47 Bathroom Tile Ideas To Inspire Your Renovation

We can't decide which is our favorite.

Once upon a time, just a few years ago, all-white bathrooms seemed like the only stylish possibility for bathrooms. From the tile to the porcelain, paint, and linens, white was the go-to. While we still love white, we’re expanding our horizons to the world of intriguing colors. These days, interior designers are opting for more unique bathroom looks. Because bathrooms are enclosed spaces, they provide an awesome opportunity for fun design featuring interesting colors, patterns, and materials. Among them, tile can be a particularly impactful choice with seemingly endless options. Not only do you have to choose the tile material, color, and shape, but from there, you also need to decide what pattern to arrange them in. And don’t even get us started on grout. 

Kelly Moore Zinc Dust Paint Color Bath
Colleen Scott Photography

If you’re redoing your bathroom (or dreaming of a future refresh), we’ve got tile inspiration galore to help you figure out your favorite kinds of tiles and configurations. For those discontent with their current bathroom tile but don’t foresee a renovation any time soon, interior designer Zoe Feldman may have an easy upgrade: Simply paint your tiles a new color. 

“As long as it's ceramic tile, there is actually a tile paint that you can use,” she says. “We like to paint tiles to make them feel fresh and lean into a new color which will help modernize it as well.”

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Carrara Tile

Yellow Bath
Photo: Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

The veining in marble tile is a simple, natural, and can complement practically any bathroom. These tiles are laid out in a herringbone formation to build additional interest.

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Unique Details

Add a Little Sparkle
Photo: Hector Sanchez

Here, hexagon tiles are organized prettily to include flower details out of contrasting black tiles. They're an intriguing addition that ties in with the bathroom's black paint.

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Subway Tiles

Meg Lonergan Houston Craftsman Master Bathroom
Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Barbara Schmidt

White, oversized subway tiles are a go-to way to incorporate tile in the bathroom, or really all over the house. Here, they're paired with smaller, darker tiles on the floor.

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Zellige

This master bathroom’s shimmering Moroccan tiles are a softer take on the vibrant greenery outside and create a relaxing tone for a long soak. The light green tub—instead of a traditional white or cream—unifies the space.
Photo: Linny Morris; Stylist: Sunday Hendrickson

Handmade and one-of-a-kind, zellige tile hails from Morocco but brings beauty to homes across the South. Each tile is a slightly irregular shape and color, so they don't lay as flat as many manufactured tiles do, but the result is a lively landscape of gorgeous tiles.

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Blue And White

Blue and green accents liven up this pretty white bath. The room appears larger thanks to the vertical boards and the painted ceiling.
Photo: Rick Lew; Stylist: Matthew Gleason

Incorporate this classic color way into your bathroom from the paint and linens to the tiles. Blue and white tiles are a stunning combination that has yet to fail us.

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Border

2021 Idea House Twin Bedroom Bathroom
Marta Xochilt Perez; Styling: Page Mullins

Be consistent in your tile design across the entirety of your space, or designate some spaces for particular attention. An alluring border transforms this white-tiled floor into an eye-catching statement.

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Multiple Sizes

Add Historic Character with Classic Materials
Photo: Laurey W. Glenn / Styling: Anne Turner Carroll

When tiling multiple surfaces, there's no rule that you need to stick to just one size tile. Don't be afraid to switch it up.

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Same Colors, Different Pattern

2022 Idea House guest bath
PHOTOGRAPHY BY LAUREY W. GLENN; STYLING BY KENDRA SURFACE

On the wall of this beautiful bathroom, white and greige rectangular tiles are laid in pretty stripes. Meanwhile, the floor complements the wall wonderfully with the same colors in a basketweave pattern.

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Speckle Effect

Hide Clutter with Baskets
Photo Robbie Caponetto and Charles Walton IV / Styling Buffy Hargett

Tiles in an array of colors in the same colorway can create an appealing and nature-inspired result. Their differentiation also allows the floor to match multiple other brown tones throughout the room.

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Mandala Patterns

Master Bath Shower
Photo: Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

A pretty pattern can instantly spice up an otherwise simple bathroom. This delicate blue and steady pattern do just the trick.

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Match Shades

Julia Engel of Gal Meets Glam Charleston, SC Home Pink and White Master Bathroom
Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Lizzie Cullen Cox

If possible, we recommend choosing your tile first. From there, it will be much easier to choose shades of paint and other details to match.

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Contrasting Grout

Heather Chadduck Hillegas Blount Springs, AL Lake House Bathroom
Hector Manuel Sanchez

By using dark tiles with light grout, this designer seamlessly made a more interesting floor. The light grout in attractive and prevents the floor from seemingly too dark and disconnected with the rest of the space.

