White tiles in the bathroom: types and examples of design

Decorating a bathroom with white tiles seems so common and formulaic that no one sees anything complicated in it. However, in reality, such a "primitive" design opens up a number of unexpected perspectives. With a skillful approach, you can get away from old stereotypes and make the room extremely pleasant for the whole family.

The use of white tiles in bathroom furnishings has been practiced for decades. This tone is considered neutral in its purest form, but it will be able to perceive the emotional charge from any adjacent color.

In a snow-white bathroom, all sizes seem larger than they really are. This is especially important in older homes where the size of the bathroom is discouragingly modest.

However, we must not forget that any dirt accumulates very easily on a white surface. It is unacceptable to use only white tiles, because it immediately creates associations with the surgical department, not to mention it looks boring. The exception is the snow-white interiors referring to the aristocratic houses of the 1920s-1930s.

White color can have a wide variety of tiles. A simple material without an enamel coating is valued for its excellent strength and resistance to mechanical and chemical influences. This material looks very laconic. Its main advantages are deservedly considered:

• smoothness;
• the exclusion of some kind of external flashiness;
• perfect compliance with the canons of Provence, minimalism and hi-tech.

An alternative solution is often the so-called pressed tiles... It is made, as it is easy to understand already from the name, by strong compression of the clay mass. This processing technique provides a particularly flat surface. Pressed blocks are equally suitable for any classic or modern interior. Deserves attention and glazed tiles, in the descriptions of which they certainly mention a special brightness and a shiny surface.

Clinker tiles are often used for the floor. In addition to its unusual color, clinker stands out for its specific chemical composition. The excellent quality of the products is ensured by the presence of several types of clay and particularly stable dyes. And for the walls, in some cases, Metlakh material is used. Metlakh tiles are fired once, and they cannot have glazed surfaces. But there is a matte sheen, an attractive texture.

As for originality and beauty, the mosaic type of tiles stands out for these parameters. It is created on the basis of glass or porcelain stoneware. The peculiarity of white mosaic is the ability to show with its help a variety of stylistic trends and thus fit into any interior. But porcelain stoneware blocks are valued for another property - excellent mechanical strength, which is unattainable when using other materials.

Before you get acquainted with the specific materials from which white bathroom tiles can be made, you need to deal with two key varieties of it, which have a glossy and matte sheen.

You can often hear that mirror effect is a kind of glossy subtype. In terms of design characteristics, mirror tiles are indeed very good. However, experts know that they should be placed as far away from taps and showers as possible. In addition, touching with your hands reflects very badly on the mirrored tiles. As for the material with silver and gold foil, it is more resistant, but still does not deserve "tests" with cleaning with abrasive compositions.

The matte type of tiles is also not as simple as it seems. There are options that reproduce:

• smooth and smooth velvet;

• woody texture;

• the appearance of an untreated stone;

• clean and even concrete.

It is tiles with a velvety surface that are visually warmer and more pleasant. Their important advantage is also their minimal susceptibility to abrasive destruction. Just such a material is put on the floor, since it slips little. But the matte finish isn't as vibrant as the glossy finish, and it still doesn't look perfect after cleaning.

If it is very difficult to figure out which of the two options to use, you should give preference to semi-gloss (lapped) tiles.

This texture is heterogeneous and forms beautiful "crumbling" highlights. No droplets of water can be seen on a lapped surface. For combination, it is advised to use the most dissimilar textures - matte and glossy type of tiles. Each plane must have tiles from one collection; playing them in this case is unacceptable.

Tile is a kind of ceramic finishing materials. All ceramics, including tiles, are made from clay with specially selected additives. But it is worth remembering that not all types of clay are equally suitable for ceramic production. Pure white varieties are very rare, and most deposits have components that give a completely different color.The percentage of clay that turns into glass during firing is determined by the duration of the treatment and the temperature generated.

And already the proportion of glass directly affects:

• density of the finished product;
• its mechanical hardness;
• smoothness of the outer layer;
• the intensity of water absorption.

Thanks to proven technologies, the original color of the clay mass has lost any meaning. Therefore, the word "tile" does not reveal any qualities of the finished products and only shows that the raw materials had a light color. But another point is also important - a completely smooth tile is not to the taste of every consumer.

Such a solution is aesthetically pleasing and even creates a certain gloss that does not go beyond minimalism. This composition will look pleasant even without extraneous decorative elements. Because of this, embossed tiles are definitely recommended for pure white bathrooms. The gaze is attracted to volumetric images in an almost magnetic way. But it must be borne in mind that the relief greatly complicates the joining of tiles according to drawings and patterns, especially in the absence of proper experience.

Embossed tiles are available in various options. Geometric compositions that repeat well-known figures, or ordinary lines are popular. Imitation of natural stone helps to stand out and demonstrate a certain luxury. It can look more interesting if original roughness and atypical geometric shapes are used in the design. It is worth taking a closer look at the tiles with folk ornaments, with images of various vegetation.

Textured material is most often produced with embossing, duplicating the texture of wood, leather or natural stone... Such blocks are useful for wall decoration and flooring. This makes it possible to quickly choose the best option, without having to worry about combining tiles from different collections. Deserves special attention pearlescent variety of tiles. It is produced in a mosaic format.

Mother-of-pearl is an organic substance that collects in sea shells from the inside. The color of this mineral depends on many biological and chemical processes, or, more simply, on the quality of nutrition, on the characteristics of the water where the mollusk swims. The intensity of sunlight also directly affects this. Mother-of-pearl mosaics are advised to be used in such styles as:

• classic;

• rococo;

• high tech;

• baroque.

