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Shower stall tiling ideas


30 Fun & Unique Tile Shower Ideas for 2022

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Classic ceramic tile in the bathroom doesn’t have to be boring. Check out the 30 tile shower ideas we’ve gathered below to help you turn your shower space into something special. Read on to get inspired today.

30 Tile Shower Ideas We Can’t Get Enough Of

The days of plain, white ceramic tile in your shower are over. Different tile shapes, colors, and patterns can take a necessary part of your day up a notch by giving you a beautiful and unique space for your daily routine. 

The classic look will never go out of style, but if you’re craving something a little more updated, take some inspiration from one of the tile shower ideas we love. 

1. Classic Stone With Accents

Arina P Habich/Shutterstock

Stone tiles on the walls with small ceramic tiles in matching shades on the floor give a shower stall rich textures and style. A stripe of decorative tiling halfway up that leads into a diamond tile pattern adds even more interest, while the colors pull all the textures together into a cohesive look.  

2. Round Glass Tiles

Berkay Demirkan/Shutterstock

Standard block-style ceramic tiles let the walls fade into the background, so the mosaic tile floor stands out. Round glass tiles in different shades mimic pebbles and stones, a look perfect for a shower with a natural rain showerhead. 

3. Colorful Walls

Joe Hendrickson/Shutterstock

Hexagon floor tiles in shades of gray help set off the brilliant blue of the wall tile set in a herringbone pattern. The light color of the grout makes the herringbone pattern stand out and adds interest through the glass shower wall and door.

4. Decorative Tile Wall

Lois GoBe/Shutterstock

White ceramic tile gets a boost from an entire wall covered in blue and white decorative tile. Only one wall done this way keeps the look from becoming overwhelming. A recessed nook in the shower gets a decorative tile to pull the look together. 

5. A Mosaic Strip

Jason Finn/Shutterstock

Rectangular white tile uses dark grout that pulls from the color of the decorative tile strip that circles the shower stall. Mosaic tiles in shades of brown add an accent strip that keeps the rest of the tile from looking plain, and the matching grout color makes it feel like one large design.

6. Matching Patterns

CapturePB/Shutterstock

Gray and brown shades in rectangular stone tiles on the walls lead to matching shapes and colors in the smaller floor tiles. Small tiles add more texture for safety on the shower floor while mimicking the look of the walls in a beautiful design. 

7. Create an Illusion

ImageFlow/Shutterstock

Square ceramic tiles in darker shades anchor the bottom of the shower stall, with more white and gray tiles added as the eye goes up. The changing color saturation creates the illusion of a lifting movement. Use lighter tiles to draw the eye up.

8. Decorative Tile Shelving

Artazum/Shutterstock

Plain ceramic tile keeps the shower stall within a budget, but costlier mosaic tile can change any cubby hole in a shower stall into an accent piece. This practical shelving becomes artwork backed in different shades of hexagon tiles with lighting to make it stand out even more. 

9. Pull in the Floor Pattern

Artazum/Shutterstock

Brown shades of stone tiling from the bathroom floor extend into the shower stall to create a mood. The colors and angels from the flooring cover the baseboards and the outer surface of the shower door for a complete look. 

10. Basic Bricks

Krista Abel/Shutterstock

White, rectangular shower tiles set in a brick pattern become a backdrop for two inset cubbies tiled in shades of gray as an accent. The smaller tiles repeat the rectangular pattern to give the shower stall a sense of balance and cohesiveness. 

11. Black Gold

Edvard Nalbantjan/Shutterstock

Black, gold, bronze, and tan tiles lend this entire bathroom some dramatic flair. Small squares set from dark at the bottom to lighter tiles going up draw the eye. The metal tones make the walls appear reflective, while the light grout outlining each small square adds texture to the rich look.  

12. Subway Tiles

PhotoMavenStock/Shutterstock

Gray marble subway tiles don’t need accents or other colors or designs to create a beautiful shower enclosure. The marble pattern throughout the entire shower, floor to ceiling, is gorgeous without the need for additional lines or colors to add to it or set it off. 

13. Rustic Stone Look

apePhoto/Shutterstock

Skinny rectangular tiles in different sizes cover the shower walls in a look that resembles natural stone. Thin tiles like these can be purchased separately, or opt for tile panels with repeating patterns that cost less and are easier to install. 

14. A Pop of Color

Pavel Adashkevich/Shutterstock

Rectangular aquamarine tiles set like bricks offer a pop of color to a white and gray marble bathroom. You can use any color tiles you want to turn the shower stall into an accent. Use bathroom accessories in a matching color to draw the shade into the room. 

15. One Detailed Wall

Matus Labanc/Shuttestock

A single wall of small rectangular tiles keeps the other wall and floor covered in huge square stone or stone-look tiles from looking plain. Matching earth and stone shades in all walls give a balanced look while pulling the accent wall better into the overall design. 

