Tile choice has more impact on the finished look of your bathroom than almost any other decision. Here's honest advice on what works in Dundee homes.

Porcelain — the all-rounder

Porcelain is the most popular bathroom tile choice and for good reason. Durable, water-resistant by nature, available in every imaginable format, finish and look (including stone effects, marble effects, concrete effects, wood effects).

Mid-range porcelain at £30–£50/m² hits the value sweet spot for most Dundee bathrooms. Premium Italian porcelain at £60–£120/m² is genuinely beautiful and largely indistinguishable from natural stone at half the maintenance.

Ceramic — when to use it

Ceramic tiles are cheaper (£15–£25/m²) and slightly easier to cut, but more porous and less durable than porcelain. Best for low-traffic areas — half-height walls in cloakrooms, splashbacks. Avoid on floors or in showers.

Natural stone — beautiful but demanding

Marble, travertine, limestone and slate look stunning but need sealing every 1–2 years and won't tolerate harsh cleaners. Worth the maintenance in luxury bathrooms; not the right call in busy family bathrooms.

Premium porcelain in marble or travertine effect gives you 90% of the look with zero maintenance.

Format matters more than you think

Large-format tiles (60×60cm and above) make rooms feel larger because fewer grout lines mean fewer visual interruptions. Now standard in most modern bathrooms.

Small mosaic tiles work as feature accents — shower niches, around freestanding baths — but not as the main wall or floor finish unless you're going for a specific period look.

Grout and finish

Grout colour matters as much as tile colour. Lighter grouts visually disappear with light tiles; contrast grouts emphasise the geometry. We always grout to a sample board first.

Matt finishes on floors for slip resistance. Polished or satin on walls. Anti-slip-rated porcelain is essential in wet rooms.