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When choosing between porcelain and ceramic tile, the best option depends on your specific needs, budget, and project application. Porcelain tile is generally more durable, denser, and harder than ceramic, making it a good choice for busy, high-traffic areas. It also offers superior moisture resistance, making it ideal for moisture-retaining spaces. However, porcelain is typically more expensive, and its hardness can make it brittle, potentially causing it to crack if a heavy object is dropped on it. In contrast, ceramic tile is a more budget-friendly option with lower material and installation costs. It is softer and easier to work with, making it a great choice for DIY projects. While not as durable as porcelain, ceramic is still a quality material suitable for many home applications, particularly small, decorative projects.

To make a bathroom look bigger, choose light-colored, medium- to large-format tiles. Light colors such as white, cream, or light gray make a space feel more open, while dark colors, busy patterns, and small tiles can make a bathroom feel smaller. It may seem counterintuitive, but small tiles can shrink a room visually due to the increased number of grout lines. Using medium- to large-format tiles creates a more seamless look. For the best effect, pair your light-colored tiles with a matching or similarly colored grout. This minimizes the grid-like pattern and gives the floor and walls a more continuous, uninterrupted appearance, helping the room feel significantly larger.

Your tiles will have a significant visual impact on your bathroom, so you’ll want to make a thoughtful decision. Once you land on the tile material that suits your needs and budget, you can consider the color schemes you want. Consider whether you want something modern, classic, or eye-catching.

When working on your bathroom floor tiling, you should always tile the floor first and then refit the toilet afterward. This has both practical and visual advantages—the tile will have a better seal, and the installation will look cleaner.

On the other hand, when you try to cut the tiles to fit around the toilet, you’re putting yourself at a disadvantage. It’s a lot more work, it’s hard to be precise, and mistakes or miscalculations can lead to future moisture damage to the tiling, grout, and subfloor.