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Bathroom tile ideas from the House & Garden archive
When designing a new bathroom, or planning a lighter refresh, the type of tile to use is one of the most important decisions you will make. Every element of bathroom design is crucial, but tiles form one of the few decorative elements in what is otherwise a predominantly practical space. But with so many options out there, how do you know which tile to go for? This handy guide will help you to pick the right bathroom tiles for your space and your scheme.
What type of bathroom tiles should you use?
There is a wealth of bathroom tile ideas and options out there, which can make it hard to choose, but aesthetics and budget will probably dictate roughly where you land. Some popular types at the moment include Moroccan zellige tiles, which have an uneven surface that bounces light around the space and creates a wonderful textural richness in a bathroom – they look especially wonderful when covering three walls of an enclosed shower to create a cocooning effect. Metro tiles are the brick-shape, rectangular tiles that were, as the name suggests, used in the underground train systems of New York, London and Paris.
Plain tiles are great for a bold, ‘colour drenching’ effect, while patterned designs will add a touch of interest. Try mixing and matching your tiles. For instance, you could choose plain tiles for the majority of the bathroom, and introduce a contrasting colour or patterned tile forming a trim along the middle of the wall or above the bath. Or why not combine two colours for a striped tile effect, which is always eye-catching, as is a chequerboard arrangement if you are using square tiles. Mosaic tiles can be very tricky to install, but sheet mosaic can be a good alternative and will still create the same decorative effect.
Do I need different tiles for the walls and floor?
In short, no. The one consideration is that the floor tiles should be particularly hardwearing, and ideally non-slip, so it’s best not to choose anything super fragile, and think carefully before installing anything very shiny. But other than that, we rather love the simplicity of having the same tiles running throughout a space, extending from the walls onto the floor.
Where should you buy your bathroom tiles?
- Balineum – beautiful, hand-glazed tiles created by Sarah Watson in a dizzying array of marvellous designs.
- Topps Tiles – cheap, cheerful and with a wide range of smart options for any style of house.
- Emery & Cie – a French source beloved by interior designers for their classic zellige tiles.
- Dzek – striking tiles in inventive materials, including some amazing terrazzo designs.
- Mandarin Stone – stylish natural stone tiles from a producer with plenty of showrooms around the UK so that you can see them before your commit.
- Bert & May – handmade artisan tiles with plenty of colours and shapes to choose from, as well as graphic designs.
- Milagros – the name to know for Mexican tiles, whether patterned or plain.
- Johnson Tiles – a UK brand based in Stoke-on-Trent with a vast selection.
- Feild – a source of modern patterned tiles with a more minimal aesthetic.
- Fired Earth – one of the biggest and most trusted sources for tiles of all types.
- Maitland & Poate – a family-run business that started out sourcing reclaimed and antiques tiles and now also offers its own designs for encaustic cement tiles.
- Clé Tiles – one of the largest online tiles sellers, which frequently collaborates with artists.
- Bisazza – luxury tiles in mosaic and marble mostly.
- Popham Design – a customisable world of colours, shapes and patterns to play with.
- Claybrook – a one-stop-shop for all your tile needs in modern designs.
- Made a Mano – a Danish company that works exclusively with pure solid lava stone.
- Habibi Interiors – traditional Moroccan zellige tiles from a workshop in Fez.
- Mesguich Mosaik – the name to know for bespoke mosaics.
- Tile Mountain – an affordable source for classic tiles in a range of styles.
- Homebase – the DIY store has everything you need, including a good range of basic tiles.
- B&Q – a go-to when the budget is tight and you're after a classic look.
- Terrazzo Tiles – where to go for bespoke and handmade terrazzo tiles.
How do you lay bathroom tiles?
Tiles need grout to be laid, and that’s another choice you will need to make. The standard grout colour is white or neutral, though there are now many more options and some people choose a red grout to stand out against a white tile – as you can see in the pantry of Matilda Goad’s London house. The best way to lay tiles is to hire a professional as they will have a tile cutter readily available to sort all the awkward corners where a full tile won’t fit.
How many tiles do I need to order?
Tiles are bought in square metre quantities so, first, work out the size of the area you are covering in tiles and take it from there. Always order 10% more tiles than you need, to account for any breakages.
Keep scrolling for our favourite bathroom tile ideas from the House & Garden archive.
