Choosing tiles for a period bathroom: large-format, metro or patterned?

Tiles do more than anything else to set the character of a bathroom. In the period houses we work on across Wimbledon, Putney, Fulham, Chelsea and Richmond, the right tile can make a new bathroom feel as if it has always belonged to the house.

Large-format porcelain

Large slabs, often 60 x 120cm or bigger, give a calm, almost seamless look with very few grout lines. They suit contemporary bathrooms and wet rooms, and make small rooms feel larger. They need a very flat wall and floor, careful handling and a skilled setting-out, so labour takes longer than for small tiles.

Metro and brick-shaped tiles

Metro tiles are a classic choice for Victorian and Edwardian houses. Laid in brick bond, herringbone or vertical stack, they add texture and work well with traditional brassware. Handmade or glazed versions with slight variation in colour catch the light beautifully.

Zellige and handmade tiles

Handmade tiles have uneven surfaces and edges, so no two are identical. That is their charm, but they need wider grout joints and a tiler who is comfortable working with variation.

Patterned and encaustic-style tiles

Geometric and patterned floor tiles are a natural fit for period homes, echoing original hallway floors. They work best on one surface, such as the floor or a single feature wall, with plain tiles elsewhere.

Practical points

• Choose floor tiles with a suitable slip rating for bathrooms and especially wet rooms.

• Plan the setting-out before tiling starts, so cuts are even at both ends of a wall and around niches and windows.

• Order at least 10 to 15 percent extra to allow for cuts and future repairs.

• Match the grout colour to the look you want: a contrasting grout emphasises the pattern, a matching grout calms it down.

Planning a bathroom?

Koniu Construction designs and builds high-end bathrooms across South West London, West London and Surrey. See our projects or tell us about your bathroom.