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Hexagons

Lake Wylie Bathroom

Brie Williams  Styling: Jennifer Berno Decleene

While irregular shaped are certainly possible, in general, there are three most common tile shapes. Rectangular and square tiles are a lovely option, but here, hexagons were certainly the right choice.

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Tile All Over

2022 bathroom trends
NOMI

A large space with all surfaces covered in tile is a simple but effective use of space. Use the same tile for the floor, walls, and/or ceiling, or try different ones.

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Stripes

2019 Idea House Bunk Room Hall Bathroom Sink
Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Liz Strong

Tiles can form patterns in multiple ways. Firstly, they can be arranged in interesting formations, but secondly, alternative colors may but used to build a pattern all of their own like these stripes.

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Statement Color

Brown bird wallpaper bathroom
Courtesy of Peter Spaulding, Photography by Kelley Kish

Colorful tiles in an otherwise neutral room are a powerful focal point. Plus, you can always take Feldman's advice and re-paint them a new shade.

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Quilted Colors

2021 Idea House Bathroom
Marta Xochilt Perez; Styling: Page Mullins

Weaving different hues of square tiles, this bathroom floor gives off a quilted effect. This is a pattern these homeowners won't soon tire of.

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Oversized Tile

The floor and walls in this Fire Island bath are clad in Carrara marble (by Ann Sacks) tile to resist trapped moisture and tracked-in beach sand. The cool, monochromatic color scheme gives the room a soothing, spa-like feel.
Jonny Valiant

This bathroom uses big tile and them one-ups itself with even bigger tile. These larger slabs allow the marble's beauty to really speak for itself.

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Herringbone Layout

The Wren cabin bathroom
Photography by Brian Woodcock; Styling by Natalie Warady

There's so many ways to arrange tiles depending on their shape and size. Zig-zagging rectangles are an appealing and classic choice.

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Stone Tiles

Anna Braund White Cottage Master Bathroom
Laurey W. Glenn

Both glossy and natural, tiles that show off the stone's natural veins and color variations can pleasantly ground a room. Choose a stone that matches your bathroom's color palette and maintenance ability.

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Composite Tiles

Meg Kelly's 1960s Ranch Bathroom
Alison Gootee; Styling: Matthew Gleason

Rather than sticking to just rectangles, squares, or hexagons, try a composite format that uses multiple shapes or sizes of tiles. Here, rectangles are combined with small squares and arranged to mimic a woven pattern.

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Abstract

Coastal Guest Bathroom with Green Accents
Brie Williams; Styling: Page Mullins

When working with patterned or multi-colored tiles, geometric formations are the usual choice. This homeowner decided to be lead astray with incredible results.

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Grounding Black

Red Ikat Pattern Wallpaper in Bathroom of Mountain House
Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Page Mullins

Black details can be incredibly grounding in a room. An all-black floor can be stunning, but small black tiles speckled in may be enough.

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Ocean Floor

A gorgeous tile floor in a spectrum of ocean-going blues and greens takes center stage in this Long Island master bath.
Photo: Melanie Acevedo; Stylist: Erin Swift

In this beach house, tiles were selected to mimic the seawater nearby. Small tiles in a range of blue, green, and aqua shades create the illusion of shimmering waves.

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Colorful Shower

Beachy blue, glazed subway tile (from Waterworks) are the main event in this Rehoboth Beach, Delaware bath. A smart cutout and bench add a practical slant to the pretty shower.
Photo: Rick Lew; Stylist: Loren Simons

Reserve the colorful tiles for the shower enclosure. The shower is a wonderful place to be bold with tile and take a vibrant leap.

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Tile Panels

In the guest bath of the Rosemary Beach Ultimate Beach House, an oval mirror is suspended in front of the window so as not to sacrifice the natural light for function.
Tria Giovan

Alternate tile with other materials for a layered, dynamic bathroom that's got it all. In this one, tile panels are complemented by more textures including the rope on the mirror and woven shades.

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Glossy Tiles

christinakim-pc_raquel-langworthy.jpg
Raquel Langworthy

Tiles are available in a wide range of finishes. While some are rougher or matter, these glossy black tiles shine when clean.

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Pebble Tiles

2019 Idea House Resource Guide Guest Ba
Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Liz Strong

Below blue rectangular tiles laid like bricks, teeny tiny tiles grace the floor. These oval-shaped tiles mimic pebbles in the prettiest way.

