How to Make a Small Bathroom Look Bigger with Tile

Introduction to Space Enhancing Tips

• Making a small bathroom look bigger can be achieved with the right tile selection and placement, creating an illusion of space and airiness.
• The goal is to maintain a sense of openness throughout the whole room, drawing the eye upward to make the bathroom feel taller, usually with the use of larger tiles.
• By following these space enhancing tips, you can create a bathroom that looks bigger and more inviting, perfect for small spaces.
• Our team of experts will guide you through the process, ensuring that your bathroom look is balanced and beautiful.

Choosing the Right Tile

• The right tile can make a significant difference in how a small bathroom appear, with large format tiles being a popular choice for creating a sense of space.
• Light coloured tiles, such as soft pastels, can help reflect light around the room, creating an illusion of space and making the bathroom look bigger. Using one solid colour across the walls can give the impression of larger bathroom space.
• It’s essential to choose a tile that suits your bathroom style, whether it’s modern, traditional, or something in between, to create a balanced and harmonious look.
• Consider the texture and finish of the tile, as well as the grout lines, to ensure that the overall look is not overwhelming.

Floor Tiles and Grout Lines

• Large format floor tiles can help create a sense of space, with fewer grout lines making the floor look more expansive.
• Rectified tiles are a great option, as they allow for minimal grout spacing, creating a seamless and sophisticated look.
• The colour scheme of the tile and grout can also play a role in creating a sense of space, with lighter colours helping to reflect more light and make the bathroom appear larger.
• Consider using ceramic or porcelain tiles, which are durable and easy to maintain, to create a beautiful and long-lasting floor. For those facing challenges with irregularly shaped rooms, there are creative solutions for common tiling problems as well.

Vertical Tiles

• Vertical placement of tiles can help draw the eye upward, enhancing the illusion of the room's limited dimensions.
• This technique works particularly well with rectangular tiles, which can be stacked vertically to create a sense of height, more specifically smaller tiles like subway tiles, for a modern appeal.
• Consider using a simple and elegant design, such as a vertical stripe, to create a sense of sophistication and style.
• The use of mirrors can also help reflect light and create the illusion of a larger space, making the bathroom look bigger and more inviting especially in a small bathroom with limited natural light.

Tile Layout and Design

• The layout and design of the tile can make a significant difference in how a small bathroom looks, with geometric patterns, subway tiles, patterned tiles and light coloured tiles helping to create a sense of space. A running bond pattern with subway tiles can create a sense of movement and visually widen the room. A fantastic shout for a feature wall.
• Consider using a layout that creates a sense of interest in the visual space, such as a herringbone or chevron pattern by laying the tiles diagonally can make all the difference.
• The use of bathroom accessories, such as vanity units and fixtures, can also help create a sense of style and sophistication, without overwhelming the space.
• It’s essential to balance the design elements, ensuring that the overall look is harmonious and beautiful.
• Extending tiles from floor to ceiling or across multiple walls can eliminate visual breaks, which enhances the illusion of a larger, more cohesive space. This technique works particularly well with large format tiles, as it creates uninterrupted surfaces that draw the eye smoothly throughout the room.
• Geometric patterns not only add visual interest but can also manipulate perception of space by directing the eye along certain lines or shapes, making the bathroom feel more expansive.
• Diagonal layouts, such as tiles laid in a diamond or herringbone pattern, help to break up the typical grid and create dynamic movement, which distracts from the small size and adds depth to the room.
• Choosing the right size tile is critical; larger tiles reduce grout lines, minimizing visual clutter and making the bathroom floor and walls appear more expansive. Conversely, smaller tiles can be used strategically in areas like shower floors to add texture and slip resistance without overwhelming the space.
• Combining these tile layout strategies with careful selection of grout colours—preferably matching or slightly lighter than the tiles—further enhances the seamless look, contributing to the spacious bathroom feel.

Maximising Natural Light

• Natural light can make a small bathroom look bigger and more inviting, with the use of mirrors and reflective surfaces helping to reflect light around the room, especially if you have the same colour tiles on the floor and wall space.
• Consider using lighter shades, with soft pastels, neutral tones white tiles or plain tiles helping to create a sense of airiness and openness.
• Ensure that the bathroom is well-lit, with a combination of natural and artificial light sources, to create a bright and inviting atmosphere.
• Glossy tiles can have a huge impact. The natural light bounces off the glossy finishes which can make the room feel bigger.

Small Space Considerations

• When working with a small bathroom space, it’s essential to consider the space enhancing tips that can help create a sense of openness and airiness to help make your smaller bathroom feel larger.
• The use of large format square tiles, slabs and rectangular tiles ensure minimal grout lines, this can all help make the small bathroom appear larger rather than small tiles that would make the space feel busy, especially on a bathroom floor or wall space.
• Consider the colour scheme and design elements, ensuring that they are balanced and harmonious, and don’t overwhelm the space. A monochrome colour scheme can unify your bathroom design, making it look cohesive and uncluttered.
• The use of mirrors and reflective surfaces, like glossy tiles, help catch more natural light, which makes the room feel bigger and more inviting.
• Maximising floor space is crucial in small bathroom design. Opt for wall-mounted fixtures and furniture to free up valuable floor area, giving the room a less cluttered and more spacious feel.
• Selecting light-coloured wall tiles such as white tiles or a beige, and maintaining a consistent colour palette across bathroom walls and floor helps bounce light around the room, enhancing the spacious bathroom effect.
• Incorporating subtle patterns or textured tiles strategically can add visual interest without making the small bathroom feel busy or cramped.
• Avoid using too many contrasting colours or busy tile designs that create visual clutter, which can make a tiny space feel even smaller.
• But, adding a feature wall with patterned tiles to create an accent wall can serve as a focal point, drawing attention and adding personality while maintaining the overall spacious feel. There are a variety of larger tiles that can create a beautiful feature wall, one being bookmatch tiles. This tiles often come in a marble look, when laid together, they create a pattern that runs from one tile to the other.
• Thoughtful placement of shower floors and niches with matching tiles can create continuity, making the small bathroom space feel cohesive and less segmented.

To sum up, when designing a small bathroom, large format tiles really are one of the best choices. They help create a seamless, uncluttered look, which in turn will make your bathroom feel bigger and more open. Pairing them with a light colour scheme and well-placed lighting, both natural and artificial, can further enhance the sense of space.

If you're exploring options, we offer a wide selection of large format tiles in soft tones and natural finishes, perfect for opening up compact spaces. Failing that, you could opt for slightly larger tiles sized at 60 x 120cm.

For more ideas and guidance, visit our bathrooms page to see how these elements come together in real projects or take a look below at some tile options that work beautifully in smaller spaces.