Enjoy free samples when you book a consultation. Find a Showroom

Get free samples with a consultation.

Fireclay Tile Mark
Hi, ! Search Site View cart
Application
Original Ceramic
Natural Press Ceramic
Glass
Mosaic
Handpainted
Brick
Filter By Application
  • Kitchen + Backsplash
  • Bathroom + Shower
  • Floor Tile
  • Wall Tile
 
  • Commercial Use
  • Outdoor Tile
  • Pool Tile
Modern subway tile striped pool 8
Original Ceramic
  • All Original Ceramic Colors
  • Studio Glazes
    New
  • Ceramic Stains
    New
  • Shop Shapes
  • Shop Patterns
  • Trim + Architectural Moldings
Resources
  • All Resources
  • Spec Sheet
  • Installation Guide
  • Design Files
  • Guide to Tile Trim
2023 img hi res full usage design Atypical design Studio photo jordan Layton wainscott offset cardamom 3x9 floor tile iron ore 2 hexagon FC596427 1

Original Ceramic tiles showcase handmade qualities with unique variations in color, crazing, and finish.

Your first 5 color samples are FREE through a rep

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT BROWSE ALL SAMPLES
Natural Press Ceramic
  • All Natural Press Colors
  • Shop Shapes
Resources
  • All Natural Press Resources
  • Spec Sheet
  • Installation Guide
  • Design Files
  • Trim Guide
2024 residential full usage 4x4 terre verte satin red jasper satin indigo satin 2x2 red jasper satin bathroom checkerboard straight set 6x12 cove base indigo satin Pluck Architecture Leonid Furmansky FC796720 2

Our budget-friendly ceramics line, Natural Press is made with your largest indoor and outdoor projects in mind.

Your first 5 color samples are FREE through a rep

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT BROWSE ALL SAMPLES
Glass Collection
  • All Glass Colors
  • Shop Sizes
Resources
  • All Glass Resources
  • Spec Sheet
  • Installation Guide
  • Design Files
Modern blue subway wall glass tile 2

Our radiant Glass Tile provides a freshness that pairs perfectly with today’s modern designs indoors or out.

Your first 5 color samples are FREE through a rep

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT BROWSE ALL SAMPLES
Mosaic Collection
Learn More
Original Ceramic Mosaics Original Ceramic Mosaics Natural Press Mosaics Natural Press Mosaics Glass Mosaics Glass Mosaics
Custom
  • Learn More
  • Book a Free Consultation
  • Get a Quote

Your first 5 color samples are FREE through a rep

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT BROWSE ALL SAMPLES
Handpainted Collection
Shop All Nine Collections
Agrarian Agrarian Moroccan Moroccan Classic Cuerda Seca Classic Cuerda Seca
Custom
  • Learn More
  • Book a Free Consultation
  • Get a Quote
Resources
  • All Handpainted Resources
  • Spec Sheet
  • Installation Guide
  • Design Files

Your first 5 color samples are FREE through a rep

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT BROWSE ALL SAMPLES
Brick Collection
  • All Brick Colors
  • Shop Sizes
Resources
  • All Brick Resources
  • Spec Sheet
  • Installation Guide
  • Design Files
  • Brick Trim
Glazed Thin Brick Destination Eichler Blue Brick Fireplace

Brick’s hand-mixed glazes enrich its surface, delicately exposing its unique textures and variations with the colors of the environment around us.

Your first 5 color samples are FREE through a rep

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT BROWSE ALL SAMPLES
Quick Ship Tile
  • All Quick Ship Tile
  • Ceramic Tile
  • Glass Tile
  • Brick Tile
  • Handpainted Tile
Budget-Friendly Tile
  • $12 Essentials
  • $18 Foundations
  • Factory Sale
2022 img hi res full rights residential photo design plural design studio bathroom floor tile mini star and cross antique white grout FC 407104 2

Our bestselling tile products all ready to ship in five days or less.

