Tiles for small bathrooms: colours, sizes and layout
A small bathroom is a chance to do something smart. With a modest floor and a few walls, you can choose tiles you really love and the boxes stay manageable. The right colours, sizes and layout can make the room feel brighter and more open than its measurements suggest. This guide covers all of that, with worked box sums so you know what to order.
Which colours make a small bathroom feel bigger?
Light colours reflect light around the room, and that is the simplest way to open up a small space. Whites, ivories and creams are popular. Terra White 30x90 is a plain white ceramic wall tile, Prizma Statuario Matt 60x60 a white marble effect for the floor, and Kashmir Hueso Polished 30x60 a polished ivory concrete effect for the walls.
Keeping the floor and walls in similar light tones helps too, so the room reads as one space. Battuto White 60x60, a white terrazzo, pairs happily with a plain white wall. Browse our bathroom tiles for more light options.
Which tile size suits a small bathroom?
It is a common surprise, but larger tiles often suit small rooms. Fewer joints mean fewer lines breaking up the surface, so the floor looks calmer and wider.
| Size | Where | Box covers | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60x60 porcelain | Floor, or walls and floor | 1.44 m² (4 tiles) | Prizma Statuario Matt 60x60 |
| 60x60 porcelain | Floor, or walls and floor | 1.07 m² (3 tiles) | Lined White 60x60 |
| 30x60 porcelain | Walls and floor | 1.08 m² (6 tiles) | Kashmir Hueso Polished 30x60 |
| 30x90 ceramic | Walls | 1.35 m² (5 tiles) | Terra White 30x90 |
| 29.5x90 ceramic | Walls | 1.59 m² (6 tiles) | Breccia Cream 29.5x90 |
60x60 for the floor
A 60x60 tile covers a 2 m x 1.5 m floor in a handful of tiles. Prizma Statuario Matt 60x60 is a matt white marble effect and Battuto White 60x60 a matt white terrazzo. The 60x60 tiles in this guide are rectified, which allows narrower joints; your installer will advise the width. A bathroom floor gets wet, so ask us which finish suits. Choose a grout colour close to the tile and the joints fade away. Our large format tiles guide has more on big tiles in small rooms.
One tile for walls and floor
If you want one tile on the walls and floor, choose a porcelain listed for both. Empress Cemento Matt 60x120 is a matt grey concrete effect, so the room feels seamless and the large size keeps joints few. As the floor gets wet, ask us which finish suits before you choose.
Long wall tiles
Long ceramic wall tiles such as Terra White 30x90 and Breccia Cream 29.5x90 can be laid horizontally to stretch a short wall, or vertically to add height. They are light and easy to cut, which helps around basins, pipes and window reveals.
Should I add a feature wall?
Yes, if you like a bit of drama. One feature wall, usually behind the basin or at the end of the bath, gives the room a focal point while the other walls stay light. Museum Ivory 30x90 is a patterned ivory feature tile, and Shine White 30x90 a white feature tile in semi-gloss. For a bolder look, Lined White 60x60 has a lined pattern, Velvet Bronze 31.5x90 adds a warm metallic glow, and Badab Noir Polished 30x60 brings black marble effect shine. See more in our feature tiles collection.
Which finish should I choose?
Polished tiles reflect light, which is a real help on the walls of a small or windowless bathroom. Satvario Branco 60x60 and Kashmir Hueso Polished 30x60 both brighten a wall. Matt tiles give a calmer, more natural feel; Prizma Statuario Matt 60x60 and Terra White 30x90 are good examples. For a dark floor with character, Blink Lapatto Black 60x60 has a sugar effect finish with a fine sparkle.
For the bathroom floor and shower area, ask us which finish suits. Tell us about the room and how it will be used, and we will point you to the right tiles. Our tile finishes guide explains the main finishes we sell.
How many boxes does a small bathroom need?
Take a floor 2 m long and 1.5 m wide: 2 x 1.5 = 3 m². Add 10% for cuts and you have 3.3 m². With a 60x60 tile in 1.44 m² boxes, such as Prizma Statuario Matt or Battuto White, 3.3 ÷ 1.44 = 2.3, so you order 3 boxes. With Blink Lapatto Black in 1.08 m² boxes, 3.3 ÷ 1.08 = 3.06, so you order 4 boxes.
Now the walls. Measure each wall, width x height, and add them together. Take 12 m² of wall as an example, which is 13.2 m² with 10% added.
- 1.35 m² boxes (Terra White, Museum Ivory, Shine White): 13.2 ÷ 1.35 = 9.8, so 10 boxes.
- 1.59 m² boxes (Breccia Cream): 8.3, so 9 boxes.
- 1.44 m² boxes (Satvario Branco, Prizma Statuario Matt, Empress Cemento Matt): 9.2, so 10 boxes.
- 1.08 m² boxes (Kashmir Hueso Polished): 12.2, so 13 boxes.
Every product page has a calculator with a tick box for the 10%. Our how many tiles guide explains the method, or send us your measurements to check.
See it before you buy
Light and finish are hard to judge on a screen. Our Uxbridge showroom is open seven days a week and you can view any tile from the website there, side by side, in the light. We are close to Hayes, Slough, Southall, Hounslow and Harrow.
Browse bathroom tiles, marble effect tiles and wall tiles online, or call 01753 316106 or WhatsApp 07955 501595 and we will check your box count. Our modern bathroom tiles guide has more ideas.
Frequently asked questions
Are 60x60 tiles too big for a small bathroom?
No. Fewer joints make a small floor look calmer and wider. Your installer may suggest allowing a little more than 10% for cuts, as a small room has proportionally more edges.
Can I use dark tiles in a small bathroom?
Yes. A dark floor such as Blink Lapatto Black 60x60 under light walls looks smart and grounds the room. Keep the walls light and the room still feels open.
Should the walls and floor match?
They can, and in a small bathroom it works well. Porcelain such as Empress Cemento Matt 60x120 is listed for walls and floors, so one tile can do both. If you prefer a change, keep the tones close and add one feature wall.