How to Tile Designs in a Shower

ARCHITECTURAL ORNAMENT TILES © James Nemec | Dreamstime.com

Adding tile designs to a shower can greatly enhance the appearance and appeal of the shower and bathroom space without increasing the cost very much, if at all, depending on the design. Designs can be simple, created in a pattern or designed to appear random, or they can be ornate including mosaics.
Regardless of the design, simple or ornate, it will work best if the space is accurately measured and the design planned on a sheet of paper prior to purchasing the supplies. A bathroom with a simple tile design completed during a remodeling job can increase the overall value of a home by changing a shower from standard to exceptional.

Things You'll Need

• Paper
• Measuring Tape
• Writing utensil
• Colored pencils or markers

Instructions

1. Measure the length and height of all the shower walls or bathroom walls that will be covered in tile. Measure how high you would like to place the tiles on the wall. Measure the height of faucets, knobs and shower heads in the shower. Record all of these measurements on a sheet of paper.

2. Decide whether the tile design will be a border design, a mosaic, a pattern or a "random" pattern. Decide whether the design will be limited to the shower or if it should extend to all tiled areas in the bathroom.

3. Make several identical rough sketches of the shower area that is being redesigned. Several rough sketches works better than erasing and redoing the design on the same sheet, especially if you decide that the previous design was best.

4. Decide on the size of tile that will be used and draw them into the sketch. If a shower is 6 foot wide and the tile will be 12 inches x 12 inches, then 6 tiles squares will be drawn across the plan.
   Repeat this for all rough sketches.

5. Using colored pencils or markers, create the tile design pattern that you are envisioning for the space in the shower. Test out different design plans on the rough sketch pages.
   Ideas can include:
   A border or pattern across the top border
   A border of pattern around accents like an inset wall shelf (these can be planned and set within structural beams)
   "Random" sprinkling of a darker or lighter tile throughout shower
   Planned pattern of different tile colors or tones through shower
   Mosaic picture or pattern
   The addition of a border 3/4 the way up a wall with a different size tile
   Planned cut out of tiles with a 3-D tile inserted
   Tiles installed in diamond installation
   Tiles installed in a checkerboard fashion

6. Decide on the final tile design and create a plan that is exact, scaled to size, so that accurate measurements, cut outs, tile orders can be made and so you can purchase the appropriate supplies.

Tips & Warnings

• Tile materials can be mixed to reduce costs, it is possible to use ceramic tiles with natural stone borders. It will be necessary to know the layout of the beams to install a built in inset wall shelf during a remodel.

• Don't attempt to order tile or install a tile design without planning, measuring, drawing the design and checking it at least twice. Avoid cutting into beams to install shower shelves, this can break codes in some cities, counties and states. Instead alter your tile design plans to maintain the integrity of the framing. Remember changing framing and wall structure will require licenses and inspections in many cities, counties and states.

References

• Stetston University Courses in Ceramics, Mixed Media, and Fine Arts

Resources

• Get Rid of an Ugly Border or Bullnose Tile for Under $20