Whether you’re designing a new bathroom or looking to revamp your space, your tile choice can go a long way in informing the look. Bathroom tile trends are a great place to start for inspiration to get the most out of this addition.
Bathroom tile ideas are incredibly versatile, and most can be used no matter how large or petite your space. Additionally, because of the nature of these rooms, you can apply these trends across walls, floors, splashbacks… in fact, just about any surface you desire.
‘With tile trends constantly changing within the home, we have seen a big increased for unusual textures and patterns designed to make bold feature walls and floors in bathroom ideas,’ notes Amanda Telford, Marketing Manager, CTD Tiles.
Tiles are a wonderful place to add colour, pattern and interest to a room. Plus, you can create impact with a few, or by covering large swathes of a space. While you don’t want to be redoing your space to align with bathroom tile trends every year, if you change your style over the years, replacing tiles is less expensive than completely renovating the room. This makes tiles one of the easier and more affordable ways to update a bathroom.
This year, we’re seeing that bathroom tile trends have been influenced by recent history. ‘Following a year of unrest and uncertainty, 2021 saw us start to gain back our confidence and positivity, in everyday life and in our homes,’ notes Oliver Webb, Director, Cullifords.
‘This shift towards a more optimistic mindset has started to be echoed in our design choices. Brave, individual style statements are being made and a desire for warm tones and comforting shapes is prevailing.’
Image credit: BC Designs
‘Checkerboard floor is a great way of adding pattern and colour to a bathroom without it becoming too complicated or over the top,’ notes Barrie Cutchie, Design Director, BC Designs. ‘The overall look will be dependant more on the colours chosen than anything else, as it doesn’t have to be traditional white and black. Instead, use contrasting or similar shades to soften and warm the space.’
‘This floor style is also a great feature of transitional bathrooms, where contemporary and traditional styles are blended together,’ adds Barrie. ‘Checkerboard floor has a long history, but used with modern colour palettes, it is a great way of bringing the two periods together. They are versatile and can work in most spaces, from traditional to modern bathroom ideas. They work just as well in cloakrooms as they do in larger bathrooms. In smaller spaces, it is best to work with smaller tiles so you can see much more of the pattern than you can in a larger bathroom.’
Image credit: Tile Giant
‘Green works wonderfully in the bathroom, offering a calm and restorative atmosphere to relax in,’ notes Kamila Swiatecka, marketing and brand manager, Tile Giant. ‘To tap into the biophillic oasis trend, pair green tiles with crisp white and natural wood details to create a room that’s as relaxing as it is elegant. Mint green is an ideal shade as it has a fresh, vibrant feel that will open up your space.’
For a more dramatic take on the green bathroom tile trends, look at statement glossy options. ‘With more of us opting for statement looks in our bathrooms, green glossy tiles are an easy choice to create the ultimate WOW factor!,’ says Antonia Clayson, Design Expert, Victorian Plumbing. ‘Green bathroom ideas are ideal. The colour compliments white ceramics and coordinates perfectly with neutral colours and textures to remind us of the great outdoors.’
Image credit: Verona Group
‘With their edgy shape and versatile small format, hexagonal tiles have risen quickly in the style stakes,’ notes Jayne Adamson, marketing manager, Verona. ‘This stylish shape brings a trend-led look to bathrooms and comes in an array of different colours. Style the tile on its own or combine with a classic metro tile. Deeper, richer shades work wonderfully in bijou bathrooms. If beige is your go-to, pair ash-like hexagon tiles with pale wood furniture or go blue and pair with copper fittings for a fresh take on a classic style.’
‘Their unique shape is what makes them remarkable, as they give you the freedom to create an eye-catching and unforgettable display,’ adds Antonia from Victorian Plumbing. ‘With quirky designs available and an easy-clean finish, hexagon tiles are an easy decision if you are wanting to inject fun and practicality to your bathroom.’
Image credit: Victorian Plumbing
‘Although pink tiles are normally associated with girly or feminine aesthetics, they are great at modernising your home and creating stylish and unforgettable spaces,’ says Antonia from Victorian Plumbing. ‘Pastel pinks add a touch of warmth and character, it establishes a space that visitors will notice and appreciate. Pink bathroom tile trends also coordinate well with many other colours. This is perfect if you are wanting to include greenery or bold accessories.’
