skip to main content

Building a Home Design Dilemma Bathrooms

Bathroom tiles matte or glossy to keep clean?

last year

I am leaning towards matte marble look porcelain in both the shower and the bathroom walls outside shower, as well as on the bathroom floor. Light colors. What is more practical to keep clean, and to clean when it gets dirty? I heard that matte takes longer to get dirty but is harder to clean than glossy porcelain. What would you recommend? Thank you!!

Featured Answer

PRO

Patricia Colwell Consulting

last year

I always like as few finishes as possiblr in a bathroom so I do 12 x24 porcelain tiles for bathrooms floor and shower walls matching grout and if you like the marble look do gray grout and I think the more matte finish is a bit easier to keep looking new and no murphys soap needed

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

kculbers
last year
I have light colored Energie Kerr Italian matte porcelain wood look tiles in my bathrooms and slightly darker ones for my entryway hall. They are so easy to clean with Mutphys oil soap and water. No issues!
Anon Fromca thanked kculbers
kudzu9
last year
last modified: last year
I have porcelain tiles in my master bath that are not glossy but not fully matte either...more of a satin. They are no more trouble to keep clean than glossy. I would think that, unless the surface of a matte porcelain tile actually had texture to it, the amount of care needed would be no different than that of a glossy tile. The important thing to remember is that glossy porcelain tiles can be too slippery to safely use on the shower floor, unless they are rather small so there are a lot of grout lines to provide safe traction.
Anon Fromca thanked kudzu9
Related Discussions
Keeping mosaic bathroom floor clean
Q
Comments (3)
I have marble basket weave tile which has a lot of grout. I used a light gray and not a white for the grout. This was what looked good and also was intended to minimize maintenance issues. It has been over two years and it still looks great - there might be a few places where something small drop is causing minor discoloration but it just blends. My floor is not pristine white though - it is Calacatta marble. However my experience with white tile is that it is pretty forgiving - black and dark tile however shows every bit of dust just as is true for dark wood floors as opposed to lighter floors.
...See More
Glossy tile on bathroom floor
Q
Comments (4)
Using the same tile in matte and polished is done all the time. I think the slick polished floors are for young professionals! Once you have kids and/or get older yourself, then you start to worry about things that might hurt the kids or yourself! My parents installed a polished marble on their bathroom floor when they were in their early 40's. They decided they would never use marble or a highly polished tile on the floors again!
...See More
matt tile bathroom floor with glossy tile shower
Q
Comments (4)
Yes for glossy in the shower, great! white subway for the shower sides and the marble for the back wall ... kind of run the floor up the wall on the back wall of the shower? When you walk into the bathroom, are you looking straight at the shower wall? a few things to think about. Have you looked for bathroom tile ideas? small mosaic tile accents are too trendy, and don't always last the test of time. Why not just you the same large format tile for everything, including the niche, and so called accent? Classier. I am guessing you don't have the square footage to make the accents mean anything ... photo of the room would help.
...See More
Bathroom tile - Glossy or Matte?
Q
Comments (2)
Doesn’t matter if the two baths have different flooring as long as the finishes within each room blend well. Glossy finish doesn’t always mean slick but do check that the glossy finish is ok for a room that will have water on floors at times.
...See More
JP Haus
last year
We had marble look Crossville porcelain tile with an unpolished finish in our last home's primary bathroom with different sizes for the floor, shower walls and shower floor. The tile was very easy to clean.

Our new home under construction has large format porcelain tile floors that aren't marble look but are very light. Despite the ram board being removed too soon and red clay getting tracked inside by various trades, the cleaners seem to have had little trouble getting the floors clean again (and again.)
Anon Fromca thanked JP Haus
kandrewspa
last year
The only thing I will say is that it sounds like too much of a good thing if you put the same tile everywhere. Also, I have seen pictures on this forum of tile jobs where the installer didn't pay attention to the way the veining lined up and made a very unattractive pattern, so keep an eye on your installation as it goes along. Do not wait to look at it until after it's grouted and it's too late to change it.
Anon Fromca thanked kandrewspa
Anon Fromca
Original Author
last year
Thank you so much! Yes I am rather worried about how complicated it would be for me to line up the veining, would I know how to do a good job? It was going to be a mosaic floor, which would be easier to line up but harder to live with. I thought maybe one alternative is a shiny white faux Thassos floor, or wall, so one of them (floor or wall) would be quiet; but would white color coordinate well with calacatta look? I'm also thinking of going with 24x48 so that it would be easier to line up the veins. Thanks everyone!

Related Stories

BATHROOM MAKEOVERS Bathroom of the Week: Clean Lines and Beautiful Blue Tiles

By Becky Harris

A designer uses her client’s vintage Welsh linens and favorite Gaudí tile as starting points for style

TILE How Tiny Tiles Can Elevate Your Bathroom’s Style

Thanks to their ability to add texture and subtle pattern, petite hexagonal and penny tiles may be here to stay

HOUSEKEEPING How to Clean Marble Countertops and Tile

By Bonnie McCarthy

Acidic solutions can damage your marble surfaces. Here’s how to keep marble looking clean and amazing

BATHROOM DESIGN Try These Bathroom Remodeling Ideas to Make Cleaning Easier

By Becky Harris

These fixtures, features and materials will save you time when it comes to keeping your bathroom sparkling

ROOM OF THE DAY Master Bathroom With Clean Lines and a Calming Vibe

By Becky Harris

Designers use concrete, wood and matte black to create a restful space for a Pennsylvania couple

BATHROOM DESIGN Subway Tile Wainscoting Puts Bathrooms on the Right Track

By Rachel Grace

It repels water. It looks clean. It works with many architectural styles. Looks like bathrooms have a ticket to a no-brainer

BATHROOM DESIGN Bathroom of the Week: Clean, Contemporary Style for Empty Nesters

By Jeannie Matteucci

Marble tiles, a spacious low-curb shower and a coffee station create a welcoming new en suite bathroom

BATHROOM MAKEOVERS Bathroom of the Week: New Layout and Clean Look in 52 Square Feet

By Jeannie Matteucci

A couple work with a designer and a builder to give their main bathroom a contemporary update with better function

BATHROOM DESIGN How to Design a Bathroom That’s Easy to Clean

By Victoria Harrison

Want a sparkling, clutter-free bathroom? Follow this expert advice to cut down on cleaning time

REMODELING GUIDES How to Keep Your Home's Beautiful Glass Sparkling Clean

By Jen L'Italien

A few simple tools and tricks keep water spots and soapy film at bay

Sponsored

More Discussions

Marvin Window Decisions - Ultimate, Elevate, picture, etc.

23

It's April 2024. How is your build going?

126

Do these dimensions look ok for fireplace mantel?

7

Which quality is good for framing a house and the subfloor

7

What vanity countertop with this shower tile/vanity color?

5