Updating Your Bathroom? 5 Things to Think About -

A bathroom filled with dark paneling and blue tiles

Elliott Kaufman/Getty Images

Decorating the bathroom can be a fun little project. Since this space is small and tucked away, you can get creative and experiment with trends you might not want to use in the rest of your home. One such trend is tile drenching – covering the entire bathroom, including the floor and walls, with the same tile. This can make the room look bigger and add a bold design element without needing a lot of extra decor or patterns. But it might not be the right choice for every bathroom.

One key thing to consider is the lighting. “A fully tiled room reflects light differently,” says Laura Lubin, founder of . “Layering in soft, indirect lighting helps avoid that sterile feeling.” You may need to swap in some softer bulbs, but be careful not to make it too dark. You can also use matte tiles instead of glossy ones to reduce glare and that cold, clinical vibe.

Other factors that might determine if tile drenching is for you

A large shower filled with the same colored tiles on the floor and sides with a soft light

Gerain0812/Shutterstock

The size of your bathroom is another important consideration. Tile drenching tends to look best in smaller spaces. If you have a bigger bathroom but still want to try it, you could focus the tile just in the shower area – that contained space will give you the look you want.

If you’re still unsure whether this trend will work for your bathroom, take the time to research best practices. Small tweaks to the tile gloss, grout, pattern, texture, and colors can make a big difference. You might find that with a few adjustments, it ends up being the perfect fit for your space.

When deciding if tile drenching is for you, also think about the rest of your bathroom design. You’ll want to balance out the bold tile with some contrasting elements, like metallic fixtures or soft, rounded edges and textiles. This helps keep the room from feeling too clinical or overwhelming.