PP here - our slate look tile looked like this (but in a slightly different color palette)

http://www.builddirect.com/Porcelain-Tile/-Winter/ProductDisplay_6933_P1_10081250.aspx?source=PLA&BDID=8830&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=10081250&gclid=CJ3ahqqn6sYCFc4XHwodym0JOw&gclsrc=aw.ds

Match the grout to the tile. I had a kitchen with a slate-look darker porcelain tile, and we grouted it with a matching color. You couldn't see anything.

OP here. Right, the low ceiling is why I was thinking white subway on shower walls, then some sort of colored tile on floor. I like the gray slate-like suggestion but wonder if it will still feel too heavy. So thinking about larger marble tiles on floor and smaller ones on shower floor. They look surprisingly cheap on Floor and Decor site.

Or maybe small hexagons but then everything will be white...

Anonymous wrote:6 feet 8 inches before drywall and tile

Gotcha.. I'd stick to a lighter colored tile so it doesn't feel like a tiny box. Dark tiles on a shower wall will make it feel smaller. My vote is always towards larger tiles, because less grout to clean is always a plus to me. 12x12, 16x16, or 12x24. I don't care for small tiles, but if that's your cup of tea nothing wrong w/ that either. You can plenty of really nice tiles for under $4/sq ft.

Anonymous wrote:You could do hex or penny tile in a lighter color. That would align nice to the subway tile.

Who wants that much grout to clean?

You could do hex or penny tile in a lighter color. That would align nice to the subway tile.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:6 feet 8 inches before drywall and tile

Eek this is how tall the ceiling is?!?

Yup. We can't afford to dig up the entire slab to get a few more inches. However, we're dropping the shower pan a few inches into the slab.

Anonymous wrote:6 feet 8 inches before drywall and tile

Eek this is how tall the ceiling is?!?

Very dark gray slate (called Montauk Black) is very inexpensive if you like the look. I think I paid $4-5/sq.ft

Anonymous wrote:Since it's the basement bath it's probably not that big a deal. I'm personally a big fan of porcelain as it's very durable and usually cheaper than natural stone.

How low is the low ceiling..?

+1 We have gray porcelain tile that looks like slate. It does not show dirt. I love it.

6 feet 8 inches before drywall and tile

Since it's the basement bath it's probably not that big a deal. I'm personally a big fan of porcelain as it's very durable and usually cheaper than natural stone.

How low is the low ceiling..?

Thanks, PP. Yes, we could get marble floor tiles for much less than I thought from Floor and Decor.

But would marble floor tiles seem like overkill (silly, even) in a low ceilinged basement bath/laundry? Or classic enough to not look out of date in a few years?

Go to floor and decor. Marble tiles are not $14 a sq ft. Floor and decor has an awesome selection of tiles. They have marble and look alikes that are porcelain. Don't do ceramic.

We are adding a combo laundry/bathroom in our basement (with a shower, no tub). The ceiling is low and I want a bright laundry area, so I'm thinking of mostly white on the walls--white subway tile in shower, white front loader washer/dryer, light colored countertop.

But I want the floor to have some color. I love the look of this bathroom but no way are we spending $14/sq foot for the marble floor tiles:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home/get-the-look-budget-sources-for-creating-a-drop-dead-basement/2015/06/23/bd317158-056f-11e5-a428-c984eb077d4e_story.html

Are there ceramic or porcelain tiles that have this look? Or a better idea? I would not mind a little blue or green in the floor tiles, but don't really want a solid color.