White tiles do not have to have a strictly square or rectangular configuration; there are a number of much more original options. The use of rhombuses opens up very interesting and extraordinary perspectives. The combination of these figures with a variety of textures gives additional charm. But if the rhombic ornament is categorically unacceptable, it is worth considering an even more interesting version - the octagon. Such tiles are produced by all reputable companies and are displayed at any industry exhibition.

This material has various dimensions, therefore it can be used for both the floor and the wall. As for the “chevron” format, often mistaken for the traditional “hog”, these tiles have a slightly different configuration with a cut edge. This variety is very popular.

The chevron can be laid out not only according to the "tree" pattern, but also in other non-standard ways, even with rhombuses. As for the "arabesque" tiles, it is not always an element of the oriental style, but invariably a reason to admire and be surprised. Triangular design elements seem to be a well-known and very simple form, which is increasingly revealed in an unusual format. Due to the difference in textures, an atypical external combination can be achieved. Tiles with a particularly original shape do not appear on store shelves very often, but they are definitely suitable for creating a unique interior.

Varying its dimensions helps to diversify the look of the finishing material. A large tile is one that has a size of 0.25x0.4 m and above. This solution is appropriate only in large bathrooms, because when there is a lack of space, it creates a feeling of excessive crampedness. Bathroom cladding most often involves the use of blocks of 20x30 cm or 25x35 cm. Small decorative elements (10x10, 20x20 or intermediate 15x15 cm) are usually folded into mosaic patterns or used to cover curved walls.

But we must remember that the larger the specific block, the more solution will be needed. To attach tiles with a thickness of 0.4-0.9 cm, you will need to create a glue strip 0.6-1 cm thick. It hardly makes sense to take the joint seams into account. The smallest mosaic tiles are 1x1-5x5 cm in size, they are mainly produced in collections of several units, connected by a polymer net.

Rubber tiles measuring 35x35 cm are placed on the ceiling of compact bathrooms.With sufficient free space, larger blocks are used - 50x50 cm.PVC cladding products are at least 45.7x45.7 cm in size.Foam elements do not differ in length and width from rubber analogs ... However, they have a difference in thickness: for extruded tiles - 0.6-0.7 cm, and for injection tiles - 0.9-1.4 cm.

Knowing the size of the white tile is very important. But no less relevant is a clear idea of ​​which brands of products should be trusted. The collection gives excellent results Bella from LB Ceramics. This collection is assembled from elements that are very easy to combine with each other. The decorative ornament contains sparkles.

Tiles from Spain have very good characteristics. Firm Aparici has been operating since 1961, and over the past time has significantly improved its technologies. The company uses only raw materials of impeccable quality. Tiles can compete with this company. Ceracasa, characterized by excellent environmental friendliness. It also has excellent strength and low water permeability.

Products are in demand Kerama Marazzi. It is both very good quality and affordable. The Russian manufacturer borrowed the main technologies from Italy. The tile of the brand also deserves attention. Cersanit. 12 Polish factories of this company produce unique products with a glass border.

You can also give preference to tiles from:

• Azori;
• Unitile;
• LaFabbrica;
• Cerabati.

In a small room, it is recommended to use the lightest possible wall tiles. But it is impossible to limit oneself to this requirement in the selection of material for "Khrushchev". Be sure to take into account the effect that artificial lighting produces. Glossy wall coverings can cause eye strain due to glare.

As for the quality assessment, it is recommended to give preference to material with red markings... In such parties, there can be no more than 5% of rejects. In domestic practice, color coding is almost never used, and therefore you need to pay attention to the inscriptions. It is also necessary to clearly distinguish between floor and wall variations, which cannot replace each other.

An attractive choice is considered a combination of white tiles and wood-like blocks... In this case, you can use white parts without additional patterns. But the true classic is the blue and white composition. Together they expand the room and refresh it. As a result, a very elegant and pleasant impression is created in a bathroom with blue tones.

If you mix a basic light tone with gold, you get a very clean and welcoming look. So even the most luxurious environment will look natural and not too pretentious. You can also combine light tiles with terracotta colors. In this case, a darker material is used to decorate the floor. Sometimes designers recommend using not a pure white, but a milky shade.

Experts advise to wash the tiles in the bathroom at least once every 6-7 days. Cleaning liquids and gels are much better than abrasive products. The safer option is washing the walls with a mild soapy solution.

Disinfectant sprays and gels should be used with caution. They can not only harm the material, but also cause an allergic reaction. Due to its increased aggressiveness, vinegar should be used to wash tiles only after checking on an inconspicuous part of it. The use of melamine sponges is allowed, however, do not apply too much pressure. The tiles located near and 2-3 rows above the bathtub should be cleaned not once a week, but every time after washing.

The use of white and red can be very attractive. The photo below shows just such an example. The designers used thin red lines on a white background, which in itself does not look very common. In general, the room is decorated in very light colors. The contrasting inversion (pronounced red floor with white "mesh") also makes it attractive.

Black and white play of tones is deservedly considered a more traditional solution. But even in this case, you can show originality. The photo shows how white wall tiles are harmoniously combined with a checkerboard floor. To enhance the romantic mood at the very top of the wall, a "chess" strip was also launched. For a clearer demonstration of the interior, they even used a transparent shower stall.

But you can do otherwise, using only one pure white color. The photo below shows how she is beaten due to the original pattern. This solution allows you to make the interior more interesting, despite the use of white for plumbing.

And here you can see how a row of black squares in one place and a black strip of the original look on the other wall helps to transform the space. Such a composition dilutes the visually white tile and helps to eliminate the monotony attributed to it.