Residential Specifiers
  • Find Your Rep
  • Custom Projects
  • Design Packages
Commercial Specifiers
  • Find Your Rep
  • Custom Projects
  • Commercial Pricing
  • 2025 Resource Book
Meet Your Partners
  • Virtual CEU
Trade callout

As a member you’ll receive exclusive access to new products, a professional discount, plus personalized service from our trade team who can help bring your vision to life.

Learn More →
Design Packages
  • All Design Packages
  • Bathroom
  • Kitchen
  • Fireplace
  • Pool + Fountain
Custom Tile
  • Our Custom Capabilities
  • Book A Free Consultation
Tile Installation
  • Overview
  • FAQ
  • Book a Free Consultation
Enscape 2025 04 08 12 57 54

Visualize our tile in your space with our comprehensive design packages.

By Product
  • Original Ceramic
  • Natural Press
  • Glass
  • Brick
  • Handpainted
By Type
  • Product Specification
  • Installation Guides
  • Design Files
  • Price Guides
  • Product Guides
  • Brochures + Catalogs
Popular Topics
  • Trim + Moldings
  • Pools
  • Customization
  • Sustainability
Get Help
  • FAQ
  • Book a Free Consultation
  • Contact Us
  • Track Order
Blog
  • All Blog Posts
  • Design + Inspiration
  • Project Spotlight
  • Tile School
Gallery
  • All Gallery Entries
  • Bathroom
  • Kitchen
  • Commercial
Where Color Meets Craft Original Ceramic Tile

Where Color Meets Craft: Reintroducing Original Ceramic Tile

See Featured Blog →
New traditional bathroom floor subway green tile 3

Nicholas Potts: Historic Primary Bathroom

See Featured Gallery →
Find a Showroom
Support
FAQ Track Order

Questions? We're here to help
Available 6am-5pm PST Monday-Friday

FCT Icons Chat cropped
Live Chat Online Now
FCT Icons Call cropped
Call Us (800) 773-2226 (toll-free)
FCT Icons Email cropped
Email support@fireclaytile.com
Modern subway tile striped pool 8
  • Kitchen + Backsplash
  • Bathroom + Shower
  • Floor Tile
  • Wall Tile
  • Commercial Use
  • Outdoor Tile
  • Pool Tile
2023 img hi res full usage design Atypical design Studio photo jordan Layton wainscott offset cardamom 3x9 floor tile iron ore 2 hexagon FC596427 1

Original Ceramic tiles showcase handmade qualities with unique variations in color, crazing, and finish.

  • All Original Ceramic Colors
  • Studio Glazes New
  • Ceramic Stains New
  • Shop Shapes
  • Shop Patterns
  • Trim + Architectural Moldings
Resources
  • All Resources
  • Spec Sheet
  • Installation Guide
  • Design Files
  • Guide to Tile Trim

Your first 5 color samples are FREE through a rep

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT BROWSE ALL SAMPLES
2024 residential full usage 4x4 terre verte satin red jasper satin indigo satin 2x2 red jasper satin bathroom checkerboard straight set 6x12 cove base indigo satin Pluck Architecture Leonid Furmansky FC796720 2

Our budget-friendly ceramics line, Natural Press is made with your largest indoor and outdoor projects in mind.

  • All Natural Press Colors
  • Shop Shapes
Resources
  • All Natural Press Resources
  • Spec Sheet
  • Installation Guide
  • Design Files
  • Trim Guide

Your first 5 color samples are FREE through a rep

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT BROWSE ALL SAMPLES
Modern blue subway wall glass tile 2

Our radiant Glass Tile provides a freshness that pairs perfectly with today’s modern designs indoors or out.

