Want to add some personality to your bathroom? Try adding some splash on the walls.

Where To Start?

Start by selecting the main wall tile, which typically is made of ceramic, porcelain, marble or limestone. Many people have moved away from small tiles to large tiles, and are varying the patterns.

The old prototype of the 4-by-4 is looking pretty dated. Most people want rectangular wall tiles in the 8-inch by 12-inch sizes or modular tiles in 6 by 6, 12 by 12, 6 by 12 that you mix and match to make a pattern.

Next?

Then zero in on one or two areas that you want to emphasize. Try:

• the shower stall
• the deck around a whirlpool tub
• framing a section in front of the vanity

If you're concerned about resale value, keep the extremes limited to confined areas, such as the shower stall.

Design Options?

The options in decorative tile are almost endless, ranging from a wall border of tiles with a raised rope or seashell design to hand-painted porcelain tiles to multi-colored glass tiles. While sizes vary, many decorative tiles used as borders are 2-inches high by 6, 8 or 12-inches wide.

Overall, people have moved away from shiny finishes toward matte or rustic finishes. In stones, look for tumbled marble and honed limestone, which have a casual look that blend with the soft look of earth tones. Unlike the polished stones, they have irregular shapes and a muted appearance.

Among the popular designs are:

• soft, earth tones -- camels, sage, creams
• ceramic patterns that resemble natural stone
• real granite
• tumbled marble for an Old World look
• glass and metal tiles -- as randomly placed accents; borders or on a full wall

Glass Tiles

Glass tiles add a sense of freshness and tranquility. They often are arranged in a row with several different colors that blend together and accent other decor. The finish on glass is much different than ceramic -- it's a deeper, more layered look.

How to Blend

While many of these materials can be mixed together, they key is blending the right shades, textures and color tones. You can put ceramic with natural materials--granite and marble and limestone--and glass with marble and granite and limestone, but the colors need to work together.

Costs?

Ceramic tile sells in retail stores for $1 to $5 per square foot, with some hand-painted or decorative tiles priced as high as $25 per square foot. Natural stones, such as marble and limestone, are priced from $5 to $20 per square foot, and are more common in higher priced renovation. Glass tiles can cost as much as $25 to $50 per square foot, depending upon the style.

Maintenance Issues

While marble can create a stunning look, it involves more maintenance than ceramic. It is a porous material and should be sealed once every one to two years, depending on how much the area is used. For example, if you have a steam shower that you use every day, you should seal it more often because the steam and heat will break down the treatment.