How to Choose Tiles for Your Bathroom or Kitchen
Tile selection is one of the most complex and personal design decisions in a bathroom or kitchen renovation — the range of options is enormous, the implications for cost and installation quality are significant, and the choices are long-lived. Here's a practical guide to navigating the process from aesthetic brief to confirmed specification.
Start With Function, Then Aesthetics
Before choosing a tile, establish the functional requirements. Bathroom floor tiles must be slip-rated — look for R10 or R11 slip resistance for wet floors. Large-format floor tiles in a small bathroom may look proportionally wrong and be difficult to cut around fixtures. Wall tiles in a shower enclosure must be fully vitrified (water absorption below 0.5%) — use floor tiles, porcelain tiles, or rectified natural stone rather than porous materials. Grout joints in wet areas should use a flexible, colour-matched waterproof grout.
With the functional brief established, the aesthetic choices can be made within the appropriate product category rather than across all tiles regardless of suitability.
Format
Large format (600x600mm and above). A contemporary and popular choice for bathrooms and kitchen floors. Creates a sense of space, fewer grout lines, and a clean appearance. Requires a very flat, well-prepared substrate — lippage (unevenness between adjacent tile edges) is more visible with larger tiles and unacceptable in quality installation.
Brick format (e.g. 75x300mm, metro tiles). Classic and versatile. Works well in kitchens and bathrooms across a wide range of design styles. The horizontal or vertical laying direction, and the joint offset, significantly affect the final appearance.
Square tiles (100x100mm to 200x200mm). Versatile and timeless. Particularly effective in period bathrooms, small spaces, and as feature tiles within a larger scheme.
Material
Porcelain. Dense, low-absorption, durable, and available in almost limitless formats and finishes. The dominant choice for modern renovations. Full-body porcelain (colour consistent through the body of the tile) is more appropriate in floor applications where edges may be exposed.
Natural stone. Limestone, marble, travertine, slate, and granite all have unique aesthetic character. Typically more expensive than porcelain, varies significantly in quality between batches, requires sealing, and varies in durability and slip resistance. Requires more specialised installation.
Ceramic. Traditional wall tile material. Lighter weight than porcelain, easier to cut, but higher water absorption — not suitable for fully wet areas or floors in wet rooms.
Practical Procurement Points
Order tiles before the tiler is due on site — tile deliveries from some suppliers take 2–4 weeks. Always order 10–15% more than the measured area to account for cutting wastage, breakages, and future repairs. Keep back at least a box of surplus tiles after the job is complete — replacement tiles from the same batch are very difficult to find if a tile is damaged years later.
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