Wall and floor finishes play a huge part in your bathroom's design — see the looks you can get from using each material, and find out if they fit the style of your choice, in this breakdown of popular finishes.
1. Wood-look tiles
The look: Warm and stylish (just like real wood!).
The good: You can get the look of wood in a wet area.
The bad: Chips and damages to the surface will be obvious.
Match with: Resort-style designs, nature-inspired sanitaryware and neutral colours.
(Product photo: Hafary)
2. Patterned tiles
The look: Fun, quirky and trendy.
The good: Never boring!
The bad: Chips and damages to the surface will be obvious.
Match with: Neutral colours for it to stand out, or sanitaryware and fittings with unique designs for a whimsical look.
(Product photo: Hafary)
3. Concrete screed
The look: Avant-garde and edgy, or contemporary and minimalist.
The good: Very versatile design-wise and relatively easy to maintain.
The bad: Porous, and could be slippery when wet.
Match with: Anything!
(Design: Dwell Interior Design)
4. Mosaics
The look: Varies from luxurious and glamourous to contemporary and fun.
The good: Can easily clad curved walls.
The bad: Can be tricky to install, and difficult to repair and keep clean.
Match with: Fittings with simple contemporary designs.
(Design: The Interarch Design)
5. Stone-look tiles
The look: Polished an drefined.
The good: You get the look of natural stone, but with the durability of tiles.
The bad: Chips and damages to the surface will be obvious.
Match with: Fittings with simple contemporary designs.
(Product photo: Rice)
6. Subway tiles
The look: Simple and traditional, or graphical.
The look: Easy to clean, and its glossy and light-reflective surface helps brighten your space.
The bad: Walls will have a "busy" pattern, with many grout lines and joints that can trap dirt.
Match with: Traditional or industrial-style fittings.
(Photo: Rice)
7. Marble
The look: Luxurious and sophisticated.
The good: Natural; each piece has a unique appearance.
The bad: Porous and easily etched by acidic cleaning products, and could be slippery when wet.
Match with: Items with clean lines, polished silver-tone fittings and natural materials.
(Design: Collective Designs)
See more looks you can achieve with these materials here.