42 Bathroom Tile Ideas, from Elegant Patterns to Intricate Mosaics

Bold Contrast

If you want to make a statement, high contrast is the way to do it, and a black-and-white tile pattern will instantly catch your eye.

“We created a modernized, preppy plaid pattern by laying bold, black, glossy tiles diagonally and intersecting them with crisp, textured white tile inlays,” says Kevin Thayer, an architectural interiors associate at Morgante Wilson Architects.

Dimensional Tiles

Tiles don’t have to match to complement each other. In this bathroom, the navy and taupe selections make sense because of their contrasting scale and dimension. “Dimensional shower tiles add texture and depth for a playful, eye-catching touch,” says Meredith Huck, owner of interior design firm House of Huck.

Pink Penny Rounds

Use the floor tile as an opportunity to add a pop of color, particularly when it’s done in a retro, small-scale, penny-round style.

“We love using penny round tiles in bathrooms where a walk-in shower plays a major role in the design—we’re able to use the same small-scale tile for all of the flooring,” says Jennifer Jones, principal designer at Niche Interiors. “Instead of opting for grey or black tiles, consider injecting some color on the floor and keeping the shower walls neutral.”

Pink Surround

Whether you’re worried about soap spills or nail polish accidents, covering the bathroom in tile is the easiest way to make it mess proof.

“We chose to make a tile statement by covering the walls—all of them—with tile,” says Michelle Lynne, CEO of ML Interiors Group. “There’s no worry about spills, hair dye, or any other potential stain hazards because the walls are easy to scrub.”

Minty Fresh

Green subway tile in a glossy finish has a fresh look while still feeling timeless and classic. Here, Asteria Studio paired these tiles with sleek brass hardware, creating a bathroom that feels both unexpected and traditional.

Serene Zellige

Zellige tile can create a mosaic of colors; in this bathroom, it resembles a calming, ocean-like setting. Dawn Bane, designer at Spectrum Design Group, says that these tiles are “bold yet serene,” and can add “life and movement” to a bathroom.

Technicolor History

The past doesn’t have to be neutral! Meghan Michelic, owner of MSM Home, tapped Artaic tiles to create a custom mosaic for the bathroom in her historic home. It’s a technicolor take on a vintage-inspired look.

Vibrant Pattern

Tiles with bold patterns can add a playful edge to a historic home—especially when they’re a fun color, like this vintage mustard hue. “This project fuses Popham Design’s magical Moroccan tile with ancient oak beams,” says Alethea HC Clarke, who is renovating this centuries-old farmhouse.

Geometric Contrast

Striking geometric tile makes a huge statement in this otherwise black-and-white bathroom. “While it’s easy to play it safe with neutral decor and color stories, we took bold chances to seamlessly integrate a playful ambiance in every room of the home,” says Lindsey Jamison, partner and lead designer at Rumor Designs. “That includes the funky geometric tile in the walk-in shower.”

Light and Bright Marble

Marble may be a formidable stone, but it can take on a bright and airy quality, particularly when used in a bathroom with sleek, polished nickel fixtures. “The design for this bathroom was centered around making the space feel bright and airy,” says interior designer Jackie Johnson. “For the tiles, we brought in Carrara marble throughout.”

Mosaic Floor

GRT Architects created a mosaic in this glossy bathroom using medium-format tiles. The elegant style is designed to mimic the decorative wood parquet that runs throughout the rest of the house.

Aesthetic Grout

Grout can be an opportunity to add a bit of fun to a basic tile. In this teenage boy’s shower, an unexpected blue epoxy grout cleverly ties in with the floor tile. “Bonus: Epoxy grout is way easier to clean, which is a win for any busy family (especially with boys!),” says interior designer Lesley Myrick.

Dramatic Stone

A large-scale tile stretches throughout the shower and bath in this elegant bathroom by design firm C&C Partners. It’s a modern look within a more traditional backdrop—a juxtaposition that creates a striking final product.

Feminine Marble

Cohesively Curated Interiors used a pretty and light marble tile throughout this pink bathroom, giving it a soft, feminine touch. The marble’s cool tones contrast beautifully with the warm brass details for an elegant, stylish look.

