Top Picks: The Best Tiles to Use for a Wet Room

The wet room has emerged as a popular trend in contemporary interior design, combining functionality with aesthetics. The choice of tiles can make a significant difference to the overall look and feel of your wet room. But how do you select the perfect tiles? What factors should you consider, and what are the best tiles to use for a wet room? Let’s find out in this latest blog.

Choosing the Perfect Tiles for Your Wet Room

The allure of a wet room lies in its sleek, modern design, and the ability to transform your bathroom into a luxurious spa-like space. However, the success of this transformation rests largely on your tile selection. Choosing appropriate tiles for your wet room entails considering not only their aesthetic appeal but also their practicality and hygiene. Problems with tiling can greatly affect the room’s quality and functionality, hence the need for careful selection of tiles.

Room size also plays a pivotal role in the selection process. For a fully tiled wet room, smaller tiles are recommended for compact spaces. These tiles can create an illusion of a larger space and are more manageable when establishing a sloped surface towards the drain.

For hygiene, some tile options are more prominent. Glass, polished porcelain, and natural stone tiles are preferred due to their ease of cleaning. This characteristic lowers the maintenance requirements and elevates the room’s hygiene, rendering these choices perfect for wet rooms, particularly around a wet room tray.

Wet Room Flooring: Key Considerations

Given their exposure to moisture and sleek surfaces, wet rooms necessitate careful consideration of slip resistance. Tiles with elevated anti-slip ratings such as non-slip tiles offer improved traction and enhanced safety. Patterned tiles can also provide additional grip, serving both functional and design purposes.

Improving the grip on wet room floor tiles depends on the correct selection and layout of tiles. Smaller mosaic tiles are a great choice as they offer more grout lines, which contribute to additional traction and aid in preventing slipping.

Water drainage is another aspect that cannot be overlooked. Small mosaic tiles are recommended for the shower area in a wet room to improve water drainage, as their multiple grout lines facilitate the flow of water. Additionally, a well-designed shower tray can further enhance the drainage system.

For the areas outside of the shower, larger porcelain or ceramic tiles are preferred due to their practicality and suitability for wet conditions.

Top Material Choices for Wet Room Tiles

The selection of an appropriate material for your wet room tiles is key. The top material choices for wet room tiles include porcelain, natural stone, and mosaic tiles. Each of these materials offers unique benefits that can help enhance the functionality and aesthetic appeal of your wet room.

Porcelain Tiles: A Versatile Option

Porcelain tiles are a common selection for wet room floors. Their exceptional density and minimal porosity result in exceptional durability, longevity, and resistance to water damage. These characteristics make porcelain tiles a versatile option that can fit a variety of wet room designs.

Natural Stone Tiles: The Classic Choice

Natural stone tiles lend a timeless and classic aesthetic to wet rooms. Natural stone tiles are highly durable and suitable for damp and moist conditions. In addition, natural stone tiles offer inherent slip resistance, which is essential for safety in wet areas.

Some commonly chosen natural stone tiles include marble tiles, granite, limestone, slate, and travertine.

Their aesthetic appeal and durability make them a favourite choice for many homeowners. Whether you are looking for a sleek and modern design or a more traditional look, natural stone tiles can cater to your needs.

While natural stone tiles may be more prone to surface scratches over time, their enduring beauty and longevity continue to make them a favoured option. Plus, their exceptional slip resistance ensures that your wet room remains safe and functional.

Mosaic Tiles: Adding Texture and Style

Mosaic tiles provide a distinctive choice that can infuse texture and style into your wet room. Their ability to follow contours allows for creative design flexibility, and their added texture provides both aesthetic appeal and practical grip in a wet environment.

Porcelain and natural stone mosaics are highly recommended for wet rooms as they offer the necessary durability and slip resistance. One should bear in mind that glass mosaics are not recommended for wet room floors because they can become slippery when wet.

Wet Room Wall Tile Inspirations

The tiles you select can significantly influence the overall aesthetics of your wet room. For those looking to create a distinctive and daring design, options such as celestial star tiles, geometric patterns, or stripes in assorted colours can create a striking effect.

If you prefer a more traditional and understated design, consider using neutral colours, elegant shapes, and straightforward laying patterns. Combining simple black and white tiles can also create a classic look and hexagonal tiles introduce a distinctive honeycomb effect, adding a unique twist to your wet room.

Trending Wet Room Tile Designs for 2023/2024

As we step into 2024, we anticipate several wet room tile design trends to rise in popularity, including;

• Herringbone tiles
• Victorian tiles
• Wood effect tiles
• Moroccan tiles
• Concrete/industrial tiles
• Marble effect tiles
• Grey stone-effect tiles
• Dark tiles
• Mosaic tiles

These patterns can add a touch of elegance and sophistication to your wet room.

Recent popular tile options for wet rooms include:

• Concrete/industrial effect tiles, which replicate worn concrete and create a stylish and contemporary aesthetic that complements both modern and traditional interior designs.
• Victorian tiles, which are renowned for their classic patterned designs continue to influence current wet room tile trends.
• Herringbone tile pattern, achieved by arranging rectangular tiles in a staggered zigzag pattern, provides a refined and fashionable look for wet rooms.

In conclusion, selecting the perfect tiles for your wet room involves careful consideration of various factors. From the size of the room to the type of material, each detail plays a crucial role in creating a wet room that is not only aesthetically pleasing but also functional and safe. Contemporary trends offer a plethora of design possibilities to create a space that truly reflects your personal style.

Take your time to browse the entire range of suitable wet room tiles at Tile.co.uk today.