What is the bath floor tile? What is the layout of the bath? A drawing is good. What are the other finishes? What will the shower floor be?

What is the look you want for the whole bath when finished?

Grout and worry on grout? This is a function of very good ventilation. In ANY color grout and for any size tile, for any bath.

We need context and I agree a very small shower so for sure we need to see what you are working with as to floor plan. I agree the ceiling height will make the space feel even worse. Before doing anything why not post your floor plan maybe there is a way to improve the space you have.

If the shower is that small, I'm guessing this is an older home. I'd caution against using large format tile or solid surfacing slabs for the walls since they require **really** straight/plumb walls. Even if you gut the shower and start over, I'm betting there's been a fair amount of settling of your house. I'd go with classic subway tile or, at most, 12 x 24 tile that can be horizontally offset by thirds so the smaller cuts won't be too small.

@BeverlyFLADeziner Thanks. The ceiling is just under 8 ft. The rest of the bathroom ceiling is around 9'.

Wondering if a 12x24 tile could work, but have GC first check if walls are plumb to be able to set properly.

@JAN MOYER Thanks. We are redoing the master, so floor tile will match whatever we select for the shower walls. Shower floor will be a small hexagon.

I will try and post a pic or drawing of the space soon.

@Patricia Colwell Consulting Thanks. I'll try and post a pic of the floor plan.

The bathroom is relatively large with a large jacuzzi tub in the corner. Long vanities next to it.

On the other side is the small shower within the wall space. Just under 8' ceilings. Rest of the bathroom is 9' ceilings. Small closet next to the shower.

@Sabrina Alfin Interiors Thanks. Good point on needing straight walls for extra large format tile. House was built in the 1990's. The ceiling is just under 8' and the rest of the bathroom is 9'. Thanks for the tile sizes.

@jackowskib Thanks. "walls are plumb" - does this mean straight walls?

A shower cube has 6 ways that the walls, floors, and ceilings, can be out of plane or unsquare to each other.

@Franklin Guess smaller tile will work best. Even 12 by 24 may not work because of this issue.

I'm betting it's a fairly typical suburban, late eighties/early 1990's bath and possibly needs a big rearrange of layout and fixtures, before investing in a cosmetic re do with a VERY inadequate shower. I'd put money on that bet : )

Do a very accurate drawing to scale, of every inch of that bath, as it exists. Walls,windows, openings doors all, To the inch, bold and legible

Plumb is to vertical as level is to horizontal.

I would be willing to give up the large tub in order to have a more comfortable and functional shower. Is this a consideration?

@Linda Dornan We were thinking of getting rid of the tub, but other houses in the area have a tub and not having one could affect resale value.

A complete re-do is a lot more expensive. The shower works for us, but is small by today's standards. The highlight of this bathroom seems to be the big jacuzzi tub (not raised like the older homes have).

@JAN MOYER It's a late 1990's bath. A complete re-do would be best, but will add $$$$$. We are also updating 2 other baths upstairs, floors etc.

I'm not sure how to draw to scale. Is there some software I can use?

Our townhouse was built in 1998 with the same master bath configuration as yours. We recently completed a full re-do, including getting rid of a water closet and moving the toilet into the main bathroom space. We turned the whirlpool tub into a large shower. We had room for a tub, but had no use for one, as there is one down the hall.

Most people today take showers, and few people even use those whirlpool tubs. Having a nice shower will add far more value than that tub.

@latifolia Thanks. You make good points.

We were thinking of getting rid of the tub, but other houses in the area have a tub and not having one could affect resale value.

A complete re-do is a lot more expensive. The shower works for us, but is small by today's standards. The highlight of this bathroom seems to be the big jacuzzi tub (not raised like the older homes have).

Is there a bath in any of the other bathrooms?

Most people nowadays do NOT want a jacuzzi tub for multiple reasons but prefer a larger tub.

In my last place, a condo, we turned the bathtub into the shower and the shower into a bathtub space.

I'm not sure how to draw to scale. Is there some software I can use?

Get graph paper and a #2 pencil and using a ruler draw it out so that 1 square = 6" or 1'.

If you haven't already done so, ask a local Realtor.

I might consider dropping the ceiling to 8 ft. Vintage homes with small shower stalls often had dropped ceilings so the space was more proportioned.

We have 8' ceilings, and our showers are 7' ... this is a problem because the steam has only about a foot to escape over the door, and the it ends up being "trapped" on the shower ceiling. It sits there and forms mold on the ceiling, which is hard for me to reach.

I've always wondered if an angled ceiling would allow the water to drip away, which would be better.
I'd go with classic subway tile

I hear what the other poster says about the difficulties with large scale tile, but I would not like to clean all the grout for subway. I'd look for something midway between subways and large tiles.
Most people today take showers, and few people even use those whirlpool tubs.

Not true. You'll find that this website is pretty much split 50-50 between those who use tubs vs. those who don't.

Having a nice shower will add far more value than that tub.

Depends upon your potential buyer.

Most people nowadays do NOT want a jacuzzi tub for multiple reasons but prefer a larger tub.

Let's define "larger tub". I think a lot of people want a deeper tub ... but not necessarily a wider /longer tub. Those wider /longer tubs take a lot of time to fill, and then (because of the large surface area) they cool quickly.

@Mrs Pete Thanks. It is a difficult decision. The tub we have is in good condition - not long, but deep and wide with jets.

The fixtures are gold and need to be replaced. If that's not possible (will crack the ceramic) then we will have to remove the tub and install a free standing tub.

"We are redoing the master, so floor tile will match whatever we select for the shower walls."

I'd prioritize the appearance of the bathroom floor over the shower walls. How would 35" x 35" tiles look on the bathroom floor? How many tiles of this size exist? I used easy-to-find 12" x 24" tiles for my bathroom floor and the two narrow walls of my rectangular shower*. The tiles are stacked vertically in the shower. Yeah, some tiles had to be cut (widths are 12" - 12" - 8") but it looks fine. The shower door intersects the 8" tiles so it even makes the narrower tiles less noticeable.

*Long wall is about 60" and I used 6" x 12" tiles stacked horizontally there.

@wdccruise Thanks. I was thinking of 12 X 24 for the bathroom floor. 35 X 35 for show walls only because 1 tile would span the width of the wall with no grout. But, as others mentioned plumb may be an issue, so will have to check with the contractor.

I may use a 4X12 or 3X12 tile on the shower walls. Would prefer them stacked horizontally vs vertically as would like the shower to have a wider look.

Will also consider getting rid of the tub and converting to a bigger shower.

Rather than spreading my resources too thin by doing multiple bathrooms at once, I would focus on the master bath. The other bathrooms could be refreshed, but having a fully updated MB with the best configuration (lose the huge jacuzzi) would give you the best use of money & space while appealing to buyers, down the road.

@Linda Dornan Thanks. What you say makes sense. Although we do have to update the other baths as they show wear.

The biggest issue is a plan for the redesign of the master bath. I will try and post a drawing for some help or what / how to go about it.

That’s not really a small shower… we have a decent size bathroom and the shower is 34x32 or something around that. It could have been bigger but I’ve honestly never felt it too small when I use it

You dhould be working with a good kitchen and bath designer. The first discussion should be about scale, and then finances. Uodating muktiple bathrooms easily outs hou over the 100K mark. So, you need to define what you mean about ”wear” on the others. And maybe smp up your DIY to paint vanities, change light fixtures, etc etc. Just doing those 2 things DIY saves you 5 K already.

@Thanks. Agree on scale and finances.

Vanities need to be replaced - peeling. No DIY. I don't the the work will exceed 100K.