  • All Glass Colors
  • Shop Sizes
Resources
  • All Glass Resources
  • Spec Sheet
  • Installation Guide
  • Design Files

Your first 5 color samples are FREE through a rep

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT BROWSE ALL SAMPLES
Mosaic Collection
Learn More
Original Ceramic Mosaics
Original Ceramic Mosaics
Natural Press Mosaics
Natural Press Mosaics
Glass Mosaics
Glass Mosaics
Custom
  • Learn More
  • Book a Free Consultation
  • Get a Quote

Your first 5 color samples are FREE through a rep

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT BROWSE ALL SAMPLES
Handpainted Collection
Shop All Nine Collections
Agrarian
Agrarian
Moroccan
Moroccan
Classic Cuerda Seca
Classic Cuerda Seca
Custom
  • Learn More
  • Book a Free Consultation
  • Get a Quote
Resources
  • All Handpainted Resources
  • Spec Sheet
  • Installation Guide
  • Design Files

Your first 5 color samples are FREE through a rep

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT BROWSE ALL SAMPLES
Glazed Thin Brick Destination Eichler Blue Brick Fireplace

Brick’s hand-mixed glazes enrich its surface, delicately exposing its unique textures and variations with the colors of the environment around us.

  • All Brick Colors
  • Shop Sizes
Resources
  • All Brick Resources
  • Spec Sheet
  • Installation Guide
  • Design Files
  • Brick Trim

Your first 5 color samples are FREE through a rep

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT BROWSE ALL SAMPLES
2022 img hi res full rights residential photo design plural design studio bathroom floor tile mini star and cross antique white grout FC 407104 2

Our bestselling tile products all ready to ship in five days or less.

  • All Quick Ship Tile
  • Ceramic Tile
  • Glass Tile
  • Brick Tile
  • Handpainted Tile
Budget-Friendly Tile
  • $12 Essentials
  • $18 Foundations
  • Factory Sale
Trade callout

As a member you’ll receive exclusive access to new products, a professional discount, plus personalized service from our trade team who can help bring your vision to life.

Learn More →
Residential Specifiers
  • Find Your Rep
  • Custom Projects
  • Design Packages
Commercial Specifiers
  • Find Your Rep
  • Custom Projects
  • Commercial Pricing
  • 2025 Resource Book
Meet Your Partners
  • Virtual CEU
Enscape 2025 04 08 12 57 54

Visualize our tile in your space with our comprehensive design packages.

Design Packages
  • All Design Packages
  • Bathroom
  • Kitchen
  • Fireplace
  • Pool + Fountain
Custom Tile
  • Our Custom Capabilities
  • Book A Free Consultation
  • Overview
  • FAQ
  • Book a Free Consultation
By Product
  • Original Ceramic
  • Natural Press
  • Glass
  • Brick
  • Handpainted
By Type
  • Product Specification
  • Installation Guides
  • Design Files
  • Price Guides
  • Product Guides
  • Brochures + Catalogs
Popular Topics
  • Trim + Moldings
  • Pools
  • Customization
  • Sustainability
Get Help
  • FAQ
  • Book a Free Consultation
  • Contact Us
  • Track Order
Blog
  • All Blog Posts
  • Design + Inspiration
  • Project Spotlight
  • Tile School
Gallery
  • All Gallery Entries
  • Bathroom
  • Kitchen
  • Commercial
Where Color Meets Craft Original Ceramic Tile

Where Color Meets Craft: Reintroducing Original Ceramic Tile

See Featured Blog →
New traditional bathroom floor subway green tile 3

Nicholas Potts: Historic Primary Bathroom

See Featured Gallery →
Blog
  • All Blog Posts
  • Design + Inspiration
  • Project Spotlight
  • Tile School
Gallery
  • All Gallery Entries
  • Bathroom
  • Kitchen
  • Commercial
Where Color Meets Craft Original Ceramic Tile

Where Color Meets Craft: Reintroducing Original Ceramic Tile

See Featured Blog →
New traditional bathroom floor subway green tile 3

Nicholas Potts: Historic Primary Bathroom

See Featured Gallery →
Blog
  • All Blog Posts
  • Design + Inspiration
  • Project Spotlight
  • Tile School
Gallery
  • All Gallery Entries
  • Bathroom
  • Kitchen
  • Commercial
Where Color Meets Craft Original Ceramic Tile