16. Black Mosaic Flooring

Joe Hendrickson/Shutterstock

Marble subway tiles set off the black mosaic tiles used on the shower floor. Silver fixtures complement the white, gray, and black color scheme, while the glass doors create the perfect look for a modern bathroom. 

17. A Wood Effect

Dariusz Jarzabek/Shutterstock

Tiles don’t have to look like the ceramic tile of old. They don’t even have to look like tile at all. Tiles designed to create a wood effect pull the wall pattern from the rest of the bathroom directly into the shower, so all the walls look paneled in wood instead of tile. 

18. Classic Marble

Artazum/Shuttestock

White marble tiles look luxurious in any bathroom. The gray streaks in the marble create a unique pattern you can never achieve with manufactured tiles. Even without the inset covered in mosaic tiles and lit as an accent, marble tile creates natural beauty in shower stalls of all sizes.  

19. Whole-Bathroom Mosaic

Yampi/Shutterstock

The random mosaic pattern inside the shower stall shows through the glass door and matches the bathroom walls for a connected look. Using the same tile in a shower and on bathroom walls makes the room appear larger and creates a balanced design. 

20. Outside Accents

Alexxxey/Shutterstock

Though standard square tiles line the shower walls, two vertical panels of heavily patterned, colorful tiles frame the enclosure and add beauty to the room. Adding more expensive custom tiles for décor in small places can set off the entire room and give a designer look for a fraction of the price covering whole walls in specialty tile. 

21. Decorate With Shaped Tiles

Joe Hendrickson/Shutterstock

Use tiles with decorative edging to add a pop of texture without getting fussy or adding too many details. Here, white grout showcases the design of gray tiles by making the delicate edging stand out. Simple marble mosaic tiles cover the floor to keep the focus on the wall.  

22. Gray and Gold

Ashley.baker/Shutterstock

Light gray rectangular tiles set like bricks lead down to the darker floor made up of mosaic tiles in shades of darker gray to black. This creates a cohesive look that keeps the enclosure from a monotone appearance, while gold fixtures and accents like the shower door handle add richness without too much detail. 

23. Shades of Beige

Artazum/Shutterstock

Square stone tiles in shades of beige and tan cover the shower walls and extend into the rest of the bathroom to keep the entire room connected. Small tiles in similar shades cover the shower floor, while one strip of dark brown tile wraps around the shower stall to create a focal point just above shoulder level. 

24. The Color Has It

Ventura/Shutterstock

Let one shower wall add a bright accent color to the room, like this bright green wall that looks fresh and natural alongside white tile. Green plants that love sunlight and steam could pull that same green throughout the room.  

25. Stylish Monochrome

Lois GoBe/Shutterstock

A bathroom decorated in monochrome can feature any color, but black and white are particularly eye-catching when gorgeous decorative tiles cover one shower wall. Any colors and patterns you like can decorate one wall that shows through glass shower doors to anchor the room. 

26. Striking Black Marble

Dariusz Jarzabek/Shutterstock

White marble lends a bathroom a clean, pure appearance, but black marble creates drama. Black marble tiles set next to white marble streaked through with gold match the black and gold décor of the room. Marble is a class look made wholly modern with glass doors and jet black fixtures. 

27. Beveled Tiles

brizmaker/Shutterstock

A white ceramic tile wall with white grout stops short of being a boring white-on-white thanks to the beveled edges of the tiles. The beveling adds a hint of texture that’s a perfect backdrop for stunning black shower fixtures as part of a black and white bathroom design.  

28. Blue Mosaic Accents

Haveseen/Shutterstock

Blue ceramic tiles look pretty but don’t add much interest to the space. A stripe of mosaic tiles in shades of blue above the tub mimics its shape. This accent creates a focal point to break up the color and keep the enclosure from looking bland. 

29. Go Two-Toned

Neil Podoll/Shutterstock

A modern shower enclosure covered in white subway tile gets a traditional foundation with wood-look tiles on the bottom half. Using two different styles can help cut costs instead of using a pricey tile to cover complete walls. Two-toned walls work well when you want a unique look without adding mosaic accents. 

30. Unique Tile Patterns

Shai.eps/Shutterstock

Dark rectangular tiles cover the floor and appear to stretch into the shower enclosure and climb most of the way up the wall before stopping in a ragged edge that draws the eye.

This unique design is easy to achieve by staggering the start and stop points to keep the top edge of the tiles uneven. The asymmetrical edges complement curves elsewhere in the room. 

Things to Consider

When you think beyond single-color ceramic tile, the possibilities seem endless. Keep a few things in mind while you’re deciding which tile shower ideas will work in your bathroom. 

Which Tile Shower Ideas Are Your Favorite? 