Consider colour pairings with pink when deciding on your bathroom renovation ideas. ‘Team pink tiles with darker accessories for an industrial feel. Or opt for white features for a summery, pastel style scheme.’
Image credit: Tile Giant
‘Half tiled rooms are incredibly popular at the moment,’ says Kamila from Tile Giant. ‘So why not bring this trend to the bathroom with tiles on the bottom half and paint on the upper half of your walls? If opting for paint or bathroom wallpaper ideas in the top section, ensure it’s suitable for wet environments.’
‘A solid tile colour is really effective especially when tiled in an interesting format, like chevron or herringbone. Or opt for a decorative patterned tile and choose a paint colour that matches an accent colour within the tile.’
This is also a great way to step your toe in if you’re just learning how to tile a bathroom wall.
Image credit: Lundhs
‘More than ever before, the bathroom has become an important place of sanctuary and relaxation in the home, and this is reflected in the design choices that are being made,’ says Hege Lundh, Marketing & Business Development Director, Lundhs. ‘We are noticing a shift towards more tactile and smoother textures.’
‘Bathrooms have become places where we embrace nature in the form of raw, organic surfaces and products. This increased use of natural materials is reflecting the attention that is progressively being paid to the environment. Our buying habits are continuing to become more eco-conscious and this shows no sign of waning.’
Image credit: Victorian Plumbing
‘Updated and modernised versions of retro materials are making a comeback thanks to their authentic and distinctive style,’ points out Antonia from Victorian Plumbing. ‘While terrazzo was originally designed as simple and affordable flooring it has progressed to an on-trend necessity in modern bathroom designs.’
‘With many colour schemes to choose from, terrazzo tiles are easily coordinated with taps, towel rails, and shower tile ideas for clean and effective results.’
Image credit: Ca’ Pietra
Holidays may have been off the menu for a while, which is why, more than ever before, we want that feeling in our home.
‘Eclectic and bespoke designs have been hugely popular, allowing people to bring a fun continental feel to any space and we see this trend continuing in 2022,’ notes Grazzie Wilson, Creative Lead, Ca’ Pietra.
Subway, or metro, tiles, have been popular for several years now – and for good reason. ‘Metro tiles bring a sophisticated feel to your kitchen thanks to their clean cut rectangular shape,’ says Antonia from Victorian Plumbing.
Unsurprisingly, metro tiles are absolutely remaining as one of the bathroom tile trends for 2022. This year’s adaptation of the classic is by pairing the simple tiles with bold paints and wallpapers, or clashing with another tile shape.
As well as the top bathroom tile trends we’ve discussed, there are a few other, smaller trends we’re seeing for this year.
The Art Deco look is having a revival. ‘1920’s glamour is still as popular today as it was back then,’ says Kamila from Tile Giant. ‘Channel this look by mixing marble-effect tiles with metallic accents of gold and copper across taps, ornaments or lighting. Finish the look off with rich velvet fabrics and statement plants.’
The 1920s also influence another trend for this year. ‘Fish scale and scallop tiles are an exemplary choice for anyone looking to heighten the style of a bathroom,’ notes Antonia from Victorian Plumbing. ‘Influenced by Art Deco design, these mermaid tiles a stunning choice for creating atmospheric spaces. Plus, scallop tiles also boast a glazed gloss finish which not only makes them super attractive but easy to keep clean too!’
Rippled tiles are another trend peeking through for the year ahead. ‘They bring a designer, rustic feel to any space thanks to their glossy, textured finish,’ says Antonia. Create a focal point with a selection of rippled tiles in complementary colours to ooze extra personality.’
Coloured grout is also having a moment, so learn how to grout tiles so you have fun with some DIY.
The post Bathroom tile trends 2022 – the must-have styles, shapes and shades appeared first on Ideal Home.
At the first sign of sunshine, we Brits jump at the chance to dine alfresco and enjoy a BBQ with friends. But after a long, cold winter, our BBQ’s probably aren’t looking their best, which is why you need to know just how to clean a bbq.
An outdoor kitchen is the ultimate way to cook up a storm in the garden, even if you only have space for a small, portable BBQ. But no doubt the last time you saw your grill it was gathering dust in the shed, still caked in last summer’s last grilled meals. If so, it’s time to bite the bullet, put on a pair of rubber gloves and get scrubbing.
