30 Bathroom Tile Ideas to Inspire Your Next Remodel

Stack Them Vertically

Vertically laid tiles are unexpected and modern. And the sleek, smoky, gray stone slabs alongside the irregular surfaces of the rectangular, Moroccan zellige wall tiles (no two are alike) in this spa-like shower room is a striking juxtaposition. Dark fixtures adds an edgy touch.

Make It Minty

The square, mint-green ceramic-tile walls (and ceiling) are giving us a high-end, 1970s, spa-slash-locker-room vibe. Earth-toned flooring adds unexpected contrast. Décor is minimal, letting the tiles speak for themselves.

Blend Black and White

Designing with black and white is a timeless approach. Vertical white tile pops against the surrounding black bathroom walls, chrome fixtures, and provides an interesting line of demarcation for the shower stall. A black vanity provides continuity to the dark-toned space.

Triple the Tile

This traditional Art Deco-era tile design mimics those seen in many typical pre-war, New York City bathrooms. Here, three variously-sized tiles are mixed to create a wholly clean, comforting, and visually interesting bathroom. A claw-foot tub adds subtle detail.

Go for Gradient Mosaic

Tiny squares in shimmering, mermaid's tail shades of green creatively dot the floor and travel up the wall, unifying a space that might otherwise look disjointed. A mosaic-style tile design was the perfect choice in this shower room—it's the right balance of dissimilar and varied. The white iridescent tiles pick up the white on the ceiling.

Think Outside the Square Tile

Not every tile you choose needs to be shaped like a square or rectangle. In this example, elongated polygonal floor tiles (which could pass for natural stone) modernize a no-frills farmhouse bathroom. Fresh flowers adds a pop of color.

Glam up With Marble

Yes, there's a lot going on here—but it's all working. Sticking with the same material (in this instance, Cararra marble) and simply varying tile sizes is a luxe, European design trick. The tiny, rectangular, mosaic-tile pieces on the floor against the deeply-veined subway tiles are eye-catching, textural, and tres opulent.

Make It Monochromatic

This earthy, all-gray monochrome bathroom looks very Zen-like, with the wabi-sabi nature of the square zellige wall tiles set side-by-side with smooth concrete-tile surroundings. The tiles also add dimension and texture. A rounded sink, and shower fixtures softens the hard angles of the rest of the space.

Bridge Contrasting Styles

It takes a skilled hand to master a transitional-style bath—a mixture of traditional and contemporary—that's evenly balanced. The placement of contrasting glass (modern), ceramic (classic), and natural stone (earthy) tiles, in small, medium, and large sizes, really works in this bathroom and shower area. Art and flowers gives it a homey touch.

Envision an Encaustic Aesthetic

The encaustic-tile floor is made up of large-scale geometric shapes that echo the smaller-scale wallpaper pattern. It single-handedly makes this traditional bathroom look more engaging and modern. Brass fixtures make the bathroom feel a bit rustic, too.

Choose Crisp and Textured

Interior designer, Katherine Carter kept things simple by choosing just two different white tiles to outfit Lauren Conrad's all-white bathroom. Zellige subway-tile walls provide organic contrast to polygonal floor tiles, which also cleverly line the ceiling of the shower stall.

Get Glam and Graphic

Interior designer Kelly Wearstler's black-and-white guest bathroom is as opulent as it gets. Marble may be the material of choice for any luxury bathroom design, but its application here takes it to new heights because it forces the eye to travel upward.

Instead of a straight-lay pattern (aka side-by-side, in a straight line), every piece is laid on a 45-degree diagonal, or diamond pattern, which works nicely in smaller bathrooms.

Create Understated Appeal

We're not sure where else this unique insect wallpaper would be appropriate (in a child's room, perhaps?). But Carter lets it do the work in this smaller bath while opting for marble penny-sized hex tiles underfoot, which look like rocky pebbles. A striped window treatment adds another shade of color without being overwhelming.

Energize With Prints

Ho-hum white subway tile (with gray grout) takes a back seat to printed, Moroccan cement tiles—covered in triangles—that form a vaguely Southwestern design. The floor is bold, and the white walls very simply, chicly complement it. Brass fixtures creates a modern vibe.

