I would do the 12x12 everywhere. I think the 18x18 are too large proportionally for the floor space you have. It seems like you will end up with basically two tiles wide all the way down, with a line running right down the middle of the floor.

not unless they do it in a diagonal pattern. But to be honest I think that tile is the wrong color for that bathroom. I love those cabinets and the cabinetry hardware and I think that floor washes it all out. a darker color tile would be the bomb, especially a slate tile which for that small bathroom will not cost that much (especially from the Habitat restore)

MsJay, I always thought you should go lighter when the bathroom is small??

Would you use the larger size on the diagonal? I tried laying it out and to be honest, and the amount of cutting makes me wonder if it would not end up looking chopped up?

BTW, this is the kid's bathroom.

Forgot to add some measurements.

From back of wall near where the toilet will be is 53" (wainscot) + 32" x 58" x 32" for tub surround.

Floor from vanity to tub is approximately 37".

After chatting with a designer this afternoon about the size tiles, he said he would do 6" or even 4" (which is what I had BEFORE), and not use big tiles. I was kind of surprised to be honest. I thought for sure this guy would have loved the idea of bigger being better!!

Just goes to show, you can still come back confused even with a designer,lol

I like the small tiles too. Look I am the worst on picking colors. Personally though I would use a color similar to the sink counter top and then use a nice subdued shade on the wall and tie it all together in a nice shower curtain. but I AM THE FIRST TO ADMIT COLORS ARE HIT OR MISS WITH ME!!!

But take the advice of the designer with the small tiles. I would be using small tiles on my floor but they are too expensive for me. Hey that makes me think what about those tumbled tiles that are different shades. that would definately work especially considering the counters.

As you know from experience, I would not go back to the 4" tiles. I have them in my upstairs bath, which is narrow like yours, and I HATE the look - too busy. Maybe think about the 6" ones set on a diagonal, which would visually widen the space. But nothing smaller.

I have similar 18" tiles in my bath set on the diagonal. I LOVE THEM. The designer at the tile showroom talked me into it and I have been very happy with how they actually make my small bath look larger.

The floor is 18" squares on the diagonal.

The shower has 18" squares on the walls (not diagonal).
The shower floor and ceiling are 6" squares set on diagonal.

Here is the best pic I have available at the moment.

I like that look! So now I swing back to my original opinion. My point before was there was no contrast as far as the colors were concerned even though looking at what I said my point might not have been clear. The tiles are similar to what the original OP has but there was no contrast between the colors and I think her cabinets are very nice and need to stand out rather than blend. With your cabinets being white there is contrast which creates interest. IMHO

So I need contrast? I love your big tiles! I think the distance between vanity and tub is about 36" and yours looks wider, is it?

To be very honest, I don't care what the designer said about 4" and 6" tiles, I would not go back to that size ever. The 12" tile is as small as I would get. What confuses the heck out of me is when someone at the store says go BIG because there is less grout. That is fine, but will it be over powering? That is the scare. Once those suckers are up (expensive too), I'm stuck.

Thanks for the help. We may go look at some more tiles tomorrow. I do love the glass tiles though.

Listed below is a nice thread at Bathrooms Forum that shows a chart of what small or large tiles do to a small bathroom space. Quite telling! (Scroll about 3/4 down the thread.)

How to make bathrooms look larger with tile size and placement?
Posted by zinfanatic (My Page) on Mon, Nov 26, 07 at 15:41

I checked for you and the distance from the marble threshold over to the edge of the cabinets is 52".

Greenmtn, that's why I think diagonal with my tiles might not work, there will be so much cutting for the small space. Anywhoo...we're off today to find an alternative.

Here are pics of the granite (name unknown).
{{!gwi}}


{{!gwi}}

This is what I came up with if we're sticking with the glass tiles. I really do LOVE the glass tiles, and that is the hardest one to change, so let me know what you think.

The darker tile is almost a sort of grayish-brown, then there is the much lighter one that you all said looks washed out, and a darker gray which I am not sure about.
{{!gwi}}

I love those glass tiles, how beautiful! I see your dilemma in trying to get the right floor tile. the glass tiles bring out the grey in the counter top. Okay I have an idea. if the tile store will let you return why don't you pick up about 10 of each tile and lay it out in an area to see how it will look. If you can take them back then fantastic. What color are you painting the walls? are you going to paint before putting in the tiles?

I really like the new one you found. It would make the vanity pop. I am not sure about using the same color in the shower though.

You glass tiles have so much personality! I can understand how you would be married to them.

If you go with the darker color floor tile, are you going to use a darker grout? If so, it would be a more seemless look.

Yes, I will use darker grout, but what do I put on the walls??? We wanted to use the same tiles everywhere for a more modern, clean look :-(

But the glass ones we truly love! If we used the darker tile we would paint the walls the lighter shade on the glass tiles. It sort of looks like a taupe but really pops next to the darker tile.

