From minimalist to splashes of colour, there’s a tile for everyone

Tesoro ceramic cream mosaic sheet by Vesuvio One of the biggest stresses in a major bathroom remodel is choosing the right tile: for the floors, for the walls, and especially for the shower. It’s not easy to choose a tile that not only looks good now, but will still look good ten years from now – one that’s subtle but interesting and durable, trendy without being too trendy. Online home improvement store HomeThangs.com has released a guide to adding a personal touch to a shower design with mosaic tile accents.
1. Accent Tile

Accent tiles come in a whole range of shapes, sizes and styles, and can be hand-painted or carved in a variety of designs. Usually a few inches square, these relatively small tiles can be set into a tile wall to create a simple pattern. Single square (or diamond shaped) accent tiles stand up their own, and can either be placed singly or at regular intervals to create a larger pattern.
2. Mosaic Tile Sheets

For a slightly more modern look, instead of carved or painted accent tiles, opt for mosaic tile sheets. These come a wide variety of colours and materials and are made of a half dozen or more tiles fixed to a single mesh sheet. These sheets can easily be cut to create smaller accent detailing and are great for installing accents, large or small. They can also be used for more functional accents, like highlighting the shower hardware, drawing attention to a built-in niche, or even to separate the tile on the lower half of the wall from a different tile on the upper half.
3. Framed Inset Tile

One of the simplest ways to DIY the dramatic look and feel of a custom mosaic is to mix multiple different types of accent tile to create an inset design. Even a simple border of crown molding style tile surrounding a basic tile pattern (like herringbone) can create a beautiful focal point in the centre of the shower wall. Combined with other accents – a small layer of mosaic pieces or even several different border type tiles can create a beautiful, elaborate appearance without the hefty price tag of a custom design.
4. Medallion Tile Flooring

Using a mosaic tile only on the floor of the shower is another great way to draw attention to the shower. Using the same flooring as the rest of the bathroom can make a large shower feel a bit more open, but a mosaic floor can be incredibly striking and immediately makes the shower feel more finished and luxurious. River stone pebble-style tile is popular in this application, but for a more classical look, consider a pre-made tile medallion. These centerpiece mosaic sheets have circular designs that lend well to installing a drain in the very center, and are sold in large squares that are just the right size to fully cover the floor of some smaller shower enclosures, turning a simple shower into a major architectural focal point.
5. Mix And Match Mosaics

For a more vibrant feel, colourful mosaic tiles can be mixed and matched to create a custom pattern. Because mosaic tile sheets can easily be trimmed to size, they can easily be designed into various shapes and oriented in different directions, and just as easily combined with other tile, meaning it’s surprisingly easy to combine designs. Just make sure the colours match and the pattern isn’t too busy before installation. Too many different types of tile can be overwhelming. To play it safe, stick with tile in the same colour family, so the various patterns will have a baseline coordination.
6. Texture

For a simple, monochromatic look that isn’t monolithic, go for texture rather than colour. That is, choose a single tile or type of tile, but change the size, shape, or orientation of the tile on different parts of the wall. A simple white subway tile can be installed almost a dozen different ways, and placing two or more patterns on the same wall is a great way to add visual interest without changing the colour or base material. Even a simple square ceramic tile turned 45 degrees on one half of the wall can make all the difference in the final appearance of the shower.
7. Tile Border

Last but not least, even a simple one or two tile thick border half, two-thirds or three-quarters of the way up the wall can help break up the monotony of a single-tile installation, especially in a shower done primarily in large format tile. A simple border is supremely easy to install between larger sections of tile, and gives it that little personal touch that can make a shower feel truly charming. Mosaic tile sheets cut into uniform strips can easily be installed at any height or even continued throughout other parts of the bathroom – the floor, backsplash, or even the rest of the walls – to give the whole space a coordinated feel.
Source: PR web