Floor Tile Options for a Stylish Bathroom
From the countless choices of bathroom tile available, we focus on some of the best looks for the floor
Your floor tile’s material, shape and design have a big effect on the look and feel of your bathroom. Although issues like cost, durability and day-to-day practicality will undoubtedly guide you, with such a dizzying selection available today, it can be hard to make a decision. To help you, we’ve highlighted a few of the best floor-tile options for stylish bathrooms everywhere.
2. Warm Up With a Wood Look
Porcelain tiles that look convincingly like wooden planks are gaining in popularity, and it’s easy to see why. Using real wood can be risky in bathrooms, as the moisture can cause damage. Wood-look floor tiles offer the warmth and good looks of wood while being practical, water-resistant and sturdy. They come in shades from grays to red-browns, so choose something that works with the rest of your home’s style and color scheme.
Shop for wood-look floor tile on Houzz
Porcelain tiles that look convincingly like wooden planks are gaining in popularity, and it’s easy to see why. Using real wood can be risky in bathrooms, as the moisture can cause damage. Wood-look floor tiles offer the warmth and good looks of wood while being practical, water-resistant and sturdy. They come in shades from grays to red-browns, so choose something that works with the rest of your home’s style and color scheme.
Shop for wood-look floor tile on Houzz
3. Add a Pretty Pattern
We’re getting braver when it comes to pattern on our floors. A vintage- or Moroccan-style tile can look fantastic in a bathroom. It adds welcome contrast to an all-white room, and it means that the rest of a room doesn’t have to work so hard to look stylish. Here, a pretty vintage-look pattern pairs with a black border, which grounds the design and adds a traditional touch.
Handmade cement tiles look gorgeous, but they can be expensive and require sealing. Luckily, ceramic and porcelain patterned tiles can create a similar effect.
A Dozen Ways to Work In Patterned Tile
We’re getting braver when it comes to pattern on our floors. A vintage- or Moroccan-style tile can look fantastic in a bathroom. It adds welcome contrast to an all-white room, and it means that the rest of a room doesn’t have to work so hard to look stylish. Here, a pretty vintage-look pattern pairs with a black border, which grounds the design and adds a traditional touch.
Handmade cement tiles look gorgeous, but they can be expensive and require sealing. Luckily, ceramic and porcelain patterned tiles can create a similar effect.
A Dozen Ways to Work In Patterned Tile
4. Try Graphic Geometrics
There are some cool geometric tiles around these days, and they also can help make a bathroom feel special. It’s always a good idea to bring home some samples before you make your decision, and to think about how patterns will repeat. This tile has quite a large diamond pattern, so it needs a reasonable amount of visible floor area to be appreciated. A black-and-white geometric design also looks good paired with color, as they’ve done here with the glossy blue wall tiles.
Check out our beginner’s guide to get started on your home project
There are some cool geometric tiles around these days, and they also can help make a bathroom feel special. It’s always a good idea to bring home some samples before you make your decision, and to think about how patterns will repeat. This tile has quite a large diamond pattern, so it needs a reasonable amount of visible floor area to be appreciated. A black-and-white geometric design also looks good paired with color, as they’ve done here with the glossy blue wall tiles.
Check out our beginner’s guide to get started on your home project
5. Seek Out a Slate Look
Simple slate-look black tiles are a practical, timeless choice in bathrooms, as they hide dirt and are durable. They can also help make white fixtures and walls look more interesting.
Real slate is beautiful, long-lasting and slip-resistant, but it also is pricey and needs regular sealing. Plus, it’s cold underfoot, which may be an issue in the winter — though most types of stone and ceramic tile work well with underfloor radiant heating systems. For a more affordable alternative, look at slate-style ceramic tiles, and choose one with a matte finish and an uneven surface to make it appear more authentic.
What Tile Can Do Now: 9 Versatile New Finishes
Simple slate-look black tiles are a practical, timeless choice in bathrooms, as they hide dirt and are durable. They can also help make white fixtures and walls look more interesting.
Real slate is beautiful, long-lasting and slip-resistant, but it also is pricey and needs regular sealing. Plus, it’s cold underfoot, which may be an issue in the winter — though most types of stone and ceramic tile work well with underfloor radiant heating systems. For a more affordable alternative, look at slate-style ceramic tiles, and choose one with a matte finish and an uneven surface to make it appear more authentic.
