In a previous house I had tile with a glossy finish. Even though it wasn't in the bathroom, it was deadly. I can't imagine how dangerous such tile would be in a bathroom. Don't go there. You will regret it. Consider that you have dodged a bullet and start your search for tile again, with slip resistance high on the list. Go to a real tile store, not a big box place, to get advice and look at many alternatives. The world is full of nice tile, so you will be able to find something pretty and practical. BTW, a few cut tiles aren't a big deal.

so, it sounds like the consensus is #1!

:)

Thanks everyone, I appreciate your comments.

teamaltese: I have seen the tiles in person, but buying them and laying them out to see how they look in the room wouldn't do me much good right now because we are completely redoing the lighting in the bathroom (and literally everything else in there). Right not we have those ugly round-bulb vanity lights that run across the mirror and we are putting in recessed lighting (2-3 cans above vanity and two in shower).

Susan: I've definitely read glossy is slippery, but always good to have another opinion. We have no children (if we do, we will move, this place is not big enough) and are young and won't stay here for <5 years, so I'm not as concerned about falls. However, it still sounds like matte is the better choice. Is there a reason you think we should totally start over instead of just going with the matte finish of what we already chose?

acm: I guess so! The 12x24 shape definitely makes a lot more sense in the space, so I'm relieved that is the opinion of posters here.

I believe tile comes with a rating regarding slip resistance. I'd check that out on the matte tile you are considering. I wasn't old when I lived in the house with the slippery floors. EVERYBODY fell, the young, the old and the in between. Visitors, too.

High polished tiles are indeed slippery even in a dry area. High polished tiles would not be recommended for a bathroom, regardless if there are children or elder in the home.

The slip factor of a tile is measured in SCOF (Static Coefficient of Friction) or DCOF (Dynamic Coefficient of Friction). SCOF measures the slip resistance when starting off movement from a stand still where DCOF measures its resistance while a body is already in motion.

DCOF is a relatively new measurement and can be more difficult to find. In a wet area you want your SCOF (or simply COF) to be greater than .6 or a DOCF rating of greater than .42. I can't imagine finding a high polish tile with this rating..

Hope this helps!

Go for the matte finish! It's a great look and not as slippery. Polished is out.

Just because a tile isn't shiny doesn't mean it wont be slippery on a wet foot.

As a child, my aunts matte finished 18 x 18 tiled [Houzz article about choosing tile[(https://www.houzz.com/magazine/your-floor-how-to-shop-for-tile-stsetivw-vs~508253)terrazzo entry way was the source of a concussion, and several falls from other - young and fit people. (It was beautiful, but deadly!) Large format tiles look great, but part of the reason smaller tiles are frequently used in wet areas is that the grout provides grip for the feet.

There is a measurement used in tile (COF - Coefficient of Friction)

What does the COF of a tile mean?

The Coefficient of Friction (COF) of a tile is a measure of the “slip resistance” of a tile. For example, the dry cement patio around a public pool is very slip resistant (so it would get a high rating) and the ice on hockey rink is VERY slippery (so it would get a low rating). For tiles, it is important because ratings above a certain number comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and can be used in commercial areas or public areas. There are two ratings – STATIC COF and DYNAMIC COF.

STATIC COF - This is the force required to START something moving. Imagine you are standing still…it is the force between your shoe and the floor to get you from stopped to moving. If you apply a LOT of force, you slip. This test shows the amount of force needed JUST BEFORE you slip. To pass ADA the test must be done on a WET tile and the result rating must be greater than 0.6.

DYNAMIC COF - This is the force required when something is in motion. Imagine you are walking, the more pressure you apply, the faster you will go. This test shows the amount of force needed just before you slip WHILE you are already in motion. To pass ADA the test must be done on WET tile and the result rating must be greater than 0.42.

Lower numbers: Indicate less friction: floor will provide less traction and be more slippery.
Higher numbers: Indicate more friction: floor will provide greater traction and be less slippery.
Recommended or Required Values
C.O.F. greater than .50 – Recommended for standard residential application
C.O.F. greater than .60 – Required for commercial applications to meet or exceed ADA (Americans with
Disabilities Act) guidelines

We are using Happy Floors NeoTile for our bathroom floors. They are plain - no marbled look like you are going for. But they have a decent slip resistant rating which was a factor on why we picked them. I think it is around .64.

http://www.happy-floors.com/brands/neostile/

You could do a mosaic or octagon pattern that has a lot of grout - that would cut down on the slippage factor. There's one brand I'm thinking of that is marble and some of the tiles in it are non-slip. But it was expensive. If I think of it, I'll post it.

I have glossy slippery floors in every room of my house (I didn't install them) and all I can say is NEVER AGAIN. ESPECIALLY in a bathroom.

I am absolutely amazed on how the tile industry does not produce that much non-slip tile. It isn't that easy to find.

Hello! For smaller bathrooms, we recommend to use a lighter color to make it appear much larger. A marble tile or marble-look tile, matched with a fun mosaic will look fantastic! Visit us online to get you inspired! Here's the link to our bathroom room scenes! If there's anything we can do to help, please let us know!