Wall tiles are the most familiar and convenient way to decorate walls in the bathroom. Repairs in this room, as a rule, are done once every many years, so the choice of form and design should be approached with all seriousness. The bathroom decor should remain relevant for as long as possible, not lose its beautiful appearance and not bother the residents. The tile performs two important functions: practical - it protects the walls from the effects of dampness, and aesthetic - it makes the surface beautiful.
Benefits of cladding
Wall tiles have a lot of advantages that other types of coatings do not have, such as plaster, paint or wallpaper.
- Tolerates extreme temperatures, high humidity and steam.
- Protects walls from mold and mildew.
- Easy maintenance, easy to clean and wash, so your bathroom looks effortless.
- Hides uneven walls and other architectural defects in the room.
- A wide range of colors and many possible patterns allowcreate unique design compositions, as well as visually adjust the shape and size of the space.
The disadvantage of this type of coating is only one: the tile is a rather fragile material and may crack if installed ineptly. Floor tiles are subjected to enormous stress, so you should choose only high-quality and expensive samples. Bathroom wall tiles, on the other hand, can be quite cheap and affordable without sacrificing quality.
Ceramics and tiles
All ceramic wall tiles are made from clay mixed with quartz sand, feldspar and other useful impurities. For the manufacture of tiles, light clay with a large amount of kaolinite is used, and for all other types - red or terracotta. At the same time, the quality factor of the coating does not depend on the color of the clay, but on high-quality firing and a sufficiently thick layer of glaze.
Installation of tiles is done quickly enough and is inexpensive, and a variety of patterns and colors allow you to choose a product for every taste and budget. There are products of different dimensions: from the smallest, 55 cm in size, to very large samples, the size of which can reach 1 m2. After tiling the walls, it is extremely important to treat the seams with high-quality moisture-resistant grout.
Porcelain tile
The composition of porcelain stoneware does not differ from ceramics, the difference is only in manufacturing technology. During the production of porcelain stoneware, natural dyes are added to the base composition, thenform outlines, pressed and fired under strong pressure. As a result, the tile becomes stronger than ordinary ceramics, marble or granite. The product has no pores, so it does not absorb moisture at all and successfully resists the formation of fungus.
Porcelain tile is a more advanced version of conventional tile and surpasses it in almost all characteristics. Porcelain stoneware is incredibly durable, resistant to temperature extremes and high humidity, easy to clean and exceptionally durable. In addition, it is able to very reliably imitate all kinds of natural stone and create a stylish bathroom interior. The disadvantages of porcelain stoneware can only be attributed to its relatively high cost. However, it depends on the manufacturer, for example, KERAMA MARAZZI wall tiles are of good quality and affordable price.
Wall mosaic
Mosaic is a block of small ceramic tiles, usually glued to a flexible base. With the help of a patterned grid, you can create various patterns and interesting design effects: gradients, geometric shapes, flower panels and other images. This type of wall tile has significant advantages over others:
- can be superimposed on the surface of complex shape: curved, concave, uneven;
- the shape of the tiles can be square, round, triangular, six-octagonal;
- using mosaic tiles, you can reproduce any desired pattern or even a whole picture.
Mosaic in the bathroom looks aesthetically pleasing and even luxurious, but the cost of this material is also quite high.
Color combination
If you decide on a design experiment and choose materials of different colors, pay attention to products from the same manufacturer and preferably from the same collection. In this case, the texture and thickness of the tile will be identical, it will easily and beautifully lie on the wall, and different colors will harmoniously combine into a whole composition.
There are two options for combinations: similar colors, such as beige and chocolate, as well as contrasting combinations, such as white and black. The second option requires a competent approach, since the chosen couple in practice can look completely different than planned, cause discomfort, annoy and strain. You can also use plain tiles of different sizes. This approach looks interesting, but restrained. Gray wall tiles blend harmoniously with any color: light, dark, warm, cold, bright, so it serves as a good basis for bold design decisions.
With the help of multi-colored tiles, you can zoning the room, for example, highlight the wall of the shower room with a contrasting shade or beat other architectural elements.
Contrast textures
The combination of wall tiles with different textures is an interesting design technique that is easy to implement in practice. Volumetric details look stylish andelegant, allow you to use the coating of the same color, so that the situation looks calm and elegant. The light is bizarrely refracted at the bends and creates an unusual visual effect. Lighting enhances contrast.
Miscellaneous
Usually the bathroom has a complex architecture. In this room, various horizontal and vertical superstructures are concentrated, which mask the water pipes, the corners can be both obtuse and sharp. Instead of hiding such geometric features under massive drywall constructions, they can be beautifully beaten and turned into advantages. Lay out these areas with tiles of the same color, but of different sizes, this combination looks unusual and aesthetically pleasing.
Imitation wood
The structure of wood creates a warm and inviting atmosphere that is often lacking in the bathroom. Tiles imitating the texture of natural wood retain all the advantages of ceramics: resistance to moisture, durability and strength. The interior of the bathroom, decorated in this way, looks amazingly elegant, and various textures will help bring the situation closer to the desired style: roughly processed boards are typical for country, exotic species for hi-tech, and luxurious oak for classics. This type of kitchen wall tile is also suitable.
Imitation marble
Marble is luxuriousmaterial that will never lose its relevance. It looks solid and expensive, never gets bored and is perfect for decorating a bathroom. Natural stone has an extremely high price and does not have the necessary qualities: the porous surface absorbs moisture and needs constant care. Marble-look bathroom wall tiles are easy to clean, last a long time, look great, and still remain affordable.
Helpful advice: it is advisable to choose the largest size tiles, in this case the interior looks the most advantageous.
Vertical and horizontal piping
Vertical and horizontal color accents will help to correct the shape of the space and emphasize the advantages of the room. Vertical lines beautifully highlight static objects: a washbasin and a mirror above it, a bathroom, a heated towel rail or a shower. Before laying out, carry out calculations, determine the optimal strip width and mark its location on the wall. Start laying out exactly from the accent canvas so as not to shift the pattern. Thus, the room will appear taller and more voluminous.
If the bathroom furniture is so tightly packed that there is no suitable place for a vertical accent, use horizontal piping. It also expands the space and enlivens the boring monotony. Step back 10-30 cm from the surface of the washbasin - this edge height will be the most successful.
The choice of modern wall tiles is almost limitless, so bringing your design fantasies to life has never been easier. However, in your quest for creativity, be mindful of moderation and good taste.