Yes elbow grease is the first way to tackle things, but this will only get you so far. Depending on what state your bbq was in when you stored it away, you’re probably going to need more than just your muscles, but you’ll need to use the right methods for your variety of BBQ.
Declan Kingsley-Walsh, MD at Morsø UK advises, ‘How to clean a bbq will very much depend on its material. Cast iron can remain outdoors throughout the year and will therefore not rust like other materials such a metal. But it can also be easily cleaned using hot water and sponge, which you should also do after cooking once it has cooled down.’
This isn’t just a step-by-step guide to how to clean a BBQ – we’ve also added a few hacks to help you keep your grill clean all summer long. Don’t forget too to stock up on gas, coal and firelighters so that you’re ready to start grilling as soon as the temperature rises. And even if you’re looking for a new BBQ this summer, it’s always a good idea to give it a good cleaning before you start cooking!
Image credit: Future Plc/Colin Poole
Dig out your BBQ from the shed or garage if it’s a portable type, or uncover it if it stays outside, and check for any damage or rust. Check that none of the knobs have been knocked off, that hinges are still in working order and that all the grills and grates were put back properly. Brush away any cobwebs or spiders that might have made a home during the winter and give everything an initial wipe down with a damp cloth.
Image credit: Future Plc/Simon Whitmore
If there’s still caked-on food left over from last year, light fresh coals in your barbecue and leave them to reach a very high heat. This will burn off a lot of the most stubborn remnants. Dan Cooper, Head Grill Master at Weber advises, ‘Heat your barbecue up to the max for about 30 minutes – be wary that the dirtier the cooking grates are, the more it will smoke. Once the grill stops smoking it will generally have burned off most old residual grease and fat, then you simply allow the barbecue to cool right down.’
Lynsey Queen of Clean has a neat trick with newspaper to clean a caked-on BBQ grill. Allow your barbecue to cool slightly, but while it’s still warm, lay a sheet of old newspaper across the top and generously spritz with water. Close the lid for half an hour to steam clean it.
Lynsey explains, ‘Grab one sheet of newspaper and pop it on the BBQ you’ve been using and just get a spray bottle of water and spray the newspaper. Pop the lid back on and what will happen is this will give your BBQ a steam clean. It will start to release all that grease, all that fat and all those bits from the food. When you take the newspaper off it will be all greasy and dirty, put that away (in the bin). And you’ll find the newspaper has done most of the work for you.’
Image credit: Future Plc/Emma Lee
Use a grill brush with wire bristles to get rid of remaining food particles. If you have a porcelain-coated rack, it’s best to use a brass-bristled grill brush to avoid damaging it. No grill brush? Screw up aluminium foil into a ball and scrub the grill with it instead. Next, clean the grill with a dishcloth and hot soapy water.
If that doesn’t shift the dirt, you might want to try a household cleaner. However, some can be abrasive and toxic for a barbecue, so make sure you get a cleaner that’s specifically designed for the job, such as Jeyes barbecue cleaner, £3.50 for 750ml, B&Q.
Believe it for not a brilliant BBQ hack is to use an onion for cleaning. ‘An unlikely cleaning saviour, is an onion attached to a fork,’ says the team at Home Essentials. ‘Whilst there is still heat in the grill, attach half an onion to the end of a fork and use it to rub over the hot bars. The water in the onion steams away any stuck-on food and uses its natural antibacterial properties to remove impurities.’
Onions have natural antibacterial properties and if you’re cooking with charcoal, you can throw the used onion right into the coals when you’re finished to add flavour to whatever you’re grilling.
Image credit: Dobbies
A favourite for cleaning inside the home, white vinegar is a great alternative to stainless steel cleaner. Use a left-over spray bottle and fill it with half white vinegar and half water. Spray it over the grill, wait five minutes before wiping it off with a clean, dry cloth.
This method might sound counter-productive to cleaning, but it will help prevent food sticking and your grill from going rusty. Each time before you use the BBQ give it a good coating in sunflower oil, and rub it down the same way once you’ve finished. Your BBQ will thank you.