A small room like a bathroom can be a wonderful canvas for your creativity and a fun way to break out of a rut. Whether you want something traditional and classic or a fun, modern look, one or more of these tile shower ideas can serve as inspiration for your next home décor triumph.

Click for Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to installed a tiled shower?

The average cost to tile a shower ranges from $1,500 to $2,000. On average, tile materials cost $2 per square foot, setting materials cost $1.5 per square foot, and labor costs $8 per square foot. However, your costs will vary greatly based on type of tile selected, location, and vendor used.

What is the easiest tile to keep clean in a shower?

Natural stone, porcelain, and glass tiles are the easiest to keep clean in a shower. To reduce time spent cleaning, we suggest using large tiles and small grout lines. Generally speaking, tile is easy to clean, but the grout is what gives homeowners fits.

How wide should grout lines be in a shower?

In a shower, grout lines should generally be 1/8 inches wide on floors for 16x16 tiles and 1/32 inches wide when using 18x18 tiles. But as a rule of thumb, never make grout lines wider than 3/16 of an inch.

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(Image credit: Leanne Ford Interiors / The Albion Bath Co / Bert & May/@thelandscapelodge / Future/Allan Callender)

If you're planning a remodel, you are likely looking for new shower tile ideas. Even in the smallest of rooms, these can be transformative, creating not just the opportunity to add color and pattern, but to introduce space-enhancing visual tricks, too. 

Usually we’d say the shower itself is the best place for a brainstorm, but thinking outside the cubicle and taking a look at these inspirational ideas for showers might just be the next best thing. 

Both waterproof and washable, bathroom tile ideas are perfect for showers both with and without trays, and for the floors of wet rooms, too. 

Aside from their practicalities, the availability of tiling in a wide array of shower-fit materials – from porcelain and glass, to ceramic and stone – as well as shapes, sizes, colors and finishes, means that the design possibilities are endless.

Shower tile ideas

Whether you’re looking to conjure contemporary cool with shower wall ideas or channel some classic elegance with marble shower floor ideas, you need good tile to turn walk-in shower ideas into practical but perfectly pretty spaces. These shower tile ideas will help turn your washroom into a waterproof wonder.

1. Create drama and play with proportion

(Image credit: Bert & May/@thelandscapelodge)

'Whether you are designing for walk-in shower ideas or looking for small bathroom shower tile ideas, using all the visual tricks you can will make a small bathroom look bigger,' says Lucy Searle, Editor in Chief, Homes & Gardens. 

'Decorating with stripes is one way to do this; diagonal lines draw the eye upwards and outwards which can trick the eye into seeing a space as wider and taller at the same time.'

2. Rethink what shower tiles can do

(Image credit: Drummonds/Sophie Head Interiors)

If you are looking for shower tile ideas with a difference, why not embrace the latest of bathroom trends: wall mural ideas?

'Many tile brands are now designing murals with tile so that you can create a feature wall with walk-in shower tiles, as seen in this bathroom by Drummonds , or behind the bathroom basin or over the bath,' says Jennifer Ebert, Homes & Gardens' digital editor. 'Forward-thinking brands such as Wall&Deco are also designing waterproof wallpapers that can be used in a similar way in bathrooms and even wet rooms.'

3. Go for all-over color with shower tiles

(Image credit: Drummonds)

Shower tile ideas can be used to create enormous impact if matched with wall and bathroom ceiling ideas in matching finishes. Your bathroom paint ideas can be easily color-matched to tile color, though you can choose other waterproof or water-resistant surfaces such as Tadelakt , which mimics traditional Moroccan plasterwork and can come in a range of colors. Combined with matte or low-sheen tiles, it can give even the tiniest of shower rooms incredible impact.

4. Play with tile sizes

(Image credit: Leanne Ford Interiors / The Albion Bath Co)

If you are working up a plan for bathroom shower ideas, it's likely you're designing a bathroom that has more than one function: both as a shower or wet room space and a bathing space.

Whether it a family bathroom or a Jack and Jill bathroom, this is going to be a busy space. In this case, and with all multi-purpose rooms, it pays to keep the decor simple. However, simple does not mean plain or bland. You can use shower tile ideas to add visual interest simply by using two different tile sizes in the same color, as in the bathroom above.

(Image credit: Living with Lolo/Life Created)

Just as you might keep the walls of a living room plain but throw down a colorful rug to add visual layering, color and pattern, the same can be achieved with shower tile. This is a useful ploy in a smaller space; with plain wall tile, the room will feel calmer and spacious, while the patterned floor tile will bring character and interest. 

'Note the sloped lip where the floor and wall tile join,' says Lucy Searle. 'This is a good way to ensure there are no areas in your shower where water pools, creating an opportunity for mold to grow on grouting. When you are tiling in a shower, it pays to use this technique both on the floor and in any storage niches. '

6. Bookmatch marble for drama

(Image credit: David Lovatti/Future)

Marble bathroom ideas can be an incredibly dramatic material to use for shower tile ideas, and bookmatching it creates extra impact and a sense of balance that's important in enhancing a small space – add it to your wet room ideas if you're looking to create a sophisticated feel.

