Half Tiled Bathroom Ideas

Half tiled bathroom ideas are almost limitless, simply due to how versatile the design choice is. It offers so many options in terms of different combinations of materials and colours. You almost have more choice and creative freedom than you would have by choosing a full tiled bathroom.

And what exactly does’ half’ mean in this context? This opens up even more choice. It’s totally up to you how much of your walls you wish to tile, and otherwise. Each wall can even be a little different if you wish. Usually, the lower half or ‘portion’ of your walls are tiled to ensure they are waterproof. For example, the common splashback areas around your bath, shower, and toilet.

If you need some inspiration for the design of your bathroom tiles, we have some half tiled bathroom ideas that may help right here. Keep reading for more!

The pros of half tiled bathrooms

Before sharing some half tiled bathroom ideas for you to consider in your home, it’s perhaps important to understand the benefits and drawbacks this design choice will provide.

• Versatile and balanced: You can blend the durability and waterproof quality of tiles with paint or wallpaper, which adds a different design aspect to the bathroom. This can be done to achieve more warmth, light, or simply more visual contrast. The world is your oyster in terms of design, really!
• Cost effective: Tiles are more expensive than paint and wallpaper, it goes without saying. Tiling only half of your bathroom cuts your tiling bill in half, which also goes without saying! A clear and obvious benefit!
• Low tile maintenance: Fewer tiles means less time grouting, cleaning and making sure they remain looking spectacular. Painted walls can be easier to clean, update and maintain. This saves even more money for commercial toilet arrangements where a half-and-half approach is used.
• Flexible and easier to change: The upper section of your walls can be redecorated quicker and easier than the tiled section. Where the tiled area remains permanent and durable, the other parts can be updated or changed any time you like.

The cons of half tiled bathrooms

Lastly, very quickly before revealing our half tiled bathroom ideas, it’s only fair to balance the benefits with some of the possible drawbacks of a half tiled bathroom.

• Good ventilation is necessary: This is important in a bathroom regardless. But inadequate ventilation is more likely to spur on water damage, mould and mildew on your non-tiled walls. Therefore, this may not be the best choice for high-moisture bathrooms like public shower rooms where more shower supplies are required.
• Design choices: Too much choice can sometimes be a challenging thing. The choice of tile and paint or wallpaper must complement each other well, or it may feel disjointed. Sometimes having such a sharp divide can be too much, especially in small bathrooms.
• Easier to spoil: Painted or wallpapered walls are prone to stains, scuffs, marks, and water damage. Grouting and re-grouting is laborious and a bit of work, but generally speaking full tiled walls are easier to wipe clean and disinfect across time.

Our top 5 half tiled bathroom ideas

1.Match your features with your top half

You can get really creative with the choice of colour and design of your features, like your bath, sink, toilet, taps, and storage units. Matching colours, styles, and perhaps even materials with your non-tiled areas can help create a fluid design that is seamless. For example, if you have dark tiles with white walls above, then using white features and counter tops strikes a good balance. Green tiles, with white walls, white bathrooms features, and some house plants or foliage creates a bathing environment with a natural feel to it.

2. Use dark colours for warmth, light colours for space

Darker colours like blues, greens and greys can provide a sense of warmth and comfort, especially in large, open bathroom spaces. It works particularly well in bathrooms with lighter coloured tiles. Lighting a few candles in the evening when it’s dark creates almost a romantic feel with a design like this. However, be mindful that in the daytime it may seem too dark, especially if there is lack of natural light.

If the room has this little sunlight, or you have a small bathroom, then using a lighter colour scheme overall will open up the space. It also provides a bigger ‘blank canvas’ for you to experiment with accessories and features.

3. Match your fixtures and accessories

Whatever look, feel or colour you go for with your tiles, do the same with the fixtures you hang from your painted or wallpapered walls. For example, some tiles are created to provide the image of timber. You can match this with a similar design for medicine cupboards, picture frames, toilet roll holders, vanity stands and more. 

4. Consider patterned tiles

Patterned tiles can add a touch of flare and elegance to your bathroom, and also really allow your creativity to take the reins. It creates more opportunity for a seamless design as you can incorporate some of the colour of your non-tiled walls into your tiled design. This particularly works well when you choose a strong, contrasting colour like blue or red. Standard white tiles may create too much of a divide. Having a patterned tile, with some blue or red in there, will help unify the overall aesthetic.

5. Keep it simple and leave the attention to details

Smaller bathroom spaces can become overwhelming if the design is split in two. If this is the case then keeping it simple may be the best approach. Choose a neutral tone for both your tiles and the other half of your walls, and then let your fixtures and features do the talking. Sometimes it’s not the walls that make the design, it’s the attention to the little details and the additions you make.

Get in touch for more half tiled bathroom ideas! 

Still not inspired? Don’t hesitate to get in touch to ask us for some more ideas! Give us a call on 01706 525 926, we are more than happy to help! We can give you advice on how to organise your design and show you a set of examples using some of our leading brands and suppliers.

We also have showrooms in Rochdale and Bury if you’d like to come see us in person. Pull up a chair, we’ll have a cup of tea and talk more about your half tiled bathroom ideas. If you’d like to know more about our design & install service, simply let us know and one of our team will get in touch.