Types of decorative tiles for the bathroom and features of their use

Today, a large assortment of decorative tiles for the bathroom is on sale, with the help of which you can implement any stylistic decision that clearly reflects the preferences of the owners of the house and emphasizes their taste. Most often, manufacturers offer collections consisting of tiles for walls and floors in dark and light colors and decor of various sizes and colors suitable in size and color. If you are not satisfied with the manufacturer’s proposal, you can always combine a suitable option from several series: decorative tiles of various colors and sizes are available for sale.

What to choose

Types of decorative tiles

Manufacturers offer the following decorative elements:

• Decor – a single insert with a pattern or design applied to its surface. Bathroom decor tiles come in different formats and themes. It looks like a bright spot against the background of the main tile.
• Frieze (border) is a small rectangular tile that is most widespread. Used to decorate walls and ceilings. As part of the collection, it harmonizes with the base tiles. Can be floor or wall mounted.
• A pencil border that has a thin convex rectangular shape and is suitable for either single use or together with other borders.

• A panel that includes at least two multi-colored tiles with a pattern or design applied to them. Allows you to display a real picture on the bathroom wall, most often in a vertical position.
• A free-size panel, including tiles with different images and used to create vertical compositions of arbitrary shape and type. The size of the panel can be very diverse.

• Moldings are long convex tiles used in the design of various surfaces or interior items.

How to choose a suitable decorative element

Considering that decorative tiles for the bathroom are presented in a fairly large assortment, implementing any stylistic decision will not be difficult. When choosing decorative tiles, you must first of all be guided by the effect you want to achieve:

• If you need to zone the bathroom space, you can purchase a frieze or pencil border.
• If you want to place accents, then the best option would be a classic panel or a free-size panel.

At the same time, you should not occupy a large area of ​​the wall with decorative tiles. Especially if you are finishing a small bathroom.

Color is no less important. When choosing, you can rely on the color of the main tile, or, on the contrary, you can choose decorative inserts in a contrasting color. Which option is preferable can only be determined by the owner of the house in which the bathroom is located.

Laying decor tiles

Choosing a installation method

The most common when laying borders on walls are:

• Classic horizontal installation, during which decorative tiles separate the top (light) and bottom (dark) tiles. Using this method, a frieze or a pencil border is most often laid.
• Horizontal installation, suitable for a frieze, during which the border tiles are laid under the ceiling.
• Vertical installation, which can be done along part or the entire height of the wall. Allows you to perform zoning in the bathroom. It can be implemented using a special vertical border or a regular one that does not have an obvious horizontal pattern.

• Combination of vertical and horizontal laying.
• Staggered laying, during which the curbs are laid either in a checkerboard pattern or randomly. With this installation method, you can easily bypass various obstacles that create some difficulties during installation, for example, a washbasin or bathtub.
• Laying a double border, during which borders of different shapes, colors or with different patterns are laid sequentially. This method allows you to achieve an interesting effect by focusing on a specific part of the wall. You can often find a frieze edged on both sides with a pencil border.

To place the panel, the central part of the wall is most often used, where it will be more noticeable.

Let's start installation

When laying decorative tiles, the same technology is used as for the main tiles. To begin with, carefully prepare the surface on which the bathroom decor tiles will be placed. The walls and floor are cleaned of dirt and carefully leveled. Only after this can you begin installation.

In this case, it is better to use white adhesive composition. It is less prone to staining the tile itself and the seams.

[note]By treating the prepared surface with a special deep penetration primer, you can ensure a more durable connection between the decor and the base [/note]

After the tiles are in place, you need to grout the seams. This is a very important moment. Here it is important not to make a mistake with the choice of grouting composition. For a panel, it is better to choose a composition close in tone to the pattern applied on it. Especially if it is located in a small bathroom. This will make the seams almost invisible. In all other cases, you can play with contrast, emphasizing the presence of a frieze or pencil border.

Thus, decorative tiles for the bathroom can be very diverse and can be laid in different ways. Having chosen the appropriate option, take care to follow the installation technology. In this case, the bath will be individual and stylish.