If you want an opinion, I'll give you one, based on nothing other than personal taste. I'm about to remodel a bathroom of similar size, converting a bathtub to a curbless shower, and it's my intention to tile up the shower portion to about 10 inches below the ceiling and leave a band of painted wall. While tiling to the ceiling in the shower is definitely the fashion of the day; to me it seems like overkill. Some people say that it makes the room feel taller; I'm not sure I would agree and think that instead it makes it more claustrophobic. Having the band of painted wall, and perhaps an accent strip to top off the tiled portion of the wall, gives the eye a reason to look up. I welcome differing points of view and information.

I will be doing an 8 x 5 + tub alcove bathroom. My tub will be removed and replaced with a solid surface walk-in shower in a gray and white marbled pattern (Swanstone "Ice"). Room walls will be tiled to 45" in a shiny barely gray porcelain field tile with Carrara marble baseboard and chair rail.

I like the room tiled only part way, to just under the windowsill. It is classic, not too modern, and gives some interest with the use of trim or liner tiles. If you want, you can use a row of pencil liner and do an interesting complimentary listello between the pencil liner and the chair rail molding. I am undecided on whether I will do that.

Tiling the room to the ceiling can be a much more modern look, depending on your tile choices. With the newer, bigger tiles, it is very modern. Done with a 6x6 pottery tile and outlined Art Deco style with black tile trim, it is straight out of a 1920s - 1930s Detroit mansion in my area. So, it all depends on what tile you choose and how you lay it. Vertical is "in" for large-format tiles right now. Ten years from now, it may still be in vogue or it may say, "tiled in the teens."

So think about what feeling you want to convey. Tiling to the ceiling on the room walls can be modern. Having wall to paint above the tile leaves room for color changes that affect the mood of the space and reflect the taste of those who decorated. Or it can be an unwanted chore!

Whether you tile room walls all the way can also depend on the cost of the trim tiles. I came across a great deal on Craigslist for my marble trim. I have been planning this thing for three years and had time to wait for good deals! It can be cheaper to tile to the ceiling than to buy trim for some tile lines. Look into this for your tile and it will help you to decide!