What Tile Can Do Now: 9 Versatile New Finishes
6. Say Yes to Squares
There’s been a subtle movement away from the rectangular tiles that have dominated our bathrooms and kitchens, and toward square shapes with a Scandinavian feel. The small beige tiles here are quietly sophisticated — larger than mosaics and less busy. They offer a gentle contrast to the mosaics around the bathtub and the rectangular tiles near the window. They could be good if you want tiles that won’t look dated too quickly.
There’s been a subtle movement away from the rectangular tiles that have dominated our bathrooms and kitchens, and toward square shapes with a Scandinavian feel. The small beige tiles here are quietly sophisticated — larger than mosaics and less busy. They offer a gentle contrast to the mosaics around the bathtub and the rectangular tiles near the window. They could be good if you want tiles that won’t look dated too quickly.
7. Lay Some Honed Limestone
A classic pale limestone is a beautiful look, giving a bathroom an impression of light and space. Real limestone also feels lovely underfoot when you’re getting out of the bath: smooth and not too cold.
However, since limestone is porous, it needs to be carefully maintained and sealed to keep moisture from getting in. A porcelain or ceramic option in a similar hue could be an alternative if this is a concern. Check that the limestone you choose has a textured rather than an ultra-smooth finish to avoid slips and slides.
A classic pale limestone is a beautiful look, giving a bathroom an impression of light and space. Real limestone also feels lovely underfoot when you’re getting out of the bath: smooth and not too cold.
However, since limestone is porous, it needs to be carefully maintained and sealed to keep moisture from getting in. A porcelain or ceramic option in a similar hue could be an alternative if this is a concern. Check that the limestone you choose has a textured rather than an ultra-smooth finish to avoid slips and slides.
8. Get Creative With Hexagons
Squares and rectangles aren’t the only shape options for tiles — how about going for hexagons instead? A honeycomb pattern on your bathroom floor can have a modern Scandinavian appeal, and if you choose a neutral shade, it won’t overwhelm the room. Choose more than one tone to add interest, or alternate two colors for a fun effect.
Remember, too, that porcelain tiles are generally more water-resistant than ceramic ones.
10 Fresh Ways to Use Hex Tiles
Squares and rectangles aren’t the only shape options for tiles — how about going for hexagons instead? A honeycomb pattern on your bathroom floor can have a modern Scandinavian appeal, and if you choose a neutral shade, it won’t overwhelm the room. Choose more than one tone to add interest, or alternate two colors for a fun effect.
Remember, too, that porcelain tiles are generally more water-resistant than ceramic ones.
10 Fresh Ways to Use Hex Tiles
9. Make Magic With Mosaic
Mosaic tiles have been laid on floors since ancient times. They can look extremely pretty on bathroom floors, though you need a steady hand to lay them. Even though they often come in sheets rather than individually, this is probably still a job for a professional — add in a pattern, and you have another level of care to take. As is the case with all tiles, your floor needs to be perfectly flat.
This bathroom shows how mosaics can combine successfully with other types and sizes of tiles, and how a simple black-and-white design can be effective.
Mosaic tiles have been laid on floors since ancient times. They can look extremely pretty on bathroom floors, though you need a steady hand to lay them. Even though they often come in sheets rather than individually, this is probably still a job for a professional — add in a pattern, and you have another level of care to take. As is the case with all tiles, your floor needs to be perfectly flat.
This bathroom shows how mosaics can combine successfully with other types and sizes of tiles, and how a simple black-and-white design can be effective.
10. Take the Subway to the Floor
Classic brick-shaped subway tiles have been the dominant style for kitchen and bathroom walls, but they can also work on floors. In this bold black bathroom, they extend from the walls to the floor. The glossy black finish adds an upscale feel. Always check with your supplier that your tiles are safe and suitable for floors since slips in a wet bathroom can be dangerous.
Classic brick-shaped subway tiles have been the dominant style for kitchen and bathroom walls, but they can also work on floors. In this bold black bathroom, they extend from the walls to the floor. The glossy black finish adds an upscale feel. Always check with your supplier that your tiles are safe and suitable for floors since slips in a wet bathroom can be dangerous.
Tell us: What floor tiles have you used in your bathroom and why? Share a picture in the Comments.
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Large fawn-colored tiles create a classic look that’s neutral and restful. Their generous size and light tone are also space-enhancing. And large tiles mean fewer grout lines to maintain and keep mold-free.
Combine them with matching wall tiles for an easy style that doesn’t ever seem to get dated. Look for tumbled limestone, travertine or porcelain tiles in pink-brown or yellow-brown tones — and always make sure that they are slip-resistant and suitable for bathrooms.
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