Image credit: Future Plc
As soon as your barbecue is cool, tip away leftover ash into a bucket – it will collect moisture and be harder to clean later if you leave it. Use damp kitchen roll to pick up the final bits, alternatively an outdoor vacuum is an easy way to collecting any remaining bits. Then give the base a good wash using warm water and washing-up liquid.
Turns out tomato ketchup is not just for saucing up burgers and bangers! We have the Queen of clean Lynsey Crombie to thank for this savvy condiment cleaning hack! She says, ‘Ketchup is an amazing cleaner for removing rust!’, ideal for the BBQs left out in the elements last summer. Simply apply a small amount to any areas of rust, leave for a few minutes and watch it work its magic.
Image credit: Future Plc/Charlie Richards
BBQs and beers go hand in hand so if find yourself with a little beer leftover after a BBQ, pour it over the grill while it’s still warm. Then give it a good scrub with a wire brush to get it sparkling. It’s not a waste of good beer don’t fear, it’s a savvy way to get the grill gleaming. ‘Use beer to clean your BBQ’ advises Lynsey. ‘Using your scrubbing brush pop beer onto the end,’ she demonstrates while presenting on This Morning. ‘The acid in the beer will help clean it (your BBQ).’
‘Believe it or not, you can use coffee as a cleaner,’ says the team at Home Essentials.’ Try soaking your grill and utensils in coffee (boiling water and coffee grains) for those tough stains that won’t budge. The acid in coffee will loosen up any dirt.’
While you can use a specialist BBQ cleaning pumice stone, you can do just as good a job with the leftover tin foil you’ve been cooking with. ‘If you’ve been using tin foil on your BBQ, screw it into a ball and just scrub away,’ says Lynsey Crombie. ‘That will start to lift off the food.’ We love a good budget alternative to buying a cleaning tool!
Image credit: Morsø
Using fresh warm water and washing-up liquid, wipe the exterior, then buff the metal shell with a dry cloth. If your barbecue is stainless steel, use a specialist polishing spray. It’s also worth giving your BBQ a light coating of mineral or baby oil to protect it from the elements. This is doubly important if you’re planning to keep your barbecue outside all summer long, and will give it a lovely shine.
‘Weber has a great range of enamel and stainless steel cleaners that will leave your barbecue gleaming, says Dan. ‘For the best shine I use a microfibre cloth for buffing. Once all this is done, you are ready and raring to go!’
To keep grime and dirt off all summer long. It may seem like a faff, but covering your grill to protect it from the elements will save you loads of hassle in the long run. Covers are available for most brands of barbecue. You’ll usually have to pay extra for them, but they will ward off rust and keep out extra dirt between cook-outs.
Now that you’ve got your barbecue looking pristine, ensure it remains in tip-top condition by using a barbecue cleaning product after every use. HG Grill and Barbeque Cleaner, £5.47 for 500ml at Amazon will do the job perfectly.
Try some speedy antibacterial wipes. We like double-sided Landmann Barbecue Cleaning Wipes, £17.99, for 40 at Amazon. Alternatively, you can skip the scrubbing and give the BBQ a hose down with a pressure washer or if it fits pop the grill in the dishwasher.
‘Like everything else, your barbecue deserves a little maintenance once in a while and using the right products can extend the lifetime of your barbecue and keep it looking like new all year-round,’ says Dan Cooper, Head Grill Master at Weber.
‘Once your barbecue has cooled down, remove all the grates and internal components, and use a T brush and scraper to clean everything. An initial burn off should have loosened hard to remove carbon deposits from the cook box, and this will make sure all grease channels are clear. I would definitely recommend using rubber gloves for this part! Once complete, place all clean parts back into the barbecues. Make sure you don’t jet wash or put components in the dishwasher as this can cause some parts to rust.’
Wait for your BBQ to cool down a little, but before it becomes stone-cold, get to work with your chosen cleaning product. It might seem like a boring task to do straight away, but your future self will be thankful and it means you’re ready to go next time you have friends over. If you have a charcoal BBQ, you’re in luck as a little cleaning goes a long way. Start by softening the debris on the gates with a grill brush and bucket of soapy water, then give it a good wipe down to remove stubborn grease.
