Start with the floor, not the walls
Shower floor tile needs slip resistance above all else, which is why mosaic — with its extra grout lines — remains the most common choice, even in otherwise large-format bathrooms. Get the floor material settled first since it often constrains wall tile choices around the transition.
Wall tile: where large format shines
Shower walls are one of the best places to use large-format tile, since fewer grout lines mean less grout to clean in the wettest part of the house. Just confirm your installer has large-format experience — a poorly set large-format wall shows lippage more than almost anywhere else.
Don't forget the niche and bench
Niches and built-in benches need their own tile plan, ideally using the same material as the walls for visual continuity. We recommend finalizing niche size and placement before tile ordering, not after, since it affects layout and waste factor.