Wall Tiles

Matte tiles are trending strongly in Australian bathrooms for their contemporary look and practical ability to hide water spots and fingerprints. Gloss tiles reflect light and can make a bathroom feel brighter and larger, but show water marks and smudges more readily. For shower recesses and wet floors, matte or satin finishes with good slip resistance are generally preferred.

Measure your total wall and floor surface area in square metres, then add a 10–15% wastage allowance for cuts, breakages, and future repairs. For complex layouts with diagonal patterns or feature inserts, increase the wastage to 15–20%. Always order all tiles from the same batch (check the shade lot/batch number) as tiles from different batches can vary slightly in colour.

Floor tiles must have an adequate slip resistance rating (P3 minimum for domestic bathrooms) and be durable enough for foot traffic. Wall tiles can be glazed ceramic, porcelain, or natural stone, they don't need to carry load but should be moisture-resistant. Many Australian renovators choose matching or coordinating floor and wall tiles from the same range for a cohesive look.

For small bathrooms, tiles between 300 x 300mm and 600 x 300mm often work well on both walls and floors. Smaller mosaic or subway tiles (75 x 150mm or 100 x 200mm) are a classic choice for shower walls. While large format tiles can also work in small spaces, they require a very level substrate and expert installation. Avoid tiles that are too small on floors (like 50 x 50mm mosaics) in large quantities, as the increased grout lines can make a space feel busier.

The most effective approach is to choose one feature zone and use your feature tile there, a full-height shower wall, the bath surround wall, or the vanity splashback area. Keep the remaining surfaces in a neutral or complementary field tile. This creates impact without visual clutter. Limit your palette to two or three complementary materials for a cohesive result.

Australian Standards (AS 4586) require bathroom floor tiles to have a minimum slip resistance rating of P3 for domestic bathrooms and P4 or P5 for wet areas like shower recesses. The Blue Space recommends checking the slip resistance rating of any tile you're considering for floor use, particularly in the shower. Matte and textured porcelain tiles generally offer better slip resistance than polished or gloss finishes.

Porcelain tiles are fired at higher temperatures and are denser, less porous, and harder than ceramic tiles. This makes porcelain more water-resistant, more durable, and suitable for both indoor and outdoor applications, including high-traffic floors. Ceramic tiles are lighter and easier to cut, making them a practical choice for bathroom walls and splashbacks. For bathroom floors and wet areas, porcelain is generally the preferred option in Australia.

Ceramic is the most common choice for walls because it's lighter and easier to cut than porcelain, which matters more on a vertical surface than a floor. Porcelain wall tiles are also widely available and offer better durability and lower water absorption, useful in a shower recess or splashback that sees regular moisture. Natural stone and glass mosaic are used too, mainly for feature walls, though both generally need more careful sealing or grouting than a standard glazed ceramic or porcelain tile.

No. Slip resistance under Australian Standards (AS 4586) applies to tiles that are walked on, so it's a floor-specific requirement, not a wall one. A wall tile is chosen mainly for moisture resistance and appearance rather than underfoot grip, which is why some wall-only tiles can be lighter, thinner and more delicately finished (including high-gloss or handmade textures) than a tile rated for floor use. See our floor tiles page for what floor-specific ratings to check instead.

Large-format wall tiles with fewer grout lines, textured and handmade-look glazed finishes, and warmer neutral tones have all held steady in recent Australian renovations. Full-height feature walls in a shower or behind a vanity, rather than a tiled splashback only, are also common. Trends shift, though, so choosing a wall tile you'll genuinely like living with, rather than the newest look on shelf, tends to age better than chasing whatever's current.

Most floor tiles can also go on a wall, since floor tiles are generally built to a higher durability standard than what a wall needs. The reverse isn't always true: a lightweight, thin or high-gloss wall-only tile may not have the strength or slip rating required underfoot. Always check the tile's stated application (wall, floor, or both) rather than assuming a tile works everywhere.

Not necessarily, though many renovators choose a coordinating floor and wall tile from the same range for a cohesive look. A contrasting wall tile, a feature colour, pattern or texture against a plainer floor, is just as common and can help define a shower recess or feature wall without needing to retile the whole room to match.

A 10 to 15% wastage allowance covers most straight wall layouts, accounting for cuts around fittings, corners and future repairs. For a more complex layout, a feature pattern, a niche cut-out, or tiles running around a window or shower screen frame, allow closer to 15 to 20%, and always order from the same batch number to avoid a visible shade difference across the wall.