Dean Hearne1/41This charming Cornish coastal holiday cabin is the vision of PR guru Bianca Fincham. The bathroom tiles by Bert & May are of a slightly larger size to avoid problems Bianca previously experienced when renovating the bathroom of the Georgian house next door, which she also owns. In two earthy tones, they work well with the natural colours and textures of the oak and Carrara marble sink and basin stand from Neptune. They also complement the terracotta floor tiles laid throughout an adjoining living space.
Christopher Horwood2/41In this former Hackney coach house designed by Evelina Mamedovaite, the bathroom is a wonderfully light and airy space thanks to an interior window through to the landing. Howe at 36 Bourne Street’s ‘Cypress’ print fabric has been used to create a pretty shower curtain, which introduces pattern and colour to the textural zellige tiles from Emery & Cie.
Christopher Horwood3/41In this London flat by Carlos Garcia, the designer has made the small bathroom a sophisticated space with the help of reclaimed Victorian black and terracotta tiles on the floor and green tiles from Topps Tiles around the bath. Wallpaper and tongue-and-groove panelling add to the layered, decorated effect.
Martin Morrell4/41This garden studio in Fulham serves as an inviting guest house. The shower room, installed by architects Groves Natcheva, has a sleek monochrome look with black fittings and simple white monochrome tiles. They are brightened by a wavy red-framed mirror, offering excellent inspiration for anyone wanting to bring a fresh look to existing plain tiles.
Simon Brown5/41Tiles can be a brilliant way of introducing individual character and even a sense of place. In fashion designer Penelope Chilver’s rustic Catalonian apartment, she has used distinctive patterned tiles sourced locally that are typical of the region. They work particularly well with the green ceramic basin for a colourful yet relaxed bohemian aesthetic that reflects the rest of the apartment.
Simon Brown6/41Studio Vero has brought this Notting Hill townhouse to life with colour and pattern, and the bathroom is a perfect example of the studio’s approach throughout. The same tile design, by Elisa Passino, are used on the walls and the floor with a shiny version on the walls and a non-slip surface on the floor – a great way to ensure a coherent scheme while keeping the space safe for everyone.
Christopher Horwood7/41Rather than a shower cubicle, you might try configuring a room to make space for a miniature shower room or enclave, as Studio Squire have done in this house in the South Downs. The large shower cubicle was formed by reconfiguring the previous layout. The wall tiles in various shades of pink are from Mosaic Factory and the porthole window (which allows for extra light to travel through) was sourced via Ebay and painted in Farrow & Ball Tanner’s Brown.
Christopher Horwood8/41This elegant Chelsea townhouse has understatedly lovely interiors by interior designers Steph Hill and Honor Devereux. In this small bathroom, the duo have used Douglas Watson Studio’s ‘Venezia’ large scale tiles, which suggest the faded tiles of a palazzo.
Simon Watson9/41A combined living space and bathroom in this converted convent in Tuscany is fitted with with hand-painted floor tiles. A shower hides behind a screen and the loo is concealed in a painted cupboard.
Paul Massey10/41The owners of this 1930s Georgian-style house were keen to give it an established look while avoiding any stuffiness, so they asked designer Henri Fitzwilliam-Lay to conjure distinctive interiors full of idiosyncratic details. Blue tiles from Waterworks and a bespoke mirror create a pleasing contrast with the woodwork in a custom-mixed orange from Papers and Paints in this bathroom.
Alexander James11/41In a playful bathroom in this pied-à-terre in Notting Hill, the brief was to offer a French country feel. The bathroom is entered through the joinery in the corridor, so it ‘almost feels like a secret bathroom’, laughs designer Sarah Peake. The floor tiles are ‘Series S Ibiza Variato’ by Balineum and the wall tiles are zellige by Mosaic Factory – bringing colour and texture to the room.
Owen Gale12/41Undertaking the renovation and decoration of a four-bedroom Victorian house is no easy task, and owing to the masterful results on show in Sandra Barrio von Hurter’s house, you’d never realise this was her first project. The orange of the spare room is picked up in the paint on the bath and basin legs of the main bathroom, and is tempered by the pale yellow tiles and walls.
Simon Brown13/41Wipeable floor tiles are the perfect choice for this boot room bathroom of a Georgian house designed by Salvesen Graham – practical for the inevitable messy comings and goings. This form of tiling is also an excellent option for children’s bathrooms, or for any bathroom that will get a lot of traffic.
