• Large tiles like these typically take less time to lay on your bathroom floor.Tile wall image by Pontus Edenberg from Fotolia.com
  
  If you're thinking about tiling your bathroom floor yourself, using the right techniques from the beginning can mean the difference between a job well done and a job you have to do over. Laying bathroom tile may seem like a simple process, but small spaces and sharp corners can make it a difficult do-it-yourself project for anyone trying it for the first time.
  
  

Mix the Mortar

• Once you've cleaned the surface, one of the first steps to laying your bathroom tile is mixing the mortar. Mix the mortar per the instructions on the packaging to get the right consistency for your product, but make sure you only mix enough mortar for the number of tiles you think you can lay in 10 to 20 minutes. Mortar sets quickly, and it's better to err on the side of caution when it comes to mixing mortar the first time you lay tile. You can always mix more mortar as you go if you need it.
  
  

Start in the Middle

• For an even-looking, symmetrical floor, start in the middle. If you don't know where the middle of your bathroom is, before you mix your mortar or begin laying your tiles, get a measuring tape or a yardstick and mark the middle of your room. Lay out a few tiles without applying mortar to your bathroom floor to see whether or not you want to square the tile at that point, or place a tile directly on the mark you've created. Start applying your mortar there and work out.
  
  

Save Cuts for Last

• To save yourself time and money, save your edging tiles and any other tiles you may need to cut for last. Cutting all your final tiles at the same time will make the process go faster than if you stopped and did each one individually. Plus, instead of buying a tile saw, you can rent a higher-quality tile saw from your local home improvement store for a couple hours for a lot less and still get the job done.
  
  

Grout It

• To finish your bathroom tile project, grout your tiles. Mix the grout per the package instructions and fill the spaces between tiles evenly. As you work, wipe excess grout off the surface of your tiles. If a film appears on the tiles from grout you missed after the grout has hardened, you can usually use phosphoric acid to clean the tiles' surface.