5 practical suggestions for new bathroom tiles

The bathroom is one of the most frequently used rooms in every home. It is believed that the bathroom brings peace to the home. According to recent statistical studies, a person spends a total of 3 to 5 years in the bathroom during their lifetime. It is our place to recover and relax after a hard, busy day or the place where our day begins. It is believed that the condition of the bathroom shows how much you take care of yourself. If there is chaos or it is dirty, you are probably struggling with bad habits. They are reflected in insufficient “work” on yourself, insufficient sleep or poor nutrition. A dirty bathroom also speaks of a lack of self-esteem. That is why it is very important that our bathroom is always well maintained, clean and tidy. We will consider several practical suggestions for new bathroom tiles.

Easy cleaning

Often, when furnishing a home, owners do not think about the subsequent maintenance. And this actually becomes one of the most annoying and unpleasant consequences of the wrong choice. There are many beautiful tiles, but they are made of materials that are very difficult to clean and turn the lives of the homeowners into hell. Terracotta tiles, for example, are more difficult to clean, as they are more porous. Glossy, single-colored tiles, especially if they are in dark colors, are extremely noticeable when they are dirty or simply have dried drops of water on them. Glossy tiles themselves, however, are easier to clean than matte ones. Very often, homeowners with a busy daily life choose glossy bathroom tiles in iridescent, light colors. In addition to being easy to maintain, this type of pattern does not allow limescale traces of water to show. Still, it is recommended to clean the bathroom at least once a week. So, in addition to saving a lot of scrubbing, good hygiene is also maintained. The secret to shiny tiles is daily cleaning. It takes about 5-10 minutes, but the advantage is that the more often the tiles in the bathroom are cleaned, the easier the cleaning itself is. For reference - neglected tiles require a much longer time for scrubbing and washing and there is no guarantee that they will look completely clean again.

Here are some simple rules for daily maintenance of bathroom tiles:

- Clean the bathroom tiles every day with a vacuum cleaner or broom. This will remove dust and other small particles that accumulate on them and later turn into dirt that is difficult to clean. After using the bathroom, it is a good idea to dry the tiles with a mop or cloth.

- Use a homemade grout cleaner and whitener every few days. This is not only healthier, but also more economical and gentler on the tiles themselves. This is made from baking soda and water. Mix three parts baking soda with one part water and apply the resulting "slurry" to the grout. Then spray with apple cider vinegar and wait for the foaming to subside. Scrub with a sponge or toothbrush and rinse with water. Don't forget to dry again.

IMPORTANT: Vinegar is not used on marble tiles.

Drying is so important to prevent dirt and dust from sticking back onto the tiles and grout.

Eternal colors

When renovating your bathroom, everyone would like to have a window into the future to see what will be fashionable in a few years. Color trends change so quickly that if there was a way to follow each of them, we might have to change the tiles in our bathroom every year. Fortunately, there are colors and color combinations that remain eternal. Especially when it comes to a bathroom, the most preferred color is blue with all its shades. The shimmering tiles of blue and white, in addition to hiding limescale drops and light dirt, give the bathroom freshness and spaciousness.

White also remains a classic. Fortunately, even with this color, there is now a variety of shades. Milk color, ivory, ecru or classic snow white, everyone's preferences can be satisfied. White tiles are extremely suitable for small bathrooms, which are often found in apartments. They add space and light. In addition, white tiles are very suitable for lovers of decorative tiles. If you choose white tiles for the walls of your bathroom, you can combine any decorative elements. Flowers are among the most classic choices. For this purpose, you can also use tile panels that are like a puzzle - after sticking to the wall, the picture printed on them is formed. This type of bathroom decorations are particularly suitable for smaller rooms, which acquire additional visual volume.

Endurance

One of the most practical decisions we can make when choosing new bathroom tiles is that they be of high quality and durable. As for this, there is a wide variety of quality tiles at good prices on the market, which provide a guarantee that bathroom renovations will not happen in the coming years. Usually, the classics are faience on the walls and terracotta on the floor. This is because faience tiles are much more fragile and would break easily if an object were dropped, for example. They are relatively easy to maintain and are quite often the choice of most people. Terracotta is more durable, which makes it suitable for the bathroom floor. In addition, one of the most important qualities of the selected bathroom tiles is their moisture resistance. Terracotta and faience tiles are exactly that.

If you are wondering how to distinguish between faience and terracotta tiles, pay attention to the appearance. Faience tiles are usually solid-colored or have simpler patterns compared to terracotta tiles. Terracotta tiles can, of course, also be used for walls. It is all a matter of choice. The main difference in the strength of the two types is due to the firing temperature.

Safety and texture

These two characteristics also play a big role in choosing new bathroom tiles. Since bathroom renovation is not a joke, it is assumed that it is not done often (like, for example, we often repaint the walls in our kitchen for the purpose of refreshment), it is advisable to pay close attention to every detail. And as for safety, this is a condition that we must comply with.

The texture of the tiles is crucial for achieving the desired interior. In addition, the texture also determines the functionality of the bathroom. Most often, we associate the more unusual textures only with their decorative effect, but in fact they have another important purpose. For example, the rough surface of the tiles on the bathroom floor does not allow slipping, and thus is able to prevent possible unpleasant incidents. This is especially true for homes where elderly people and/or small children live. There are special tiles on the market, the surface of which has grooves, which have exactly this purpose - to prevent slipping after getting wet. Matte tiles also have this effect, which is why it is almost mandatory for the bathroom floor to be with this type of tile. In addition, the combination of gloss on the walls and matte or other non-standard texture for the floor also looks much better visually.

Fashion trends - how to choose

Among the huge variety of bathroom tiles, one can easily be confused in their choice. The easiest way to make the decision on what tiles to choose is by following your personal taste and preferences. Everyone has imagined the bathroom of their dreams. Taking into account the other, purely practical factors, choose the look and colors according to your personal taste. This way, the bathroom will always be pleasant and cozy for you.

Another way to choose is to consider the entire interior of your home. For example, if your home is in a rustic style, grooved tiles in brownish colors are a very suitable choice. Again, it is important not to forget about practicality above all.

If you are still hesitating and the choice is very wide, try to limit your preference to three. Set aside the three most desired tile models and give yourself some time to make the final decision. Consult with relatives and friends or with the consultants in the store.

It will be easiest for you if you just follow the fashion trends at the moment. In 2017-2018. one of the most preferred colors is gray. Of course, there are many shades, translucent tiles and all kinds of decorative options that would suit almost every taste. Nude and neutral colors are also in fashion. In combination with dark gray, a perfect contrast is obtained. Among the modern colors of the latest trends in bathroom tiles are also pastel versions of the classic ash of roses, blue and green.

Marble tiles are also making a comeback in the modern world, as they are more of a decorative element due to their difficult maintenance. Marble fans can also opt for marble-imitating tiles made from other materials.

Another new trend this year and next year is non-standard tile shapes, such as hexagons. This hexagonal shape is a long-lasting trend and has variations for many ways of interpretation, even 3D depth.

Each of us has different preferences and a different perspective when it comes to bathroom design. Some prefer darker colors, others like light ones, some prefer rounded shapes, others straight angles. Everyone has different tastes, and that is why the market offers so many different interiors to choose from. Make your bathroom practical and the way you want it to be. This is the guarantee of a perfect bathroom for every home.