FRANCESCO DOLFO/LIVING INSIDE14/41After living in Milan for five years, British fashion designer Ashley Fletcher fell for a 16th-century villa in Piedmont. This has become a creative playground, where he has allowed his imagination to run wild with remarkable results. Striking graphics feature on marble mosaic tiles on the walls and floor of the bathroom.
Boz Gagovski15/41In her own compact Kensington flat, interior designer Lucy Mayers has wrought an impressive transformation on the bathroom. It is lined with deep green zellige tiles, which complement the other natural components and palette seen in the space.
Paul Massey16/41Wondering how to fit a bath and a shower in to a small, sloped attic space? Take inspiration from this design by Todhunter Earle for a chalet in Chamonix. The space is enlivened by iridescent tiles from French company Emery & Cie.
Paul Massey17/41The colour palette used throughout this London flat is pared back, but with a few well-placed hits of bold colour – the most dramatic of which are the wet-room tiles. ‘I loved the idea of them waking up to this rich blue, which is offset perfectly by the glamourous gold fixtures and fittings,’ explains designer Harriet Anstruther. The electric blue Bisazza tiles makes this small en-suite have strong visual impact.
Davide Lovatti18/41The en-suite bathroom in Tara Craig’s tiny London flat has Balineum wall tiles and brass fittings from Catchpole & Rye. A combined bath and shower helps to save space in this small room.
Owen Gale19/41In a shower in the bathroom of Angelica Squire’s London house, the shower is lined with deep blue zellige tiles. These help reflect the light and bounce it around the room, creating a sense of a bigger space – perfect inspiration for those working with smaller bathrooms.
James McDonald20/41Designer Martin Brudnizki’s compact west London flat perfectly demonstrates the cleverly layered look of which he is a master. Best known for his work designing hotels such as Soho Beach House in Miami and The Beekman in New York, Martin’s forte is creating homes away from home – he wants his work to be grand and glamorous, while retraining a sense of intimacy and comfort. The bathroom in his own flat, covered with small marble metro tiles, is the epitome of understated glamour, with brass accessories and industrial-style light fittings.
Taran Wilkhu21/41It took just three months for photographer and artist Zoë Zimmer to make her mark on this London flat, guided by her love of classic 20th-century design and atmospheric lighting. Zoë was inspired by the combination of white tiles and black grout she had seen on buildings in Tokyo. The basin is similar to Lefroy Brooks’ ‘Belle Aire’ design.
Sam Frost22/41In a small bathroom in this well-layered San Francisco flat, the hexagonal floor tiles are a simple and classic choice for a hard-working bathroom. In tandem with the marble wall panels, the tiles provide an elegant backdrop for a Waterworks bathtub and a vintage Gilbert Marklund stool.
TARAN WILKHU23/41Traditional Spanish encaustic tiles are set off by Swedish-inspired panelling in the light-filled bathroom of a peaceful Wiltshire country house, adding a playful element to the space.
Simon Brown24/41This Wealden Hall house in Kent had some unflattering 1920s additions, so the owners assembled a group of experts to restore its late-medieval heart, exposing original structures, swapping cement for lime render, and introducing harmonious furniture and furnishings. In the master bathroom, Antoinette Poisson’s ‘Jaipur’ wallpaper in bleu/vert and floor tiles sourced from Morocco create a bold backdrop to the space.
Michael Sinclair25/41Hand-crafted tiles by Fonace Brioni create a showstopping shower recess in Pandora Taylor’s house. They contrast with the petrol blue tiles lining the arch and the toning paint used on the surrounding wall.
Joachim Wichmann26/41The black and white tiles in the bathroom of Pernille Lind’s own London house are from Bert and May, and add a youthful touch to the otherwise pared-back, neutural-toned bathroom.
Owen Gale27/41The cupboards in Joanna Plant’s upstairs bathroom are painted in Farrow & Ball’s ‘Arsenic’. The lamps are by Hector Finch, the tiles are from Bert & May, and the brass-edged mirror is one of Joanna and Nick’s own designs.
Owen Gale28/41If you’re short on a tile budget, consider copying the simple but effective tiling method seen here in Pembroke Lodge. The Delft tiles are from Fired Earth and act as both a decorative feature and a practical, pretty splashback for the sink.
Owen Gale29/41The bath in the main bathroom of Georgia Cave’s own London house is a bespoke design, with the walls and steps covered in Ruivina marble and offset with Clay Atelier handmade wall tiles from Artisan of Devizes. Riven black slate tiles line the inside of the bath and cover the floor.
