- Introduction
- Marble-Effect Tiles For A Timeless Bathroom
- Choosing Tiles To Match Your Style
- Total Bathroom Transformation With One Simple Trick... Retiling!
- How Much Does It Cost To Renovate Your Bathroom in Ireland?
- Next Steps: Completing Your Own Toilet, Shower Room or Bathroom Renovation in Ireland
- Why Tile Merchant?
Introduction
We were absolutely over the moon when two of our customers got in touch with an update on their bathroom renovation in Wicklow.
One a designer, the other a tiler, this couple from Wicklow decided to completely revamp their bathroom with the careful addition of some gorgeous new bathroom tiles from Tile Merchant.
Take a look at the results below to discover what they did to transform their bathroom, and how you could do it too
Bathroom Renovation Ideas from This Wicklow Transformation
Before the full story, here are the key ideas from this renovation that you can apply to your own bathroom, whatever your budget or space:
- Large format tiles on both floor and walls to minimise grout lines and make a small bathroom feel bigger.
- A glossy white or light-toned tile to maximise natural light in a windowed bathroom.
- Marble-effect porcelain for a high-end look without the cost or maintenance of real marble.
- Black fixtures against a light tile for a striking, contemporary contrast.
- Retiling alone, without a full renovation, as a lower-cost way to transform an existing bathroom.
Read on for the full story, or jump straight to our full Irish bathroom remodel cost breakdown if budget is your main planning concern.
Marble-Effect Tiles For A Timeless Bathroom
Using our opulent and glossy Invisible White Marble-Effect Porcelain tiles, our customers chose to maximise the aesthetic impact of their bathroom renovation by installing large bathroom tiles on both the floor and walls of their shower room.
Using large tiles or extra-large-format tiles in a bathroom is a great way to quickly and dramatically improve its look and feel. The bathrooms, toilets and shower rooms in Ireland’s homes can often tend to be small and dimly lit.
Large format tiles use long lines and minimal grouting to trick the eye into thinking your space is bigger than it actually is.
The Wicklow duo also opted for a bright glossy white tile to lift the brightness of the room, helping to elevate the effects of the natural light spilling into their bathroom from the window.
Choosing Tiles To Match Your Style
The couple’s black shower base and black sink are elevated by the rich marble veining of these bathroom tiles.
Additionally, the gentle white backdrop of their bathroom furnishings further lifts the brightness of the room to make it feel both light and warm at the same time
Other Ways to Transform a Small Bathroom
Retiling is one of the most effective single changes for a bathroom, as this Wicklow renovation shows, but it's not the only lever available if you're working with a similarly compact space.
Lighting makes a noticeable difference in a bathroom with limited natural light. An LED bathroom mirror adds both function and ambient light around the vanity area without a separate electrical job.
Flooring choice matters as much as wall tiles for the overall feel of a small bathroom; our guide to choosing the best type of bathroom flooring covers slip resistance and material options specifically for Irish conditions.
If you're considering a more significant layout change, our guide to wet room ideas and design is worth reading before committing to a full renovation, since a step-free wet room can sometimes make a small bathroom feel more spacious than a traditional bath-and-shower layout.
For further real bathroom examples beyond this one, see our roundup of bathroom ideas for a stylish and functional space.
Total Bathroom Transformation With One Simple Trick... Retiling!
Down in County Wicklow, the ‘Garden of Ireland’, a modern bathroom renovation like this brings a degree of Mediterranean luxury the likes of which we’re eager to see more of!
We like to think that this particular garden remodel also illustrates just how transformative a simple change can be.
By retiling their bathroom and matching the tiles to the existing décor, these aspiring Irish interior designers managed to turn a drab, unremarkable space into a seriously luxurious, practical, attractive, warm and inviting bathroom.
How Much Does It Cost To Renovate Your Bathroom in Ireland?
A modern Irish bathroom redecoration doesn’t have to break the bank.
