9 Tips to Select the Best Bathroom Wall Tiles for Your Home

The bathroom is one of the most popular places for wall tiling in India. Indian bathrooms need tiles on the wall due to lack of dry and wet area separation. Usually, the bathroom features an attached and open bathing area in India, which exposes the entire bathroom to water splashes.

Though nowadays, bathrooms with separate shower areas are more common, water spillage remains a risk in medium and small bathrooms. Thus, you need to install ceramic tiles on the walls that can be exposed to water during use.

Also, tiles can make the bathroom easy to maintain and hygienic apart from looking beautiful. This is why you need to choose only the best bathroom wall tiles by carefully looking through all the factors that can have a say in your decisions.

The Best Bathroom Wall Tiles

The best bathroom wall tiles would be those tiles that make it feel hygienic, safe and an enjoyable place to be. Apart from all the feel factors, these tiles should also add some practical features to your bathroom. For instance, tiles are critical in safeguarding your bathroom walls from moisture damage.

Thus, several factors drive the tile selection for your bathroom. Finding the right balance within your budget for these will let you get the best bathroom wall tiles. 

1. Size of the Bathroom

The size of the bathroom is the most crucial metric in the selection of the best bathroom wall tiles. Ceramic and vitrified tile options vary based on the size of the tile and tile size depends on the size of the applicable surface.

You can decide the tile size based on a few factors including the tiled wall area. Estimate the square footage of the walls and different areas like accent walls, mirrors, cabinets, etc. You can either install these items (except the accent wall) over the tile or go around them.

Also, see if you’d like small tiles like the 10.8x10.8 cm, 10x20 cm, and 10x30 cm Heritage Collection from H&R Johnson. Small tiles create a very distinct character for your bathroom. Additionally, your colour and design choices vary with such small tiles.

Larger tiles will allow a different feel and design options for the bathroom wall. The most popular sizes for bathroom walls are 30x60cm and 30x45cm. However, larger tiles of 60x120 cm and 80x160 cm are popular with larger bathrooms.

Your choices for tile design patterns also change with the tile size. For instance, you can install digitally coordinated 30x45cm and 30x60cm tiles. Wooden planks (20x120cm) are the most popular tile patterns for medium and large bathroom wall applications.

2. Options of Natural Light

Natural light availability helps you maintain your touch with nature while designing and using the bathroom. If your bathroom lacks natural light, you will need artificial lights to brighten up the space. While there are no major repercussions of this lack of sunlight, it can make hygiene difficult and tedious.

Also, if your bathroom lacks natural light, it is advisable to use lighter colour tiles. Colours like white, pink, and beige can ensure an even distribution of light and keep the bathroom from becoming a dark and depressing space.

If you have ample natural light through a window, you can opt for darker or natural colours like leafy green, purple, and ocean blue for the walls.

3. Ventilation

Usually, ventilation and natural light are connected. However, your bathroom could be well-ventilated and still lack natural lighting. However, if ventilation is a problem, your bathroom will have a problem drying up after use.

You may want to use tiles with an anti-bacterial coating in such a bathroom to avoid bacteria and mold infestation. H&R Johnson’s germ-free tiles offer freedom from this drawback of such bathrooms.

4. The Shape of the Bathroom Space

The shape of the bathroom has a say in the way you can place tiles on the floor or the walls. Though the shape of the bathroom affects your floor tile placement more, wall tiles can be affected if your bathroom has rounded corners or pillars in the wall.

Large tiles are easier to install if you have large continuous walls without breaks like windows, pillars, bends, and gaps. However, if the wall has one or more of these protrusions, smaller tiles will be easier to place. Smaller tiles would be easier to install as they will need little adjustments and on-site cutting.

For example, installing 20x120cm planks vertically on curved walls is easier than installing a 30x60cm tile.

5. Ceiling type

Generally, Indian bathrooms do not require tiles on the ceiling. However, if you have a low or sloped ceiling, you can consider tiling it to improve your bathroom aesthetics.

Smaller tiles like the ones from H&R Johnson’s Heritage Collection will do great for ceiling applications. Tiling will also save the ceiling from being exposed to moisture directly.

6. Vanity Structure

If you plan to build a vanity basin and countertop in your bathroom, you also need a countertop tile. Make sure to match the tile colour and pattern with the wall tiles. Also, you will need to leave the space for the vanity while installing the wall tiles.

An accent wall over the vanity counter is a popular design. So, you may have a choice of wall tiles slightly different from the wall tiles in the rest of the bathroom. You can also have a single large slab from H&R Johnson’s Royale 80x240cm collection.

These tiles are available in High Gloss and Rocker finish and unique random patterns.

7. Upkeep & Hygiene

Upkeep and hygiene factors are critical for bathrooms, whether at homes or commercial spaces. Since tiles cover most of the surface in a bathroom, the tiles should offer safety from moisture and mold build-up.

Ceramic and vitrified tiles make keeping the bathroom tidy and dry easier. The hard glaze on the surface of the tiles makes them almost impervious to moisture. Since ceramic tiles don’t absorb moisture, the chances of mold and bacteria build-up are also low on them.

Generally, high-gloss tiles are the best bathroom wall tile choice, as you can wipe off water and soap stains. However, you can use rocker and matt finish tiles in dry areas. 3D elevation tiles are also popular for bathrooms, especially with accent wall décor. However, selecting glossy 3D-punched tiles will make it easy to keep the accent or border decoration clean.

8. What Delights You?

Finally, once you have looked into all aspects of hygiene and practical problems with the tile application, it’s time to select the pattern you’d love every day. If you value natural beauty more than artificial one, rocker finish designs with micro veins running through the earth will be irresistible.

However, considering all other factors, digitally coordinated ceramic tiles are the safest tile choice. You can find hundreds of coordinated patterns with these tiles, including the ones with embossed 3D designs.

9. Budget & Tile Types

Tile cost can vary based on several factors. Some of the most common factors affecting the price of tiles would be:

• The type of tile
• Tile base thickness
• The density of the tile
• Type of surface finish
• Size of the tile

Since you are looking for wall tiles and walls do not need to bear weight, you can look for lower density and thickness parameters. Other than this, the other major factor in tile cost is its type, vitrified tiles of any category will be more expensive than non-vitrified ceramic tiles.

Germ-free tiles can be pricier than other ceramic tiles, and so on. When looking for the best bathroom wall tiles, you can also connect with an expert at H&R Johnson for guidance as per your budget and other requirements.

The Best Bathroom Wall Tiles at H&R Johnson

If you want to select the best bathroom wall tiles, factors like size, natural light, area of use, and your preferred design should help. Also, hopefully, the tile you select will remain within your budget. However, one of the ways to minimise your tiling budget is to focus on the wet areas first.

This could mean only 7-feet high wall cladding in bathrooms. However, this is still better than no tiling. Although, full wall cladding is recommended as the uncovered wall can still soak up moisture.

Experts at H&R Johnson can guide you through your tile requirements and where to source your tiles from. Bathroom wall tile prices are indicated per square foot, so you can easily estimate the total cost of tiling your entire bathroom area.

Frequently Asked Questions