Discover stunning bathtub shower combo tile ideas to elevate your bathroom design with these beautiful examples!
While we all dream of having a walk-in showerand a separatefree-standing tub, oftentimes we have to make do with a bathtub shower combo.
Especially in smaller bathrooms.
While we are currently working on ourfull renovation, I have been looking at bathroom tile ideas. There are so many options that it can get a little overwhelming! We will have two full bathrooms (one with a freestanding tub and separate shower!), and one of those will be a shower-tub combination.
UPDATE: SEE THE WALK-IN SHOWER TILE IN OUR MASTER BATHANDTHE STUNNING WILLOW TILE WE CHOSE FOR OUR SMALL HALL BATHROOM!
Tile is such a permanent decision that I’m having a hard time deciding. In addition to being aesthetically pleasing, it also has to be functional and durable.
While the sheer amount of options can be overwhelming, there’s certainly an option for every situation! Looking at tile options has sent me down the virtual rabbit hole and I found so many inspiring ideas, I wanted to share them here to inspire you as well!
Benefits of bathtub shower tile combo
A bathtub shower combo is super functional in a small bathroom and makes for less to clean than having a separate bathtub and shower.
Space Saving
It’s also a great space saver! It’s a great way to free up space in the rest of the bathroom that could be used for more open floor space, a bigger vanity, or a linen closet.
Just because bathrooms are usually a small room doesn’t mean they can’t be beautiful!
Versatility in Design
The only way to really dress up this bathroom space is with well-thought-out bathtub shower combo tile ideas. Such as the one above. I love the color and placement of the vertical tiles as well as the fun pattern in the niche.
This is a great area in the house to go a little bolder than you normally might in more lived-in rooms.
Tile Layout Ideas
What I learned on my virtual rabbit hole deep dive into bathtub shower combo tile ideas is that there is almost no limit to what you can create.
Full Coverage
For a tranquil, spa-like feel, go with a soothing color like these blue-gray subway tiles from the ceiling all the way down to the tub. Keeping things unified in a small space with clean lines makes it feel more expansive.
Accent Wall ideas
Think about creating an accent wall like in the following image. It’s like a piece of art in your shower. Recreating the shower wall tile on the floor is an amazing idea.
Niche Tile Designs
Your shower niche is another area to get creative and have a little fun. This simple black and white tile pattern, which is repeated on the floor, makes this shower more interesting.
Making Tile Patterns
Use tile in a contrasting color or size to make a stripe pattern around your shower.
Color and Style
When designing your bathroom, creating a color scheme for a cohesive design is first. Because tiles are a permanent fixture, I am starting with picking those first in each of our bathrooms.
Neutrals
Neutral does not have to be boring. My neutral-loving heart skipped a beat when I saw this next image. This bathroom is so soothing to me. Off-whites combined with wood tones will always be my favorite.
Use white subway tile in a new way by stacking it vertically, or create a fun pattern like herringbone.
The vertical stacking here is simple but pretty with those brass fixtures.
Bold
This bold black and white tile accent wall is a true showstopper. Even though this is a small bathroom, it makes the room feel bigger by drawing your eye to the back. The black floor also helps to create this cohesive feel.
You can go with bright colors for a bolder look or detailed striped tiles for a modern look.
Patterned
Pattern tiles are my favorite. They feel less cold to me, and I’ll be using some type of pattern for our shower. Again, they repeat the pattern on the floor, which draws the eye back and up. The bathtub surround on this also takes the whole room up a notch.
Textured
You can elevate your shower tile by incorporating textured tile with natural stone. In the tub combo above, they created a frame in the same color as the tile for interest.
Another consideration is how much natural lighting your bathroom gets. In a darker bathroom, opt for light or white tile to help brighten things up.
Practical Considerations
As much as I want all the tile for our new bathrooms to look amazing, we do have to consider practicality. As with anything that gets daily use, these need to be functional for the long term.
Slip-Resistant Tile
With any tile that’s going to be underfoot, ensuring that it will be slip-resistant is of the utmost importance first. Whether that’s a walk-in shower or your bathroom floor, safety first.
High gloss tile will be the most slippery when wet, so avoid that underfoot. Ceramic and porcelain tile would be a better option. For this, I would absolutely consult with an experienced tile professional.
How To Clean
The consensus seems to be that porcelain tiles are the easiest to keep clean. For more information on this topic, see this article on which are the easiest shower tiles to keep clean. They bring up several key points, including tile size. The bigger the tile, the less grou,t which is always a pain to clean.
Grout Colors
As if there aren’t enough tile options to choose from you also need to consider grout when picking. There are a wide variety of colors to choose from. You can see what a difference a subtle brown grout makes when paired with pretty white subway tiles above.
I’ve even seen a few trends where people are skipping grout completely to avoid grout lines. While that may look more aesthetically pleasing, it’s not usually recommended for longevity.
Color of bathroom fixtures
Another consideration is the color of your bathroom fixtures. For example, if you know you’ll be using brass fixtures, compare how your tile choices look next to brass shower heads, chrome fixtures, or oil-rubbed bronze. Explore the whole variety of finishes and how each pairs with your different tile options.
It’s a small detail that can make a big difference. It can also help you narrow down the endless choices available.
DIY OR PROfessional Install?
My husband and I have saved so much money over the years doing DIY projects ourselves. But there is a lot to consider before jumping into one yourself. Fortunately, my husband was skilled with tools and saws and could pretty easily figure out anything he didn’t know.
When To DIY:
If you’re skilled like my husband around tools, doing a tile project yourself probably wouldn’t be too hard and would save you money. If tiling isn’t something you’ve done before, I would do plenty of research first to determine if it’s a job you’re able to handle.
Benefits of a professional install:
If you’re a complete novice, it’s probably best to hire a professional to ensure it’s done right and will last. You could end up spending more money if you do it yourself and it goes wrong. Also, tiling is hard work; hiring out saves your back!
bathtub surround
I can’t talk about bathtub shower tile combo ideas without mentioning bathtub surrounds. Installing something decorative on the outside of your bathtub makes a HUGE difference in the overall aesthetic of your bathroom. Such as using the same tile on the tub as you used on the walls (like the above photo).
Or continue the look of marble floor tiles up the side of the tub as shown above.
The best option (in my opinion) for bathtub surrounds is continuing your wall treatment along the front of the tub. Any type of wainscoting that can be done on the wall can extend across the tub.
As you can see, a bathtub-shower combo is ideal for smaller spaces.
But there are still a lot of options to consider when choosing your bathroom tile. I’m not an expert on the different types of tile, but I’m learning and doing as much research as I can in advance. Better to do it in advance of a bathroom renovation than to be surprised later.
Which is your favorite look?
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