Pool Blue 31.6cm x 60cm Ceramic Wall Tile

Choosing new bathroom tiles is one of those decisions that shapes everything else in the room. Get it right, and you've got a colour palette, a texture, and a mood all sorted in one go. Get it wrong, and even the best fittings in the world won't quite pull the space together.

With so many bathroom tile ideas doing the rounds on social media and in showrooms, it's easy to feel a bit lost before you've picked up a single sample. This guide breaks things down by material, colour, and layout, with a few practical pointers thrown in, so you can find the bathroom tile ideas that suit your space, budget, and the way you use the room day to day.

Contents

• Bathroom tile ideas by material and finish
• Bathroom tile ideas by colour
• Pairing your tile colour with your fittings
• Bathroom tile ideas by pattern and layout
• Small bathroom tile ideas
• Practical things to think about before you buy
• Pulling the whole look together
• Final thoughts

Bathroom tile ideas by material and finish

The material and finish of your tiles will do more to set the tone of your bathroom than almost any other single choice. Porcelain and ceramic remain two of the most popular choices for bathroom tiles, while the finish is where you can really add personality to your space.

Stone and marble effect tiles

RAK Calacatta Gold Full Lapatto White 60cm x 120cm Porcelain Wall and Floor Tile

Natural stone looks stunning in a bathroom, but it's porous, needs regular sealing and comes with a price tag to match. Stone and marble effect porcelain gives you that same soft, veined look with none of the upkeep, and it stands up to steam and splashes far better than the real thing.

For a calm, spa-like bathroom, take a look at our marble effect tiles or stone effect tiles, paired with a simple, neutral colour scheme. They work particularly well as a full-height feature wall behind a bath or in a shower enclosure.

Wood effect tiles

Norway RLV Matt Straw 60cm x 120cm Porcelain Wall and Floor Tile

If you love the warmth of wood but don't want to risk it near water, wood effect tiles are the answer. Porcelain planks with a realistic wood grain bring a natural, homely feel to a bathroom without any of the swelling or warping you'd get from real timber.

They're a lovely choice for family bathrooms and en-suites where you want something that feels a little softer underfoot than plain ceramic. Have a look at our wood effect tiles range for options in a variety of tones, from pale ash to deep walnut.

Concrete and industrial effect tiles

For a more pared-back, contemporary look, concrete effect tiles bring texture and depth without feeling cold or clinical. They pair beautifully with matt black fittings and simple, boxy furniture for a bathroom with an industrial edge.

Our concrete effect tiles are particularly well suited to larger bathrooms and wet rooms, where their larger surface area allows the mottled, chalky finish to really stand out.

Bathroom tile ideas by colour

Colour is where you can really have fun with bathroom tile ideas, whether you want a calm neutral backdrop or something with a bit more drama.

Neutral and light palettes

RAK Calacatta Gold Full Lapatto White 60cm x 120cm Porcelain Wall and Floor Tile

White, beige and light grey tiles are the safest bet if you want a bathroom that feels bright, spacious and easy to update down the line. They're particularly useful in smaller bathrooms or those with limited natural light, as they bounce light around the room rather than absorbing it.

Our white, beige, and grey tile ranges all include both matt and gloss finishes, so you can dial the brightness up or down depending on how much natural light your bathroom gets.

Bold and dark tiles

Harlequin Lagoon 7cm x 28cm Porcelain Wall and Floor Tile

Dark tiles have well and truly earned their place in modern bathroom design. Charcoal, deep green, and navy tiles create a cocooning, hotel-like feel, especially when paired with warm lighting and metallic fittings.

If you're tempted by a darker scheme, our black, blue, and green tile collections are a good place to start. You could try tiling one wall in a bold colour and keeping the rest of the room neutral, so the space still feels balanced rather than closed in.

Pairing your tile colour with your fittings

Terazzo Matt Crema 59.8cm x 59.8cm Porcelain Wall and Floor Tile

Once you've settled on a tile colour, it's worth thinking about how it will sit alongside your taps, shower, and radiator. We stock brassware and fittings in matt black, brushed brass, brushed bronze, gunmetal and chrome, so there's plenty of scope to either match your tiles or create a deliberate contrast.

A warm, stone effect tile looks fantastic against brushed brass or brushed bronze fittings, while a cooler grey or black tile tends to sit best with chrome or gunmetal.

Bathroom tile ideas by pattern and layout

Pattern and layout are where bathroom tile ideas move from 'nice tile' to genuinely eye-catching design. A clever layout can also solve practical problems, like making a small bathroom feel bigger.