Where Color Meets Craft: Reintroducing Original Ceramic Tile

See Featured Blog →
New traditional bathroom floor subway green tile 3

Nicholas Potts: Historic Primary Bathroom

See Featured Gallery →
Explore All Samples
Quick Ship Samples
Quick Ship Samples
Original Ceramic Samples
Original Ceramic Samples
Natural Press Samples
Natural Press Samples
Glass Samples
Glass Samples
Brick Samples
Brick Samples
Handpainted Samples
Handpainted Samples

Your first 5 color samples are FREE through a rep

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT
Certified B-Corp Climate Neutral Employee Owned American Made Search Shopping Cart User Lightning Bars Houzz Instagram Pinterest Tiktok LinkedIn YouTube Facebook Twitter Times Check Check Circle close arrow-right Next Arrow Previous Arrow question question print envelope PDF File Minus Plus Pencil
  1. Home
  2. Blog
  3. 9 Wet Room Bathroom Design Tips

Design & Inspiration

9 Wet Room Bathroom Design Tips

By Ted Ryan

Rejuvenation tidewater

All bathrooms get wet, but some more than others. Wet room bathrooms are the latest trend in the interior design world as homeowners seek to bring a spa-like atmosphere home. Perfect for small bathrooms or large bathrooms looking to make a luxurious statement, a wet room bathroom's open concept opens up a world of design possibilities.

Spa-Green Wet Room ShowerWet Room with Shower Bench

 

Tile Shown: Salton Sea 3x9 and 3x3 // Design: Amy Alper // Imagery: Adam Potts
 

If you're curious about doing away with the confides of a contained shower in your bathroom, this article will get you started with things to think about and plenty of inspiration from 9 of our top wet room bathrooms tips.
 

Not sure where to start with your bathroom design? Start here, with our guide to Bathroom Tile.

What is a Wet Room Bathroom?

Simply put, a wet room bathroom is a bathroom that gets wet, specifically from an exposed shower. Compared to a traditional bathroom where water from the shower is contained with tubs, doors, shower pans, and tall curbs, wet room bathrooms have a more open concept design that allows water to splash and spread more freely.

Because of the nature of this design, wet room bathrooms require surfaces that can tolerate moisture and repeated soakings. Ceramic, glass, porcelain, sealed concrete, natural stone, and metal are all water-resistant options to protect your bathroom walls and floor.

Planning a Wet Room Bathroom

Whether you’re remodeling your existing bathroom or installing a wet room bathroom from scratch, there are a few important things to consider before breaking ground.

Draining Water in a Wet Room Bathroom

Water drainage is going to be paramount to your design. In a standard shower, the shower pan is sloped in either one direction leading to a line drain or on four sides leading to a center shower drain. In a Wet Bathroom, with water collecting in a much larger space, this becomes even more important–and difficult.

Green Tile Wet Room

Tile Shown: Amalfi Coast Matte 3x6 and Calcite Star and Cross // Designer & Imagery: Rejuvenation

A wet room bathroom floor must slope a minimum of 12mm from the highest point to where the drain is located and unlike in a shower where a stock sloping pan can be purchased and installed, a wet room bathroom slope must be built into the subfloor itself. Your best bet is to work with a bathroom designer and installer who is familiar with wet room bathrooms.

Learn more about shower floors here.

Underfloor Heating in a Wet Room Bathroom

Another tool for keeping your wet room bathroom dry when not in use is the installation of underfloor heating. Not only will underfloor heating help evaporate water left on your tiled floor, they also create a more comfortable environment for you and your guests.

