Best Tiles for Small Bathroom Floor

If you’re selecting tiles for your small bathroom floor, this post is for you. When it comes to designing a compact bathroom space, I know from experience that every decision matters as someone who has designed and renovated 3 small bathrooms. One important choice you’ll have to make is selecting the right tile.

Don’t worry, this post will help you navigate through different options and find the perfect tile that will transform your small bathroom into a stylish and functional space. In this guide, I’ll keep things simple and break down the key factors to consider when choosing the best tile for your small bathroom floor. Let’s get started!

bathroom floor tile for a small bathroom

Factors to consider when choosing Floor Tiles for a Small Bathroom

Aside from budget and personal preference of course, there are 3 major factors you need to think about when looking for a floor tile for your small bathroom:

Material

When it comes to selecting the right tile material for your small bathroom floor, it’s important to consider its durability and resistance to dirt. Since bathroom floors are prone to getting dirty due to constant foot traffic, I’d say it’s best to opt for a non-porous surface that is easier to clean.

Personally, I recommend natural stone tiles for their timeless appeal. I would also go for classic choices like marble, but to make maintenance a bit easier, you should go for polished marble tiles. I also love natural stone tiles such as slate and limestone. Their neutral color makes it easy to match with any interior color scheme. Another great option is porcelain, which is also durable and easy to clean.

If you’re looking for something more playful, there are lots of cement tiles with fun patterns and bold colors available in the market, but remember to seal them with a sealer once they are installed to protect them from stains and moisture.

Grout

Grout also plays a crucial role in bathroom floors. Unlike the walls, the bathroom floor is more prone to wear and tear, making it harder to keep clean. To make your life easier, I recommend going for a smaller grout line. This is because the tile itself is much easier to clean than the grout.

You should also consider using stain-resistant grout for your small bathroom floor like this Mapei premixed grout, which is what I do. The Mapei premixed grout doesn’t need sealing, which can save you time and effort. For another option, you can choose to seal your grout with a reliable grout sealer for added protection.

Grout color is another important consideration. Pure white or black grout may seem appealing, but I really don’t recommend these as they tend to show dirt and dust more easily. Instead, I think it’s better to choose a grout color ranging from light to dark gray, or match the hue of your colored tiles. This color will make it easier to hide any accumulated dust and dirt.

how to choose floor tiles for small bathroom

Size

How big or small your tile is can also affect how your bathroom looks. Tiles that are too large can actually make the room appear even smaller than it is.

To create a visually spacious and open feel, I recommend choosing small to medium-sized tiles. I suggest avoiding tiles larger than 12″ x 24″ to maintain a balanced and proportionate look in your small bathroom.

5 Best Tiles for your Small Bathroom Floor

Here’s a list I compiled of the best tiles that would look great on small bathroom floors! I have seen them often in super chic bathrooms, and personally purchased three of those tile choices for my own bathroom renovation projects.

Textured Slate Stone Floor Tile

This tile is not just stylish but also functional. The Montauk Black Textured Slate Stone Look Floor Tile is an ideal choice for small bathroom floors, with its durable build and skid-resistant surface, making it both safe and economic.

And the natural unglazed finish can go so well with many design schemes, plus it looks so contemporary and chic!

I selected this tile for my master bathroom, plus hallway and laundry room because it is so versatile. With natural stone tiles, I feel like I can put them in any room and it will just work! In general you’d want to seal your tiles in natural stone. However, this tile is so durable that I didn’t even bother sealing it.

My master bathroom is on the smaller side comparing to other master bathroom, so I’m trying different ways to make the space feel open and bigger. This 1’ x 2’ size slate floor tile works pretty well here! I also DIY’ed a double floating vanity to make the space look more open.

Small Hex Mosaic Floor Tile

If you’re into the retro style and you’re keen on timeless design, this tile’s perfect for you. The Metro Hex Porcelain Honeycomb Mosaic Floor Tile has a contemporary twist to it, with the matte black hexagonal designs contrasted to the white tile. It’s also made from very safe ingredients, so you’re sure to be free from harmful chemicals and allergens.

Best tile for small bathroom floor small hex mosaic floor tile flower pattern black and white — Wayfair

This kind of set-up of the tiles may look a little too overwhelming or busy for some, and that’s where the fun part comes in. One of the best things about this tile is that you can actually make it into your own pattern to fit any theme you want, making it completely unique to your own bathroom!

Check this out for example:

Best tile for small bathroom floor small hex mosaic black border white tile — Park & Oak

Now there’s a bit more organization of colors and it doesn’t look like it’s all over the place. I personally like this set-up better than the flower design. You can also reverse the color scheme with black hex tiles as the backdrop and white hex tiles serve as the border.

Large Hex Matte Floor Tile

Best tile for small bathroom floor large hex matte

This Hexley Matte Porcelain Floor Tile is a sleek and modern choice that can make a big impact even in your small bathroom. Since it’s made from durable porcelain, it’s very resistant to scratches and dents, and its matte finish makes it easier to clean, making it perfect for the bathroom floor.

The hexagon design is also a timeless pattern that is still unique, and with lots of colors to choose from, you can design your bathroom floor any way you like.

I used this tile for one of my bathrooms remodel which is 5’ x 8’. When I used it as the floor tile, the scale and size just felt right, and I also like the matte finish which makes my bathroom look more sophisticated!

6″ x 12″ Marble Field Tile

Best tile for small bathroom floor marble field tile

When talking about selecting floor tiles for a small bathroom, we need to mention marble. Not only are marble tiles such a timeless element for bathrooms, but they also offer a wide variety of shape and size.

For bathroom floors with a very small footprint, I recommend any size less than 1’x2’. So for our super tiny guest bathroom at 5’x7’, I went with 6” x 12” marble tiles laid in a ⅓ offset pattern.

With a blue, white, black color palette in my guest bathroom, this Carrara Marble Field Tile blends in really well, while resonating with the marble vanity top on my DIY floating vanity.

It’s also waterproof and slip-resistant, which makes it great for bathroom floors.

Grid Marble Mosaic Tile

Another choice for natural stone tile is the Grid Marble Mosaic Tile. The mosaic design makes it look so unique, and this pattern can definitely add some character into your bathroom floor.

And because of its natural material, no two tiles will look the same – and I think those natural differences in color and finish can give a lot of depth into the design.

Here’s a small but beautiful bathroom with a very similar floor tile choice. Doesn’t it add so much personality to the space?

While everything else is white or in muted tones, the floor adds a nice contrast by showcasing an interesting pattern that makes the space more lively.