How to Choose Shower Tiles

Introduction

Much like our bathroom tile guide, there is only one RULE when buying tiles for your shower, the tile must be functional.  

Once your tiler has followed correct tiling procedures and grouted your tiles properly, most tiles will be suitable for use in a shower area. 

Are you planning on using a tile across all walls in the bathroom including the shower area? Are you buying tiles only for shower area? What colour scheme is your bathroom furniture? What STYLE is your sanitary ware (especially the shower and shower head!)?

Some of the answers to the above questions will begin to guide you in which direction of tile you should be looking for. 

How to Choose Shower Tiles

Will your tile be across all walls in the bathroom including the shower area? If yes, you need to be sure that you like your tile choice, as you will be seeing a lot of them.  Are you buying tiles only for your shower area? If you are – why not be bold with your choice and choose a punchy pattern tile to raise the colour and character of your bathroom. 

What colour scheme is your bathroom furniture? If you try and use the same colour be conscious everything could become too similar, conversely you should be aware of potentially creating a clash of colours.  What style is your sanitary ware? Sleek, minimalist sanitary ware is fantastic. Traditional, big rounded sanitary ware is fantastic. However, if you pair the wrong style of tile with the wrong style of sanitary ware with the wrong style of tile, your bathroom could be a big jarring mismatch. And you do not want that! 

Grout for many is an afterthought but it should be kept in mind when choosing a tile for your shower. Showers, unsurprisingly get wet and grouting can discolour over time due a mixture of water, shampoo and cleaning products.

So bear in mind, avoid light grout where possible.  Dark grout when used to dramatic effect against white tiles has the benefit of contrast, but it will also retain its colour for decades.

Pattern tiles work well in shower areas, especially to add a splash of colour, design and pizazz. Natural stone-effect tiles work wonderfully in traditional style bathrooms. 

There are some adaptable tiles though that can dazzle in a variety of bathroom styles that could easily be the classy understated wall tile in a traditional bathroom and shower with walnut furniture, early 20th Century style tap and shower. On the other hand, this same tile could easily be the dominant tile and tone setter for an über slick monochromatic bathroom.

Make sure your tile choice is functional for your shower needs first, then allow your taste to take care of the rest, while bearing in mind the above recommendations about colour, style, grout and size.

Need some more help? Call in to our showrooms – open 7 days – or contact us via our Facebook Page or INSTAGRAM.

Our showrooms have 50+ installed bays for you to peruse and choose from. The bays in our showrooms contain a broad range of styles to choose from. Tile Merchant showroom locations have a mix of bay sizes too that reflect 99% of Irish bathroom sizes, so you can get a feel of what might work in your space.

Some bathroom suits simply work better in compact bathrooms and vice versa with large bathrooms. If you do not find the black tap you wish to use in your minimalist monochrome bathroom or your double sink bathroom unit in mid-century style, our sales advisors can source it for you from our premium suppliers of bathroom ware. Tile Merchant showrooms are open 7 days a week!

Why Tile Merchant?

We offer extremely competitive pricing on our entire range of tiles and likewise. We stock a huge range of wall and floor tiles and our prices are competitive for retail and trade. Our stock is widely available in our tile stores in Dublin and Ashbourne (Co. Meath) which are open 7 days a week.

Alternatively, if you’d prefer to shop our tiles online, we can supply you with samples delivered for free.

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