You need a tile specifically made for floors for safety reasons. Ask at your tile retailer for samples of each. But no you don't have to match the finishes on floors and walls.

agree with Diana, but also would like to add that having a matte and a shiny finish together is odd. I would go for all matte.

We do a lot of jobs with matte on the floors and polished on the walls. Many people worry about slipping on polished tile floors, but many do not. We do sometimes do the opposite. It is all personal preference and what look you are trying to achieve. In our showroom, we did polished on the floors and matte on the walls. Many times when you are first stepping out of the bath or shower you will be stepping on a bath mat or towel. Therefore, that can eliminate the chance of slipping. In our new model home we are building, we are using a carrara marble looking porcelain tile in the master bathroom and guest bathroom. For the master bath: we are going to do polished tile on both the floor and the walls. In the guest bath: we are going to show the matte on the floor and polished on the walls. Just to show more variety and that both look great! Either way it will look nice! :) Good luck!

I have done it both ways as KLM indicated above, but the polished on the floor (even with bath mats) you can hit a wet spot and slide. So, I would be careful what you select. Mix it would be my suggestion. Can't go wrong with matte on floor and polished on walls/showers. I like polished on showers because easier to keep looking good. Porcelains are good for flooring also.

Thank you for your advice! This is kind of what I was going for: Cararra marble looking tiles in rectangular, polished finish on the wall. For the floor, same tile in square with matte finish. Do you think that would work?

I am not a fan of square tiles in a small bath. I would use larger format in same ratio as shower tile. So if shower tiles are say 4 x 8; floor tiles I would go 12x24. I would also lay them across floor not front to back. Cross wise will help expand look of space since you have only 5' width. Another option might be to do hexagon shapes for floor! Just depends on style preference.

That's good to know, thanks for the advise! I love the hexagon idea, if I can convince my husband :)

I love using both- the polished finish adds a sparkle. i would do the floor matte and the walls in a stacked row using 12" matte followed by 4" (+ or-) polished. you can also use a hexagon on the floor if you are worried about slippage.

Hi I'm having the same issue. I'm thinking on using polished on shower walls of Master bathroom (12X24) and same tile on Matte on the bathroom floor and Master bedroom floor (12X24) also. Now I.m having seconds thoughts as it seems to matchie matchie. Can some one give me some in site.... please...

do honed on the floor. one option: alternate honed/polished in shower to create interest and tie the floor together.

another option: do a 24" stripe in the center of the shower wall using polished, the remaining, honed.

the juxtaposition of the two finishes is awesome, but you can also use a different tile size for the polished. doesnt have to be 12 x 24. good luck!