Choosing the tiling for a bathroom isn’t just about deciding between a stone-look, a light color, or a trendy pattern. Even before placing an order, several technical details can affect the budget, the final look, and even future repairs. This is exactly what the TikTok account specialized in renovations, @reformasdecyref, reminds us in a video dedicated to mistakes to avoid during a renovation. Its warning is blunt: “Never buy tiles without knowing this.” Behind this formula, the professional shares several simple reflexes to adopt before the project begins.
A tile margin indispensable to avoid having to redo everything
The first step is to know precisely the surface to cover. Measure the room roughly or rely solely on its total area does not necessarily suffice: you must determine the quantity of tiles actually needed for the floor and the walls involved. This calculation serves, of course, to set a more accurate budget, but also to avoid two classic pitfalls: running out of tiles mid-installation or, conversely, ordering too much material. It is also wise to budget a small margin for cuts, losses, or potential breakages on site.
But the specialist recommends not stopping at the bare essentials. His second piece of advice is to keep a reserve for years to come. “Always have two boxes of tiles in stock, in case something happens in the future, even in twenty years, and so you can replace them,” explains the content creator in the video. A tile can crack, be damaged during plumbing work, or need to be removed to access a pipe. Moreover, finding exactly the same reference years later can become impossible if the collection has been discontinued.
The detail to check to avoid tiles with varying shades
The tile format also deserves consideration. According to the expert, large tiles can give a bathroom a more upscale look, especially because they reduce the number of joints visible. The eye then encounters fewer breaks, which helps create a more uniform surface and a crisper sense of space. That does not mean a large format is automatically suitable for every bathroom. The room’s layout, required cuts, the dimensions of the shower, and the quality of the substrate must also be taken into account before choosing.
Another often overlooked detail: two boxes bearing exactly the same reference can sometimes show very slight color differences if they do not come from the same production batch. To avoid an uneven result once the wall or floor is finished, the professional recommends buying all tiles at the same time and, if possible, from the same palette or production batch. The precaution may seem minor at the time of ordering, but it can become decisive once several square meters are laid.
The perfect tiling is not chosen by first glance alone
The specialist exactly warns against this risk of variation: “If you take samples from two different spots, the difference may be small, and yet, as surprising as it may seem, it can be noticeable,” explains the video. A slight shade difference may appear invisible when two tiles are viewed separately in a store. On a large area and under a bathroom’s lighting, it can however create distinct zones that are much harder to ignore. Once the installation is complete, correcting the issue typically means removing the affected tiles.
These tips share a common point: they encourage planning the renovation beyond the immediate result. Well calculate quantities, keep a few spare boxes, check the batches, and choose an appropriate format to avoid costs and disappointments after installation. The tiling is usually laid for many years, and replacing it can quickly require new work. It is better to anticipate repairs and chantier constraints at the time of purchase rather than rely solely on aesthetic impulse.