'Natural stone, in slab, tile and mosaic forms, is a material we use often,' says Charu Gandhi, founder of interior design studio Elicyon . 'Marble instantly suggests classic elegance and something special, and it can be bookmatched to stunning effect.'

Founder of luxury interior design agency Taylor Howe s, Karen Howes adds, 'Luxurious real marble and durable, easy-to-maintain marble-effect porcelain always suggest tranquility and a connection to nature. I suggest using mosaics on the floor and larger-format tiles in the shower.'

7. Use mosaics to make the most of curves

(Image credit: Stephanie Coutas/Francis Amiand)

Mosaics allow you to create flexible shower tile ideas, and are especially useful for creating shower bench ideas that are both practical and free of sharp edges.  

'There is a real trend for installing shower benches in cubicles and wet rooms now,' says H&G Editor in Chief Lucy Searle. 'Largely inspired by the need for creating spa bathrooms at home post-pandemic, they can be tiled to create an eye-catching feature.'

8. Contrast floor and wall tiles in a shower

(Image credit: CP Hart/Anna Stathaki)

To create a really impactful look, create contrast with tile layout patterns and ideas. This Art Deco style bathroom designed by Yousef Mansuri, director of design at CP Hart , includes a wet room style shower – but space isn't actually that big. So as not to detract from the room's size – and its many Deco features – the white and black chequerboard floor tiles were continued into the shower area. To contrast with the floor, the owner, who grew up in Spain, chose azure blue glazed wall tiles to remind him of the ocean; they are finished with a polished black trim for definition.

9. Pick porcelain for practicality

(Image credit: JL Design/Reagan Taylor Photography)

Porcelain tiles can be designed to mimic the look of other materials – it could be something as simple as a marble-look, or you could choose something more adventurous, such as a wood-effect. Either way, it's a versatile way to create more impactful shower room ideas without spending a fortune on natural materials.

'A porcelain tile is a great option as shower tile ideas as they require no sealing. With any bathroom project it is also worth considering the slip resistance of the tiles – a balance of beauty and practicality should be met,' says Isabel Fernandez, Director at natural stone flooring company Quorn Stone . 

10. Create a feature wall with shower tiles

(Image credit: Future / Artisan of Devizes)

If you want to create a luxurious appeal, one way to do so is to make room for a large shower area – and to draw attention to it with a feature wall of brightly patterned tiles. 

'When it comes to pattern, I like to keep things simple but bold, as this creates a more contemporary look than a busy mix. Pick a genre of pattern and stick to it, combining perhaps two graphic patterns, for example, rather than mixing in a floral as well,' advises interior and textiles designer Eva Sonaike .

11. White marble is a timeless option

(Image credit: Future/Alicia Taylor)

'An interior design classic, marble’s cool and opulent aesthetic looks beautiful in a range of interiors, from minimal and laid-back chic to maximalist styles saturated with color,' says Lee Thornley, Founder of Bert & May . 

'Until recently, marble was a luxury statement, timeless but out of reach for many interiors enthusiasts. However, smaller format tiles are now bringing this stunning material into more homes, and it has been lovely to see the beautiful natural patinas within the stone creating a unique and natural design in so many, varied settings.'

White shower tile ideas are easiest to work around, making white-gray marble a hugely popular choice that works well either as an accent or in abundance. Even when used generously over large tiles — as in the bathroom picture shown above — its effect is still relatively understated.

12. Get tonal with deep blues 

(Image credit: Future/Davide Lovatti)

With its calming properties and associations with watery worlds, blue is an excellent choice for shower room tiles.  

To shake off the clichés, go dark with your choice of shade, and to stop it being too domineering, embrace a little tonal range. 

In the shower room shown above, square tiles in a few different tones give a sense of movement to the wall, like gently undulating waves. Pair it with pure white fittings to keep things light. 

13. Keep it neutral (for now)

(Image credit: Future/Davide Lovatti)

‘The tiles in a bathroom are an important part of the room and often span both wall and floor,’ says Isabel Fernandez, Director at Quorn Stone . ‘With this in mind we find neutral colors work well for the tiles, as pops of color can be added through accessories, tap finishes and painted vanity units.’

In this room, a spectacular standalone shower cubicle is clad in white and gray marble, while the rest of the room is treated to a large multi-colored bathroom art idea on the wall.

14. Go big with patterns

(Image credit: Future/Paul Raeside)

For an invigorating start to the day, embrace pattern in your shower tiles – and don’t be afraid to use them in bulk. In this room, a rustic tile has been used in repetition to create an all-encompassing, Mediterranean feel. 

'We are seeing an increase in bold use of color and pattern when it comes to choosing shower tiling schemes', says Thornley.

