How to Choose Bathroom Tiles for Floors, Walls and Shower Areas

By Udaipur Tiles editorial team. Updated 4 October 2026.

Choose bathroom tiles by zone. The wall, dry floor, shower floor and any transition can need different products and checks. Coordinate the appearance, but verify each tile’s intended use separately. Waterproofing, drainage and installation details must be resolved independently of the tile’s colour or finish.

Map wet and dry areas first

Draw the room and mark the shower, basin, toilet and door. Note where water is likely to reach the floor and where people walk barefoot. Include any level changes or drainage points already planned. This simple map makes a selection conversation more useful than asking for one bathroom tile without describing the application.

Your installer should review the falls, drainage and substrate before you settle the floor layout. A tile alone cannot correct an unsuitable system.

What should you ask about slip behaviour?

Ask for the relevant test information for the exact product and finish, and discuss how that information relates to the expected use. A matt label, a rough appearance or a range name does not guarantee slip resistance. Barefoot shower use deserves a specific conversation, not a broad indoor-floor assumption.

Consider maintenance at the same time. A surface should be selected with a realistic cleaning routine and the manufacturer’s care guidance. Do not choose a texture solely by touching a small dry sample.

How do you coordinate walls and floors?

Lay the samples together and compare their undertones under the intended light. Decide whether the wall or floor should carry the stronger pattern. For the Johnson ranges, 30 × 60 and 30 × 45 cm wall concepts offer a starting point for coordinated schemes. Check the designation of the matching floor piece separately.

Use grout samples where possible. Joint colour can change the appearance of a plain wall or emphasise a repeating pattern. Confirm product compatibility and maintenance with your installer.

Plan niches, corners and fixtures

Mark the basin, shower controls, niches and openings on each wall elevation. Check how cuts will fall around them. A narrow strip in a highly visible corner may be avoidable with a different starting point or format. Discuss actual tile dimensions and joint planning rather than using nominal dimensions alone.

For a shower floor, format also interacts with the drainage layout and cuts. Ask the installer to assess the proposed design before placing an order.

Keep waterproofing separate

The waterproofing system, substrate preparation, joints, transitions and penetrations need appropriate design and installation. A low-absorption tile or an attractive glazed wall tile does not prove the completed bathroom is waterproof. Ask who is responsible for each part of the assembly and what product instructions apply.

This website does not promise installation services from Udaipur Tiles. Product selection and installation responsibility should be clear before an order.

What should your quote enquiry contain?

Provide wall widths and tiled heights, floor dimensions, shower layout, openings, the selected product codes and finishes, and the approximate quantity. Add location and desired date. Review final quantity with the installer, including cuts, spares and carton coverage. Confirm batches and availability before ordering.

Frequently asked questions

Can one tile be used on every bathroom surface?

Only if the exact product guidance supports each application. Do not assume a coordinated look has identical properties.

Are bathroom tiles a waterproofing system?

No. Waterproofing needs its own design and installation decisions.

Should I choose grout after buying the tiles?

Plan grout and joints with the tile selection; they affect both appearance and the installation system.

Continue your selection

Wall and bathroom tiles · Sanitaryware · KOHLER selection questions · Prepare a bathroom quote

Sources and scope

Johnson bathroom and tile selection guide

Manufacturer information describes ranges and selection principles. Verify the current sheet for the exact product; catalogue coverage does not establish local stock. Interior photographs are inspiration images, not showroom or stock photographs.