Ceramic tiles have long been rooted in design solutions for the design of a variety of premises: residential, industrial, entertainment facilities. It is lined with walls, floors in those rooms where there is high humidity, temperature differences occur or simply high traffic of people. Its main advantage can be considered ease of care, wear resistance, ability to withstand physical, mechanical stress and impact, without spoiling the original appearance.
In residential buildings, it is customary to clad ceramics on the walls and floors of the kitchen, living room, corridor and, of course, the bathroom. The bathroom is a place of accumulation of an incredible amount of moisture, which not every material can withstand the impact of. Ceramics in this case is the best option, especially since the variety of its types, colors, textures allows you to create a real masterpiece of the interior in the bathroom.
Options for bathroom tiles: how to choose it correctly?
Content
Modern ceramics is produced for every taste and financial possibilities, so absolutely everyone can afford to buy it.
The main characteristics that distinguish one type of ceramic from another are the following.
- Type of raw material - the utel or the base of the tile can be white or colored (subject to the addition of dyes). Utel is porous or dense (homogeneous), this is the main criterion for water absorption.
- Coating - tiles can be glazed (coated with a special colored glass layer) and unglazed, the former has higher quality characteristics (hardness, water resistance) and durability.
- The formation process - by pressing (from a powder under high pressure to form a tile) or extrusion (raw materials in the form of a paste which is formed by passing through a special die).
- Size or format - sizes and geometric shapes can be very diverse, from large rectangular to hexagonal, Moorish or round small.
- Appointment - for internal and external operating conditions, and also floor and wall.
Tiles should be selected for specific operating conditions, since it is precisely correctly selected that it can serve for more than one year. Also, when choosing, you need to think in advance about the options for laying tiles, since the consumption of material directly depends on them.
Each tile model has its own technical characteristics and properties, the degree of moisture absorption, wear resistance, abrasion, resistance to chemicals and more. Therefore, the design of the bathroom with tiles should be done correctly, it should have good water resistance (within 7%), be resistant to chemical solutions (grade A, AA), not slip. With all this, you can take ceramics with a low percentage of resistance to abrasion (1-2 classes), since the bathroom is a room not particularly exposed to stress.
The most popular ways of laying tiles in the bathroom
The aesthetically attractive appearance and, of course, the ability to withstand mechanical influences and loads largely depend on the correct laying of the tile. To lay the ceramics correctly, you must first prepare an ideal, flawless, even base. Having prepared the base, you can begin to choose the method of laying out the tiles, and there are also a considerable number of them.
The following are the most winning and popular layout techniques.
- The basic (traditional) method - implying laying a square or rectangular tile seam in a seam in even rows. You can add a twist to it by diluting it with bright accents in the form of a panel, decor, or a combination of different shades. This method is the simplest and most cost-effective, since it does not require special skills, and is simple to execute.
- Diagonal - tiles are laid diagonally relative to the walls (usually at an angle of 45 degrees). The method is very complex, requires observance of the clarity of measurements and a sufficiently large amount of cutting. Aesthetically looks very impressive, attractive.
- In a run or dressing - to understand its essence, it is enough to visualize a brick wall and its masonry. This method is based on the basic, with one condition, each subsequent row is shifted from the beginning of the first exactly half.
- Modular - tiles of different sizes are used for cladding, usually the layout of it is indicated in the manufacturer’s catalog, it looks very expensive and beautiful, but requires professional skills.
- Horizontal - implies facing the bottom of the room in dark colors, smoothly turning with a border into light. This method has been used for a long time, it is characterized by a light top of the wall, dark floor and half of the walls.
- Vertical - is at the peak of popularity, it is based on the use of tiles of one tone on the floor and one of the walls, the tone as it descends from the ceiling and lies on the floor, while all the other walls are made in other, more calm, muted colors.
Each of these methods is able to transform, decorate the room, if you carefully consider the color palette, be sure to compare it with the size of the bathroom. After all, the design of a bathroom is primarily a creative process in which you can realize all your thoughts and fantasies.
Layout of tiles in the bathroom: nuances, secrets of masters and designers
The color of the walls and floor plays a decisive role in the interior of any room, playing with shades, the designer is able to emphasize the advantages and hide existing flaws. That is why the choice of colors is very important. In addition, color subconsciously has a very strong effect on humans. For example, bright tones - excite and cause sharp emotions, their splash, neutral - pacify, warm - relax and soothe.
Tip. The color palette of the bathroom design can be absolutely any, the main thing is that households feel a sense of peace, relaxation at the entrance to the bathroom.
Even if you really want to make the bathroom design in bright colors, for example, red walls and a black floor, diluting them with snow-white plumbing, it will no longer look so flashy. If you have no time to spend hours soaking in the bathroom, and the shower has an exclusively hygienic need, this option is for you.
For the design of the bathroom, a chess layout of ceramic tiles is perfect, it is not necessary to do it in black and white, the colors can be any.
Adherents will enjoy the bath with foam and candles, it is better to opt for softer shades that contribute to maximum relaxation - shades of green, blue, yellow, safari.
Tip. In order to visually expand the space, you should analyze the tile laying options, as well as give preference to light colors, use mirrors or a large central decor, choose a small tile (you can even mosaic). Also, for a small bathroom, a vertical layout method that can enlarge and extend the space is perfect.
As a rule, all of the above methods are designed to increase and visually expand the finished room, the main thing to remember:
- Vertical laying of rectangular tiles - stretches the wall, it is used only for low rooms;
- Horizontal or diagonal laying of square or rectangular tiles - expands the wall (this is important for a narrow bathroom), it must subsequently be decorated with panels, plumbing elements and others;
- Large ceramics are not used in small rooms, and vice versa;
- Dark tones reduce volume, light tones increase, this should be taken into account when choosing a bathroom design.
These are perhaps the most basic rules, knowing which you can accurately equip your bathroom with the latest words.
Tip. Ceramics collections produced by various manufacturers are usually compiled into a catalog, so you can see the desired design in advance and significantly save time on finding the interior design of your bathroom.
If financial opportunities are limited, but you want a modern look of the bathroom, it is quite possible to do with inexpensive models of ceramic tiles, because the layout of the tile is important in the first place, and its cost.
Whichever way you design your bathroom design, remember, the most important thing is to experience a feeling of satisfaction when you enter it. After all, the bathroom is a place of purification of the body and soul, dropping negative energy and filling the body with vitality and positive, it simply must be beautiful!
VIDEO: Ceramic tile - how to choose a tile for a bathroom.