If you're asking about tiling the walls, it's an aesthetic question. I probably would not, because, as you say, it would make it feel very cold and sterile. However, if you had a big window in it, that might be a really good idea, or if you were going to use it as a wet room, where the whole room is the shower, then obviously you would want to tile all the walls.

I have a small 6' x 6' bathroom and wanted to tile the entire room, but who I hired to tile the tub surround told me not to do it. I thought it was interesting coming from him, because he'd get more money tiling everything. However, he said it would be too much in the space. I took his suggestion and I'm happy I did.

A number of years ago, I tiled (marble) all the walls and floor for my small master en-suite. It eliminated that chopped-up look (which tends to call attention to the small size). The other plus: if all the walls are covered in marble tile, crackling paint from humidity or the need to repaint due to wear and tear is essentially eliminated. However: nowadays having the bath look more like an actual room (that happens to have bathroom fixtures) with well-finished walls, elegant vanity, gorgeous floor and shower interior is more stylish. one caveat: if you tile the whole bathroom try to not use ceramic tile which cracks more easily and grout gets much dirtier over time. Aesthetically, minimal tiling seems to be the most elegant look today.

I am the opposite of a reno pro - total novice. Never done it. But just embarking on my first (rather ambitious project) of renovating a small ensuite. Tiles have been ordered and we opted to tile the entire bathroom in two different colours. We've gone for large square light gray patterned tiles on the floor and up the main wall where the vanity etc. is, plus large rectangle matt white tiles around the other walls, which we'll tile horizontally. We wanted to minimise lines that might break up the space so opted for a uniform look all round. We took advice from a few different professionals, but have yet to complete the reno so can't comment on whether or not it was a good idea. Since making that decision I do think I quite like the look of painted walls in bathrooms, but I didn't want to tile part way up a wall and it wasn't very practical to have an untiled wall in our ensuite.