‘If you haven’t used your barbecue for a while, it is very likely it will need a good and thorough spring clean,’ says Dan. ‘If not regularly maintained, barbecues in general tend to collect all manner of dirt and grime,
especially if left outside for a long period of time. Charcoal, pellet, electric and gas barbecues all require slightly different methods of cleaning depending on the individual components.’
‘First off, it’s important to begin with the right tools. Weber sell a wide range of cleaning utensils and products as well as a selection of full cleaning kits. My personal cleaning arsenal always includes a T brush, barbecue cook box scraper, microfibre cloth, rubber or latex gloves, enamel, and stainless-steel cleaner sprays, and, finally, an onion.’
‘Whatever type of barbecue you have I would always recommend, at the very least, once a year doing a deep clean. Do this when needed and you will have a season of hassle-free grilling.’
If you want to be super on top of things and really give your bbq a good clean after winter, tackling the very inside of a BBQ is a great practise to uphold.
‘A lot of grease and food particles tend to end up inside the grill’s interior, also known as the “grillbox”,’ say the experts at Jeyes. ‘Empty and wash it out with a mild detergent and warm water solution. If the debris has already hardened up from the season before, use an old metal or plastic knife or old spatula to scrape the sides of the grill chamber.’
Additional words: Holly Walsh
The post How to clean a BBQ – 16 ways to get your grill clean after winter appeared first on Ideal Home.
The Aldi gas pizza oven is available now and you’ll need to act fast if you want a ‘pizza’ the action. Aldi has announced that it’s selling the Gardenline Gas Pizza Oven, £199.99, on the SpecialBuys website – perfect for those looking to invest.
The trendy pizza oven is more than £500 cheaper than similar ovens on the high street. So if you’re looking for the best pizza ovens for homemade Margheritas with friends and family this spring, strike while the, er, oven’s hot on this one.
Image credit: Aldi
Just in time for the warmer weather, Aldi is serving up the Gardenline Gas Pizza Oven in a sleek and stylish black design. It’s also a fraction of the price of other comparable ovens, such as the Lifestyle Verona Deluxe Gas Pizza Oven, which will set you back £769.
The Aldi gas pizza oven will complement your existing outdoor kitchens ideas perfectly. It has a durable design for al fresco dining whatever the weather, a removable pizza stone, and two heat settings.
The wheels also mean you can move it across your garden or patio easily, making it easy to store away when it’s not in use. We’d noticed that it’s already garnering lots of attention on the website, so don’t hang around!
Buy now: Gardeline Gas Pizza Oven, £199.99 at Aldi
Large Stainless Steel Pizza Oven, £499.99 – no longer available
Equipped with everything shoppers need to create restaurant-quality pizzas, the oven features a built-in door, chimney, a large peel – ideal for transporting the pizza from the oven to the plate. Along with a set of tools including a pizza wheel and mini spatula, perfect for sharing a slice with the whole family!
Although the price doesn’t feel ‘cheap’ it’s a small price for the style of the oven. In a price comparison, this quality stainless steel oven is £500.01 less than the professional Roma Wood Fired Pizza Oven stainless Steel Extra Large, which will set shoppers back £1,000!
Priced at just £39.99 the barbecue pizza oven at Aldi saves you a fortune on pizza deliveries, as chefs of all levels can master the craft of fine pizza making from home. This pizza oven is also unavailable, but we wonder if it could make a return for spring 2022.
Boasting all the cooking credentials you could need for making award-winning pizza from home, at such a low price tag, it’s easy to see why this oven sold out last year.
This supermarket model is portable, with two carry handles, for easy use. You can use this smart pizza oven on both gas and charcoal barbecues, to cook hearty pizzas of up to 12 inches – in only 10 minutes.
This nifty little BBQ accessory is made of ceramic stone with an easy-to-clean stainless steel interior. The handy temperature gauge will indicate when the ceramic pizza plate is hot enough to cook the pizza to perfection.
The durable steel construction comes with a pizza stone to create the perfect crispy restaurant-worthy pizza. The easy-to-use design is also easy to clean, making it an all-round winner for cooking great pizzas with minimal fuss.
As with all Specialbuys, once the Aldi gas pizza oven is gone, it’s gone. So if you don’t want to be left cheesed off by missing out again, get online and order yours pronto.
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