Since wet room bathrooms don’t feature shower enclosures, steam won’t concentrate as densely as in a standard bathroom and therefore the temperature in the shower area will remain cooler. In a colder climate, this could mean chilly showers even when the water is hot. Underfloor heating can help

What is the Best Tile for a Wet Room Bathroom?

Ceramic, glass, porcelain, and natural stone tile are all great choices for a wet room bathroom. At Fireclay, we offer glass tile, ceramic tile, and non-vitreous brick tile. Glass is impervious to water making it our most waterproof product, though ceramic is perfectly acceptable for bathroom use, including any surface in a wet bathroom. Due to its non-vitreous nature, absorbing 7% or more moisture, we don’t recommend brick for a wet room bathroom.

What’s the Difference Between a Wet Room Bathroom and a Walk-in Shower

While interior design trends have seen the size of walk-in showers grow to the size of some small bathrooms, there are differences between a wet room bathroom and a bathroom with a walk-in shower. The major difference between a wet room bathroom and a walk-in shower is the shower enclosure. Walk-in showers will typically be enclosed on at least three sides, with the opening covered by a full or partial glass door or partition.

A walk-in shower will also feature a pronounced curb separating the shower floor from the rest of the bathroom.

While some wet room designs contain curbs and glass partitions, they are designed to be more open to the rest of the bathroom allowing you (and water) to move more freely around the space without feeling like you’re getting in and out of the shower.

9 Wet Room Bathroom Ideas

1. Full Coverage

Full waterproof coverage is the most effective way to protect your home with a wet room bathroom. To enhance the seamlessness from your shower space through the rest of the bathroom, consider continuing an accent wall in the shower across the floor throughout the bathroom.

This example takes the sense of flow to the next level with Roundabout Tile from our Block Shop x Fireclay Tile Handpainted collection featuring a continuous stream of narrow parallel lines.

wet room bathroom with green and white tile

Tile Shown: Roundabout 2 + 4 in Fresco, Jade in 4 x 4, and Oyster Shell in 4 x 4

2. Keep the Curb

A patchwork of random color helps disguise a short curb on this spacious open shower, which in turn helps contain some of the water.

wet room bathroom with colorful tile floor

Tile Shown: Desert Bloom, Mandarin, Ember, Mustard Seed, Aegean Sea, Magnolia w/ Black Patine, Lake Tahoe, Spruce Gloss, and Lichen in 2x8 // Design + Image: Banyan Bridges

3. Maximize Your Space

A wet bathroom is a perfect way to make a small bathroom appear larger. Instead of trying to crowd a tub or stand-up shower into a tiny space, a wet room bathroom’s footprint does double duty, as a shower space when you’re showering and everything else when you’re not.

wet room bathroom with green tile wall

Tile Shown: Evergreen and Feldspar Gloss in 6 x 6 // Design: Alicia Davenport // Image: Besea Photography

A curbless bathroom like this is also important if you or your loved ones are aging in place or living with mobility issues that prevent one from stepping into a tub or curbed shower.

4. L-Shaped Layouts

A wet room bathroom doesn’t have to all get wet. An L-shaped footprint allows you to keep the shower and bath area separate from the vanity and toilet so you still capture the spa-like feeling of a wet bathroom without having to waterproof the entire room.

l shaped wet room bathroom with glass block window

Tile Shown: Salton Sea in Ogee // Design: Harper Design Projects, Janie Clark // Blake Verdoorn

wet room L shaped bathroom with white and blue tile

Tile Shown: Frost Matte in 4 x 4 and Calcite Gloss 3 x 6 // Design: Kate Lester Interior // Image: Grey Malin
 

5. Add Glass

A glass partition is another handy way to keep water contained while still capturing the open look of a wet bathroom. This petite spa bathroom looks much larger thanks to a seamless floor and the barely-there glass barrier.

wet room bathroom with tan tile and green tile walls

Tile Shown: Sand Dune in 6" Hexagon and Rosemary in 3x9 // Design + Image: Elana Jadallah

 