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Mediteranean

Blue and White Tile Bathroom
Deborah Whitlaw Llewellyn, Stylist Elizabeth Raines Beeler

Travel to other parts of the world, and you'll find vibrant, age-old tiles arranged in intriguing patterns. Get inspired by your favorite destination to decorate your bathroom.

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Octagon Dot

Bathroom with patterned wallpaper and white tile
Courtesy of Arditi Design, Photography by Sinan Tuncay

This composite tile arrangement, referred to as 'octagon dot,' includes octagonal tiles with smaller diamond-shaped ones. Opt for black and white tiles like this bathroom, or choose any two other shades. Alternatively, stick to just one color for both shapes.

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Multicolored

2022 Idea House powder room
PHOTOGRAPHY BY LAUREY W. GLENN; STYLING BY KENDRA SURFACE

Why limit yourself to just one or two colors of tile? This lovely bathroom is striking and pretty as a peach with three.

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Forgo Wallpaper

Chapel Hill House Bathroom with Chicken Wire Wallpaper
Photo: Ngoc Minh Ngo; Styling: Ed Gallagher

Rather than adorning your powder room with a bold wallpaper, build intrigue with tiles on the wall. Use darker grout to enhance the contrast of the pattern.

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Stick To White

Sherwin Williams Little Boy Blu Paint Color Bath
Leslee Mitchell

Like we said, we're not totally opposed to simple white in the bathroom. However, we particularly love white tile when paired with color in other places, like through paint or wallpaper.

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Floor To Ceiling

Julia Engel of Gal Meets Glam Charleston, SC Home Blue and White Guest Bathroom
Hector Manuel Sanchez

Don't let your wall ending stop you from using more of your favorite tiles. Adorn the ceiling with them, too.

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Black And White

Shaun Smith New Orleans Ranch Guest Bathroom
Laurey W. Glenn

Black and white is a classic combo that's always pleasing due to it's high contrast. This black and white bathroom is particularly beautiful with metallic accents.

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Square Tile

Shaun Smith New Orleans Ranch Master Bathroom
Laurey W. Glenn

This bathroom is adorned with not one, but two types of square tiles. Some rectangular tiles are also thrown in as a baseboard.

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Neutral Charm

Katie Davis Powder Bath
Kerry Kirk

If you're not quite ready for colorful tiles, you can still be bold with pattern. These endlessly interesting, neutral hexagon tiles are the proof.

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Green Tiles

Guest bathroom
Laura Sumrak

Lately, green, has been taking over the home by storm. You'll find it on our kitchen cabinets, painted on walls throughout the home, and gracing bathroom tiles all over the South.

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Gray Scale

Main suite bathroom vanity and sink
Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Shannon Gini

As much as we love tile, it doesn't always have to be the focal point of a bathroom. Let other elements shine with simple, large-scale tile that is white or gray.

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Flow Into The Shower

Kelly Moore Zinc Dust Paint Color Bath
Colleen Scott Photography

These art deco tiles are too amazing to limit to just one space. To maximize their use, this designer incorporated them in the shower, as well as the rest of the bathroom floor.

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Earthy Terra-cotta

Lindsey Ellis Beatty bathroom

LAUREY W. GLENN

Terra-cotta tiles add warmth and character to a newly renovated bathroom in an instant; make them feel especially fresh by installing them in a herringbone pattern as the designer did here.

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Smart Neutral

Idea House 2023 Primary Bath

Laurey W. Glenn; Stylist: Matthew Gleason

Tumbled marble tile infused this primary bathroom with textural dimension, proving that beige can sometimes be anything but boring.

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Up the Wall

Laura Jenkins Primary Dual Sink Bathroom

Alison Gootee; Styling: Kate Malpeli

For a statement-making backsplash that feels at home with the bathroom's other natural tones and textures, the designer installed green ceramic tiles in a vertical orientation.

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Squared Away

White bathroom with natural light, a clawfoot tub, and wooden furniture

Brie Williams

Larger-scale white tiles like these can open up smaller bathrooms to make them feel airy and bright.

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Handsome Contrast

Hannah Maple boys bathroom

James Ransom, Prop Stylist: Alya Hameedi 

While white-tiled floors are often a bathroom decorating default, this charming space delivers a strong case for black penny tile floors punctuated with small white accents.

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Super Natural

Lauren Liess bathroom

Helen Norman

For her North Carolina beach cottage bathroom, designer Lauren Liess chose pebble tile, carrying it across the floors and up the shower walls. “You can feel them underfoot,” she says. “They’re very tactile and natural.”

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Varying Shades

bathroom Idea House

Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Designer Allison Elebash chose square hand-glazed tiles for the primary bathroom in our 2024 Idea House, which allows for dynamic variation in their color and lends instant warmth to the space.

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