Tiled bathtub & bath panel tile ideas – 10 easy and effective ways to tile a bath panel
One of the simplest and least expensive ways to add a touch of luxury to a bathroom is to tile the bath panel. Baths are usually fitted with a plain plastic panel, it’s practical and cheap but doesn’t really score many points on the attractiveness scale.
Adding tiles to your bath panel isn’t only practical, it’s long-lasting, much tougher than plastic and best of all, really simple to do! Tiling a bath panel is a great way to give a bland bathroom a facelift if you’ve just moved into a house and don’t have the budget for a complete retile or if you want to improve a bathroom before selling.
If you’re wondering how to use tiles around a bath, keep reading for some creative ideas.
Recommended Tile: San Vincenzo White
How can you tile a bath panel?
Bath panel tiling is one of the easiest DIY jobs you can undertake in a bathroom. It’s a small area, it’s easily accessible and the small number of tiles needed means it can be completed within a weekend and on a budget.
To tile a bath panel, you’ll first need to remove the existing plastic panel and create a wooden frame to which you’ll attach the tile backing board. It’s best not to use a wooden bath panel as it’ll expand and contract, eventually cracking the grout. Check out this handy guide to fitting a bath panel for more details.
You’ll need to leave space for an expansion gap and you can fill the gap between the panel and the floor with flexible silicone. Tile the bath panel in exactly the same way that you’d tile a wall.
What are the best tiles for a bath panel?
When it comes to choosing tiles for a bath panel you’re spoilt for choice. You can pick tiles to match the walls, opt for small mosaics or go for a contrasting colour. If your bathroom walls are all white, adding a pop of bright colour or using patterned tiles on a bath panel can look incredible.
Tiled bath panel ideas
Whether you prefer a sleek, coordinated look or a more eclectic vibe, take a look at our favourite tiled bath panel ideas and add a dash of hotel-inspired luxury to your bathroom:
Keep it simple with matching tiles
Understated and elegant, coordinating bathroom tiles are always a great choice. We love the contrast between the peppermint tiles and the slick, black grout. Black grout is a smart choice, particularly in a bathroom, as it won’t discolour.
Opt for stylish subway tiles
Timeless and well-suited to any abode, subway tiles look great wherever they are placed and they work particularly well on a bath panel. Match them to the walls, tie them in with the floor or go for something completely different. Whatever you choose, it’s guaranteed to look spectacular.
Recommended Wall Tile: Dorset Bevelled White
Recommended Floor Tile: Ava Negro
Fit large format tiles
If you want to create a chic, contemporary look in your bathroom, choosing large format tiles for the floor, walls and bath panel is an effective way to do this. Large tiles make a room feel less busy than smaller tiles and are a good choice for smaller bathrooms. Keeping all the tiles the same size and colour creates a streamlined, coordinated look.
Recommended Tile: Split White
Match the bath panel to the floor tiles
Often, bath panel tiles match the wall tiles, but if you’ve picked out some breathtakingly fabulous floor tiles for your bathroom, you don’t have to restrict them to just that area. Continuing floor tiles onto the bath panel is a bold style statement and it can look fantastic when done well.
Recommended Wall Tile: Dorset Smooth White
Recommended Floor Tile: Ava Gris Decor
Fit a mirrored glass tile bath panel
If you like the idea of doing something a bit different, why not fit glass mirror tiles to a bath panel? This will work especially well if you have striking floor tiles to reflect. As beautiful as glass is, it will need regular wiping to remove fingerprints and water marks but don’t let that put you off, mirror tiles are a beautiful way to enhance your bathroom.
Recommended Tile: Rustic Heritage – Taco Mix
Have fun with different coloured tiles
Bath panel tiles don’t have to match any of the other tiles in the room. Add warmth to a monochrome bathroom with a pop of colour or have fun with a burst of bright tiles in an otherwise white space. Subway tiles work brilliantly well on bath panels and there are a huge variety of colours and textures to choose from. They’re also easy to fit and cut which makes them a great option for DIY tiling projects.
Recommended Tile: San Vincenzo Rose
Recommended Floor Tile: Diagonal Grey
Create contrast with patterned bath panel tiles
Add some fun to your bathroom with a bold, patterned bath panel. If you’re unsure about using patterned tiles on a large scale in your bathroom, adding them to a bath panel is a great compromise.
Recommended Tile: Damask Series Decor 2
Elevate your bathroom with all-round marble
Using marble, or the more practical marble-effect porcelain tiles throughout a bathroom is one of the best ways to achieve a luxurious look. Marble looks best when used on a large scale so if you’ve chosen this for your room, keep it flowing through the floors, walls and bath panel for the most elegant effect.
Mix it up with a mosaic tile bath surround
Mosaic tiles are synonymous with bathrooms and are at their very best when used to pick out features in a room. Whether gracing a curved feature bath, used in a shower enclosure or as a statement splashback, mosaics are always a good choice. Continue the bath panel tiles onto the floor or wall for added impact.
Recommended Tile: Ceramic Pool – Matt Black
Choose timeless travertine
Guaranteed to look good in any bathroom, travertine tiles will exude luxury wherever they are placed. Like marble, these tiles work best when used throughout the whole bathroom.
Travertine is a type of sedimentary limestone, a beautiful, natural stone that began forming over 200,000 years ago. As travertine is a natural product you can expect many variations in the tiles and they will need to be regularly sealed. Travertine tiles range in colour from off-white to honey-coloured and bronze.
Recommended Tile: Travertine Classic Opus Mix
Bath panel tile tips
- Make sure that your tiles are fitted to an appropriate tile backing board to minimise grout cracking.
- If matching your bath panel tiles to the wall or floor tiles, try to line up the tiles and match grout lines for a seamless, professional-looking finish.
- Don’t be afraid to experiment with bold colours and patterns if you want to try something different. The small flat area of a bath panel makes it the perfect spot for this.
If you’re inspired to tile your bath panel, Atlas Ceramics has a wide range of tiles from chic subway to natural stone to choose from. Browse our selection yourself or call one of our experts for advice.