Check out these 4 inexpensive tricks to give your tiled shower a custom look!
A few years ago, I shared our completed master bathroom shower and have gotten several emails and comments over the years about how custom it looks. So today I thought I would share with you how to use inexpensive tricks to give your tiled shower a custom look…and make it feel more expensive than it really is!!
Here are 4 INEXPENSIVE Tricks To Give Your Tiled Shower a Custom Look:
1. Use box store tiles.
First of all, we got all the tile from a home improvement store. We didn’t custom order anything, which helped keep costs down. It did take us around 80 small boxes of the subway marble tiles but it was worth it to achieve the look I wanted. My suggestion would be to use a basic tile and add an accent tile in the same stone or color palette, for a classic and timeless look.
2. Experiment with different tile shapes.
I didn’t want a ton of grout lines in areas that water would pool, like in the niches and step where the door will sit. I found a few items that I could use a little differently than their intended purpose.
For the niches, I used a marble baseboard for the four sides. They fit perfectly on the top and bottom and I just had to trim the side pieces slightly. The beveled edge is perfect for giving it a custom look. I set the top and side pieces flush with the surrounding tile but pulled the bottom piece out a little more.
The step was another area that I knew would collect water and I wanted to minimize the grout lines.
I used a threshold piece for the top of the step. (This piece could be tricky to match, depending on the tile.)
The 4″ width was a little too short, so I found these pencil tiles. I flipped them onto their side and butted them against the threshold. You might just have to play around with different tiles to get the look and stability you want, but I think ours came out great!
3. Use wood instead of tile to polish off jagged edges.
Another way we saved money was by skipping the finishing tiles and used moldings. I wanted the tile to go all the way to ceiling but also wanted to give it a more polished appearance. We stopped the tile just short of the ceiling so I could nail on the crown molding.
Where the edges of the tile met the corner of the wooden planked wall, I used corner molding. It fit just over the edge of the tiles to give it a finished look. If you use this tip, make sure the wood is in a place that isn’t going to get wet.
4. Use a painter’s tape (I prefer Frog Tape) to help with the caulking.
Apply the tape around all the wooden molding and after you caulk it will leave you with a clean and professional looking line. Make sure the caulk is waterproof, mold resistant and paintable.
I absolutely love how our shower turned out. It took a lot of work and hundreds of trips to the hardware store but it was worth it! Be sure to check out my post about the installation and products used HERE.
I love this shower! What are the dimensions? I need to put in a small shower and am trying to figure out how to make a small shower look amazing.
After going through the arduous journey that was simply painting my bathroom, I can’t imagine how much time and effort it took to tile your shower. It looks really great though!
It looks great! Very thoughtful approach to prevent pooling, thank you for sharing your thoughts.
It looks amazing. Does your shower have a curtain or did you install shower doors?
We never installed a door so we still have a curtain. The plan was to get a glass door installed but we’ve been putting it off!
How did you install the moulding? Our shower wall has about an 1” height of tile at the top, and I’d really like to cover it, this would be a great solution. It looks so nice as does your shower.
I used a brad nailer and only nailed at the very top of the molding, into the very top of the wall. There should be studs there. Then I caulked the bottom of the molding. Hope that helps!
this is exactly what I want for our new shower only on a bit larger shower.. Can you tell me what the measurements of the tiles are? Whatever you picked is the perfect size subway tile!… not too small or big.. also is it beveled? I am having trouble finding what I want at a decent price point! Thanks in advance!
It’s not beveled and they are 6″x 3″. Good luck!!
Can you refer me to where you purchased this tile> Everyone in my family loves the color combination!
Thank you`
Rich, I’m so sorry I missed your comment! I got the tile from Lowe’s and Home Depot. It was their stock tile.
Hey there, love this. I will be doing our shower shortly…I love a DIY
Do you remember the name of your floor tiles, and your wall tiles? I think this is the perfect grey that will actually compliment our floor tiles which are unfortunately super beige.
Great post! Beautiful shower!
Yes…time consuming. My son started tiling our master bathroom shower about 2 years ago. Trying to find matching accent pieces to make the 6 x 6 shower look professional has been a challenge. I chose the box tile to save money but had no idea I would have trouble finding corners, bullnose, trim to match the tile. I purchased threshold to use at corners. I really appreciate your post; it has helped us so much to know that it is ok to use other items to get that professional look even if that was not the purpose they were made for! Thank you for sharing your pictures, they help tremendously!
Have you had any issues with moisture and mold with your crown moulding in shower? Thank you!
I love your shower. I am redoing my bath and want this. How many variety of tiles did you use. I was going to purchase 5 different tiles but not sure that will be enough
It’s really just two different patterns and then trim pieces.
I love this!! My husband did all of the steps with grout and cement board…now we have been searching and searching for a shower design we both like.
I saw you said you purchased your tiles at Home Depot and Lowe’s but I don’t see them, could you tell me the design/pattern name please?
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