Msjay, they are ordering me some extra samples. There is a bit of a texture to this new tile which would be good for the flooring. Problem is that I need to have this bathroom finished ASAP. Mother-in-law is coming around the 16th! :-( We get along, but this is the bathroom she'll use and she can be kind of a clean freak, so no construction around her, lol

Be careful of a darker grout in your shower - the color may change from the water and or soap. We did find switching from bar soap to liquid soap (a tip from cleaning forum or bathrooms) made a big difference, but the lightened grout is still noticeable to me. This was in a bathroom,now seldom used, but used everyday while the main MB was being renovated. Our colors were similar to yours. Love your glass tiles!

Oh dear, thanks for the tip. We have already changed over from bar soap to liquid soap so I hope that will make a difference.

If I go with 12" tiles, should I use three rows or two rows as the border? I will have a lot over if I use two rows, so was wondering about a design on the floor. My SIL said a pinwheel might look good with it, but I don't think I've seen any like that with glass tiles.

I'd go with the larger dark tile on the floor (18") and the glass tile in the shower, the dark floor tile will make the little dark glass squares "pop" IMO, and it would bring out the dark veins in the granite countertop : )
I wouldn't put a design in the middle, it would take away from your granite & glass...........a little too much for a small bathroom for me. I'd also paint the walls a lighter shade of taupe(like the lighter tile in the last pic).
Could I see a pic of the tile next to the floor (the darkest & the lightest), with the glass tile against the tub. A pic from a top angle similar to the one above that shows your granite & cupboard would help, LOL.........am I asking a bit much? Sorry if I am.

I need to get my neighbour over to take some more pics, lol

The problem I have with using those glass tiles in the tub area is the grout! That's why I am looking at nothing smaller than 12".

DH liked the much lighter tile because he thinks it will make the room look bigger. I LOVE the glass, but have been worried now about the room looking washed out with a lighter "ash" colour as the tile is called.

Darker looks good in a small sample but can't imagine the whole bathroom in that colour. I have never, ever had to choose tiles in my life. All my homes came new with someone's choices, LOL

You may be making your shower "cavelike" with the dark tile. Imagine what it is going to feel like with a shower curtain or door, while you are in the shower.
How do you plan to use the glass tile? It can be used as a beautiful accent to tie the 2 colors / tiles together.
Check the slip resistance factor for the porcelain tiles you plan for the floor. Ours was suppose to be good for the floor, but in the 1st seldom used bathroom it is very slippery.
I think the shower tile we used was 8 x10 or 9 x 12. Your tub area looks like a standard size. You could run the glass tile in a band around the walls at like 5' high as an accent.
Your tiler should be able to advise you on what is best for the cuts and patterns so you do not have all these weird small cuts at the corners. You have to take in to consideration the bullnose edging on the walls of the shower also.
The people in bathrooms have alot of experience in tiling and will offer you better layout solutions if you first select the tile and sizes you want to use.
It is a very scary part of your remodel. Tile is so permanent, and it is easy to become overwhelmed.
Make sure you have seen your tile setter's work.

DH just told me that he really does not like the idea of such a dark tile in a small bathroom, so I am beginning to wonder myself. I am really concerned about the "cavelike" feeling to be honest. Thanks for your input.

Have DECIDED (yay for me) that I don't want to go bigger than 12" in there. We put up the 18x18 on the wall and it looked awful IMHO, so that's decided.

DH and DD both prefer the lighter "ash" tile which is on the left under the darker one...I adore the glass tile as an accent and wouldn't use it on the wall simply because of the size and cost, so that's decided,LOL

Will be getting more of the lighter tile (which might wash out the bathroom) but I need to see how this will look in a bigger area...sigh.

Bathroom folks can help with layout but I haven't had too much luck with colour ideas. Hey, thanks guys for all the help.

Are you not getting any of the glass tiles?

Yes, I really want to use it to brighten things up as an accent. We will have quite a bit over so I was wondering about using some on the floor as well?

Did you do the tiles and if yes how did they come out? I had an experience I wanted to share about tiles. I went to Lowes and brought some tiles for my counter top and found I was missing the inside corner pieces. Lowes did not have them so I brought everything back and headed over to Home Depot. I found their tiles to be much cheaper. I found everything I needed but I was short of some of the bullnose tiles. The same ones I had just brought back to Lowes. So I went back Lowes to get them. They were 65 cents each in HD and the same exact tile in Lowes was 97 cents!! So I headed to the customer care counter and told them about it and they sold me the pieces for 58 cents. (price match plus 10% off). well from now on I will be comparison shopping. I wish my stores were like in Chesapeake,VA where the Lowes and HD are side by side. They must both get killed with the price match policy!

Anyway I would love to see how your bathroom turned out.