Owen Gale30/41Elsewhere in Georgina Cave’s own London house, she selected reclaimed patterned tiles in a striking pattern to cover the floor and back wall of another bathroom in her London house.
Christopher Horwood31/41Should your flat come with white subway tile already installed, as was the case in Sally Wilkinson’s rented Chelsea flat, consider adding colour in easily changeable ways. Sally added a colourful fabric skirt around the basin, which is a simple but effective way to add some flair to an unremarkable bathroom design.
Ollie Tomlinson32/41Anahita Rigby designed this Regency house in Marylebone, where the bathroom has a walk-in shower with bespoke taps made from unlacquered brass. The tiles are ‘Paintbox’ from Mandarin Stone, and work well with the bathroom’s more muted palette while still adding a touch of femininity and brightness.
Mark Fox33/41The classic black and white Zellige mosaic floor tiling in the master bathroom in Katie Glaister's London house complements the ‘louder’, more unconventional additions to the bathroom – especially the wallpaper, which is ‘Busted’ by Work & Sea. “I love the art and the depth of this paper and have surprised myself by finding it incredibly peaceful,” says Katie.
Paul Massey34/41Farrow & Ball’s ‘Setting Plaster’ paint picks up on pink tiles by Emery & Cie in the bathroom of a sophisticated 19th-century London house designed by Harding & Read. This is a wonderful example of how using the same bathroom tiles for the walls and floor can make a big impact. Howe’s ‘Mark Chair’ is covered in green towelling fabric. You can find similar pink glazed tiles at Fired Earth or zellige options in a range of colours from London Encaustic.
Alexander James35/41In the bathroom of a pretty Georgian cottage by Studio Peake, she has used classic metro tiles in white with white grout. The simple style of tiles allows the panelling and wallpaper to set the tone. You can find such tiles at Topps Tiles.
Owen Gale36/41Angelica Squire’s house is full of design ideas to copy and her pink marble bathroom tiles are no exception. They use of them across the walls, floor and bath enclosure is dramatic and luxurious, particularly when paired with the rich blue walls. For similar tiles, look at the ‘Rosalina’ honed tiles at Mandarin Stone.
Ngoc Minh Ngo37/41The main bathroom in this Californian newbuild with interiors by David Bentheim has a rolltop bath from Waterworks and blinds in a soft white linen by O Ecotextiles. Herringbone tiles are arranged so as to form stripes of colour - white and mustard and grey. Popham Design’s ‘Baguette’ style could work similarly well and are available in many colours.
Sharyn Cairns38/41Interior designer Suzy Hoodless worked with the owners of this west-London town house to create a glamorous effect, using mid-century pieces and a dark colour palette that occasionally breaks in to splashes of brightness. In this bathroom petrol blue tiles have been paired with bright yellow rugs for a surprisingly graphic look. You can find similar bold blue metro tiles at Milagros for a decent price.
Owen Gale39/41In the bathroom of her house in Stockwell, designer and stylist Maude Smith has hand-painted basic white square tiles with ladybirds, butterflies, botanicals and birds. Maude sells her hand-painted tiles via her shop.
40/41In this London house, Maria Speake of Retrouvius has created bright borders of blue and green zellige tiles from Emery & Cie either side of a central Iznik-style panel in this striking bathroom. The symmetrical arrangement of the tiles is visually pleasing and frames the bath, which has a plain, reclaimed iroko-wood surround and simple unpolished brass fittings. Balineum’s hand-painted tiles are a truly magnificent choice for a similar design.
Rachel Whiting41/41The owners of this London house called on interior designer Beata Heuman to create a family home full of fun, distinctive design and punchy colours. A highly original space, it is unapologetically theatrical and oozes energy. ‘The owners are both artists. They have quite wild tastes and they love strong colours,’ says Beata. The opulent, freestanding bath was copied from a 1920s design that Beata spotted in an old magazine.
‘It was quite difficult to work out how to make it. Fortunately, we had a very good joiner and we discovered a specialist timber from the Netherlands that is used in boat building and can be submerged in water for 10 years without any ill effect.’ The navy tiles on the wall create a dark dramatic background for the unique bathroom furnishings. For a cheap alternative, try ‘Matrix’ blue gloss from Topps Tiles, or for a closer match, deep blue zellige tiles from London Encaustic.
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