One Hundred Dollars a Month

Join Mavis Butterfield for vegetable gardening and canning tips, easy recipes, and saving money strategies (Rug hooking, too!). Simple living at its best!

Random photo update

I Need Your Input On Some Bathroom Tile

By Mavis Butterfield on - 127 Comments

I need your input on some bathroom tile. Can you help me out? 🙂

We bought a navy vanity online a few months ago for the main bathroom and it’s been taking up some prime real estate in the hallway ever since it was delivered {2+ months ago}.

And basically, if we’re going to “refresh” the bathroom {tear out the laminate flooring, the outdated shower tile and install a new vanity} we better hop to it.

The clock is ticking. Winter {snow, ice, cabin fever} will soon be here again and in no way shape or form do I want to tackle a bathroom project {it’s the ONLY shower in the house} in the middle of winter.

So let’s get busy! Let’s do this. Let’s make some choices and order the tile for the shower and the floor so we can get the show on the road.

I told the HH that since our bathroom is so small… We should just go for it. Get something snazzy. Something unique. Something fun.

And so a few weeks ago we looked around Home Depot to see if there was anything we liked. There wasn’t. It was just the same old stuff.

So I suggested we check out the local tile store. And yesterday we hopped in the car and did just that.

Tile #1   

The HH really, really liked this one for a floor tile. I told him I wasn’t so sure it would go with the navy blue vanity {and brass hardware} that we’ve already picked out. 

We know we want some sort of white subway tile for the shower walls {because we’re boring that way and because we’re aiming for a “classic” look. Tile #1 doesn’t quite fit with white subway tile in my opinion. But what do I know. 

I’m just a girl who has always been in love with small hexagons and penny floor tile {but has never splurged on them}. 

Tile #2 

Clearly, I picked this one out. But for a floor? Probably too busy. 

Tile #3 

Absolutely not. I told the HH we are not getting boring 12 x 24 again. Not gonna do it. This is a teeny tiny house. I want something fun. 

 

I pretty much LOVED all the tiles on this wall. 

Tile #4

Especially this flower power one. But that’s a lot of white grout. I don’t mind white grout {it’s just the two of us, we’re not messy} but I think this one has a wee bit too much for a floor. 

Tile #5

Okay, tell me you love this starburst one. I thought this one had a very nautical vibe to it. Perfect for a house by the sea don’t you think? 

Tiles #6 {hexagon} and #7 {penny}

Such a classic look. 

Tile #8 

The HH found this one. I like the little bits of blue, I think they’d go nicely with the vanity. 

Out of these 8 tiles, which one do you think would go best in a bathroom with white walls {always white walls!} subway tile in the shower and a blue vanity?

I’m tired of boring bathrooms! I’m ready to do something fun {within reason}. 😉

Have a great weekend everyone,  

~Mavis

SHARE:
OTHER

This post may contain affiliate links. These affiliate links help support this site. For more information, please see my disclosure policy. Thank you for supporting One Hundred Dollars a Month.

Comments

  2. Kim K Nordquist says

    #6 Hex with the gray grout, #8 with light gray grout. The colored grout offers a nice contrast to the tile. The variations in color of tile with the Hex would go nicely with lots of colors including the blue vanity.

    Reply

  5. Audra says

    I love #5 bc the pattern brings a lot of interest while the monochromatic colors keep it feeling classic – it’s not going to feel dated in a few years. #6 would be my second choice. They’re all great though, I think whatever you go with will be fab!

    Reply

  9. Mrs. M says

    I also like #8 for the shower walls.
    And, i like #1 for the floor… the colors, the stars. But, I’m not sure what the colors are. You know how phones don’t show true colors. 2nd pick for the floor is #4 with grey grout instead of white! Same concept as white, but easier to keep clean.
    Best of luck! It’ll be beautiful no matter which ones y’all decide.

    Reply

  19. Brianna says

    Starburst #5 if you plan on reselling, nice and neutral but interesting.
    Bits of Blue #8 if you are planning on keeping the house as it seems like you like it best and it coordinates with the vanity.

    We bought a very similar HD blue vanity for our last house. It looked nice for maybe a year, but it was soft wood and everything made an indentation if it accidentally got hit with something, then the veneer would crack and start to peel. I replaced it before we sold the house as it was something our Realtor pointed out. I was thankful I put in a neutral marble looking tile for the floor, so anything went easily with it I changed the vanity. A vanity is easier to change out than a tile floor.

    Reply

  20. Nancy says

    5 would be my first choice because it would visually expand your bathroom – aside from being gorgeous. It is also a very similar pattern to the first tile that HH liked. Maybe a good compromise? Second choice would be 8 because it is beautiful and would absolutely bring the room together.

