A little imperfection kind of adds character... at least that’s what I tell myself when I see my own handiwork later on.
Yeah, that’s my motto too, but sometimes I wonder if I’m just making excuses for my lack of patience. Last time I tiled a tiny half-bath, the floor was so crooked I swear marbles would’ve rolled into the corner. Tried to “embrace the character”—but man, I still notice that one tile that sits just a bit proud. Guess as long as nobody trips, it’s fine...
the floor was so crooked I swear marbles would’ve rolled into the corner
That visual made me laugh—been there. Honestly, in tight spaces, even pros can end up with a rogue tile or two. Sometimes I think the “character” is just a rite of passage for DIYers... as long as nobody’s tripping, it’s a win.
Yeah, “character” is one way to put it… I’ve never seen a straight wall in any of the older houses I’ve owned. You can measure and re-measure, but that last tile in the corner always looks a little off. I get what you mean about safety though—if nobody’s catching a toe or spilling coffee, I’ll call it good enough. Sometimes you just have to accept a bit of wonkiness, especially in those weird little bathrooms or laundry nooks.
I hear you on the “good enough” front—sometimes perfection just isn’t in the cards, especially with those old plaster walls that bow out for no reason. I’ve seen folks try to force everything square and end up making it look worse. Curious, do you ever try to lean into the quirks with your tile choices, or do you stick with simple patterns to hide the weird angles?
Honestly, I kinda love when a space has those weird quirks. Trying to force everything to be square just feels like fighting the house, you know? Sometimes I’ll pick a handmade tile or something with a bit of texture—lets the wonky lines feel intentional. Plus, it’s way less stressful than chasing perfection. Those little imperfections can give a room so much character.