Patterned tiles as a feature

Decor Black 33cm x 33cm Porcelain Floor Tile

Patterned tiles are one of the easiest ways to add personality to an otherwise simple bathroom. Used as a splashback, flooring, or a single feature wall, they draw the eye without overwhelming the whole room.

Browse our patterned tiles range and try pairing a bold design with plain tiles everywhere else, so the pattern gets to do all the talking.

Metro and subway tiles

Harlequin Bianco 7cm x 28cm Porcelain Wall and Floor Tile

Metro (or subway) tiles never really go out of style. Their simple, rectangular shape works in period and contemporary bathrooms alike, and they're a brilliant way to add texture through the grout lines rather than the tile itself.

Lay them in a classic brick bond for a timeless look, or try a herringbone or vertical stack layout for something a bit different. Our subway and brick tile range includes both gloss and matt options.

Herringbone and other laying patterns

The way you lay your tiles can completely change how a bathroom feels, even if you stick to a plain, neutral design. Herringbone flooring or on the wall adds movement and visual interest, while a simple grid layout keeps things calm and understated.

For something more decorative in a smaller area, mosaic wall tiles are worth a look, particularly as a border, niche lining or floor detail.

Large-format tiles and tile drenching

Stonelab Beige 60cm x 60cm Porcelain Wall and Floor Tile

Large-format tiles mean fewer grout lines, which reads as more space and less visual clutter. Tiling floor to ceiling in the same tile, sometimes called tile drenching, takes this a step further and creates a seamless, immersive feel, especially in a shower enclosure or wet room.

This works particularly well with our porcelain floor tiles, which are durable enough for the floor but can also be used on walls for a cohesive look.

Small bathroom tile ideas

RAK Classic Carrera Full Lapatto Grey 60cm x 120cm Porcelain Wall and Floor Tile

A small bathroom doesn't have to mean small ambitions when it comes to tiles. A few clever choices can make a compact space feel considerably bigger.

• Stick to light, neutral colours to keep the room feeling open and bright.
• Use the same tile on the floor and walls to remove visual breaks between surfaces.
• Choose large-format tiles to minimise grout lines, which can make a small room feel busy.
• Save bold patterns or mosaics for one small area, such as a niche or splashback, rather than the whole room.
• Go for a gloss or semi-gloss finish, which reflects light and adds a sense of depth.

Practical things to think about before you buy

However tempting a tile looks online, there are a few practical points worth checking before you commit.

• Slip resistance: Floor tiles need an appropriate slip rating, especially around the shower and bath. For bathroom floors, we recommend choosing tiles with a minimum R10 slip rating. For areas exposed to regular water, such as around baths and showers, an R11 rating can provide additional grip.
• Porcelain vs ceramic: Porcelain is denser and harder-wearing, so it's usually the better choice for floors, while ceramic works well on walls and is often more budget-friendly.
• Tile and room size: Oversized tiles can overwhelm a tiny bathroom, just as tiny mosaics can look fussy in a large one, so try to match tile scale to room scale.
• Grout colour: Don't treat grout as an afterthought. A contrasting grout will emphasise a pattern or layout, while a grout that closely matches your tile colour gives a smoother, more seamless finish. We cover this in more detail in our guide to refreshing your grout, including how to pick the right shade for your tiles.

We stock trusted tiling essentials from Tilemaster, Mapei, BAL and Tileasy, so once you've chosen your tiles, you'll find the adhesive, grout and trims to match in our tile grout and adhesives range.

Pulling the whole look together

Tileasy Matt Gold 10mm Square Edge Metal Tile Trim - MGAT10

Once you've picked your tiles, it's worth thinking about how they'll sit within the finished room. Tile trims give a neat, professional edge where tiles meet a different surface, and they're a small detail that makes a noticeable difference to the finish.

If full tiling isn't right for your budget, or your walls aren't in a suitable condition, our wall and ceiling panels are a waterproof alternative that mimic the look of tiles with a faster, mess-free installation.

Final thoughts

Auric Matt Graphite 60cm x 60cm Porcelain Wall and Floor Tile

There's no single 'right' answer when it comes to bathroom tile ideas - the best choice is the one that suits your space, your routine and the look you're after.

Whether that's a calming stone-effect scheme, a bold, patterned feature wall, or a practical, easy-to-clean neutral palette, getting the material, colour, and layout right from the start will save you time, money, and a fair few headaches down the line.

Ready to start putting your ideas into action? Browse our full range of bathroom tiles to find your perfect match, and read our step-by-step guide on how to tile a bathroom. Get in touch with our team if you'd like some advice on what will work best in your space.