One of the most popular and practical shower solutions, both ceramic and glass tile offers a lasting, water-resistant surface for your shower from the ground up. However, choosing the right shower tile for your project is one of the most important decisions you'll make when designing or remodeling a bathroom.
To help make the decision process a little easier, we've put together the pros and cons of both materials, as well as some shower tile design inspiration from some of our favorite projects!
Remodeling your entire bathroom? Start here with our complete guide to bathroom tile.
Can't choose between the two? You can always pair the two materials as they did in the bathroom below!
Tile Shown: 3x12 in Pheasant and Sparrow Matte with 3x12 in Halite on the floor // Design + Image: Chase Daniel
Ceramic tile is a classic choice for shower tile design. Whether you're covering a floor, a shower wall, or even a tub surround, our Recycled Clay Tile offers a timeless look that will make your shower the center of attention.
TIle Shown: 3x9 in Salton Sea with 2" Hexagons in Flagstone // Design + Image: The Fresh Exchange
Although ceramic tile is considered a classic shower tile choice, your tile design style doesn't necessarily need to be traditional. Subway tile is always a great choice, but if you're looking for a more contemporary or modern look, mix things up a little and try a bold splash of color, or an interesting specialty shape.
No matter what style you choose, ceramic tile offers your shower space a surface material that will last a lifetime in both durability and style.
Tile Shown: 3x3 and 3x6 Tiles in Tusk // Design + Image: Claire Thomas
Ceramic tile is classic and timeless, making it a sustainable design choice.
Tile Shown: 2x8 in Hunter Green // Design: Clara Jung // Image: Emily Gilbert
Price is one of the biggest pros when it comes to ceramic tile. Ceramic tile comes in a variety of price ranges, offering something for every budget. This also makes it a great choice for larger surface areas such as the floor, ceiling, and walls.
Tile Shown: 2x6 in White Wash, 2x2 Mosaic tiles in French Linen // Design: Becki Owens
Ceramic tile is one of the most durable materials you can choose for your shower. It will stand the test of time against daily wear and tear, and with the right grout and regular care, ceramic tile will be fairly low maintenance.
Tile Shown: 2x8 and 4x4 Bora Bora // Design: Antonio Matres Studio // Image: Lisa Richov
There are hundreds of tile colors to choose from, each one offering unique texture, finish, and color variation. Ceramic tile is also available in our largest selection of shapes and sizes, offering more options for customization.
Tile Shown: Ogee Drops in Naples Blue with 3x6 in White Wash // Design + Image: Bright Bazaar
Ceramic tile has a variety of trim and architectural moldings to choose from, allowing you to add the perfect finishing touch to your tile design.
Bullnose pieces create the perfect clean edge to a shower surround and quarter rounds help finish edge details on the wainscot wall:
Tile Shown: 3x6 in Seedling // Design: Interior Blooms Design Co. // Image: Emily Kennedy Photography
Ceramic tile is handmade which means slight irregularities and variation in size and color should be expected. We love this about our tile as it adds character and an artisanal feel but if you want a more consistent feel, Glass will be for you!
Tile Shown: 3x3 and 3x6 Tiles in Tusk // Design + Image: Claire Thomas
If certain ceramic tile glazes are exposed to water for extended periods of time, there is a potential for light staining if the tile is not sealed correctly or regularly. Please ask your rep or Design Consultant if you have any questions!
Tile Shown: 3x6 White Wash, Small Diamonds in White Wash, 2" Hexagons in Basalt // Design: High Street Homes // Image: Dan Swindel
Glass tile showers offer a modern look that is refreshing and sleek. Our palette of glass colors creates an opportunity to design an eye-catching statement with your shower.
Glass tile is beautiful and offers your bathroom modern visual appeal, and with a curated selection of colors available in both matte and gloss finishes, your design options are limitless.
Glass Tile Shown: 2x12 in Blue Heron Matte// Design: Andrea Dabene // Image: Alex Strohl
Glass tile is relatively low maintenance, all you need to keep it clean is window cleaner and a cloth, making it an ideal choice for the shower where you will experience soap build-up that needs to be cleaned regularly.
Glass Tile Shown: 3x12 in Barn Swallow Matte and Gloss // Design: Andrea Dabene // Image: Alex Strohl
Glass tile is impervious to water, and will not stain.
Glass reflects light, making your shower appear larger. It's also translucent, therefore, unlike any other surface material, that beautiful color you picked out will show all the way through the tile, providing an additional sense of depth and dimension.
Glass Tile Shown: 2x12 in Falcon Matte // Design: Andrea Dabene // Image: Alex Strohl
Glass tile in the shower requires more care during installation, especially if you have architectural details in your shower that require special cuts. This is why we always recommend a professional tile installer.