For example, the marble-effect bathroom porcelain tiles used in this particular bathroom renovation cost just €34.99/m2, which is excellent value for money when you consider how powerful this simple tiling job has been.
Of course, tiles are only one part of a full bathroom renovation budget, alongside sanitaryware, plumbing, and labour if you're not doing the work yourself. For a complete breakdown of what a full Irish bathroom renovation typically costs in 2026, from a simple retile like this one through to a full gut renovation, see our bathroom remodel cost guide for Ireland.
Learn how to install porcelain indoor bathroom tiles yourself, too, and you can dramatically lower the budget needed to complete a bathroom transformation like this one.
Of course, if a job’s worth doing it’s worth doing well, and so if you’re not confident enough in your DIY skills to give a tiling a go, you can instead find a reputable tradesperson through our recommended installers page.
Next Steps: Completing Your Own Toilet, Shower Room or Bathroom Renovation in Ireland
We hope this article has left you feeling inspired to transform your own Irish interiors, now, perhaps especially to renovate your bathroom on a budget!
If so, be sure to take inspiration from this stunning Wicklow bathroom renovation, using our large bathroom floor and wall tiles, and remember that you don’t need a total overhaul of your existing bathroom in order to totally transform it.
Find inspiration in your own style and browse our range of bathroom tiles to discover a whole world of bathroom design ideas and possibilities.
We’ve also got hundreds of different marble-effect porcelain tiles to choose from, specifically, if you’re keen to replicate the bathroom ambience created by our customer couple in Wicklow. Your imagination is the only limit!
Pop into one of our showrooms today, or grab a few free cut tile samples from our online store to find out which tiles will work best in your own home and bathroom!
What do you think about this Irish bathroom renovation? Let us know by sending us an email at [email protected] or contacting us on social media at @tilemerchant.
FAQs: Bathroom Renovation Ideas
What's a good bathroom renovation idea on a budget?
Retiling alone, without changing the layout or fixtures, is one of the most cost-effective ways to transform an existing bathroom, as shown in this Wicklow renovation using tiles from €34.99/m².
Do large tiles make a small bathroom look bigger?
Yes. Large format tiles reduce the number of grout lines, creating a more continuous surface that makes a small bathroom feel more spacious.
What tile colour is best for a small, dim bathroom?
Lighter, glossier tiles such as white or pale marble-effect porcelain help reflect available natural light, making a small or dimly lit bathroom feel brighter.
How much does a bathroom renovation cost in Ireland?
Costs vary widely depending on scope, from a simple retile to a full renovation including new sanitaryware and plumbing. See our full Irish bathroom remodel cost breakdown for detailed figures.
Can I install bathroom tiles myself?
Yes, DIY tile installation is achievable for confident renovators and can significantly lower the overall cost of a bathroom transformation. If you're less confident, a reputable tradesperson can be sourced through Tile Merchant's recommended installers page.
What tile pairs well with black bathroom fixtures?
A light, marble-effect tile with visible veining creates strong contrast against black fixtures like a shower base or sink, as seen in this Wicklow bathroom.
Do I need to renovate my whole bathroom to transform it?
No. As this Wicklow project shows, retiling alone, matched to the existing décor and fixtures, can transform a bathroom without a full renovation.
Where can I get bathroom renovation ideas for my own home?
Beyond real customer projects like this one, browsing a tile showroom's installed bays in person, or ordering free tile samples, is one of the most effective ways to visualise what will actually work in your own bathroom.
Why Tile Merchant?
We offer extremely competitive pricing on our entire range of tiles and likewise.
We stock a huge range of wall and floor tiles and our prices are competitive for retail and trade. Our stock is widely available in our tile stores in Ireland, which are open 7 days a week.
Alternatively, if you’d prefer to shop our tiles online, we can supply you with samples delivered for free.
Article written by Calum
Cal Bannerman is a freelance writer, editor, podcaster and voice actor from the Scottish Borders. He runs the storytelling podcast "Stories from the Hearth" and lives in a wee Glasgow Flat with his partner and their cat".