'Where previously iterations of fairly traditional 'spa-like', pared back schemes were very popular, the shower is being increasingly seen as an opportunity to add an exciting splash of color and personality into a bathroom.'

15. Create a glamorous nook amid rustic charm

(Image credit: Future/Claudia Dulak)

The jewel-like quality of tiling means it has the capability to turn a shower nook into a glamorous getaway. 

Here, a farmhouse-style design embraces natural textures and wood paneling throughout most of the room, while a partially concealed shower area is picked out in white-gray marble, adding a distinctly luxurious touch. 

If the natural stone panels are slightly beyond your budget, it is now possible to get marble-effect tiles made from porcelain that are both convincing and more accessible.  

16. Subway tiles are made for monochrome looks

(Image credit: Future/James Merrell)

Subway tile ideas aren't going anywhere, and while these on-trend oblong favorites are available in pretty much every color and finish, a classic high-shine white with black grouting will bring some vintage character to a monochrome look. 

A black border helps break up their wall-to-wall use in this shower tile idea while the patterned bathroom floor tile idea makes the subway tiles feel less utilitarian and more purposeful. 

17. Journey under the sea with green marble 

(Image credit: Future/Davide Lovati)

Of course, Calacatta-style white isn’t the only marble rippling into shower rooms these days, as the material’s sinewy natural pattern makes it a fit for wet rooms in myriad colors. The atmospheric deep sea tones of emerald green are a particularly on-trend choice. 

‘Our clients are increasingly opting for the richer, darker Verde Guatemala marble we now offer as an option on many of our products and we expect this material to prove ever more popular,’ says James Lentaigne, Creative Director at Drummonds .  

‘Green marble works extremely well with brassware and accessories in warm brass tones or dark antique finishes, helping to create a refined, luxurious look.’

(Image credit: Future/Allan Callender)

Shower tiling doesn’t have to be confined to a cubicle. If you’re looking for a practical backsplash to a standalone bathtub and shower head, use tiles to turn an awkward wall space into a work of art. 

In the bathroom wall idea shown above, just part of the wall has been filled with patterned tiles to create a deliberate feature, framed like a picture with wall paint. Tiling just a small — but carefully chosen — area is great for using more expensive tiles to make an impact without breaking the budget. 

 19. Get geometric with your marble 

(Image credit: Future/Darren Cheung)

Large panels of marble allow full appreciation of the material’s natural motif, but using it in small amounts lends focus to the details. In this shower, the stone’s irregular layers are contrasted with the strong geometric lines of a patterned tessellation, which is both instantly impactful and endlessly entrancing.  

20. Bring the whole room together with all-out tiling

(Image credit: Future/Jonathan Gooch)

For rooms with more open-plan shower areas, tiles can be used to either zone an area, or encourage a boundary-less feel. 

In this wet room, wall tiles run out of the shower space and across the bath to tie this area together. The floor tiles continue across the whole room, reassuring all users that their soggy feet won’t do damage wherever they tread. 

What is the best tile for a shower? 

If you're wondering how to tile a bathroom wall, or which materials are best to use, porcelain, glass, stone and ceramic all work really well in a shower space. 

But regardless of what material you choose, Thornley warns you should understand it fully before getting started, as there are costly mistakes to avoid when buying tiles.

‘One of the most important things for shower tiling is to make sure that you know what kind of tile you are using, and to ensure that you install it correctly. Different materials need different treatment, it will not only make a huge difference to the longevity of your bathroom, but also to the finished look if you get it wrong.’ 

What is the best size tile for a shower?

There is no hard and fast rule for the best tile size for a shower, though you will see advice that says smaller rooms require a smaller tile so that it feels in proportion to the space. While this can work, it doesn't play to the visual tricks you can create with tile to make your space feel larger and more characterful. In fact, using a large-scale tile in a small shower room can make it feel larger than small-scale tile, which will have more grout lines, creating a visually busier (and therefore smaller) space.

What is the easiest tile to keep clean in a shower? 

For Fernandez, porcelain is the way to go for a low-maintenance result. 

‘They are a great option for bathroom spaces as they require no sealing and most bathroom cleaners can be used to keep them looking their best,’ she says. ‘A porcelain tile can also be used in conjunction with epoxy resin grout which ensures the grout lines remain free from discoloration and any dreaded black mould.’ 

Ailis started out at British GQ, where a month of work experience turned into 18 months of working on all sorts of projects, writing about everything from motorsport to interiors, and helping to put together the GQ Food & Drink Awards. She then spent three years at the London Evening Standard, covering restaurants and bars. After a period of freelancing, writing about food, drink and homes for publications including Conde Nast Traveller, Luxury London and Departures, she started at Homes & Gardens as a Digital Writer, allowing her to fully indulge her love of good interior design. She is now a fully fledged food PR but still writes for Homes & Gardens as a contributing editor.

