Good bathroom tile design should create a floor surface that is attractive,
water resistant and safe to walk on. Bathroom tile designs using ceramic tile,
rubber flooring or vinyl and linoleum floors are all examples of bathroom tile
design material choices that should be available nearly anywhere.
These
types of tiles are easy to clean, water resistant and safe to walk on. If you
are going to use natural stone or terra-cotta ceramic tiles on your floors to
create a more sophisticated effect, make sure you buy the kind with a non-slip
finish.
As you consider which bathroom tile designs to select, each type
of tile
will have unique properties that may or may not provide characteristics
that are good for your bathroom. Here are different material types for bathroom
tile design along with advantages or disadvantages of each:
1. Laminate
and Vinyl Bathroom Tile Design - these types of tile in bathroom tile designs
can be found in a variety of colors, patterns and textures. Some tiles even
imitate wood, stone and ceramic. It is not very expensive, is water resistant,
easy to install and clean and it is durable.
2. Ceramic Bathroom Tile
Design - ceramic tile can range from fairly cheap to expensive and it is the
classic choice. Tile is made of clay, shale or porcelain and is formed and fired
at very high temperatures until it hardens. The higher the temperature and the
more times the tile is fired, the harder and less porous the tile. If you are
using a white or cream ceramic tile for your bathroom, using a different color
grout like "blue" will give your bathroom a dramatic look. Grout is the material
used to fill the spaces between the tiles. Make sure you apply sealers to grout
lines in areas of heavy wear like countertops. Sealers will also preserve grout
colors.
3. Stone Bathroom Tile Designs (marble, granite, brick, slate,
onyx, travertine and limestone) - this tile can be beautiful, very strong,
durable in high-traffic areas, it will last a long time, is low maintainance and
easy to clean. However, it is expensive, it's a cold material, can be slippery
and absorbs stains easily.
4. Linoleum Bathroom Tile Design - this tile
is made of renewable and natural materials like linseed oil, ground cork,
limestone, jute and wood flour. This type of bathroom floor is making a comeback
with new marbled and graphic designs, and it is more durable and easier to clean
than vinyl tile.
5. Mosaic Bathroom Tile - this wonderful tile was an
ancient craft that today can be made of tile, stone, porcelain and colored
glass, creating stunning floor patterns. These tiles are small (1 or 2 inches
square) and often expensive. What you can do is to add a small section of this
type of tile for visual interest to your floor or countertop.
6.
Concrete Bathroom Tile Designs - durable, low maintenance, perfect for wet areas
and stunning. You can find this type of tile in beautiful textures such as
shiny, rough, slick and sandpaper and in various colors and sizes.
7.
Hardwood - you can build your bathroom floor using solid wood, parquet flooring
or engineered woods (several layers of wood laminated and high-tech materials
that are similar to plywood). Hardwoods are wear-resistant, attractive,
comfortable to walk on, easy to clean and refinish, not very cold in winter, but
they are more vulnerable to moisture when used in a bathroom.
If you
want to use a bathroom tile design that includes rugs in your bathroom, make
sure you buy the kind that has rubber backing, or add rubber backing strips to
the rugs. Be careful with rugs that can slip and slide on a tiled floor or
natural stone floor which creates a safety hazard. Rugs can also harbor dust
mites and allergens which is a problem for people with allergies.
Whether you'll be remodeling an old bathroom or creating a brand new
one, being active in the design stage helps ensure that your bathroom turns out
just like you want. The bathroom tile designs and styles, colors, patterns and
sizes you choose can help you have a bathroom that is comfortable, attractive
and functional and a room that you will enjoy every day.
Copyright 2006
InfoSearch Publishing
