Dark tile in half bath?

15 years ago

Flooring choice has held me up on getting my powder room put back together for the longest time. Long story, but the vanity and part of the floor had to be torn out and we've been living with a roughed in sink while the new vanity is parked in the front hall.

The vanity we found is mahogany and has a white porcelain sink and a taupe marble top. It is the marble top that has been a challenge in finding floor and paint we like to coordinate. I had been planning something light -- similar to the crema marfil that used to be in there or possibly travertine. DH has never liked the marble and those tones don't really work withe new vanity anyway. I've looked at a lot of tile and ruled out way more than I've found as possibilities.

So far, I've come up with a grey that looked good with the vanity but goes yuk next to the wood tones we anticipate using in the hall (mid tones), a grey that looks a bit like wet cement and one that looks almost black but has brown that comes out richly next too wood. It is similar but a little darker than the wood of the vanity. I call it coffee beans -- dark roast. ;-)

DH and the boys like the coffee bean tile but think it might be too dark and prefer the one I think looks like just poured cement -- a thought that killed it for me. I've heard dark floors are tough in a bathroom -- show dust and water spots, etc. With no bath or shower, no make-up or such, I'm not to worried about spots -- just dark. The room is a small half bath, about 8x3, on an interior hall -- no windows or natural light. House is traditional and overall interiors are transitional to a bit eclectic. Half bath is definitely transitional.

Would you put a very dark tile in a half bath with no natural light, dark vanity, medium counter and a light dove grey pain on the walls? What are the pros and cons?

Featured Answer

elzdvs

15 years ago

I just saw a powder room that matches this description where the owner quartered black 12-in marble floor tiles and laid them on the diagonal. (Sorry, no pics!) It was very dramatic. I wouldn't worry about upkeep of the dark tile in a half bath.

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Comments (9)

Studioist
15 years ago
Would you consider a shade of white for the walls? That would brighten it up and probably balance the darker tones. The floor sounds like it could make the room quite dark with all of the other greys and browns, especially with no natural light. If you really are married to the idea of dark tile, could you consider a light or white border to add a little contrast?
houseful
15 years ago
If it's just a powder room, then yes, I would. I'd go very dramatic!
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cat_mom
15 years ago
We put dark (black) floor tile in our MB, which is pretty small, and it looks terrific (IMO!). We do have a window in that bathroom, with a semi-sheer screen shade, so some of the sunlight is blocked during the day, but it still looks really nice at night, too. We have decent lighting in the room on a dimmer switch, which might help, and the walls are a light greyed-blue.
lascatx
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks. I read the first reply last night and cringed at the thought of white walls. Would not fit our house. The paint I have chosen is a light, soft color -- a warm silver grey if that makes sense, and you will see it on a 10 foot wall where the floor will only be 3 feet across. The baseboards, door and door trim are white and will remain white. The toilet will be white and the sink is white. The hardware and light fixture are brushed nickel and the fixture has white square glass shades. About half the tile will be wither under the vanity or behind the toilet, so all you are openly seeing is about 3x3.

It looks really dark next to the crema marfil now, but I don't think it will seem so drastic next to the wood before too long. I may be able to look some more this week, but am hoping to get to put the tile in this weekend if my brother is up to helping me with it. Thanks!
lascatx
Original Author
15 years ago
Any other thoughts?
nhbaskets
15 years ago
We have a slate floor, natural cherry vanity and bead board in our half bath with no window. Our countertop is also a dark granite. I say go for the dark. I love my room!
pricklypearcactus
15 years ago
I have a window in my powder room, so I do get a reasonable amount of light, but I selected dark gray / silver / black tiles. I opted for white fixtures and walls. I love the contrast and the bathroom looks incredibly bright.
lascatx
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks to those who responded. We were favoring the darkest and my DB and SIL liked it best too when they saw them, but we decided that what we really want to try to do is to carry the hardwood from the hall into the half bath when we do that so now my focus is on finding the right wood floor. Part of the decision came from having much lighter tile that will remain in other rooms (utility for sure and possibly the kitchen and family room) as well as the possibility of having to replace tile in the master bath and not wanting to have 3 different tiles on the first floor. It shifts everything around for the moment, but I think it will be the right decision in the long run. Now I just need to find the right wood.