50+ photos, ideas for finishing the pallet, cabin walls, niches, seats

What type of tile is better to choose?

The finish must not only be beautiful, but also meet certain requirements, have high moisture repellency, chemical resistance, good strength properties and waterproofing, in the form of special grout mixtures that prevent the appearance of fungus and mold. Be sure to look at the article about finishing the bathroom with tiles, where all the nuances are taken into account.

Photo of a shower tray made of tiles

Clinker floor tiles for a self-made shower platform are selected taking into account frequent and prolonged contact with water. For cladding, products are used that have a relief or rough surface and a high rate of slip resistance, which is less traumatic.

The most common design is in the form of a dense, durable, durable and moisture-resistant porcelain stoneware or quartz vinyl finish. Such structures can be rectangular, square, rounded, open without a roof or closed with a podium, walls and a ceiling base. The rimmed tray can be of various heights, deep enough and perfectly functional as a bathtub, which is especially suitable for those who, for example, need to bathe a child.

The photo shows the interior of the bathroom and an open shower made of tiles with a square-shaped shower tray.

Mosaic is also often used in the design of the pallet, which not only easily copes with facing of various shapes, but also makes the surface non-slippery due to the large number of tile joints and joints.

Seat decoration with tiles

Convenient and comfortable steps or chairs integrated into the wall are most often decorated with small tiles or mosaics, most suitable for curved and curved lines.

Examples of shelving and niches in the shower

By finishing the built-in niches and shelves in the shower, it turns out to create truly elegant accents in the interior. For example, you can use dark-colored tiles and thereby give the niches visual depth or choose a contrasting design for the shelves and make them even more decorative.

Pictured is a shower room with niches finished with dark mosaics.

How to tile a shower enclosure without a tray?

In this case, use a lining that contrasts with the overall design of the room, thereby highlighting the shower area, or use the same type of large-format tiles that are suitable for the floor without height differences. Thus, it turns out to visually enlarge the space and give it a very solid appearance.

When arranging this cabin, the main requirement is the sufficient height of the room, since, due to the fact that the shower drain and the pipe that drains water into the sewer must be located below the floor level, with the help of a concrete screed, it is necessary to raise the floor and make a slope in the direction to plum.

The photo shows a toilet combined with a bathtub and a shower room without a tray with a glass door, lined with tiles.

Tile layout options

The classic boar tile laying option is a horizontal arrangement with an offset. To create a non-banal design, you can apply a more complex, but at the same time quite original layout in vertical rows or herringbone. It is also considered very time-consuming to lay tiled products diagonally, which allows you to visually expand the space.

The photo shows a gray boar tile with a horizontal layout with an offset in the shower.

Color range of tiles

The choice of color solution directly depends on the dimensions of the room and its functional planning features. Beige, white, black, gray, green, blue, brown or any other color tile finish, taking into account all the spatial nuances, can harmoniously complement any design.

The photo shows the interior of a bathroom with a shower, decorated with gray square tiles.

When using light shades, not predominantly white, it is possible to visually expand the shower and increase in volume. A more inimitable and unique design, as well as the elimination of minor surface defects, can be achieved by alternating tile products of different colors.

Shower designs

Several original designs.

Combination of tiles and mosaics

This combination creates a really interesting finish for a shower room. With the addition of such a characteristic touch as a mosaic, the situation takes on a more thoughtful and complete look.

Photo of beige tiling combined with colorful mosaics in an open shower.

Wood effect

Completely reproduces the appearance of natural wood, while having all the advantages of ceramic tiles.

Be sure to check out our selection of wood look tile ideas.

Stone effect

Thanks to special technologies, ceramics are distinguished by even the smallest irregularities, graceful breaks, cracks and overflows characteristic of stone rocks.

The photo shows a small shower room made of marble imitation tiles in the bathroom interior.

Concrete effect

Visually and aesthetically, the room with this cladding acquires a more powerful and reliable appearance.

Fish scales

Due to the beauty of fish scales, which have soft overflows, it turns out to visually endow the space with additional volume.

Photo of a bathroom with an open shower without a tray, decorated with turquoise fish scale tiles.

Large pebbles

It is not afraid of moisture and therefore equally well suited both for decorating a shower room in an apartment and for decorating a summer shower in a country house. Large pebbles will bring the mood of a real sea coast into the atmosphere.

Patterned

A large image covering the entire plane or small patterns repeated several times are an excellent solution to diversify and enliven a monochromatic design.

The photo shows the interior of the bathroom and a small shower room with white tiles decorated with drawings.

Ideas for decorating a shower cabin in various styles

With proper decoration of a shower room, you can create a truly beautiful design for any interior direction, such as loft, provence, country, classic or modern style.