    Reply

  21. Shari Harniss says

    I really like #5. So pretty and interesting.
    Here’s a thought…what about blue grout? Too much?

    Reply

  23. Dawn says

    I absolutely love #4 but agree that there might be too much grout. My next picks are #5 and #8.

    Reply

  24. Mrs. C. says

    I like #2, #5, and #8, in that order.

    We lived in a townhouse with a bunch of tiny bathrooms. Someone had once told me to do exactly what you’re thinking – make them really beautiful. So, we thought, “tiny jewel box,” and it worked! Because the space is so small, even if you use high end materials, the cost is low.

    Questions: where did you find tile #2? Where did you find that vanity?

    Reply

  25. Lisa says

    #6, hexagon is a true classic. Your vanity, linens and artwork will provide the punch; the floor will serve as a lovely foundation that will never go out of style!

    Reply

  29. Susie says

    I love 5, 6, 7 and 8!! For some reason I like 8 for in the shower though. And 6 and 7 for other places.

    Reply

  30. Carol says

    #8—The blue vanity will go with it, it is interesting and the pattern is not too big for the small size so you will actually be able to see there is a pattern.

    Reply

  31. Amy says

    I’d go with 8. That one would go well with the vanity and it’s just such a pretty tile.

    Reply

  32. Christie says

    I like #8 but not for the floor. Starburst for the floor! Can’t wait to see the finished product!

    Reply

  33. Holley says

    Why don’t you just do the small hexagons like you said you’ve always loved?

    I do not like #5. It looks like it belongs in a Star Spangled Banner bathroom in some government building somewhere. I like the center star burst, but not the star shaped tiles that go out from it.

    I love #8.

    Reply

  34. Sandra says

    I would go with #8. It picks up on the nautical/seaside vibe and will go well with your handsome blue vanity.

    Reply

  38. Jeanine says

    Penny Tile. Can’t go wrong with that one. It’s timeless. All the rest will be outdated in a few years. My second choice is the starburst one. Just kind of fun! Good Luck!

    Reply

  40. PNW Vickie says

    Love #8 to go with the vanity!

    Just a suggestion for the shower: We did soldiers (tiles place up and down, not long side to side) on part of a backsplash. I see a lot of showers that do the up and down (soldiers) and it really adds something to the look.

    Reply

  41. Tanya says

    I like #1, it’s not matchy match to the blue of the vanity and the gold hardware would stand out. If you are doing white subway tile in the shower then it’s not going to be visually too loud. Small space with a pop of fun color. Even if the next owner had to replace the vanity they could do a white vanity to match the white subway tile of the shower and still have the fun pop of color and pattern.

    Reply

  46. Luisa says

    Number 2 for my house—but that wasn’t the question! Number 8 is perfect for your space.

    Reply

  48. Erin says

    I like #8. I say the wilder, the better. Even if resale is a concern. Your location, being by the ocean, will be what sells the house. Have fun with the bathroom! And if you’re concerned about grout staying clean, seal it! It’s better for the grout anyway & helps keep any waterproofing failure concerns at bay. We recently sold a house with a tiny bathroom & wild floor tile (really wild). We hadn’t intended to sell, so we had fun with our design. Every seller who toured it loved the bathroom, & we had multiple offers. All that to say, do what you want!

    Reply

  49. Cat says

    I’d go with #6 personally and maybe a really light gray grout. I have white grout in my ensuite bathroom floor and it looks awful now, and most of it’s under a bath mat too but it’s still dirty and i can’t get it back to bright white. If you’re not planning to stay long term, I would go neutral for the flooring especially if you have to change the vanity for any reason as well down the road. Blue accents are easy enough to add in pictures, towels or Knick knacks.

    Reply

  50. Sue says

    Are we talking floor tile, shower pan, or both?
    Tile #8 is nice for the floor tile.

    For a shower pan? Not so much, if you have hard or high-mineral water. All that grout will be so hard to keep white. And I would stick with porcelain rather than marble. Most cleaners that promise to clean grout cannot be used on natural stone.

    Personally, Tile # 2 makes my heart sing. I don’t think it’s too busy for a floor. But in a shower? Never.

    Reply

    • Mavis Butterfield says

      Tile floor only. We have a shower/bathtub combo and just need subway tile for the shower walls.

      Reply

  53. Honeybee says

    #1 and #8 are calling to me. What a fun floor that would be.
    I have a new walk in shower about 3 years old. The extra large tile on the shower walls is easy to squeege and has a lot less grout then subway tiles. For my kitchen back splash I have white subway tiles. Fantastic!

