Tile shower floor ideas?

11 years ago

We are looking at a 12x12 cream colored marble tile with a glossy finish for the shower walls. What type of tile is usually used for the floor with this? Would it look weird to have 2x2 tiles with the "tumbled finish" look? I want the floor material to look good but also be neutral because we're planning to also use a mosaic tile accent & don't want too many different types of tile for the space. Any input is appreciated!

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Karen McCall Dunning

11 years ago

Hi Jennifer -- I am an architect who designs tons of master suite remodels. Here are my thoughts on your question about shower floor tile:

Shower floors are sloped to the drain so smaller tile (as you mentioned) is preferable to larger tile as it is easier to install on the slope. The slope can be achieved with larger tile, but it involves some tricky (and sometime awkward-looking) angles. My bias is towards smaller tile.
If you stay in the same color family with the floor tile, you should be OK in avoiding the "busy-ness" that concerns you.
Wet floors can be slippery; pick a non-polished finish (eg. honed, tumbled) for the shower floor.
Make sure that the installer/plumber you use is very familiar with the construction of shower "pans". This is the area which is most critical in avoiding leaks.

Good luck with your project!

Karen

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Comments (9)

Judy Mishkin
11 years ago
it's good for 2 things to match... having 3 different tiles can get a bit busy. sure you can't use the smaller floor tiles as part of an accent? here's what we did
Jennifer Smith thanked Judy Mishkin
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Jennifer Smith
Original Author
11 years ago
Thank you both for your comments! Karen, how does one typically finish the raw edge on a marble tile? We also found ceramic tiles with a marble looking pattern & gloss, also 12 x 12, which have a corresponding bullnosed edge piece. My husband likes this for the finished edge of the shower rather than having a raw tile edge at the end of the tiled area. We were also considering a pebble floor, which would work well with the sloped floor in the pan. I'm not sure how I feel about that because I really want to use a mosaic accent. So much to consider, it's a bit overwhelming.
PRO
Home Reborn
11 years ago
The edge of the tiled area in a shower or tub enclosure is most simply dealt with by using tile edger strips (which you can get at any tile or big box store). These are available in coloured plastic or metal; I've attached a photo of a bath project of mine that used a metal edger strip (you can see it at the edge of the tub, running up the wall).

Bullnose tiles are OK too but can be a bit fussy-looking.
tlcnc5005
11 years ago
We had a designer recommend Botany Bay Pebble slices- glad our first selection didn't work out, and we switched to this. Very happy with the look, feel and function. The full pebbles we didn't prefer, but the slices are perfect.
tlcnc5005
11 years ago
Here's the only pic I can find of the Botany Bay Pebble Slices in our new bathroom- good luck on the project!
PRO
Dutchess County Tile
11 years ago
you can use that same material on the floor,however i would hone the finish so its not slippery
PRO
Karen McCall Dunning
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Jennifer -- depending on the "look" you want, the thickness of the tile, and the skill of your tile installer, you can treat the edges a number of ways -- leave them exposed; use a bullnose tile; finish with a "deco" piece such as a pencil or ogee shape (generally used for the top edge) . . . You had mentioned that you were thinking of using a contrasting mosaic tile accent -- could you incorporate the design of that material into the border of the field tile to provide an edge treatment?

Not sure how your shower & bath are configured but one thing to consider -- the wall adjacent to a shower tends to get wet quite often. There needs to be something water resistant there (particular towards the bottom of the wall) so that you don't get mold or deterioration of the wall surface.

You are so right -- there are so many choices out there, but the upside is that you customize to make it reflect your own unique aesthetic. Good luck!
Nancy Travisinteriors
11 years ago
Keep it simple. You could go a pebble, but your tile sounds more formal. I would say use same on floor as walls. But yours is shiny so won't work. Stay in same color. What is your trim could go that on floor.