Marble Hexagon

This bathroom by Cohesively Curated Interiors is a calming retreat with a modern take on a classic stone. Marble tiles are often seen in a smaller-scale hexagon, but these large gray options provide a beautiful, subtle way to bring in more pattern.

Dark Subway

Interior design firm K+Co. Living went to the dark side with these elongated navy subway tiles. It’s the perfect move for this space, as it takes what could’ve been a basic bathroom and transforms it into something moody and modern.

Pencil Trim

Create a custom look by leveraging smaller tile shapes for eye-catching patterns. “Pencil liners are wonderfully versatile for making patterns and borders,” says interior designer Caroline Kopp. “In this girls’ bath, I created a Greek key frame with a liner on the shower’s back wall, which coordinated well with the wall color.”

Vintage Style

Mixing multiple tile styles can give you a vintage look, particularly when they’re all cast in warm, inviting tones.

“The flooring in this bathroom features a broken joint mosaic pattern, adding subtle texture and a timeless feel,” says Ali Burgoon Nolan, principal designer and owner of Studio Burgoon. “A double pencil trim accents the classic subway tile on the walls, creating a refined, tailored look that honors the home’s original era.”

Marble Mosaic

A marble mosaic can also be used to make a small statement rather than covering an entire bathroom. This approach is especially great because it avoids overwhelming both your space and your budget.

“This bathroom has a fun, playful, marble mosaic—we ran it on the wet floor and up the back wall and kept the two side walls simple with white stones stacked straight,” says Stephanie Mahaney, founder and principal designer of Stephanie Rae Interiors.

Color Drenched Tile

Want to go all in? Choose a dramatic color and go for it, tiling from the floor all the way to the ceiling. “We engulfed this room in green tile to create an all-encompassing, color-drenched experience,” says Mallory Robins, interior designer and co-founder of KOBEL + CO.

Luxurious Dimension

The dramatic veining and scale in these marble tiles resemble the look and feel of an elegant boutique hotel—which is exactly what you want in a guest bathroom. “Beveled marble tiles add timeless elegance,” says interior designer Nadia Palacios. “It creates a depth and dimension that feels so luxurious.”

Colorful Pattern

The trick to making bold, bright color work? Pair it with crisp white lines. “In this home renovation, we leaned into bold, patterned tiles and rich hues to make the space feel personal and unforgettable,” says interior designer Nicole Lanteri. “We incorporated vibrant patterns on the walls and floor and streamlined the rest of the space with clean lines.”

Tile Accent Wall

If you love a bold tile but aren’t sure if you want to commit to it in your entire bathroom, then you can always try a one-wall statement piece.

“Accent walls aren’t limited to paint. Instead, take things a step further using tile,” says Lindsie Davis, principal designer at Blueberry Jones Design. “I like to feature an interesting, unexpected tile pattern on the vanity wall and a more subdued tile selection on the adjacent wall, creating visual balance.”

Custom Mosaic

If you can’t find exactly what you want, then it might be worth exploring custom options. In this bathroom, Lindsie Davis created a custom marble ikat mosaic. “Sometimes, bathroom design requires thinking outside the box,” she says. “This custom tile moment really packs a punch in an otherwise neutral space.”

Lookalike Wood Tile

Wood tile can add warmth and life to a bathroom that might otherwise be suffering from a stark, cold look. “Natural materials are always a good idea, especially in bathroom design,” says Lindsie Davis. “Here, reeded white oak tile brought endless warmth to the black-and-white color story.”

Strategic Tile

If you have a tiny bathroom, use tile to your advantage to make it seem larger. “Continuing the tile across the back wall at full height will help make the space feel infinitely more spacious,” says Lindsie Davis. This recent project from her design firm is the perfect example.

Creative Placement

You can use tile as art rather than just functional flooring. “Be creative! Going asymmetrical with colors and shapes can add freedom in design,” says Sarah Latham, principal of Latham Interiors. “The Clé concrete tiles we used in this bunk bathroom add playful character to a highly utilized space.”

