Looking for ideas for bathroom floor tile in small 50's tract home

Nadlou
by Nadlou
Hi - I am replacing the old linoleum flooring in two small bathrooms in my 1400 square foot 50's tract home. I'm keeping the original tile that's in good shape but am looking for ideas for tile and other suggestions to upgrade. I'm not doing a big remodel. It's not needed but just sprucing up. Will be painting for sure. Thanks in advance for you help!
larger of the two baths
two different colors of green tile as you can see but the shower tile will be behind a curtain most likely
keeping old cabinet and painting with new hardware
bath #2 - 25 square feet
brown and tan tile in shower
  18 answers
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Jul 16, 2014
    Since you already have a green tile bathroom surround, I would stick with a white tile. It seems you have a pretty large area so I would use large tiles. You can lay out a few to see if you like it diagonal or straight. I know you are supposed to start in the center of the room, but I would check out squareness and see if I could do the cuts around the vanity instead of on the tub side.
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    • Thej Thej on Jul 17, 2014
      is not slippery when wet!
  • Tracy C Tracy C on Jul 17, 2014
    What about getting a new vanity top? Maybe you don't want to spend that much. I hope you put up pics when your done!
  • Beth Turner Van Rhee Beth Turner Van Rhee on Jul 17, 2014
    I have seen the porcelain or ceramic tile that is so popular now - the stuff that looks like wood flooring - in a light grey color. I am assuming that it is supposed to look like weathered wood, like on a dock, maybe? I saw it in a newly built house in NY that had paint color similar to the tile on your walls. It was a bathroom as well, and it looked very good! The long thin lines may keep you from ending up with a "tile overload" look! Good luck!
  • Lorna Jean Lorna Jean on Jul 17, 2014
    I recently found cork - it isn't a tile but so much better easy to clean up and can use in both kitchen and bathroom areas! Pricing is about the same as tiling without the glue and grouting!
  • Liliana Wells Liliana Wells on Jul 17, 2014
    My flooring of choice has always been tile if the sub-floor is concrete. I have seen some tiles at Home depot that have a mottled finish with squiggly green lines. They are not very noticeable unless you get very close; but they would tie in with your green wall and vanity tiles. Make sure your floor tiles are not smooth, otherwise you might slip when wet. Post again when you are finished with your project. We would love to see your new bathroom.
  • Nadlou Nadlou on Jul 17, 2014
    Thank you for your suggestions! I like the idea of using cork. Thanks!
  • Deb S Deb S on Jul 17, 2014
    brown paper bag floor
    • Nadlou Nadlou on Jul 17, 2014
      @Deb S Thanks - I'm considering that in another room.
  • Sue P. Sue P. on Jul 17, 2014
    In our kitchen, we used porcelain tile that looks like planks of weathered wood. I tell about it in my blog post at http://lasthomebeforeheaven.com/weathered-timber-kitchen-floor/. We got it at Lowe's and it comes in other colors as well. We love it. I've linked a photo. Sue P.
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    • Sue P. Sue P. on Jul 18, 2014
      Lyn, we had 285 sq. ft. of tile, plus the backer/Hardie board, plus some other assorted materials, plus the removal of old tile, plus clean up and haul-away of old tile, moving heavy appliances ... so with materials and labor (3.5 days), it came to between $14 and $15 a square foot. We opened a Lowe's charge account just to get a extra discount of 10% off materials and 5% off labor, if I remember correctly. Sue
  • Ruth Ruth on Jul 17, 2014
    We have the same linoleum in our baths. Can't wait to retile.
  • Katie Lloyd Mansfield Katie Lloyd Mansfield on Jul 17, 2014
    How about a classic hex tile?
    • Nadlou Nadlou on Jul 23, 2014
      @Katie Lloyd Mansfield hex tile? like the little black and white tiles?
  • Pamela Pamela on Jul 18, 2014
    White 4' Hex. or if you like the larger tile then 6-12" tile set in a subway pattern.
    • Nadlou Nadlou on Jul 23, 2014
      @Pamela do you know of a pic somewhere so I could see what you mean?
  • Marguerite Acosta Marguerite Acosta on Jul 21, 2014
    We went to Habitat for Humanity, got great various/random color tiles for our kitchen, bedroom and bath! Saved tons of money, and the look is spectacular.
    • Nadlou Nadlou on Jul 21, 2014
      @Marguerite Acosta Thank you Marguerite. I once was a director for H4H. Our Restore here does not have great pricing unfortunately but I'll check them out just because!
  • Paulette Montoya Paulette Montoya on Jul 22, 2014
    How is the free item listing on your local craigslist? We have come across quite a bit of items. Also check your local hardware store for any open box buys. Sometimes you can score for next to nothing!
  • Debra Grieve Debra Grieve on Aug 12, 2014
    Do you know what is under the vinyl? If it is plywood or wood and in good condition, you could sand it down and fill any gaps/cracks, and then stain or paint the floor. Make sure there is a matte finish so it will not be slippery. That would save money and labor IF the vinyl comes off well with it's glue! Of course you can add thin plywood over the top of what is there and start from there.
  • Nadlou Nadlou on Aug 12, 2014
    thanks!
  • South Cypress South Cypress on Aug 12, 2014
    To stay true to the period of the home, something like Daltile Octagon & Dot. You can see it at http://www.southcypress.com/Flooring/Octagon-Dot But you should do whatever makes you happy!
  • Shell Shell on Mar 01, 2016
    How about gray wood looking tile. I saw it at home depot.
  • Suzanne Suzanne on Jun 29, 2016
    I would use black and white penny tiles or something similar.