    Reply

  56. Tamara says

    #6 or #8. #6 is my favorite. The blue vanity is plenty of color for a bathroom; then you could add a print/painting on the wall.

    Reply

  61. Jenny says

    #8 . #5 is pretty but if the pattern doesn’t line up perfectly from one edge of the tile to the edge of the next tile to make a perfect continuation of the pattern, it would bother me.

    Reply

  67. Gail says

    Definitely NOT #8. The style of the vanity doesn’t go with that tile. The tile is modern and your vanity is traditional. Do not mix styles! You could get away with the starburst or penny tile which is classic. I would return to the store and look again

    Reply

  68. Julia Park Tracey says

    I’m also a penny tile girl and I also like charcoal grout for similar reasons. Dirty floors are gross.
    My vote is #8.

    Reply

  69. Anne Wiebe says

    5 for sure!

    Here’s what I DON’T like about #8, although it’s pretty. But it VERY MUCH reminds me of corporate/public nice bathrooms. I’ve seen that effect in so many places. I think 5 will go with anything but be that bit of beautiful whimsy that makes it a gorgeous bathroom.

    Reply

  75. Elizabeth C Smith says

    Clearly the unpopular opinion- but I LOVE love- number 2- number 8 is a good tie in but number 2 will be cheery in the long winters and cool and happy in the summer, its unique, its flowery, it’s fun, it’s you!

    Reply

  77. Mimi says

    #8!
    It has just the right amount of interest but isn’t a pattern that would start to lose it’s appeal a few years down the road. Timeless in other words.

    Reply

  78. Cecile says

    #8 but, what about the one under the penny tiles? It has blue in it too!
    The daisies were my first choice before scrolling up and seeing it was at the top of your list. You could do a light grey grout instead of white which would bring out the white daisies even more!

    Reply

  79. Pat Marino says

    If I were to choose for myself, it would be #5, but for you, Mavis, go with your gut. You have great design instincts and any of them would look great.

    Reply

  80. Ellen C. says

    I like either of the tiles HH picked. Either one will go with the vanity cabinet. The rest of the selections are too white with no life.

    Reply

  81. Chyrl says

    I love 2, it’s gorgeous and unique. Second choice is 8 but I’d never get over not choosing 2! Love the navy vanity!

    Reply

  82. Tanya J. says

    I like 1 and 5. Could you buy a sample of the top picks (his and hers) and bring them home to see them in the space and next to the vanity?

    Reply

  84. Karyn says

    I thought #8 for sure—-but actually #2 would be fantastic. Go with what really makes you happy, but also would like in a few years

    Reply

  87. Michelle S. says

    I love #1. It’s a perfect complement to the white and the walls and navy vanity without being “matchy matchy”.

    Reply

  88. Zanne says

    #2, #5, and #8. Are you doing the shower floor as well? You can splurge on penny/hexagon tile there. Small area = less cost. I have it on my shower floor. Do you use bathroom rugs? That will cut the busy look of the flower tile. I bet you choose #8.

    Reply

  90. Molly says

    If I was looking for something snazzy I’d go with 1.
    Number 8 will be very classy but wouldn’t say snazzy.

    Reply

  91. Tracie says

    2, 5, and 4 in that order. The #2 tile is absolutely gorgeous!! I can’t wait to see what you choose.

    Reply

  97. Juana says

    I love the starburst one!! But #8 would be pretty with your navy vanity. Can’t wait to see what you do.

    Reply

  105. Allison Kitfield says

    I really like #8 of those presented, but on the wall of tiles you said you liked, what about four rows down and second from left? Color doesn’t always travel well on a computer, so I can’t tell if its only grays or there’s a blueish tint in there two. If gray, might there be the same pattern in a different mix with some blue? I thought it was fun to play off the classic vanity. Whatever you do will be beautiful. I see a mirror with mussel shells…

    Reply

  112. Jillian says

    #1 is beautiful and interesting and will add character and depth visually, and it’s not too matchy. That’s what I would do.

    Reply

  113. Richelle says

    1 and 5 for the floors. Like someone else said, 8 looks like it belongs on a wall (and the color pallette is too obvious and matchy matchy).

    Reply

  114. Katie says

    #8 in the shower and subway tile on the floor. Not having seen your bathroom, #8 in the shower will move your eye from the vanity to the shower, creating interest. If it’s a small bathroom, you don’t want people to look at the floor and it’ll probably have a rug covering it anyways!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Mavis Butterfield
This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Error: No feed found.

Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to create a feed.