The same goes for this covetable cottage bathroom by Claire Thomas. Since Thomas chose wallpaper for part of the bathroom, the glass screen keeps splashing in check.

wet room bathroom with claw foot tub and white and yellow mosaic tile

Tile Shown: Haystack and Calcite in 3x3 // Design+ Image: Claire Thomas

 

A partition doesn’t have to be invisible to give a wet bathroom its distinct look. Vanessa Carlton’s custom wet room bathroom includes this glass screen with black framed panes to add depth and dimension between the wet and dry elements of the room.

wet room bathroom with white tile and marble

Brick Shown: Lewis Range // Design: Sarah Sherman Samuel // Image: Nicole Franzen

 

This wet bathroom gets a little separation thanks to a plinth of raised tile topped by a narrow glass partition, keeping the wall tile (and most of the water from the shower) confined to the back half of the bathroom.

wet room bathroom with green vertical offset tile

Tile Shown: Seedling in 2 x 8 // Design: Terapan Lilittham // Image: Rachel Lo

 

6. Pony Wall Partitions
 

A pony wall is another great way of enclosing a shower area in a wet bathroom without completely walling it off. In this hotel’s guest room bathroom, a half wall separates the open shower and a sunken tub, both tiled with matching mosaic tiles.

wet room bathroom with pony wall and sunken tub

Tile Shown: Ivory in Ogee // Image: Margaret Austin Photography, Sara Combs + Rich Combs

7. Fit in a Freestanding Tub

A freestanding tub is a common feature in a wet bathroom. Since square footage is freed up by doing away with a separate shower, a luxurious soaking tub fits in even small bathrooms with ease.

wet room bathroom with freestanding tub

Tile Shown: Frost Matte and Sea Glass in 3 x 9 // Design: Claire Thomas // Image: Stephanie Todaro Photography

8. Break the Fourth Wall

Freeing yourself from the confines of common bathroom layouts opens up a whole world of possibilities. This wet room bathroom takes open concept to the next level with direct access to a private patio, itself a kind of wet room bathroom with the exposed outdoor shower so you can choose to soak in the tub or soak in the natural light instead.

wet room bathroom with patio access

Tile Shown: Seedling Picket // Design: Paul Dyer // Image: Arcsine

 

9. Elevate Your Design

Pro Tip. Keeping as much as you can off the ground will help keep hidden water from collecting under wood or other objects. Floating shelves in this Jungalow™ wet room bathroom are a perfect choice from both an aesthetic and practical sense.

Wall hung toilets are also a common choice for wet room bathrooms for the same reason.

Justina Blakeney Wet Shower Room

Tile Shown: Adriatic Sea in 8" Hexagon and Mini Star & Cross // Design + Image: Justina Blakeny

 

Want to design your own wet room bathroom? Reach out to our Design Consultants for free personalized design assistance including design help, sample selection, estimating renderings, and ordering.
 

Shop the Story

3x9 Tile in Rosemary Gloss
6" Hexagon Tile in Sand Dune Gloss
8" Hexagon Tile in Adriatic Sea Gloss
  • 1/ Rosemary Gloss, 3x9
  • 2/ Sand Dune Gloss, 6" Hexagon
  • 3/ Adriatic Sea Gloss, 8" Hexagon

Footer

About Us

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • The Factory
  • Installation Services
  • Showrooms
  • Press
  • Careers

Get Help

  • 1-800-773-2226 6am-5pm PST M-F
  • Email Us
  • Track Order
  • FAQ
  • Shipping
  • Returns

Resources

  • Trade
  • Commercial
  • Design Assistance
  • Specs
  • Design Files
  • Installation FAQs
  • Shop our Catalog

Become an Insider

We'll keep you updated with new products, design trends, promotions and any exciting happenings around the studio.

Instagram Tiktok Houzz Pinterest Facebook YouTube LinkedIn
Privacy Policy Terms of Service Accessibility

© Fireclay Tile 2025

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.  Learn More