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Match shower step tile to floor or wall?

5 years ago

Hi, I need some help choosing which tile to use for the shower step in our guest bathroom. Please see pics below.

The white is the suggested use of my contractor who says he typically matches the shower step to the wall. I’m a bit concerned about the glossy ceramic being slippery and also I think the continuation of the floor color would make the room look bigger. We are also using the 2x2 mesh which Matches the floor in the shower pan and niche. We intend on using a shower curtain so it’s perhaos a moot point, but I want to get it right. Any advice is appreciated!

Featured Answer

User

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

If you mean the curb, you want a solid mayerial for that. Usually to match the vanity counter.

But your contractor is not building that shower correctly, and you will have water leakage issues.

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Comments (13)

Fori
5 years ago
So the inside of the shower has the little gray tiles and the outside has the big gray ones? I think it would look weird to have a white stripe in the entry threshold (if that's what you're talking about). Anything that could be walked on should be gray.

If it's inside the shower like a bench, then the wall color would be good.
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There is no real rule. You do want them to coordinate with one another in terms of relating to the overall look of the bathroom. But they can coordinate while being different materials (porcelain on the walls versus natural stone on the floor), different sizes (subways on the wall versus squares on the floor), and different patterns (running bond on the walls versus diagonal on the floor). The above is simply an example. Much of it can depend on the size of the room and the amount of tile to be used. Using the same tile everywhere in a large bathroom could look a bit too monochromatic and uninteresting. There would be no change in material or pattern to draw the eye from detail to detail as you look around the room. In modern or contemporary design that might be desirable; a slick, clean, uncluttered look. In a more traditional design it might simply be boring. Large format tile always lends itself well in modern styles. Mosaic can be implemented for a period look. Mosaic is busy given the many individual tiles, But it can be made to look "detailed and busy" by using a contrasting grout color. It can be made to look cleaner and slicker by using a grout color the same color as the tile. So there is no real right or wrong as a whole. Sometimes anything and everything can work, but often it's how it is implemented into the design. But you need a starting point. A design style, for example. Having an idea of what look you are trying to achieve will lead you through the selection process; tile material, tile color, tile size, layout pattern, grout color.
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bathroom tile. floor, floor/shower, floor/shower/wall?
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Comments (37)
I can't help but picture orange with this blue. Or a saturated blue and white. A textured all white curtain would look great as well. In no particular order, here are links to a few colourful patterned ones I found: Peaches - orange pink and green - Urban Outfitters Blue and white - Urban Outfitters Flamingo - Anthropologie Orange Contemporary - Rachael Taylor - Wayfair Medallion - Blue and White - Target Navy & white - Wayfair (might be too dark) Orange and white Ikat - Wayfair Lime? (Doesn't look lime on my screen) - Red Barrel Studio - Wayfair Moroccan Orange - Wayfair I think you can have a lot of fun with your shower curtain. So many colours look good with this blue. The trick might be to match the colour intensity.
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Comments (1)
A "standard size" hall bath is 5 x 8 = 40 square feet. Your bath is very small, so I suggest Corian panels in white (bonus points for no grout). You could add wallpaper if the outcome seems too plain for your taste.
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Comments (4)
The easy answer is to use the same tile from the pan ...up to removed “first” tile height...the tougher answer is ...can any option be done without adding to or creating a problem such as Patricia has mentioned above...if it is feasible...one tile option could be the “little pebbles” tile as it may match the color of the wall tiles?
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Fori
5 years ago
Curb. That's the word!

If it matters, where I live, it is common to use tile on the curb if it's being used elsewhere. Solid surface tends to be slippery and people WILL stand on it.
ro mo
Original Author
5 years ago
Sophie, what is the issue that you’re seeing? Why will it have leaking problems?
User
5 years ago
Incorrect waterproofing.
ro mo
Original Author
5 years ago
Sophie, would you mind elaborating so I can take up the issue with my contractor?
ro mo
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks, Fori - I think I’m leaning toward the taupe tile on the curb.
User
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Post pictures of the in progress. Starting with the bare studs.But right now, the walls are not waterproofed. And that curb is a disaster waiting to happen.
ro mo
Original Author
5 years ago
Sophie, I don’t have pictures, but they started with black paper, then the cement board, then the tile.
Helen
5 years ago
I'm far from an expert but I am currently remodeling and I believe there needs to be waterproofing of some kind between the cement board and the tiles since tiles are not waterproof and cement board absorbs water. In my remodel, there was red guard applied on top of the cement board and then the tile applied over the red guard.
Elizabeth B
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
The black material is water proofing! Have them tile the shower pan before finishing the walls. The wall tile should sit on the floor
PRO
Creative Ceramic & Marble/ Bill Vincent
5 years ago
No, it's not. It's tar paper, which is a vapor barrier
ro mo
Original Author
5 years ago
I forgot to mention that they hot mopped the shower pan and the curb to water proof it.

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