Bathroom Design
2012 Tile Trends: Bathroom
Eclectic tiles will make a splash in bathroom design this year
What will new bathrooms be wearing this year? If they take their cues from major metro design centers and the Coverings tile and stone trade show this spring, we'll be seeing creative new ways to use tile: more graphics, more textures, and colors that range from ultra-bright to dark and dramatic.
Tile is durable and practical, but as these photos show, it's anything but dull. This year, it's also energetic, creative, eclectic and vibrant. Read on for a preview from Coverings, heading to Orlando in April. What will you be looking for in a showroom near you?
Browse bathroom design photos | Find a bath designer
Tile is durable and practical, but as these photos show, it's anything but dull. This year, it's also energetic, creative, eclectic and vibrant. Read on for a preview from Coverings, heading to Orlando in April. What will you be looking for in a showroom near you?
Browse bathroom design photos | Find a bath designer
Brights will shout out against neutrals this year. Look for vivid greens, oranges and other "happy" colors to accent neutral field tile in bathrooms, as seen here from American tile maker Crossville.
Mosaics go graphic in 2012, as seen in this tub surround from Tile of Italy. The random pattern has a digital feel to it, perfect for the ever-increasing presence of technology in our daily lives, but its quiet tones provide a soothing element.
Look for vibrant tones and subtle patterns in bathrooms this year. This Tile of Italy bath goes over the top in its use of color but selects blues and greens as a calming offset. The patterns you'll see this year are subtle, just there to add interest.
Dark and dramatic are hot this year, too, as are mixing formats. Here, you see mosaics and large format together in a Crossville bath. This trend works well for shower floors that need more traction, as well as shower walls for drama.
Carrara has always been popular for traditional bathrooms. Look for it this year in contemporary baths, as well. What may surprise you the most is the amazing ability of porcelain tile to stand in for natural stone, as it does in this Tile of Spain master suite. Two major benefits of porcelain include better durability and no need for sealing.
Metallics will continue to mix into material blends to add interest to bathroom tile design. Look for silver and bronze tones to be especially strong.
Linen looks, as shown on the field tile, will also be a continuing trend for 2012.
Linen looks, as shown on the field tile, will also be a continuing trend for 2012.
Large-format tiles will continue to be a hot trend in 2012. Here, they offset a small-tile accent wall. Often, you'll see just large tile set row after row, vertically or horizontally. The look is clean and contemporary.
More: New Ways to Use Tile in Living Spaces
New Tile Styles for the Kitchen
More: New Ways to Use Tile in Living Spaces
New Tile Styles for the Kitchen