For example, for a modern style, laconic finishes are used in basic and neutral colors, which are sometimes complemented by bright elements. For Provence, fragmentary use of patchwork mosaic or patchwork tiles is chosen, and in an urban loft, no less organic boar tile or cladding imitating aged surfaces and building materials is used.

The photo shows a shower room made of gray hog tiles in the interior of a loft-style bathroom.

Features of tiling a small shower room

In a small shower room, medium-sized ceramics without unnecessary patterns and patterns are most appropriate. When laying out walls, you can use a horizontal arrangement that visually expands the space or vertical laying that raises the ceiling. On the floor, to increase the area, you can use a square or rectangular tile, laid out diagonally.

See how to decorate a small bathroom.

Photo gallery

A tiled shower room should have an unobtrusive, harmonious and cozy design, be distinguished by functionality, beautiful appearance and be a truly comfortable place to relax.

Tile shower tray - how to make a do-it-yourself tile shower enclosure

A ceramic tile shower enclosure and tray is an ideal choice for a pragmatic owner. Save space without sacrificing comfortable living. This solution has a lot of advantages, which we will discuss in this article.

Blum collection / Blum

Types of trays and shower enclosures

Finished shower capsule complete with lighting, hydromassage and sliding doors. The cabin tray is made of acrylic. But the more additional functions a finished cabin has, the higher its price. Despite the modern design and various forms, the cabin may not always become one with the chosen interior.

Acrylic trays look too simple. The choice of sizes is rather limited. The surface is vulnerable to mechanical stress, quickly scratches, loses its snow-white color, and with it its presentation.

A custom-made cast marble shower tray offers more room for efficient use of bathroom space than acrylic. The surface is slightly rough, has anti-slip properties. It is pleasant to stand on such a floor with bare feet, and it is also safe. The disadvantage of such a coating is the porosity of the material. In addition, you will have to rely on the integrity of the manufacturer, many of which, trying to save on high-quality materials, mix quartz sand instead of marble chips, which reduces strength, wear resistance, as a result, the surface quickly loses its appearance. Caring for cast marble is troublesome, it needs careful treatment.

A ceramic tile shower cabin will fit perfectly into any interior, because it is built according to your own sketches and the required dimensions. A variety of colors and textures can not be compared with any material. The difficulty lies in the fact that the structure has to be built from scratch and on its own, but the shower cabin will last for decades, without losing its aesthetic appearance. The tiled shower cabin will harmoniously merge into a single space of the bathroom.

Calacatta Collection / Calacatta

What are the advantages of ceramic floor tiles

Ceramic floor tiles are more suitable than other materials. Strong, durable, easy to clean and does not lose its aesthetic qualities. A variety of tile collections will help to divide the bathroom space into zones, but at the same time maintain the unity of the composition in the interior.

The coating is not afraid of chemical attack and does not require special detergents. Keeping tiles clean and hygienic is not difficult.

Choice of material

Despite the wide choice of tiles, not every one is suitable for lining the shower tray. When choosing, it is worth paying attention to the coefficient of friction, which is carried out according to DIN 51097, and it determines the degree of sliding on the surface with bare feet. The higher the coefficient, the less likely it is to slip on a wet floor. Shower cabin slabs are marked with the letter B - for wet areas, including bathrooms, or the letter C - for wet areas, including those with a sloped surface.

The walls of the shower cabin will be easy to clean even without the use of strong detergents, if the surface is glossy. But the main advantage of glossy tiles is water resistance and hygiene, it has practically no pores, dampness and dirt will not accumulate on the surface. And for the floor of the shower cabin, it is safer to choose a coating with a matte surface, it slips less.

Dimensions and shape

The dimensions and shape of the pallet can be any: square, rectangular, semicircle. This freedom of choice will help you find the right place for the cabin, even in a very small bathroom.

Shower tray design

Depending on the overall style of the bathroom, the size of the room and the chosen location of the shower cabin, a suitable design is selected. It can be a bowl with sides or without them at all, but in any case, it is worth considering protection against splashing water in advance.

Transparent walls made of glass or plastic will do the job perfectly. They look modern and stylish.

A universal option for any style - build an additional wall (partition) with ceramic tiles, and install one transparent or tinted door. The door will hermetically protect against water penetration, and the wall will make the shower cabin private. In this design, it is possible to foresee the presence of shelves for bath accessories.

Domino Collection / Domino

A variety of shapes and sizes of ceramic coating will help to realize any design ideas. Mosaic tile looks especially impressive. Small mosaic tiles glued to the canvas are easy to cut to size and create a single seamless surface.

Don't forget to use standard architectural techniques to visually adjust the size of your shower enclosure. If the rectangular tiles on the wall are placed horizontally, the cabin will appear wider. If tiles of the same shape are laid vertically, the walls will appear higher.

