How to Choose Shower Tile for Walls and Floors

Plan all three surfaces together

The same color family can connect the room without using the same product everywhere. A tile recommended for a wall or ordinary floor is not automatically suitable for a shower floor. Confirm the manufacturer’s application guidance for the exact product and finish you are considering.

Use a photo to establish the look you like, then use product information to confirm the selection. Our tile showroom and installation page explains how TDH helps with material selection and project planning.

Build a palette with a clear focal point

In the inspiration photograph above, white subway tile creates a simple backdrop, while the patterned bathroom floor brings more visual movement. Decide which surface should attract attention, then compare quieter or more detailed options around it.

Grout belongs in that conversation from the beginning. A color close to the tile can soften the grid; stronger contrast makes tile shapes and layout more noticeable. Compare the combination with your vanity color, fixtures and adjacent flooring. Joint size and grout selection also need to suit the chosen product and installation. See the manufacturer’s grout-selection guidance for examples of how contrast changes the look.

Stand back from the samples and consider the whole room. Review more tile and finish inspiration in our gallery, and compare flooring options for adjoining rooms when planning the transition beyond the bathroom.

Resolve the small details before ordering

The main wall and floor tiles are only part of the selection. A niche, corner or doorway can introduce another finish or edge detail. Discuss these points while comparing samples so the order reflects the complete design.

• Niches and shelvesIdentify their planned locations and dimensions, then discuss how their surfaces and edges will coordinate with the surrounding tile.
• Exposed edgesDecide where tile ends and discuss the appropriate finishing pieces or profiles for those locations.
• Corners and layoutReview how the pattern will meet at corners and around fixtures, rather than considering a single sample in isolation.
• TransitionsInclude the shower entrance and bathroom doorway in the material conversation, especially where different floor finishes meet.

Before placing your order: confirm product names, finishes, sizes, quantities, coordinating pieces, availability and lead times before committing to a start date. TDH materials are available by custom order.

Bring the room into your showroom visit

You do not need every detail decided before visiting. Bring what you have: room photos, approximate measurements or plans, inspiration images, and samples of nearby cabinetry or flooring. Mark which surfaces are changing and which finishes will remain.

Tell us your preferred timing and whether you need materials only or installation. If you have an installer, bring their material requirements and any questions about layout or finishing details. TDH also offers professional tile installation; final quantities and installation scope need to be confirmed for your project.