Feature wall tiles: where to use them and how to get it right

A feature wall is the easiest way to give a bathroom or kitchen personality without making the whole room busy. The trick is choosing the right wall and letting one tile do the talking. Browse feature wall tiles online or see them at our Reservoir showroom, about 10 to 15 minutes from Thornbury, Preston and Northcote.

Choose the right wall

• Behind the vanity: the wall you see in the mirror every day. Pairs well with a wall hung vanity and a round mirror.
• The back of the shower: a feature you see from the door. Use a tile suited to wet areas.
• A niche: a small, affordable feature that adds depth.
• A kitchen splashback: see the splashback guide.
• A powder room: small rooms can take bolder patterns because you do not spend long in them.

Pick one hero tile

Choose one patterned or shaped tile and keep the other walls and floor calm. Popular feature shapes include fishscale, feather, herringbone, hexagon, penny round, art deco patterns and metallic tiles. Many of ours are natural marble mosaics, which bring real stone texture in a small area.

Colour and grout

Pick up one colour from the feature in the floor tile, vanity or tapware so the room feels planned. A grout that matches the tile makes the pattern read as texture; a contrasting grout makes it graphic. For marble mosaics, a soft grey or white grout is usually safest. Our matching tiles, tapware and vanities guide helps you pull it together.

Edges and set out

Decide where the feature starts and stops before tiling. A feature that runs wall to wall and floor to ceiling looks deliberate. A feature that stops partway needs a neat edge, such as a trim or a clean line at a fixture. Ask your tiler to centre the pattern on the vanity or niche.

Light it

Texture comes alive with light from the side. A wall light or an LED mirror next to a feature wall shows off the tiles at night.

Care

Natural stone mosaics need sealing after installation and again over time, and gentle pH neutral cleaners. Porcelain and glass features are easier to look after.

Ordering

Feature tiles are call to order. Mosaics are sold in sheets, so measure the wall carefully or book a free measure.

Common questions

Which wall should be the feature wall in a bathroom?

Usually the wall behind the vanity, the back wall of the shower, or the first wall you see when you open the door.

Can feature tiles go in a shower?

Yes, if the tile suits wet areas and the shower is waterproofed correctly. Seal natural stone.

How do I stop a feature wall looking too busy?

Use one patterned tile and keep the floor and other walls simple, with a shared colour tying them together.

Are marble mosaics hard to look after?

They need sealing and gentle cleaners, but with that care they last well.

Visit us or shop online

See the range in person at our showrooms: Geelong at 35A Ryrie St, Geelong VIC 3220, phone (03) 5223 2765, and Reservoir at 214 Broadway, Reservoir VIC 3073, phone (03) 9867 5051. Both are open Monday to Friday 9:30am to 5:00pm, Saturday 9:30am to 3:00pm, and Sunday by appointment only.

Planning a renovation? Request a quote and a free measure, and ask us to include installation by our qualified trades if you would like it quoted. Prefer to shop from home? Order online with Australia-wide delivery, or pick up from either showroom, usually ready in 2 to 4 days.