Planning your bathroom: a helpful guide

When it comes to designing a bathroom, ensuite or WC space that feels timeless, considered and utterly personal, few elements carry as much weight as your choice of tiles and colour palette.

Together, these two elements work in harmony to shape the mood of your space - how it feels in the bright morning light as you prepare for the day ahead, and how it welcomes you back in the evening.

At our Marlborough studio our ceramic wall tiles are crafted with artistry and expertise, and our porcelain floor tiles are sourced with care and an eye for exquisite detail.

In this guide we'll share with you our top tips on how to approach your bathroom project, helping you to make choices that feel personal, elegant and lasting.

Step 1: Start with atmosphere

Before you dive into swatches or samples, take the time to ask yourself: How do I want this space to feel?

Perhaps you’re seeking a calming sanctuary - cool and restorative. Or maybe your vision is warmer, earthier, with subtle texture and character. Perhaps you want to feel enlivened, refreshed and bright with each visit? Defining the atmosphere you want to achieve will help guide every other decision, from colours and finishes to decorative features.

When you understand the ambiance you want to achieve, and choose your tiles and finishes thoughtfully, they become the solid architecture of the room's feeling on which to build.

Step 2: Understand the light

Bathrooms can often be some of the smallest and most light-sensitive rooms in the home, with lots of reflective and hard surfaces which are practical but can be unforgiving.

The direction of natural light and it's strength, and the times of day you are likely to spend in the space, will all influence the look of your room, and how you feel within it.

North facing rooms often receive cooler, flatter light and so in these spaces you may want to opt for colours and glazed tiles with warmer undertones to bring warmth and colour into the room.

South facing rooms however are bathed in richer light throughout the day, and can handle deeper and cooler colours - brighter and bolder colours will shine in this kind of natural light, revealing their character and complexity.

You will also want to consider how artificial light, whether warm or cool, will impact the feel of the space. Wall sconces, pendants and spot lights can create brightness and shadows around the room, highlighting colour and texture. Glossy textures such as tiles may shimmer and bounce light around whilst matt finishes absorb light. 

There is no right or wrong - only what best serves the mood you want to achieve.

Step 3: Proportion and scale

Whilst some of us are blessed with large bathrooms and tall ceilings, not all spaces are the same and often those challenging little rooms can be some of the most interesting to design.

The key to your space is balance - consider the proportion of your tiles, fittings, decor and furniture to the room's size and ceiling height.

In a small bathroom, or perhaps a downstairs WC, consider using tiles paired with a tonal matching grout for a cohesive, uncluttered look. Alternatively, opting for small format tiles can add interest and intimacy when the rest of the room is kept relatively simple and the tiles given space to shine.

Full height tiling - floor to ceiling - draws the eye upward creating a sense of space, especially in rooms with generous ceiling heights. 

In contrast, to make a large room feel cosier, consider tiling up to a tiled dado border - just like a picture rail - to draw the eye down just enough, from the high ceiling above.

Step 4: Colour as craft

Now you have an idea of light, space and mood, you can think about colour. Selecting your palette can be overwhelming but there are typically three classic methods to choose from:

• Tonal pairings - pair variations of a single colour family together, such as a range of neutrals, greens or blues, to create a classic, sophisticated look. For example, gentle off-white Antique White tiles with a relaxed neutral such as Farrow & Ball's Oxford Stone or Shaded White, with wood-effect porcelain floor tiles.
• Contrasts - balance dark and light to bring depth to your space, creating a bold yet refined look. This approach works especially well in spaces with good natural light or distinctive features such as a bath surround, alcove, walk in shower space or vanity wall. An example could be Kensington Dusk handmade wall tiles, paired with Farrow & Ball's pale grey Ammonite, and a neutral coloured stone-effect porcelain floor tile.
• Monochromatic - use a single colour across multiple finishes to create a sense of unity whilst letting the materials do the talking. In a monochrome bathroom the interest comes from how the light hits each of the surfaces, from glossy or rustic tiles, matt paint, and soft textiles. An example could be handmade Halcyon Grace pale blue wall tiles, paired with Farrow & Ball's Skylight, finished with soft blue accents in accessories, furniture colour and fabrics.

Step 4: Tiles for texture

Not all tiles are created equally. And none more so than here at Marlborough Tiles. Not only are our nuanced glaze colours custom made in house - colours you simply won't find anywhere else - but our tiles come in an array of textures, shapes and sizes too.

Tiles are a great way to introduce colour and texture into your space, with the following finishes available across our wall tile collections:

• Gloss: a simple glossy finish, with a flat or gently undulating surface to reflect light around your bathroom. 
• Crackle Glaze: a subtle crackle finish on the top of the tile creates an artisanal, classic finish. The colours feel more subtle and the delicate crackle pattern brings a refined look to the tile.
• Aged Crackle: we hand-finish each crackle glaze tile to emphasise the crackle finish and create an aged look. Perfect for period homes and those aspiring to an antique look, such as in cottages or townhouses.
• Rustic: our rustic tile collections are made by hand using premium Spanish terracotta, moulded by hand into wooden frames and allowed to dry the traditional way. This creates an unrivalled texture and look - with a rustic surface, imperfect edges and crumpled corners. No two are the same, telling the story of how they were made.
• Matt: a true matt tile, with a non-reflective surface and paper smooth finish, our matt tiles bring balance and harmony to any room. They have been designed to pair with the UK's leading paint colours and so are perfect for any colour scheme, especially in rooms with abundant light or in a contemporary home.

Step 5: Don't forget the floor

With the walls in hand, it's important to consider the floor and how that can bring the whole space together. A bathroom floor should be as beautiful as it is practical, and our collectons of premium porcelain floor tiles are just the thing.

For a warm, classic finish or to introduce a natural or spa-like look, you could opt for wood-effect plank tiles, perfectly imitating natural wood whilst being perfectly waterproof and suitable for use in the whole room, even the shower!

A more traditional finish is stone effect tiles, again completely waterproof for all areas of the room, and with intricate detail to look exactly like real stone. Popular examples include our Lacock floor tiles with subtle fossil detail and the Ridgeway collection with chiselled edges for antique character.

Also popular are our terracotta-effect porcelain tiles, the Andalucia collection. Available in two traditional terracotta shades, and 5 different shapes, the collection has a non-slip finish and realistic terracotta look to create the perfect Mediterranean inspired bathroom or WC.

Let the Room Guide You

Rather than imposing a vision onto a room, we believe in listening - letting the architecture, the light, and the mood shape your design direction. 

In a soft morning light, a wall of gentle, green tiles might feel just right. In a bright, tall room, an bold, stacked tile might feel confident and architectural.

A bathroom renovation is not simply a matter of colours and hard surfaces - it’s about crafting a space that resonates with its surroundings, and with you.

Finally, if you need any further advice or guidance, do feel free to contact us to discuss your project, we would love to hear from you. 

You can also find a wealth of inspirational bathroom images from customer projects in our Gallery.