Tile color: Yes please, or no thank you?

Dear forum community,

Originally, we wanted to renovate our main bathroom (6.72 m2, from the year the house was built: 2006), that is, have it completely redone including tiles. The reason was an expected increase in the value of the house and, less importantly, that I was only about 70% satisfied with the bathroom’s appearance.
Friends experienced with homeownership strongly advised us against the bathroom renovation. Their reasons were that in this era of skilled labor shortages, it is unwise to become dependent on craftsmen without urgent need, their own bad experiences with a non-essential bathroom renovation, and that in their opinion the increase in value—due to the worsening shortage of living space—will happen by itself.

We will probably now distance ourselves from our somewhat naive plan. Nevertheless, I wish for a visual change in the bathroom.
It has white glossy tiles with a color-matching, discrete aquarium motif (shifting appearance, matte motif on glossy tile) and some (4) decorative tiles with a colored aquarium motif.
I wish for matte cream-colored tiles and sanitary fixtures (sink, fittings, shower cabin) in a country house style.
We have a craftsman whose work we know well and a lead time of 10 months. What bothers me most is the aquarium motif.

Among other things, I am thinking of tile color but have concerns that this would be neither here nor there, could seal spores or germs or start peeling unattractively shortly after.

Is my wish (from a "children’s bathroom" to a "neutral bathroom" or ideally to a "country house bathroom" with a high-quality, matte tile color (and new fittings, new shower cabin, and new pedestal sink)) realistically achievable?
Or should I rather not touch the bathroom at all, to avoid "making it worse while trying to improve it"?

Thank you in advance for your expertise regarding tile color and my secondary questions!

The reason was an expected increase in the value of the house and, less importantly, that I only like the bathroom visually about 70%.

The increase in value goes hand in hand with the costs. So there isn't much happening there.

I am thinking, among other things, about tile color, but I have concerns that it might be neither here nor there, could seal in spores or germs, or peel off unattractively shortly afterward.

If you want a loss in value due to a cheap wannabe-improvement (who wants a “painted-on” bathroom in a property they buy – then I just throw the bathroom out immediately), then feel free to do so ;-)

Is my wish (from “children’s bathroom” to “neutral bathroom” or ideally to “country house bathroom” with a high-quality, matte tile color (and new fixtures, new shower cabin, and new pedestal washbasin) realistically achievable?

Everything you want is doable. So I do not understand the question. You don’t have to take the tiler’s suggestion.

Or should I rather not touch the bathroom at all to avoid “making it worse while trying to improve”?

Completely retiling + new sanitary objects is a full renovation. You can also glue tiles on top of tiles. You can smooth over tiles or glue drywall to avoid having the old “cold storage charm” of a fully tiled bathroom. You can do anything that is simple and quick if no pipes need to be laid.

Tell me, the speech is about the house [welches ihr gerade gekauft habt]. I would only go by what I find beautiful and not by possible appreciation in value. Certainly not at the current price peak.

I’m not coming along either. The bathroom sounds really nice to me. If I were a tenant/buyer, I would be happy. But that’s all subjective. If it’s your house and it’s supposed to stay that way, then it has to be about what you want.

A buyer who is supposed to be attracted by a modern bathroom might possibly not find beige all that incredibly chic either. Beige and country house style can very easily look like another decade, and it might not only be the last decade. For a stranger, I do not consider the renovation necessary; the potential buyer also wants to tailor something for themselves. And for yourselves? Treat yourselves to whatever appeals to you.

Best regards
Gabriele

Hi,

so I don’t understand the increase in value either.
It’s for you, you have to like it :)

We are currently completely renovating our terraced house in the middle.
Increase in value or preservation certainly goes along with it, but actually we are only doing it so that we like it.

Our bathroom from 2000 is perfectly fine and fitted with white wall tiles.
My girlfriend has a terracotta allergy, which is why we painted the floor tiles and the ugly border with paint from MissPompadur.

Application is super easy, the result and cost are convincing.
No sanding needed.

When renewing the silicone joints, the paint peeled off a few millimeters in one or two places – that was a bit annoying but could be repaired spot-wise.
Next time we’ll rather sand ;)

Let’s see how long it lasts. Otherwise there will just be a new coat of paint again ;)
The color “Grau mit Leinen” is unfortunately a good bit lighter in reality than expected.

For furniture and doors, however, we use paint from the professional supply (Adler Aqua Nova). Also really good stuff ;)

Our bathroom should last about 10 more years, then it may be renewed.
For now there will only be a new washbasin, a new toilet bowl (the old one was disgusting, the house was rented out...) and a new shower faucet.

Good luck :)