While tiles may have been a popular choice for bathroom walls for many years, a growing number of homeowners are now exploring alternative materials for their bathroom surfaces.

Today, the potential for bathroom designs is seemingly endless. Long gone are the days where the option for bathroom walls was tiles – and only tiles. Thanks to a variety of choices now on offer, demand is constantly shifting. So, why exactly are a growing number of homeowners exploring alternatives to tiles for their bathroom, and what does this mean for retailers and installers?

Most will be familiar with the process involved in manufacturing a tile. From mining raw materials to firing the tile itself, the whole process is particularly energy intensive. Since the cost of energy traditionally represents around 50% of the tile’s overall production cost, the huge surge in the wholesale price of energy over the last 18 months has left manufacturers with little choice but to increase their prices.

The war in Ukraine affected the supply and manufacture of many products around the globe but having been one of the world’s leading suppliers of ceramic clay for several years, the knock-on effect initially stifled tile production across Europe. With delays to product delivery prolonging project lead times, many customers had to explore other options as they looked to refurbish their bathrooms, with product categories such as bathroom wall panels having risen to prominence even more than before as a result.

With home renovation budgets being squeezed by the rise in inflation and the cost-of-living crisis, homeowners are looking for bathroom installers to provide time- and cost-efficient ways to achieve their desired look. With the average bathroom said to take three to four days to tile at a cost of £700-£800, homeowners are exploring ways they can reduce this cost. Fitting out an entire bathroom with bathroom wall panels can take as little as four to six hours, which could leave homeowners with a saving of hundreds of pounds on their total project cost. Not only that, but retailers and installers can put themselves in a position where they can accommodate a greater number of projects as a result of a quicker completion time

With homeowners now exploring a greater number of sources of inspiration than ever before when it comes to bathroom styling, the desire for a more unique and personalised space has never been stronger. The established nature of tiles means many homeowners find choosing the right look an uninspiring process. By using alternative materials, homeowners can create a bathroom that reflects their individual style and taste.

Rather than opting for a cold and sterile tile, homeowners can turn to bathroom wall panels to replicate natural materials such as wood or stone to create a truly unique bathroom space. As well as creating a warm and inviting atmosphere these materials can also add texture and depth to a bathroom, which can make it feel more luxurious and relaxing.

If there’s one universal truth about tiled walls, it’s that it really is difficult to keep grouting looking as sharp as it did on the day it was completed. Time-poor homeowners would generally rather avoid the frequent need for an arduous cleaning process, leading them to explore categories such as bathroom wall panels in a bid to free up their own time.

Quick to fit, easy on the eye and simple to maintain, bathroom wall panels have never been more appealing, creating a competitive tile alternative that simply hasn’t always been viable. Once seen as a niche product category with a limited set of design options to choose from, the panels available on today’s market can replicate countless aesthetics ranging from wood to stone and even a mimic of ceramic tiles themselves – but without any of the drawbacks. Retailers and installers familiar with panelling and able to offer a broad variety of finishes stand to benefit hugely from what looks set to be a market set for significant growth.

With a host of market and economic forces at play, bathroom installers will naturally be considering how they can adapt their businesses in order to thrive. As a product category which can still be considered to be emerging, bathroom wall panels give those installers the chance to maintain a competitive edge as they consult with a variety of different customers.