If rooms were governments the bedroom would be democracy, the living room is socialism, and the bathroom would be a royal monarchy. Other than being the only room with a throne in it, the bathroom is the only domain with an established hierarchy of importance with its fixtures.
Toilets are the kings, tubs and showers are the queens, sinks are princesses, and bathroom tiles are the common people. This isn’t to disparage the humble tile, but like the commoners of the middle ages, they’re the backbone and a reflection of the entire room. For example, a bathroom with single colour tiles can be compared to the monochromatic look of medieval England. On the other hand, a bathroom with intricately crafted tiles can draw comparisons to the Renaissance kingdoms of Florence.
This is the ‘visual taxation effect’. Much like how governments depend on the taxes of their constituents to stay afloat and improve, rooms depend on the visual contributions of each element to dictate their overall look. But just like monarchies, the proportion of contributions to the room is skewed on the side of the smaller elements.
Think of it this way, the bathroom would still look amazing with beautiful tiles, even if the tub and toilets are simple white porcelain. On the other hand, if the tub and toilets were bejewelled masterpieces, their magnificence would look out of place and strange in a bathroom devoid of any tile designs. The most successful royal monarchies are the ones whose elegance reflected the rest of the country. Corrupt governments are the ones that concentrate all their good traits in just one area.
Everyone notices the figureheads of the bathroom, but it’s the little things that bring the entire look together. Ensure the success of a room by spreading the wealth, and giving the tiles their proper due.