Sweet Scallops

Tiles with unique shapes can add character and charm to a bathroom, particularly
when they’re cast in a whimsical powder blue. “We love using everyday porcelain tile, but reimagined,” says interior designer Stephanie Kraus. “Here, a delicate scalloped design was installed halfway up the wall. Its graceful curves add a playful-yet-sophisticated touch.”

Monochromatic Neutrals

Here, several different shapes come together to form an interesting, dynamic, neutral palette. “Neutral bathroom designs don’t have to be boring,” says interior designer Erika Bonnell. “To create this space, we combined a variety of tiles in different shapes and sizes.”

Gold Detail

When is a little extra glimmer not the right move? Any space can benefit from a touch of metallic—especially a bathroom. “We love elevating tile designs with gold or metal inlays to make it pop,” says Sallie Lord, founder of GreyHunt Interiors. “This added detail creates a striking, eye-catching effect.”

Herringbone Pattern

This pink-and-green bathroom from Foxx Design Co. has a charming yet unexpected moment: A glossy herringbone wall in the heart of a marble shower. These simple subway tiles were used to create a pattern that feels fresh but also classic.

Zellige Stripes

Zellige tiles are usually seen in a more monochromatic setting. However, in this bathroom by Katy Evans Design, they create striking graphic stripes that feel vintage-inspired and one-of-a-kind. Paired with the rosette on the floor, it’s an upscale take on timeless style.

Nostalgic Rosettes

Rosette tiles often evoke the classic prewar buildings found in New York. Here, though, in a bathroom from Katy Evans Design, they get a bright, colorful, and cottage-inspired treatment. The light blue floor color is the perfect foil to the pink walls, creating an elegant and whimsical space.

Lucky Penny

Green lucky penny tiles are a great way to bring fresh color into a classic space. In this bathroom by Centered By Design, they pair beautifully with a basketweave tile, creating a verdant, refined color palette with plenty of texture.

Southwestern Influence

Zellige tile, saltillo tile, and Southwestern mosaics all come together in this warm and welcoming bathroom. The many different colors and styles all work together thanks to a cohesive, natural palette.

Variation and Texture

Different tiles with different shapes can often work well together. “Create a stunning visual impact by embracing a mix of size, shine, and texture,” says Tiffany Matthews, founder and lead designer of Motif Homes. “We love the idea of tiling from floor to ceiling—it’s the ultimate statement of style.”

You can even extend the tiles into the shower niche, she says, for a truly all-over look.

Gorgeous Glazed Tile

Soft tones add a warmth and organic quality to tile—particularly when they’re in flattering hues. “This guest bath is glowing from the soft pink glazed ceramic tile,” says interior designer Kara Cox. “Using a monochromatic palette on the bathroom floor highlights the special, hand-painted motif on the accent tile and shower walls.”

Subtle Pattern

Neutral colors like this gray marble let patterns really shine, particularly on the floor. “A patterned tile floor creates a sense of movement and dynamism,” says Heather Kates, lead designer at MDI Luxury Design. “It allows the walls to serve as a neutral backdrop.”

Mix and Match Color

If color is calling to you, then think of tile as a place where you can have fun and express your personality. “Mix and match color and pattern to create interest and a fun experience in your bathroom tile,” says Nureed Saeed, founder of Nu Interiors. “I view tile as art.”

Earth Tones

Earthy elements come together in this peaceful bathroom that combines a terracotta tile with a more neutral ivory.

“The use of muted, soft tones here created a comforting, natural, and peaceful space,” says Marcella Domonkos, design consultant at MD Design Co. “We’re particularly obsessed with the addition of a border tile, which complements the overall bathroom aesthetic and adds a unique, delicate touch.”

Wallpaper and Tile

Patterned tiles can have a rustic, farmhouse look, but they take on a more sophisticated, elegant side when they’re paired with a shimmery gold wallpaper—like this one from Scalamandré. “You can elevate the look of your bathroom with gorgeous porcelain tiles that look like wood and wear like iron,” says Sharon Sherman, owner of Thyme and Place Design.

Herringbone Accent

Both herringbone patterns and zellige tile are timeless staples, but they’re not often used together. “I used zellige tiles in a herringbone pattern on the whole back wall of this vanity,” says Sharon Sherman. “It’s a very traditional pattern that takes on new life with this material and colorway.”