Glass Tile Shown: 4x4 tiles in Warbler Matte// Design + Image: Victoria Ninette Interiors
Glass tile can be higher in price than some of our ceramic tile options. If Glass is over your budget, you may want to consider using glass as an accent, rather than covering large surface areas.
Glass Tile Shown: 2x12 in Dove Glass // Design: Andrea Dabene // Image: Alex Strohl
Although glass is easy to clean, its reflective surface highlights imperfections. This means it will require regular maintenance to keep it looking its best.
Glass Tile Shown: 2x12 in Blue Jay Matte // Design: Ginny Macdonald // Image: Jessica Bordner
While Glass Tile is fine for a shower pan floor, it should not be used underfoot for the rest of your bathroom.
Glass Tile Shown: 2x12 in Blue Jay Matte with 1x1 Glass Mosaics on the shower pan floor // Design: Ginny Macdonald // Image: Jessica Bordner
We'll say it again! If you cannot decide between the two materials for your shower, you don't have to! Glass and tile do make a dynamic duo--with the colors easily complimenting each other.
Tile Shown: 3x12 in Pheasant with 3x12 in Halite on the floor // Design + Image: Chase Daniel
Need help figuring out which Fireclay Tile product is best for your shower? Simply call, chat, or fill out our Design Assistance Form and one of our talented Design Consultants will get back to you shortly.
Every day, we walk in and out of our bathrooms many times. In fact, people on average spend 813.3 days in the bathroom over their lifetime.
It’s a significant amount of time and it’s important to make sure your bathroom is pleasing to the eye, but safety is a priority as well. Whether you’re building a new home or renovating your current bathroom, you must consider a glass shower door.
There are countless benefits, and before you make your final decision, you must know the advantages. We know there are a lot of products out there to choose from, so we’ve put this guide together.
Below, you’ll read about the benefits of a glass shower door and why it would be an excellent investment for your home. Continue reading for more information.
One of the best benefits that appeal to many homeowners is that a glass shower door is a low-maintenance choice. Cleaning supplies are unnecessary in great quantities, and the task of removing water spots hardly requires any time, which is the primary concern of most people.
In order to reduce how often you need to clean the shower door, you’ll want to invest in a squeegee. If you consistently squeegee the shower after each use, it will cut the time to remove dirt and accumulation from the door.
Shower curtains house a lot of mildew and mold growth. By investing in a glass shower door, you don’t have to worry about as much bacteria because it dries so much faster.
Another great advantage is a glass door is going to be durable and last you a long time. You won’t have to replace the door like you would have to do with a shower curtain.
You don’t have to worry about a lot of wear and tear that is normal with other shower options. The glass will be scratch and chip resistant, making it a superb choice for any and all bathrooms in your home.
Having a safe home is at the top of the priority list for the majority of homeowners. A shower with a curtain doesn’t keep all the water in. It’s not uncommon for water and soap to splash out and land on the floor when you have a traditional shower.
Working with a professional shower door installer will eliminate this issue. You will no longer have to worry about slipping when you step out and you’ll save time as you won’t have to clean up water every time, you shower.
When designing your new bathroom shower, don’t forget to think about the aesthetics. Nothing screams luxury like a sleek shower.
Glass doors are used often in high-end hotels and spas, and for good reason. It adds an element of extravagance.
A glass shower door will also allow for more light to come in. It will be much easier to see when you’re showering and you won’t have to worry about adding extra lighting to your bathroom.
A glass shower door is also going to be much more eco-friendly than the other options that are available. They are able to be recycled when it comes to the end of their lifespan. They also reduce water waste as they are sealed off properly and don’t let water out as a shower curtain does.
No matter what your vision is for your bathroom, a glass shower door can help you create the space you want. There are lots of options to choose from and completely customizable.
You can opt for a frosted shower door or decide on something more modern. There are frameless shower door options along with sliding shower doors. No matter what your style is, there is something for you, whether you want something more airy and open or if you want more privacy.
While you may not be selling your home soon, it’s always important to consider the value of your home. All the benefits above will be appealing to future home buyers, which will increase the amount that you can sell your house for in the future.
A glass shower door will make your bathroom look bigger than it is due to the light reflections. It will also allow you to show off the tile work or marble that your shower is made of.
Even if you aren’t planning to move, it’s never a bad idea to consider your resale value. Since glass doors are so durable, they are going to hold their value longer as well.
Typically, when you’re selling your home, you’ll need to make minor repairs and changes. Nevertheless, you won’t have to worry about that when it comes to your shower if you have a glass door.
As you can see, there are many advantages of a glass shower door. The bathroom renovation process isn’t always an effortless task, but you don’t have to do it in solitary.
There are so many options and decisions to make, and it can be overwhelming. That’s why our team is here. Our trained experts are available to help you bring your vision to life and design your dream shower.
Whether you have questions about the glass shower door cost or need advice on how to get started, we’ve got your back, contact us here today!