Every bathroom design needs to have a sense of unity in style, as well as in function. Shower designs are no exception to this rule. The shower floor should compliment the rest of the bathroom design, whether by flowing seamlessly into the rest of the bathroom floor tile, or by providing a design element all its own.
The Elements of a Shower Floor
Shower floors need to pitch toward the drain in order to allow the water to drain properly. Depending on the size of the shower, and the placement of the drain, this pitch may take several degrees. To accommodate this pitch, while providing a safe surface for standing, mosaic tiles of 2” or smaller are typically recommended for the shower floor.
While larger tiles of 4” and even 6” may be able to accommodate the pitch, the installer will need to take extreme care in installation so that the tiles do not crack over time, and the tiles themselves will need to have a greater grip to their surface, since they will not have as much grout to provide a non-skid surface for the bather to stand on.
Nearly any material rated for floor use is suitable for the shower floor. Glass tiles, porcelain, ceramic or natural stone mosaics can all be used on the shower floor, provided that care is taken when selecting the materials. White natural stones, such as Carrara and Calacatta marble, should never be used on a shower floor, as they are capable of wicking up impurities from the shower pan and discoloring over time, particularly around the drain.
Soft limestones, such as Lagos Azul, should also not be used on the shower floor, as they can pit and wear away over time from the action of the water hitting the stones. Some shampoos and cleansers can also damage softer stones, so be carefully to use natural stones with a denser nature.
Designing a Shower Floor with a Pop
For small bathrooms, one way to bring an accent to the bathroom design without overwhelming the space is to use the shower floor to bring a pop of color or accent to the room. Try using glass tiles on the shower floor in a bright, complimentary color to the rest of the bathroom design.
Or, if marble tiles are being used in the bathroom, take a secondary vein color to use on the shower floor. For example, Calacatta marble has a dark gold vein among the white and gray, since Calacatta should not be used on a shower floor, if it is being used in the rest of the bathroom, try using a shower floor tile in Jerusalem Gold, or Crema Luna to compliment and bring additional color into the room.
Modern bathrooms, or spa style bathrooms can change the material on the shower floor. Try using river rocks on the shower floor, and the same material, such as a porcelain, on the bathroom floor and shower walls. The river rocks will break up the design, and add additional interest, while providing a massage for the feet.
Outlining the Shower Floor
For large, walk-in style showers, try bordering the shower floor. This can be done with either a second color of mosaic, a mosaic border in a design, such as a scroll, or dot and dash, or by using long, cut tiles of the material being used on the bathroom floor, in a secondary color.
If using the same material on the shower floor as on the rest of the bathroom floor, but in a smaller size, try breaking the two areas up from one another by using a border to separate the two. If using the colors blue and green in the bathroom, with a blue tile on the bathroom floor, white tile on the shower walls, and green paint on the walls, try bordering the shower floor in green tiles that compliment the wall color to bring an extra element of detail to the bathroom. The same material can be run through the shower walls as a border to help tie the two areas together and give a uniform look.
Small bathrooms should always use the same material on the shower floor as either the shower walls, or the rest of the bathroom floor, or both, to help visually enlarge the room. Be sure to use caulk around the edges of the shower floor to help seal the floor, and provide some flex to the tiles moving toward the pitch. Don’t be afraid to use very small mosaics on the shower floor, such as 5/8”, as the extra grout will help to provide more of a skid free surface.
The shower floor is a great way of bringing together all the elements of the bathroom, uniting them in an interesting and style cementing way. Take advantage of this set off area to provide extra interest, and watch the bathroom design take shape.
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