I totally get the appeal of big tiles—less grout to deal with sounds like a dream. But I have to admit, I chickened out and went with smaller tiles in my bathroom. The installer warned me about the hassle of cutting large tiles for all the weird angles, and I just didn’t want to risk a pile of broken porcelain (or my own sanity). Cleaning’s not terrible, but yeah, grout lines are definitely not my favorite part of homeownership... Maybe next time I’ll be braver.
The installer warned me about the hassle of cutting large tiles for all the weird angles, and I just didn’t want to risk a pile of broken porcelain (or my own sanity).
Honestly, I get where you’re coming from. Big tiles look slick but those cuts are no joke, especially in tight bathrooms with pipes and corners everywhere. I’ve seen folks end up with a ton of wasted tile because one wrong measurement and—crack, there goes another one. Did you use standard subway size or go even smaller? Curious if you noticed any difference in how the room feels size-wise after the install.
Title: Cramped Spaces And Weird Tile Choices—Anyone Else?
Yeah, I’ve watched more than one project go sideways thanks to oversized tiles in tight spots. Last reno I managed, we tried 18x18s in a powder room—looked great on paper, but man, the cuts around the toilet were a nightmare. Ended up switching to smaller hex tiles mid-job. The room actually felt bigger after, weirdly enough... maybe all those grout lines trick the eye?
The room actually felt bigger after, weirdly enough... maybe all those grout lines trick the eye?
Funny, I usually lean the other way—big tiles in small rooms can work if you keep the grout lines tight and pick a light color. Less visual clutter, you know? But yeah, those cuts around toilets and corners are brutal. I’ve had clients swear by large format until we hit the plumbing... then it’s a different story. Sometimes it’s just not worth the headache.
I get where you’re coming from—big tiles can look sleek if you nail the install, but honestly, in tight bathrooms, I usually recommend medium-sized tiles. Here’s why: less hassle with awkward cuts, and you still avoid that “busy” look from too many grout lines. If you’re set on large format, map out your cuts before you start. Saves a lot of cursing later... trust me, I’ve learned the hard way. Light grout helps, but if the layout’s a mess, it’ll still look off.