The Best Tile for Showers if You Live a Low-Maintenance Life
With 19 bathroom renovations under my belt, I’m finally ready to share my thoughts on the best tile for showers so you can create a beautiful, low-maintenance shower in your home (because you deserve it).
Picture this: you close your laptop after a long day of work, put on your robe and comfy slippers, and turn the shower knob. Hot steam fills your bathroom, and the only thing echoing in your head is the sound of the water hitting the shower floor.
Sounds nice, right?
Your shower should be a source of relaxation and self-care, not a source of added stress. In this blog post, I’m going to share the best tile for showers that minimize cleaning and maintenance, and maximize beauty and relaxation.
After all, you put a lot of love into your home. You deserve a home that loves you back!
So let’s skip the overwhelming trip to Floor & Decor and the inevitable decision fatigue that comes with it. I’m breaking down my exact process for choosing the best tile for showers so you can design your bathroom with confidence.
Let’s jump in!
Shower Tile Basics: Don’t Overlook the Grout
Let’s start with the basics.
Your shower tile design can be broken down into 2 components: the tile and the grout. Larger tiles tend to have fewer grout lines. In contrast, mosaics or smaller tiles have a lot of grout lines.
Each option has it’s pros and cons. Grout lines provide traction, which is helpful in wet areas like the shower. I always opt for a mosaic or small tile for shower floors to prevent slips.
But the downside is the maintenance. Exposure to high-moisture areas leads to the accumulation of grime, mildew, and mold. You can combat the mold growth and discoloration with a bi-weekly cleaning schedule. The best way to clean tile showers is with baking soda, water, and a brush.
RELATED POST: 17+ Home Cleaning Supplies to Simplify Your Bathroom Cleaning Routine
Now let’s cover the color options. If you want a subtle tile pattern in your shower, match the grout color to the tile color as best you can. In contrast (no pun intended), you can make your tile pattern pop with a contrasting grout color.
Best Tile for Showers: Understanding Your Options
There are 4 basic types of shower tiles, each with its own personality and purpose:
Shower Tile Breakdown
Now that we’ve covered the basics of shower tile and grout, let’s move on to the best tile for showers that optimize beauty and minimize maintenance.
My Low-Maintenance, High-Impact Shower Tile Formula
After years of designing bathrooms for small and luxury homes alike, I narrowed down the fool-proof formula for beautiful, safe, and easy-to-clean showers. Here’s what always works:
Mosaic Tile Shower Floor + Large Format Shower Walls
I compiled a list of the best tile for shower walls and the best tile for shower floor, sourced directly from our last 4 home renovations. Let’s jump in!
Best tile for shower walls
When it comes to shower walls, go big or go home! Large-format tiles create fewer grout lines, making them easier to clean and offering a more expansive, luxurious look.
Ceramic and porcelain tiles sit at the lower end of the price range, while Carrera marble commands a higher price per square foot. All 3 materials offer neutral, timeless options in a variety of sizes to match a range of design styles.
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Best tile for shower floor
Small-format and mosaic tiles offer better traction in high-moisture areas, making them a no-brainer for shower floors. If you have a smaller bathroom, avoid breaking up the space with different floor tiles. Instead, use the same tile on your shower floor and bathroom floor to create the illusion of a bigger space.
Whether you prefer the simplicity of penny tile, the traditional feel of basketweave, or a modern hexagon mosaic, we have the perfect floor tile for you. Each offers a timeless finish with plenty of traction.
Shower Floor Tile
Best tile for Shower Niche
A niche is a great way to add shower storage and keep your space organized. I typically continue the tile on the shower wall to the backdrop of the niche, creating a sense of continuity. Others use the backdrop as an opportunity to make a design statement with a different tile that contrasts with the walls.
Whichever design option resonates with you, just make sure you select a material that can handle indirect water exposure.
My go-to shower tile formula
Here’s an example of my shower formula at work. I used a marble mosaic on the shower floor and continued it throughout the entire bathroom floor to create a more expansive feel. For the shower walls, I alternated between 2 large-format marble tiles in the same color (a large 12″ x 24″ tile and a smaller 6″ x 12″ tile) to add visual interest and subtle dimension.
I opted for a full marble shower because this was the primary bathroom of a luxury home renovation, so the finishes had to be top-notch. But you could easily create a low-maintenance version of this shower with a porcelain hexagon mosaic on the shower floor and large-format ceramic tile on the shower wall.
Shower Tile Mistakes I See Way Too Often
I need to get something off my chest. Choosing the best tile for showers is a personal decision, but it’s also a costly one. I’ve seen homeowners dive into the latest tile and grout trends, only to regret their decision a year later.
Common Tile Mistakes
Don’t get me wrong. I love the gorgeous color variations in handmade Zellige tile just as much as the next girl. But as stunning as it is, Zellige is not necessarily a practical choice. The irregular surfaces can create cleaning nightmares and even water penetration issues over time.
If you want my advice, skip the bold, trendy tile and opt for a more neutral, timeless option. This doesn’t mean that you have to choose a white tile, but I’d recommend a neutral color palette with a smooth surface that will look good in the long term and save you hours of cleaning.
If you want to incorporate bold or trendy accents in your bathroom, opt for design elements that are easy to switch out, like light fixtures, plumbing fixtures, paint colors, and decor pieces, so your bathroom can evolve with your design style.
RELATED POST: 5 Affordable Bathroom Upgrades That Won’t Break the Bank
Common Grout Mistakes
The same goes for that ultra-white grout I see everywhere on social media. It looks great in the pictures, but in reality, pure white grout is a one-way road to disappointment. Even with the best cleaning routine and sealant, white grout will show every bit of soap residue, hard water marks, and dirt.
Unless you have time to clean your grout daily, I suggest choosing a light gray or off-white option that will age gracefully with your shower.
Design Your Dream Shower
Remember, behind every magazine-worthy shower is someone who stood in a tile store feeling completely overwhelmed—just like you might be feeling now. So take a breath, anchor your decisions on quality materials, and create a shower that is uniquely you.
This post is all about the best tile for showers.
