There’s nothing like entering your bathroom at the end of a busy day and taking a nice, hot shower to unwind. But if your shower is outdated, cracked or chipped, leaky, or just unattractive, your bathroom will feel less like a relaxing spa and more like another item on your to-do list. When it’s time to renovate your bathroom, you have a lot of options to consider for your shower. Do you want stone panels? A fiberglass surround? Or maybe you love the look and functionality of a tiled shower. Durable, long-lasting, and beautiful, a tiled shower will lift your spirits whenever you walk into your bathroom. If you’re ready to consider the option, here are five things you need to know.
#1. Tiled Showers are Completely Customizable
Some types of showers, like prefabricated shower surrounds, come in standard sizes. But what if your bathroom is smaller or larger than average? Or if you have specific desires like a large, curbless shower or one that fits in an unusual space? When you have a tiled shower installed, you can customize the shower to the exact specifications you want. You can tile all the way up the wall to the ceiling, no matter how tall your ceiling is. You can tile the floor and the walls, or just one or the other. The choice is up to you.
You can also make a tiled shower fit any design aesthetic. With large format tiles, your bathroom can take on a more modern feel. Mosaic tiles will lend themselves to a traditional design. Subway tiles look classic and timeless. You can tile the shower floor with a contrasting color to the walls, or you can tile the entire bathroom, including the shower, for a contemporary, high-end look.
#2. You Have Many Options for the Tile Itself
Tile showers are incredibly versatile and can fit any design goal or aesthetic you like. Tiles come in various sizes and are made with a variety of materials. Some of your options include:
Porcelain. Porcelain tile is very durable and has a high density. This means that water won’t get into the tile–it rolls right off instead. Porcelain tiles come in a large variety of shapes, colors, and sizes and are a great choice for showers.
Ceramic. Ceramic is a green choice because it is sustainable, made of natural materials, and can be recycled. It’s durable and easy to clean, and also comes in a variety of colors and styles.
Zellige. These hand-glazed terra cotta tiles are on-trend. People love them for their slightly irregular look and old-world charm. They add a lot of visual interest and beauty.
Stone. There are many stone options to choose from, including marble, travertine, granite, quartz, and pebble. Stone tiles look natural and often have neutral colors and gentle veining. They are durable and may require basic maintenance like sealing every year or so.
#3. Your Design Options are Nearly Endless
After you choose your tile material and color, you still get to design the actual lay of your tiles. A quick search on Pinterest will reveal many options from traditional and elegant to creative and modern. Some tile layouts to consider include:
Straight lay is where tiles are stacked with one directly on top of the other. This is a good option when you are using rectangular tiles and want to visually widen the space, or make it look modern.
Stagger lay which is the more traditional layout you probably picture when you’re thinking about subway tiles, for example. One row of tiles is offset from the row below it. Tiles can be 50% staggered, ⅓ staggered, ¼ staggered, or random, and each design gives a different look. These layouts hide imperfections well and highlight grout lines. They can look traditional or modern, depending on the amount of staggering you choose.
Chevron is a popular design where two tiles are placed at 45-degree angles from each other and the ends are cut and matched so they form a point. The V can go vertically, horizontally, or at a diagonal, and each look is visually interesting and beautiful on a shower wall or floor.
Herringbone is similar to chevron, but the ends of the tiles are not cut and formed into a point but instead are alternated for a woven look. The resulting look is gorgeous and looks intricate and complicated.
Diagonal layouts work really well for picket tiles. If laid on the floor, they can make a small room appear larger. Picket tiles can also be laid vertically or horizontally, but a diagonal layout is unexpected and pleasing to the eye.
#4. Tiled Showers are Both Timeless and On-Trend
When you choose tile for your shower, you’re investing in a classic look for your bathroom that you’re sure to love for years to come. Marble tiles, for example, give you a high-end, beautiful shower that will never go out of style.
By adding in some extra features, you can design a shower that is both classic, and on-trend and contemporary. Shower niches, which are often tiled in an accent color or pattern, are very popular, beautiful, and handy as storage for bottles and products. Shower benches are also useful and attractive, and give your space even more visual interest.
#5. Tiled Showers Add Value and Save Time
Any type of bathroom remodel will add value to your home. In fact, according to the 2023 Cost vs. Value Report for the South Atlantic Region, a midrange bathroom remodel can give you a 63.4% return on your investment. And a beautiful and classic tiled shower will go a long way toward making your home appealing and raising its resale value. Among the highest-ranking bathroom improvements that add value to your home are installing a tiled shower and replacing a bathtub with a spa shower.
No one wants to spend all their time on home maintenance. A tiled shower is a low-maintenance addition to your bathroom, saving you time, effort, and money. Keep the walls and floor looking sparkling new by wiping them down with a gentle, pH-neutral cleaner. And every year or so, reseal the grout to keep it looking its best. With the proper care, your shower can last 60-80 years!
Is a Tiled Shower for You?
If you’re ready to start a bathroom remodel or if you want to discuss your options with us, contact us today. We can help you decide if a tiled shower is the right plan for your bathroom. Our team of expert designers and builders can talk to you about your dreams for a gorgeous, relaxing bathroom and then make those dreams a reality.