When renovating a bathroom, paint colors and tiles are the most important features that ultimately bring the space to life. But the question remains, what goes first, and does it really matter?
To get the best out of your modern bathroom ideas, you'll need to understand the dos and don'ts of design. That includes knowing what steps you need to take and in what order to create a seamless and timeless atmosphere in your home.
To help you decide whether to choose your bathroom paint color or tiles first, I consulted a few interior designers to understand their typical approach when designing this area of the home for their clients. Here's what they had to say about it.
What Should You Choose First?
Designing a bathroom is no easy feat, which is why understanding what works well for your space is a must. This understanding is key to cohesive design, and it includes knowing if bathroom color or bathroom tiles go first. And well, these designers seem to agree on one thing — step one: Tiles!
Peter Lynn, designer and founder of MALIN + LYNN, tells me, "We typically choose our tiles first, as the tiles typically cover the largest surface area of the bathroom and narrate the language of the rest of the room. Especially if the clients are looking for something with color, pattern, or texture, be it marble, terrazzo, or a stone effect tile.
Peter continues, "Once the tile is chosen, it's important for us to find a complementary paint color to suit (or pick out a specific color in the tile perhaps) to finish the rest of the space."
As an example, Peter says, "within our Lansdowne House Project (pictured above), where the clients loved the drama of the terrazzo tile (we used a mix of light/dark to create zoning within the space). We then picked out paint colors to suit," explains Peter. "Tiling is always done prior to painting, to ensure no chipping or damage is caused to painted walls when laying and installing."
Tania Martins, director of interior design at The Up Studio, tells me, "High-quality tiles typically have fewer colors and finish options, and longer lead times. While paint has a much wider array of options for us to nail the perfect color pairing with the tile."
Tania says you should tile before you take on those paint ideas for your walls, "We typically have tile installation going into our projects before (or during) sheetrock installation. The painter will then protect it when painting."
Why? Well, she says, "We sequence it this way because the tile installation will determine the transition points to painted surfaces. Especially when tile is going on the floor, the contractor is going to want to install those in place as soon as they can."
How to Approach This Matter From a Design Standpoint?
So, what is the best way to approach this in modern interior design?
Well, Tania says, "The step is always just getting to know our clients. From there, we start with a design concept to set the overall design direction for a space."
She says this lays the groundwork for the tone and mood you are trying to capture. "From there, our team typically selects the tile to make sure it’s something our team and clients love, and paint color selection comes afterwards," she notes.
Shop Bathroom Tiles
Ideal for bathroom flooring or even walls, this Nina Campbell Topkapi Aqua Porcelain Tile will brighten up your space in no time. Crafted from resilient porcelain, this piece is ideal for spaces that might be prone to a lot of moisture.
Elegant and sophisticated this Kelmscott Standen tile from Fired Earth has been crafted from durable porcelain. It can seamlessly fit into any space, from a bathroom to a kitchen — it is set to bring a pop of color wherever it lands.
Calm and classy, this Alhambra White Decor is another favorite of mine. Available in a range of colors, this piece is a quiet beauty that makes a bold statement. What's not to love?
Shop Bathroom Paint
Now, if you're looking to redesign or renovate your bathroom, keeping up with the latest bathroom trends is a must. So, give our guide a read to stay on track with all the hottest movements coming around this year.
