Tiles fit perfectly into the interior of a high-tech bathroom

Modern

Such stylization involves the use of pastel colors, shades found in wildlife. In such a color-neutral interior, correctly placed accents in the form of bright color spots (it does not have to be tiles) would be appropriate.

Modern bathroom design

You can choose inserts, large panels with floral motifs, decorate mirrors and sanitary ware with mosaics.

The most famous manufacturers of bathroom tiles

Currently, there are a huge number of different models of bathroom tiles on the market. Diversity can be confusing. You can now look at this resource to choose a tile for a bathroom photo. Here are a variety of models from various manufacturers. But this may not be enough. many manufacturers focus on the external design of the tile. In this case, it may turn out that the cover does not match the content. That is, a tile can be beautiful on the outside, but absolutely ineptly made in terms of quality.

Let us consider in more detail those countries from where various options come to us.

Spanish tiles. It is the most expensive and high quality. It is made from expensive rocks of clay. Among the range you can find floor tiles, wall tiles and so on. Manufacturers that have established themselves in the market are the following companies: Aparisi, Ceramica, Pamesa. all of them have been on the market for quite a long time, and managed to prove themselves from the best side.

Spanish tile Aparisi

Bathroom tiles from Italy. It is quite common in our market. It is made from white clay. This option is available to most Russian citizens. It is of sufficient quality. However, the cost is acceptable. The most popular suppliers to our country are Saloni, Tilegres, which entered the Russian market a long time ago.

Turkish version. It is quite common in our country. Tiles from Turkey have been imported into our country for quite a long time. This is not strange, because for the most part Turkish tiles are of good quality and reasonable price. It is made mainly from white clay, which is imported to Turkey from Ukraine.More than half of all production is carried out by Kalebodur.

Turkish tiles Kalebodur

Russian tiles. Of course, bathroom tiles are also produced in Russia. It is not much different from foreign counterparts. Everything is done using the same technology. However, despite this, for the most part, manufacturers forget about the quality of the tiles. They focus on the number of copies produced.

Of course, in Russia there are also manufacturers who pay great attention to quality, but this is a rarity. But, the cost of domestic copies is much cheaper than foreign ones.

Thus, we can say that the tiles that are imported into our country from abroad are the most acceptable option for arranging a bathroom.

How to choose the size of bathroom tiles

Choosing the type of tile, you need to decide on the size. The rules for creating a harmonious interior are simple:

• For a spacious room, you can choose large dies;
• In a small bathroom, it is better to use small tiles.

I would like to refute the established opinion: today it is fashionable to decorate small bathrooms with large tiles, and small mosaics fit perfectly into the design of a spacious room.

In addition, various tile laying options can change, if only visually, the dimensions of the room:

• Square tiles are often laid diagonally and the wall appears longer;
• Long narrow dies can be laid out in a herringbone pattern;
• It looks interesting tile, laid "brick" masonry.

Often, different options, including in shape or size, are combined, selected according to size and the need to achieve an aesthetic effect. So, the mosaic goes well with tiles of any size and any shape.

A variety of panels, decors, borders are present in almost every collection of the manufacturer of finishing ceramics. They are perfectly combined with any sample from the same series, so it is possible to select, combine dies in color, size and shape.

Choosing a ceramic tile color and size

Not only technical characteristics are important, the appearance of the tile also plays a significant role.

Many builders advise choosing large tiles for the bathroom. This is due to the fact that, no matter how high-quality the tile is, it will still have pores into which water can enter, which leads to the appearance of fungus and mold. The larger the size, the fewer seams, that is, vulnerabilities.

Bathroom tile layout.

It’s hard to disagree with this, but for a small bathroom, large tiles will not work: they will visually eat up an already small space. For a small bathroom, small and medium sized tiles are more suitable. But if you still decide to buy large ceramic tiles, then give preference to light colors. It is believed that white color visually enlarges the space. Many people prefer very small tiles, mosaics

She is beautiful, but if you choose her for the bathroom, then you need to pay special attention to the choice of grout

The choice of colors is now very large. But do not rush to throw yourself at extravagant shades. Tiles are laid, as a rule, for several years, and sometimes for several decades. Flashy colors can get boring quickly. Therefore, it is better to opt for warmer colors. If you find plain tiles boring, then you can choose a material with a pattern or pattern, you can arrange several shades. Large hardware stores often offer various combinations. If you are not confident in your design abilities, you can choose the one you like the proposed option.

If you like a simple, classic bathroom design, then you need plain tiles. If you can not decide on a shade, then you can resort to the advice of Feng Shui. Feng Shui recommends using light colors for the bathroom: beige, light blue, light green, white. Small bright inserts are acceptable.

Tiles for walls and floors are matte and glossy.Which one to choose depends on your preferences. But keep in mind that soap stains and smudges are very visible on a glossy surface. The matte surface hides them a little.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=PCw2v5sEcGk

Let's sum up all of the above.