How to Choose Bathroom Tile: Size, Finish, and Layout Explained

Tile Is the Most Consequential Design Decision in a Bathroom Remodel

Everything else in a bathroom remodel — the vanity, the fixtures, the glass — can be swapped relatively easily. The tile is set in mortar and lives with you for 20 years. Getting it right means understanding three things: size, finish, and layout — and how each one affects the look, maintenance, and feel of the finished space.

Tile Size: What Actually Changes When You Go Larger

Small Format (Under 6"×6"): Subway, Zellige, Mosaic

Small tiles create more grout lines, which creates visual texture and pattern. They're especially effective on shower walls (Zellige creates a tactile, handmade surface that photographs beautifully) and in small rooms where large tiles would feel oversized. The maintenance trade-off is more grout to clean — important in a shower that sees daily use.

Zellige tile specifically (handmade Moroccan terracotta coated in enamel glaze) has dominated high-end LA bathroom remodels since 2022 and continues to be one of the most requested materials in 2025–2026. The irregular edges and slight color variation create a depth that machine-made tile can't replicate. Expect $12–$28/sq ft for the tile itself, plus higher installation labor due to the uneven thickness.

Medium Format (12"×12" to 18"×18"): The Versatile Middle

Medium-format tile works everywhere — floor, walls, shower — and is forgiving in terms of installation. The 12"×24" format (a contemporary take on medium tile) is particularly popular for shower walls because the elongated format makes walls read as taller. This is currently the most commonly specified tile format in Arc bathroom remodels.

Large Format (24"×24" and Up): The Modern Default

Large format tile creates a seamless, spa-like feel with minimal grout lines. 24"×48" and 32"×32" formats are standard in contemporary remodels. The visual effect — especially in a master bath — is genuinely dramatic. Installation is more demanding: large tiles require a flatter substrate, more precise leveling, and back-buttering to prevent hollow spots. Labor cost is higher, but the result justifies it in a well-designed space.

On floors specifically, large format tile makes a small bathroom feel bigger by reducing the visual chop of grout lines. This is one of the most impactful design moves you can make in a guest bath.

Finish: Matte vs. Polished vs. Honed

Polished / Glossy

Polished tile reflects light and makes a space feel brighter and more open. It's easier to wipe clean but shows water spots, fingerprints, and soap residue more readily. Best on walls; less ideal for shower floors (can be slippery when wet) and high-traffic floor areas.

Matte

Matte finishes are the dominant choice in contemporary LA bathroom design right now. They hide water spots and soap scum better than polished tile, provide better traction on floors, and create a warmer, more organic aesthetic. The trade-off is that matte tile can absorb more pigment from cleaners and hard water — proper sealing (for unglazed matte tile) and regular cleaning matter more.

Honed

Honed is the middle ground — a flat, non-reflective surface that's been ground smooth rather than polished. It reads slightly warmer than polished and slightly more refined than matte. Popular in stone tile (honed marble, honed limestone). Lower-maintenance than polished in terms of showing marks, but still requires sealing in natural stone.

Layout: The Decision That Affects Labor Cost Most

Herringbone and chevron look spectacular but require significantly more material (5–15% more tile for cuts and waste) and substantially more installation time. In a small bathroom, the premium is often worth it. In a large master bath, the added cost can be significant — budget accordingly.

The Grout Decision Nobody Talks About

Grout color and width affect the finished look more than most people expect. Wide grout joints (1/8" or more) with contrasting color emphasize the tile pattern. Tight grout joints with matching color make the surface read as nearly seamless. In wet areas, unsanded grout is standard for joints under 1/8"; sanded or epoxy grout for wider joints. Epoxy grout costs more but is stain-proof and requires no sealing — worth considering for shower floors.

"The tile you see on Instagram is almost always either Zellige or large-format stone with a matte finish and tight white grout joints. There's a reason — that combination is genuinely hard to get wrong."

What to Budget for Tile in a Los Angeles Bathroom (2025–2026)