To create a spa-inspired space that combines function and form, many designers and homeowners are utilizing porcelain floor and wall tiles. Clay-based and kiln-fired, porcelain’s composition is exceptionally dense. Because porcelain is pressed and fired at higher temperatures than other clay-based materials, it’s much less porous and therefore, is more durable. Thanks to its resilient qualities, porcelain tiles are less subject to damaging effects caused by moisture.
There are plenty of creative ways to leverage the performance benefits of porcelain in a bathroom of any size. Need some inspiration? Here are three ways designers and homeowners styled bathroom tiles for a spa-inspired space.
Enclose a wet room with porcelain tile to exude quiet luxury
One of the ways to make a bathroom feel more like a spa staycation is with a wet room renovation. Typically, a wet room features a freestanding tub that sits within the tiled walk-in shower area. The space may be partially or fully enclosed to provide some separation from the rest of the room and help contain splashes.
The most critical aspect of any well-designed wet room is that it is built with materials designed to get wet. Here, the designer used a marble-look porcelain tile across the wet room walls and ceiling. Exuding quiet luxury and sophistication, the bright white marble-look tile with slight veining plays nicely with the natural light entering through the window, truly illuminating the space. Most importantly, the porcelain tile’s inherently dense composition and subsequent resistance to moisture will ensure lasting style.
Configure a porcelain tile mosaic up the shower walls to create the illusion of openness and height
“The right color palette can inspire calm and tranquility,” reports the senior design experts at Better Homes & Gardens. “For a bathroom that feels like a relaxing retreat, choose soft neutrals and hues inspired by nature.”
Here, a neutral porcelain tile herringbone mosaic runs up the shower walls. The gold shower fixtures, the warm wood bathroom vanity and the natural light entering through the window draw out blush undertones in the tile. As a result, the color of the bathroom tile seems to mimic that of a freshwater pearl or of a seashell that has washed up on a sandy beach. Enclosed with a transparent glass shower door, the scaled porcelain tile mosaic helps create the illusion of openness and vertical height. The result is a serene, ethereal space.
Install porcelain tile in curbless shower to maintain a seamless design aesthetic
An increasingly popular way to transform a bathroom into a spa-like retreat is to design a curbless, walk-in shower. Once limited to healthcare applications (like hospitals and senior living facilities), a curbless shower can be incredibly luxurious, creating a feeling of openness within a bathroom—even one that’s smaller in size. The absence of a curb eliminates any physical or visual barriers, allowing for a smooth, uninterrupted flow of the floor tile.
Here, a dynamic porcelain tile runs across the bathroom floor, maintaining design continuity between the shower area and the rest of the room. Porcelain’s ability to withstand the damaging effects of moisture makes it possible for the homeowner to use the same flooring material throughout the entire space.
