I love your stacked subway tiles with the white grout, very nice- but on the main wall in this narrow bath, I'm afraid it would feel like actually being IN a subway. Maybe not.

You could go with a wallpaper for the same dramatic effect. Do all three walls. It's very expansive. Just not geometric.

^ agree — it is a small space so I think not chopping up the walls is good, several of the inspo photos have very tall ceilings which is different than your space so just something to keep in mind -

if it were me, I would probably just tile the niche to the ceiling and leave it at that - then paint the walls a color that blends with the tile since low contrast can help a smaller space

do you have a tile pro for the penny tile? they can be notoriously hard to deal with (lots of posts on the forum about it) - love the simple white tile you chose!

Since it is a small room I might suggest tiling all walls to give cohesion and to visually expand the room.

I, too, have a small 5 x 7 bath in my 1939 home. It came with tiled walls surrounding the tub, and the rest of the walls tiled half way up behind the toilet and the sink (console with metal legs.). I replicated that when we had to do a tear out 9 years ago. So….tile in the tub alcove (white subway), and all around the room. To my windowsill level, providing a backsplash for my sink. My flooring is a small marble herringbone. I painted the walls a pale blue/gray. Ceiling white. I would advise you NOT to use penny tile on the floor or up the wall unless you have a fabulous tiler who can set tile so that you cannot see the seams between every panel of tile. Rather, use a hex, or a herringbone, etc. I love our bath. I do think your room, given its small size, needs the breathing room of drywall on the top portion of your non shower/tub walls. Good luck!

I love your stacked white tiles for the tub area and the floating vanity idea. White penny tile floors will keep the room bright and add some visual interest (heed above warning for la_la girl) and leave the rest to be painted. An “all white tile room” can get too sanitized and boring. Leave some area for paint or wallpaper.

Side sconces are better lighting for makeup, which is why so many people prefer. More flattering.

The inspiration pics are of bathrooms much larger than yours and with taller ceilings. The various tile layouts won’t lok as good in your smaller space. The groutlines, no matter how subtle will feel too busy. I vote for tile in your tub/shower area and that is all.

Thank you all so very much for all the feedback. From what I have read, the consensus is:

• tile the tub surround with in the stacked subway tile pattern, to the ceiling
• keep some drywall/don't tile the whole room/tile just the floor and tub
• I had considered wallpaper at one point so may do that on the vanity/toilet wall only. Since this is something somewhat easily done after the room is completed, I think we will go with just paint for now and then add this if we find the space to bland afterwards.
• hire a pro if we do penny tile on the floor (I had heard that penny tile is notoriously challenging to set right and have seen, on this site even, terrible examples with visible seams)

I did find this inspo after posting and although this clearly has much taller ceilings than ours, I think the width is identical (assuming it's a 60" alcove tub in there). I adore the recessed/integrated shower curtain idea. It will help provide the illusion of higher ceilings by drawing the eye upwards and not breaking up the vertical space. I was actually loathing what to do for a curtain rod (I, in general, don't love tub/shower combos but with the other full bath in the house being a walk-in shower and our limited space, the combo it was!). I will clearly not do the ceiling treatment/crown moulding as we just do not have the expanse for it to be effective. Only wish I had done a black window now...

Hope I have that all correct - thank you again everyone for the input!

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Why not 12"x24" tile for the floor? We have a small bath and it looks great. The simple floor is fantastic and feels twice as big. We had a small hex floor and it was soooo busy.

We installed a floating vanity...what a difference it makes in the appearance of more square footage. A pedestal sink would have a similar effect.

Thanks for the suggestion Trace! Given the last photo I found, I think we will be going with a medium (7"?) matte black hex tile with black grout. I think the solid colour will give the floor an expansive feel similar to the effect of your suggestion (large format tile) but with just a little texture/something interesting for an otherwise simply designed room. Plus I went out and bought the black hex tile this AM - lol! Thanks again for the suggestion re: keeping the floor a quiet space.

I'm so glad.

Your choices sound phenomenal. Our bath is white except the gray floors. White paint and white marble...so gorgeous. Natural wood birch cabs, tho.

Are you getting black fixtures? Wow, that would be spectacular.

Yes to black fixtures. Your bath sounds beautiful too (can see it in my minds eye)! Thanks for your help!

Can’t wait to see how it looks when it is done! Please post photos for us to see (and admire!)