The bathroom is a unique space in your home. It is a place that must be accessible and comfortable for guests, while also allowing for privacy and seclusion. At minimum, it is a functional space. Ideally, however, the bathroom should be a retreat – a place to relax in a hot bath, for instance. For these reasons, a bathroom deserves thoughtful planning for a design within your budget. You can have a spa experience in the bath without breaking the bank. Consider using different materials, using the more expensive elements sparsely. Consider the use of different grout colors, and using different size tiles, for example, very large wood tiles in the shower, or a floor that is a combination of porcelain and stone. If you need a place to start, consider these basic points on popular tiling options and balance them against your needs.
Stone, while the most expensive, provides a beautiful presence. As flooring, stone handles moisture quite well, but it can be cold and slippery. Sandblasting stone to provide more texture is possible or finding a more naturally textured stone such as slate can resolve this issue. If you love stone but find it much too expensive, consider ways to use it as an accenting element. Perhaps even an “area rug” surrounded by tile.
Porcelain is the overall best because of its moisture resistance, low cost, and elegance. Porcelain is part of the ceramic family but it’s qualification is special; tiles defined as porcelain have a water absorption rate of 0.5% or less.
Ceramic tiles are very versatile in size, shape, and texture, and can even look like wood or stone. They can be squares, octagons, hexagons, and other shapes and vary in sizes between 2-foot squares, and 4-inch squares (for example). Using different sizes and also grout colors other than the usual white can really provide an outstanding design for a fair price.
Nothing transforms a bathroom like beautiful new floors or walls. Because of its small size, a bathroom renovation can be an affordable way to bring added luxury to your home – a space to relax and indulge.