Stargazy Lemon Tile: A Practical Bathroom Splashback Guide
By Decorum Studio Cornwall | Published: 2026-11-03
Category: Guias Práticos
Learn how to plan and install a Stargazy Lemon tile splashback that survives steam, splashes and daily cleaning, from sample check to grout choice.
Quick answer
Use Stargazy Lemon on the wall behind a basin or bath where splashes land, not inside a shower enclosure, and order a sample before you commit. Fix it with a waterproof adhesive, seal the cut edges and grout with a mould-resistant product.
Why the star pattern changes your layout plan
Stargazy Lemon is a 13 x 13cm hand-screened tile with a star motif, so the pattern repeats across every tile rather than sitting in a single feature. That makes the starting point more important than on a plain tile: a half-star at the end of a run looks accidental, while a full star centred over the basin looks deliberate.
The hand-screened finish means texture and colour can vary from tile to tile. That is part of the character, but it also means you should not treat the first tile out of the box as the exact colour you will see across the whole wall.
Where a lemon splashback works and where it does not
A bathroom splashback is a splash zone, not a wet room. Stargazy Lemon suits the wall behind a basin, a vanity or a bath where water flicks rather than pours. Inside a shower enclosure, the constant direct spray and steam put far more demand on the surface and the joints.
If you want the lemon colour in a shower, use it on the wall outside the enclosure and keep the inside to a tile specified for wet areas. The catalog does not list a wet-area rating for Stargazy Lemon, so treat that absence as a reason to keep it out of direct spray rather than assuming it is suitable.
Adhesive and grout choices that matter in a bathroom
Bathroom walls need a waterproof adhesive rather than a standard ready-mixed tub adhesive, because steam and splashes attack the bedding layer as much as the tile face. Choose a grout that resists mould and clean it before it cures hard in the star recesses.
The star motif creates small recesses where soap and water collect. A fine-textured grout that matches the tile base keeps those recesses visually quiet; a contrasting grout makes the stars read as a graphic pattern but shows dirt faster.
How to install a Stargazy Lemon bathroom splashback
- Order and live with a sample: Fix the sample to the wall in the actual bathroom light for a few days and check it against your basin, mirror and paint colour. Common mistake: judging the lemon from a screen or a showroom light and finding it reads greener or paler at home. Approve the sample in the room before you order the full quantity.
- Measure the splash zone and set the star centre: Mark the wall area that actually gets splashed, then find the centre line of the basin or bath and centre a full star on it. Work outward from that line so cut tiles fall at the ends, not in the middle of the view. Draw the layout on the wall in pencil before mixing adhesive.
- Prepare the wall and check it is flat: Remove old sealant, sand glossy paint and prime the wall as the adhesive maker instructs. Check flatness with a straight edge; dips behind a 13cm tile show as lippage at the joints. Common mistake: tiling over flaking paint or old adhesive. Do not start until the wall is sound, dry and flat.
- Apply waterproof adhesive and set the first column: Spread waterproof wall adhesive with a notched trowel in an area you can cover before it skins, then press the first column on the centre line with a slight twist. Use spacers to keep the 13cm grid even. Common mistake: spreading too much adhesive so it skins over and the tile will not bed down. Check the first column with a spirit level before continuing.
- Cut edge tiles and keep the star pattern honest: Measure each edge tile individually rather than assuming the wall is square, and cut with a wet saw for a clean glazed edge. Dry-fit every cut before fixing. Common mistake: cutting all edge tiles to one measurement and finding gaps at one end. Label each cut tile with its position so it goes back in the same place.
- Grout the star recesses and seal the edges: Once the adhesive has cured, grout with a mould-resistant grout, working it into the star recesses and wiping before it sets. Finish with a sanitary silicone bead where the tile meets the basin, bath or worktop. Common mistake: grouting before the adhesive is fully cured, which traps moisture. Leave the silicone bead to cure fully before the first splash.
Product facts that affect the install
- Stargazy Lemon: Hand-screened 13 x 13cm star tiles that may vary in texture and finish, available on a choice of base tile and colour. Order a sample and check the base tile against your bathroom light before fixing, because the finish you receive can differ slightly from the screen image.
Stargazy Lemon