Play With Moody Colors

This traditional bath by designer Catherine Kwong features a dark, moody color story that sees the walls visually receding, and the shower stall really exemplifies Kwong's technique. Slate-gray tiles stretch to the ceiling in the stall while a bordered, intricate diamond pattern on the floor pulls smaller gray pieces into the neutral travertine tile for continuity.

Don't Discount Grout

Grout, too, plays a huge role in the design of this black, white, and gray bathroom. (If you want to take any bathroom tile design further, experiment with multicolored grout.) High-gloss black subway tile is super-chic with white grout, which highlights the neo-basket-weave pattern framing for the bathtub that's also echoed in the upper walls of the shower area. Super-tiny, mosaic-style Cararra-marble tiles line the floor, adding further contrast and texture.

Perfect a Pattern

Pale ceramic polygonal tiles, in three colors, form a pretty, honeycomb pattern on the floor of this sauna-cum-bathroom which grounds the large space. Tiled walls, in both square and rectangle shapes, aren't an obvious choice here, but they still work—perhaps because they're white.

Customize Your Tile Pattern

Instead of choosing patterned tiles, create your own by arranging individual tiles for a customized look. In this photo, the same hexagonal tile in a contrasting color is used to create floral-like shapes on the bathroom floor. Fresh blooms bring the outside in.

Style With Scale

These polygonal tiles, in different sizes, offer continuity throughout this bathroom stall yet enough visual interest that feels high-style. We especially like the dusty blue and white color combo–somehow it feels equally soothing and refreshing. Chrome fixtures keeps with the sleek theme.

Make Your Floor the Main Feature

When everything else in your bathroom is streamlined and minimalistic, a bold, patterned tile floor elevates the space. The toned down color scheme of these printed tiles aren't overly distracting, so hanging art pieces, and wooden vanity shine too. A woven hand-towel basket adds texture.

Count on the Classics

We already included a few black-and-white bathroom tile examples, but we can never get enough. In this example, oversized black rectangular shower tiles complement smaller scale, polygon-shaped white tiles. A singular brass-finished light fixture and a bundle of branches add warmth.

Think Bigger

Marble (or marble-like) is always a classic choice, and opting for larger square tiles on the bathroom walls and floor can make a smaller bathroom feel roomier. A matching color palette, and chrome fixtures keeps things sleek. Potted greenery infuses a natural element to the space.

Try Tile Stickers

We've mentioned everything from encaustic ceramic to marble tiles, though for all of our renters out there, tile stickers may be the more practical way to style your bathroom. In this photo, Black & Blooms chose turquoise tile stickers, then decorated with potted plants to make this bathroom pop.

Seek Chic and Sleek

Create movement throughout a monochromatic look by laying out bathroom tiles in contrasting patterns. In this shower stall, a chevron pattern covers the floor, while larger rectangular tiles in the same color are arranged side-by-side. Black fixtures add depth.

Match the Overall Décor

The Moorish-inspired tiles of this neutral hued bathroom match the modern Spanish revival theme of the rest of this house, designed by Jenn Pablo Studio. The tile pattern is distinct enough that displaying it in a small section, like the wall where the shower fixtures are placed, is all that's needed to style this bathroom.

Notice Neutral Opportunities

When the rest of your bathroom is dramatic and moody like this one, neutral toned tiles provide balance. That way details like a patterned window treatment, or ornamental mirror take center stage. And for something extra, add fresh flowers in a vibrant color.

Channel Spa-Like Vibes

For soothing, spa-like vibes, choose bathroom tiles in the same color family. Shades of sand, gray, and cream, like the colored tiles that make up this bathtub backsplash create a soothing, unhurried environment for long, quiet soaks. Bonus points for lighting with dimmer functionality.

Pick an Understated Tile and Wallpaper Combo

This bathroom levels up with hexagonal tile, and printed wallpaper combination that looks polished and not overdone. Brass- or gold-finished accents, like the trimmed mirror and holding tray in a similar shape up the glam factor without seeming gaudy. Take advantage of natural light for added warmth.

Go Maximalist

This variation on the tile and wallpaper combination is bold and playful. A monochromatic color palette (grays and whites) offsets the stimulating pineapple motif on the walls and pebbled floors. A vase with colorful buds adds to the playfulness.

Create Continuity

We like how marble tiles create a throughline from the bathroom floor and counters to the shower stall. Larger tiles for the floor, and smaller subway tiles for the shower stall offer visual variety. And pops of red, such as in the bathroom rug add vibrancy.