Cramped spaces and weird tile choices - anyone else?

CRAMPED SPACES AND WEIRD TILE CHOICES - ANYONE ELSE?

I hear you on the prep work. In my experience, especially with older places, you almost always end up floating the walls or at least doing some serious patching. Otherwise, those rectified tiles just highlight every dip and bump. Have you ever tried using larger format tiles in a tight space? I’ve found they can actually make the room feel bigger, but only if the walls are really straight... otherwise, it’s a nightmare. Curious if anyone’s had better luck with smaller tiles in these situations, or is it just trading one headache for another?

CRAMPED SPACES AND WEIRD TILE CHOICES - ANYONE ELSE?

That’s a familiar struggle. I’ve run into the same issue in a 1920s bungalow I helped renovate last year. The original bathroom walls were anything but straight, and we debated for ages whether to go with big tiles to “fake” more space. In the end, we tried large-format recycled porcelain, but even after a lot of wall prep, the imperfections still showed up - especially under certain lighting. Not the look we were hoping for.

Honestly, I’ve had better luck with smaller tiles in tricky rooms, like mosaics or 4x4s. They seem to “forgive” uneven surfaces a bit more since the grout lines break up the eye’s focus. It does mean more grout to clean, but at least you don’t end up with lippage everywhere. There’s no perfect solution, but sometimes I think the classic small tile approach is underrated, especially in older homes where sustainability and keeping original character matters.

Has anyone tried mixing tile sizes in a small space? I’ve seen folks do a combo of subway on the walls and hex on the floor, and it kinda distracts from weird corners. I wonder if that helps mask some of the quirks or just makes things busier.

Mixing tile sizes can be a double-edged sword in tight spots. I’ve seen it work wonders in some older bungalows where the odd angles just fade into the background, but sometimes it feels like you’re just drawing more attention to the chaos. Do you think the grout color plays a bigger role than we give it credit for? I’ve noticed that when the grout blends, the whole thing feels calmer, even with different shapes. Or is it more about how bold the tile patterns are?

Honestly, I think grout color gets way too much credit sometimes. Sure, matching grout can help things feel less busy, but if the tile layout itself is all over the place, no amount of subtle grout is gonna save it. I’ve seen projects where folks went with super neutral grout, but the mix of tile sizes still made the space feel cramped. Sometimes it’s just about how the eye moves around the room - bold patterns or not, if the transitions aren’t thought out, it can get chaotic fast. I’d say layout planning matters more than either grout or pattern in tight spaces.