Table of Contents
I know what you have thought when you read the title. “Wait, why would you change a marble tile with some other accent wall tile?” But, hear me out. The story behind it was different, and I believe you should hear it.
We recently took on a project where the homeowner was heartbroken. They had installed a stunning, authentic marble tile shower a few years ago, like, they’re spending time in a Roman spa, kind of romantic. But reality hit back in a short time. They spent more time panic scrubbing shampoo bottles than relaxing. All the romantic storytelling and the natural look had failed, not because it wasn’t beautiful, but because it wasn’t livable for them.
As the Country Floors team, we discussed it A LOT. So, we made a controversial call: we ripped it out. And we replaced it with a shower accent wall made of high tech porcelain. Here is why this transition was the best decision they ever made, and why the marble vs porcelain debate is finally settling down for this scenario. Let’s go deeper, learn better!
Let’s Answer the First Question: Why Did Marble Fail?
You probably read it somewhere else, but let us repeat it again. Here is the thing about a marble wall tile: it is absorbent. In a wet environment, water, soap scum, and even the minerals in your tap water can interact with the stone.
Our client was dealing with etching, those dull spots that appear when acidic products hit the surface. They were constantly Googling “how to clean a marble shower” without damaging the seal. They were asking, “Is marble ok for shower floor installations?” and realizing the answer for their busy lifestyle was “Technically yes, but practically no.” As you can guess, reading it in a tile blog and living with the truth are totally different, and reality hits when you start being affected by it.
The One Where Shower Accent Tile Enters The Scene
We asked our clients what kind of shower design they’ve been dreaming of. And they answered “a modern shower, but in an earthy color palette without making it too much boho”. We proposed a radical shift. Instead of retiling with natural stone, we introduced a shower tile accent wall using porcelain accent tile that is in the shade of a desert kind of beige, not the sad one.
We used porcelain accent tiles with a glazed finish and in brick shape, which looks like a Scandinavian spa kind of wall image on the shower wall. The bright side of this tile is: it won’t let you down as the marble tiles do. Porcelain tiles are always easier to clean than natural stone tiles.
Why the Accent Wall Won?
We didn’t just tile the whole room in one color. We created a relaxing self care box surrounded with easy maintenance details. When you look at the transition overall, it may sound “so, that’s all?” kind of. But believe me, cleaning shower walls every week and not getting a satisfying result is really a detail that lowers your life quality. On the other hand, yes, it was a technical victory for us, but our clients really loved other perspectives of this project:
- Going For An Earthy Color Palette: The previous bathroom was a black and white bathroom, and our clients wanted to choose another color palette to experience a new interior design style. We chose a beige porcelain wall tile to achieve an earthy color palette and suggested to add plants into their shower design to make it look more grounded.
- Floors Can Change Everything: For the shower tile floor, we ditched the high maintenance black marble and kept it bold with a black porcelain floor tile. This hides everything (hair, soap, dust) and provides a stunning contrast to the lighter walls. So, they didn’t lose the contrast of the light and dark but kept the bathroom easy to maintain at the same time. That’s what I call a win win!
Want to Change Your Tiring Design with Us?
Let me guess, you’re here because you’re also having some difficulties with your shower design. Don’t worry, as the Country Floors team, we’ll keep you updated on the latest trends and keep you informed about the best material options. If you are torn between materials, ask yourself: Do I want a cleaning hobby, or do I want a proper shower? If you want the luxury look without the labor, a shower tile accent wall made of porcelain is the ultimate hack. Just think about it. Order a tile sample and see if it’s better than your current wall tile or not. If you have questions, call our tile showroom and let us answer your questions!
See More Shower Walls