Tiles are a staple part of The Great British Bathroom, however, they needn’t be boring. Check out the 5 exciting and unusual tile ideas below.
Head into any bathroom, ensuite or cloakroom in the UK and the chances are you’ll come across a tiled wall or floor. It’s no surprise that tiles have become a favourite wall and floor covering for bathrooms, as they offer a hardwearing, waterproof and decorative surface that is easy to clean.
Whilst there are cost-effective alternatives in the form of shower wall panels and vinyl or laminate flooring, many people choose to complement their new bathroom with some form of tiling, whether that means simply adding some protection to vulnerable splash zones, or producing a seamless look from floor to ceiling.
Often, it’s all too tempting just to play it safe with plain white tiles being a tried and tested, yet rather tedious option. That’s why we’ve come up with these 5 exciting and unusual tile ideas to inspire you.
1. Feature alcove
As I mentioned above, white tiles are a popular choice but can look rather uninspiring on their own. By adding a practical space using feature tiles, you can kill 2 birds with one stone (or tile, in this case!).
If you have an alcove or recess, why not be creative with your space by filling it in with shelving and patterned tiles to highlight this feature? To create a consistent look, use the same tiles on your floor (making sure they’re suitable for both wall and floor use first).
The great thing about this idea is that you can use any colour you want or perhaps highlight a single colour within the alcove and match with towels and accessories for a cohesive look?
Which tiles?
- Pure white flat matt wall tile 100mm x 200mm
- Toledo Eva traditional matt wall and floor tile 200mm x 200mm
2. Geometric mix
Geometric patterns are still incredibly popular in bathroom interiors. Far from being “square”, they can come in handy, especially where you want to merge 2 textures together—in this instance, wood and ceramic—producing a more tonal look.
Mimicking the appearance of traditional parquet flooring, this layout utilises wood effect tiles, which, at a fraction of the cost, is more suitable for use in a bathroom. This certainly isn’t the easiest look to pull off, as it will require a good deal of planning and some careful cutting, so it might be worth hiring a professional for more elaborate designs.
Which tiles?
- Carlton grey wood effect matt wall and floor tile 200mm x 1200mm
- Amadeus grey stone effect matt wall and floor tile 600mm x 600mm
3. Metro sensual
Here’s a neat way to add a full colour theme to just a single wall using Metro tiles. These classic bevelled tiles are incredibly popular, although many people don’t realise that they can be used in a variety of different patterns and layouts.
This herringbone pattern is simple to do, yet very effective. You could potentially use up to 5 different colours, depending on your style, resulting in a feature wall that’s both decorative and functional.
Which tiles?
- Metro sage bevelled gloss wall tile 100mm x 200mm
- Metro silver marble bevelled gloss wall tile 100mm x 200mm
- Metro blush pink bevelled gloss wall tile 100mm x 200mm
- Metro carrara bevelled gloss wall tile 100mm x 200mm Metro carrara bevelled gloss wall tile 100mm x 200mm
4. Time for texture
Perfect for modern, minimalist style bathrooms, use a mix of textured and flat tiles to create this intriguing zebra stripe effect. Whilst we’ve selected more subtle shades, you could easily incorporate bold colours with a variety of designs available. This look could even work in a traditional bathroom setting.
Which tiles?
- Matano light grey textured stone effect matt wall tile 250mm x 600mm
- Matano light grey flat stone effect matt wall tile 250mm x 600mm
5. Light to dark
Ombré (the French word for “shaded”) is the gradual blending of one colour hue to another, going from light to dark, and it’s a trend that is currently big in interiors. In this example, we’ve used large format Maxi Metro tiles to achieve this, for a tonal look that is highly contemporary.
By using this technique, you can also make your bathroom look bigger and feel more spacious—perfect for smaller spaces.
Find out more about using colour in your bathroom to unlock the potential of this all-too functional space.
Which tiles?
- Maxi Metro midnight blue bevelled gloss wall tile 100mm x 300mm
- Maxi Metro aqua bevelled gloss wall tile 100mm x 300mm
- Maxi Metro turquoise bevelled gloss wall tile 100mm x 300mm
- Maxi Metro white bevelled gloss wall tile 100mm x 300mm
Bathroom tile ideas and advice
Click on any of the links below for more great bathroom tile ideas.
- Tiles inspiration gallery
- 6 bathroom tiles ideas that'll capture your imagination
- Bathroom tiling ideas
- 5 things to consider when choosing your bathroom tiles
If you’re looking to “do it yourself”, you’ll discover plenty of expert bathroom tiling advice by clicking on any of the links below.
- How to tile
- How to use a tiling calculator
- How to grout tiles & work out how much grout you need
- How to mix & apply tile adhesive & work out how much you need
- 4 need to know tiling tips
- Frequently asked questions about tiles
Shop tiles
Ready to buy? Browse our full and comprehensive bathroom tile range by clicking on the image below.
The Great British Bathroom
Throughout the year, we’re celebrating The Great British Bathroom with fresh inspiration for the nation, each and every week. Check out all our previous inspirational bathrooms, from small spaces to small budget makeovers, by clicking on the image below.
