I think shiny or matte is a personal preference. Below is a picture running the tiles horizontally. I think this is a great look which makes the shower appear open and airy.

Something to consider is the lighting in the room and what reflection/glare may result from a high-gloss finish. As Engrav suggests, personal preference is the driver. Some people like a bit of shine, but that gleam can be achieved with an inset pattern in an overall matte wall, for example. A monochromatic colour scheme will enlarge the space visually while allowing options for pattern interest. You might consider eliminating the 40" wainscoting to provide a more open look and a sense of greater height in the room. Have fun!

I appreciate both of your thoughts! There is only one light/fan above (total room is only 6 x 6) The shower door and stationary glass panel will be approx. 64inches. Floor tiles will be 20 x 24 natural looking stone. My concern with gloss for walls is upkeep and whether they look well with matte floor tiles.(the wall tiles I chose are very light similar to the picture above - I will use some accent, but thats another future decision!) I thought a vertical pattern for the shower may make it look taller, ceiling is only 94 inches. Good consideration regarding wainscoting. I hope I'm explaining this well and not too wordy! Please, any more thoughts?

Vertical

Hi Linjard,

What direction you place the tile will either make the room appear wider (horizontal placement) or taller (vertical) it depends on your goal for the room. In a small bathroom, I would suggest horizontal tile. Additionally, if you really want the room to appear larger you could look into replacing the current shower door for one you can see completely through. Seeing through the shower gives the feeling of additional space. Good luck with your updating!


K&N Sales

Yes, we are doing a frameless shower door and stationary panel, so the 64 inches of tiles will be seen (width) as you enter with the toliet to the right and shower straight ahead - would vertical than be more balanced?Thank you

Running the tile vertically will make the shower taller. The shower is taller than it is wide naturally. Running the tile horizontally will give you balance to the height and make the shower look and feel larger around. That Can be a very nice visually to increase width visually in a small space. It is, however, a personal choice. Good luck!

Weighing in on the shiny vs matte question. I personally find showers one of the most difficult things to keep clean, especially when it comes to things like soap scum. I suspect that soap scum and water marks would be much more evident with a shiny surface opposed to a matte finish. Add some bling with accent tiles if you want something shiny. IMHO

In any shower to avoid soap scum and the problems associated with it, a squeegee used after each shower takes care of that problem. If you are looking for a preference, matte finish.

Try a glossy tile which looks like water giving off ripples in the tile as well as an iridescent.
http://www.glasstileoasis.com/p-19642-Sky-Blue-Glossy-Glass

That is a pretty tile recommended by Glass Tile Oasis. Gosh, it might be SOOO good at hiding the water in the ripple effect, I might get dizzy. It would be nice if we could see it completely done up that way...

Well, I would try to be in keeping with your home's age first of all, so that the bathroom looks like it belongs there and not in another neighborhood. I agree with the horizontal tile seeming more balanced, definately using a frameless shower door will open it up for you. Pay attention to lighting. Make sure you have a light in your shower. If your shower is enclosed as it appears in this photo, are you going to tile your shower ceiling? I have the matte finish creamy subway wavy tile and I really like the look. I do not have to worry about every little water spot on the tile. Instead, I can spend all my time using the squeegee on the glass and fixtures! I did the tile in the room on the walls also. Amazing how much bigger it looks. You'll love it. Keep it simple to keep it large looking. Enjoy after the dust settles!