How to Make Your Bathroom Look Bigger With Tiles: Top Tips From Bella Bathrooms
How to Make Your Bathroom Look Bigger With Tiles: Top Tips From Bella Bathrooms
At Bella Bathrooms, helping you get the most out of your space is what we do best. So much so that we’ve put together this handy guide packed with tile design tips to make your bathroom look bigger than it actually is.
Because here’s the truth: your tiles do more than just set the mood or reflect your style. The right tile choices can visually amplify a small bathroom, making it feel more spacious, airy, and inviting every time you step inside.
🚿 Why This Matters for South African Homes
In many older South African houses, bathrooms were simply built smaller — architects of the time often prioritized living rooms or dining areas. Apartment bathrooms tend to be even more compact, with floor space given to open-plan kitchens and lounges.
If you’re renovating an older house or designing a brand-new build, it might be tempting to keep the bathrooms on the smaller side to save costs. That’s why it’s so crucial to get your tile choices right from the start — they can completely change how big the room feels.
🏆 Top Tips to Make a Small Bathroom Feel Bigger
Tip #1: Always Opt for Larger Tiles
One of the biggest misconceptions is that small bathrooms need small tiles. In reality, using smaller tiles only highlights the limited space by adding more visible grout lines, which can make the area feel busy and cramped.
✅ Larger tiles create fewer dividing lines, making walls and floors look cleaner and more seamless.
✅ This automatically gives the illusion of a more open, expansive room.
✅ And bonus — you’ll likely need fewer tiles overall.
Just make sure you’ve got precise measurements before placing that bulk order. At Bella Bathrooms, we can help double-check your quantities so you’re sorted from the get-go.
Tip #2: Choose Plain or Light-Coloured Tiles
Another powerful way to open up your bathroom is to pick plain, light-coloured tiles, especially in white, cream or soft greys. These shades:
✨ Reflect more light around the room, instantly brightening it up.
✨ Create a neutral backdrop that’s easy to pair with colourful towels or accessories later.
✨ Help the walls “disappear” visually, which makes everything look bigger.
If you’re worried about the space feeling too sterile, simply warm it up with textured towels, wooden vanities or even some lush indoor plants.
Tip #3: Lay Floor Tiles in a Horizontal Pattern
For narrow or compact bathrooms, laying your floor tiles in a horizontal pattern (across the shorter width of the room) can help visually stretch it out.
Think of it like wearing horizontal stripes versus vertical ones — it widens the look of your floor and makes the whole bathroom appear broader. Combine this with larger tiles and light colours, and your once-cramped bathroom will look twice its actual size.
✨ Need More Bathroom Tile Ideas?
Whether you’re doing a full reno or just want a fresh update, Bella Bathrooms has a huge range of quality tiles to suit every space. We’re here to help with design advice, measurements, and even examples of how past clients mixed tile sizes and colours to stunning effect.
Ready to turn your small bathroom into a light, airy sanctuary?
Get in touch with us today, and we’ll make sure you love every square metre.