Pallet installation

The pallet is designed on a solid, even base. The old cladding is dismantled and the base under it is checked. If necessary, perform a floor screed or repair defects. It is convenient to use a ready-made dry mix for a screed, it gains strength faster, since additional fillers are included in the composition. A classic mortar can also be used to equip a screed. To do this, use cement brand M400 or M500 and medium-grained sand in a ratio of 1:3.

Site marking

The shower cabin is most often placed in a corner, so there is more space in the bathroom. The inner size of the pallet is made at least 80x80 cm, otherwise it will be uncomfortable to take a shower, and there will not be enough space to place cosmetics.

When marking out, draw the outer and inner contours of the shower cabin, taking into account the width of the partition or sides being erected, double the thickness of the tiles along with the adhesive solution, because the cladding will be on both sides of the sides.

Ways to organize the drain and install the drain

After the base is ready, the markings are applied, the assembly and installation of the drain system is organized. When installing a drain, the first step is to choose the design of the ladder, the function of which is to collect water and discharge it into the sewer.

The most common option is the point collector. It is made in the form of a glass with an external decorative grill, under which there is a filter for collecting debris. The small size allows you to place it anywhere on the floor.

Another option is a linear collector. Its installation is easier and the throughput is higher. Usually it is placed against the wall or in the center of the bowl.

Decorative drain grate made of plastic, metal-plastic or stainless steel. The latter option is preferable. It is durable, aesthetic, easier to clean and does not lose its visual appeal over time.

Today you can find hidden drain devices. The internal design of the drain is no different, but in the decorative outer part there is a frame for inserting tiles, under which there are drain slots.

When laying tiles, be sure to take into account the slope towards the drain, so that water does not accumulate in the corners, but flows by gravity into the drain system. It is easier to observe the slope in the case of a linear wall drain, it will be directed only in one direction. It is more difficult to align a double slope to the center when laying tiles.

After assembling the drain system, check the height of the drain. Taking into account all the layers, the ladder should go flush with the facing tiles or be a couple of millimeters below the level of the finished floor.

Arrangement of the sides

The next stage of work is the erection of the sides or walls of the shower cabin according to the marking. The boards can be erected from moisture-resistant bricks, which are placed on mortar: cement + sand in a ratio of 1: 3. The brick needs additional reinforcement with a mesh.

For the construction of a reinforced concrete threshold, it is necessary to design a wooden formwork, install a reinforcing mesh around the perimeter and fill it with mortar.

Waterproofing device

Waterproofing in the bathroom is a must, especially in the shower tray. The first waterproofing layer is performed before the rough screed. To do this, you can use a traditional roofing material, but it is more technological and easier to coat with a special mastic, which is applied with a roller or a wide brush. The walls of the shower cabin are also primed.

In the case of roofing material, it is spread on the floor and the edges are brought to the wall or sides, 15 cm higher than the expected floor level. If the sheets are not solid, then they are overlapped on top of each other by 15-20 cm. Bituminous mastic glues the joints of two canvases, as well as adjoining the walls.

Styrofoam sheets 5 cm thick are laid before waterproofing. This is a heater, at the same time a noise absorber. It will be comfortable for the feet to stand on the surface of the tile, the sound of falling water will not be too loud. In addition, this additional layer will save on mortar. The sheets are cut around the drain and drain elements.

Pouring the screed

A rough screed is poured on top of the roofing material, the height must be at least 3 cm. If it is necessary to raise the podium, the height of the screed can be from 7 to 10 cm, but in this case it needs additional reinforcement.

Re-waterproofing

After the mortar has hardened, another layer of waterproofing is applied over the screed. The joints of the side walls and the floor are glued with an adhesive-based damper tape. The floor and the inner walls of the threshold are abundantly coated with waterproofing mastic. After the waterproofing has dried, you can start laying the ceramic coating.

Tiling

First you need to lay out the tiles on a sheet of graph paper, not forgetting to take into account the width of the joints, choose the most suitable option so that there are as few tile cuts as possible. Then perform cutting tiles into elements, if necessary.

In the case of rectangular or square shower trays, it is best to consider the size of the bowl at the design stage, taking into account the size of the solid tile, then you can completely get rid of the undercut elements.

Before tiling, perform a dry layout on the floor, this will once again check the correct dimensions of the cut parts.

Ceramic installation:

  1. Moisture-resistant adhesive mixture is mixed with a mixer according to the manufacturer's instructions.
  2. For a more accurate slope towards the ladder, beacons are installed, the role of which can be played by a stretched thread. The accepted slope and evenness of the surface is constantly checked using a spirit level (building level).
  3. Apply adhesive to the surface of the pallet and level it with a notched trowel.
  4. First make the first row to the end, then all the rest. Crosses are installed between the tiles so that the width of the seams is the same. The spirit level controls the slope to the ladder, while all the tiles must be in the same plane.
  5. Rows are tapped with a mallet so that the tile sits tightly and evenly on the adhesive base.

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