What requirements must an alternative to tiles meet?
There is a good reason why tiles have dominated the bathroom for many years. They are easy to clean, resistant to moisture, hardly attract dirt and are also quite hygienic. In addition, the classic tiled splashback, usually in a subtle colour, can be combined very well with a prefabricated shower cabin and other bathroom furniture, creating a harmonious bathroom design. But the classic tiled splashback is no longer on trend. Both the floors and the walls of the bathroom should contribute to general wellbeing and be designed individually. There are various solutions for wall and floor design to choose from. The common solutions are:
- Wood
- Natural stone
- Glass
- Vinyl flooring
- Render
Before we take a closer look at these different options, we should first define which properties are particularly important in a bathroom. First of all, there is hygiene. The wall and floor coverings must be easy to clean with little effort. They must also be able to cope with the often high humidity in the room and, if possible, must not react to it. Then there is always the question of the care required. Not all of the materials mentioned can be used in the bathroom permanently without further care or treatment. This point should not be neglected either, as it can make looking after the bathroom considerably more demanding. Aesthetics also play an important role, even though they certainly cannot be described in universal terms. If, for example, the complete shower cabin matches the natural stone wall well in design and colour, this can be described as aesthetically pleasing. If the colours clash, the effect can be the complete opposite. So when choosing floor and wall coverings, you must always take the existing or planned bathroom furniture into account. But first, let's take a detailed look at the various options.
Wood in the bathroom: a homely idea
Wood in the bathroom is becoming increasingly popular. Not only for the floor, but also as wall panelling, wood can easily replace the existing tiled splashback. Using wood for the design of the interior walls offers several advantages. For one thing, wood absorbs moisture, so that as a rule no condensation forms. This can actively help to prevent mould in the bathroom. In addition, many types of wood are antibacterial. Pine, for example, is used precisely for these properties. Wood is also very easy to clean and is therefore easy to care for. Overall, wood gives the room a calm and soothing atmosphere and a certain cosiness. Wood comes into its own especially in direct contrast with white ceramics and with matching bathroom furniture. Using real wood for the floor can also have a lasting influence on the overall impression of the bathroom. However, the wood must be pre-treated with oils or varnishes and cared for regularly. So with wood, you should allow a little more time for care. In return, the material is extremely durable and, above all, very natural.
Natural stone as an alternative to tiles
Natural stone is also very much back in fashion. It can be used both for the floor covering and for wall design. A well-arranged natural stone wall can not only significantly change how the bathroom looks to the viewer, but also generally create a calmer, more pleasant mood. One reason for this is that natural stone is extremely robust and colourfast and can therefore create an almost rustic atmosphere. However, the rough surface of the stones is not easy to clean and can therefore provide an ideal surface for dirt and possibly mould to settle on. The stones must therefore either be cleaned extremely thoroughly and regularly, or you should only use natural stones whose surfaces have been ground completely smooth. In addition, some natural stones must be impregnated regularly before and after laying, as otherwise splash water could attack them directly. For this reason, you should use a natural stone wall as an accent in your bathroom rather than cladding the entire bathroom in natural stone.
Glass: elegant and particularly hygienic
Glass has now become extremely popular, especially for wall design. One reason for this is the excellent properties of the material. Glass is not only extremely durable, but also completely water-resistant. It is also very easy to clean and therefore ideal from a hygiene point of view. However, and this must also be said, glass attracts dirt almost like a magnet. Marks are not uncommon on glass walls, so you will have to reach for the cleaner much more often. On the other hand, the various glass elements for walls are available in a wide range of colours and variations. The wall behind the glass can also be changed again with colour accents and adapted to the desired atmosphere in the room. As the glass panels suitable for walls are also fully heat-resistant, you can easily mount them directly at the shower or bathtub. A real eye-catcher that can brighten up many a bathroom considerably. In addition, thanks to modern LED lights with their low heat emission, such an element can also be backlit, drawing even more attention to it.
Wallpaper, paint and render in the bathroom
There are hardly any limits left when it comes to wall design in the bathroom. Because walls can be protected from water and water vapour with a sealing primer treatment, you can do without a tiled splashback altogether and use paint, wallpaper or special render in the bathroom. This allows you to design the whole bathroom much more individually and give your bathroom a distinctive look. The renders and paints are also usually enriched with additives against mould and bacteria, so you can use these materials in the bathroom without worrying about hygiene. However, with this kind of wall design you should make sure the bathroom is well ventilated, as walls with such surfaces should always be able to dry out thoroughly.
Design flooring and vinyl floors in the bathroom
Modern floor coverings are also an excellent alternative to tiles. This design flooring is mostly made of vinyl and has little in common with the classic vinyl floors of the past. The individual vinyl elements are often joined together like laminate and are therefore very easy to lay. Thanks to the many different surfaces and the resulting very wide choice of designs, design flooring can have a lasting influence on the appearance of a bathroom. You can choose vinyl floors with a stone look, wood look or a completely different design and easily lay them yourself.
Overall, it is clear that there is no single alternative to tiles in the bathroom. Depending on your personal wishes and your budget, you can now design your bathroom entirely to your own taste. Whether for walls or floors: modern and timeless materials and the combination of different styles give you complete freedom in designing your own bathroom.
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