Get the Look: Tile Trends

Searching for the latest bathroom tile trends? We’ve got you covered. Find out how to “Get the Look” with our tile-focused bathroom style guide.

When planning a bathroom, where would you normally begin? Probably those big ticket items, like the bath, shower, sink and toilet, right? Only after choosing these fixtures, do we typically move on to decorating the walls and floors. But perhaps we’re looking at things the wrong way round?

In some cases, it’s worth considering the walls and floors first. This is because these surfaces take up a large amount of space and can have a significant impact on the overall look and feel of the bathroom. The colours and materials you choose for your walls and floors will set the tone for the entire space.

In this style guide, I’ll approach things a little differently. I’ll start by selecting the wall and floor coverings first, and then build the rest of the bathroom around these choices. I’ve picked out 5 different wall and floor tile trends and used them in a coordinated and cohesive fashion, so you can “Get the Look” in your own bathroom.

These 5 trends are:

You can jump to a section that interests you most by clicking on any of the links above.

A mood board is a great place to start when planning and styling your bathroom

1. Chequerboard floors

More commonly associated with games of strategy and sports of speed, chequerboard is a timeless design that stretches all the way back to ancient Egypt. In fact, the earliest known example of a chequerboard floor was found in the tomb of Tutankhamun, and it is believed to have been used for games and rituals. Chequerboard floors were also popular in ancient Greece and Rome, and they were often used in temples and other public buildings.

Even though they have been popular throughout history, with the invention of carpets and synthetic flooring during the 20th century, they fell out of fashion somewhat. However, for bathrooms, they are now back in vogue. But why? Well, there are many reasons why chequerboard floors are trending right now:

They offer visual appeal, adding a touch of elegance to any space
They are durable and can withstand heavy foot traffic
They are easy to clean and maintain
You can create them using a variety of materials, finishes and even colours, to match your style
Chequerboard is a timeless design that will always look chic (it’s a trend that doesn’t date)

In my bathroom, I've chosen to go big and bold, with dark and light grey, instead of classic black and white. Large format tiles are also a big trend for bathrooms, which is why I’ve gone with dimensions of 600mm x 600mm. This is just about as large as you’ll want to go in an average-sized space.

To complement the tiles, I've picked out monochrome fixtures with black accents. For example, the freestanding bath comes complete with ornate black feet and a black freestanding tap. Meanwhile, the glass screen that offers a little separation between the toilet and bathing areas, also has a black frame, as does the gorgeous washstand.

I used the following products:

Geometric shapes

One of the more intriguing bathroom tile trends to emerge in recent years has seen a move away from the traditional tile shape. Geometric designs, especially hexagons, are proving incredibly popular in interior design.

Geometric tiles are, in fact, nothing new. Art Deco bathrooms, for example, would rely heavily on geometric shapes for their main stylistic direction.

Geometric bathroom tiles can offer the following benefits:

They can make a small bathroom look bigger, creating the illusion of a larger space.
They can add depth to your bathroom, making it appear more three-dimensional than a bathroom with a solid colour tile pattern.
They add genuine personality to your bathroom, creating a unique and personal look, especially if you start mixing and matching tiles.

One of the really great things about geometric shaped tiles—in this case, hexagonal tiles—is the ability to “zone” different parts of your bathroom. For example, in my own bathroom design, I've clearly defined the walk in shower using wall tiles. To add visual interest, I’ve used different shades of grey and avoided forming a uniform pattern, especially around the border areas. The upper wall colour and tiles collide, bleeding into each other for a more organic, unrestrained appearance.

Meanwhile, the wet room-style walk in shower is framed in matt black, providing a continuous link between the black floor tiles and grey tiles. A matt black concealed shower and matching accessories complete the look.

I used the following products:

When it comes to choosing colours for your bathroom, there’s one shade that is truly "evergreen"! Green tiles remain as popular as ever, which is why I've opted to use striking hexagonal tiles in this colour to add distinct character to the basin area. And this part of the bathroom is worth further scrutiny, as I've chosen a luxurious genuine marble countertop basin.

If you're working to a budget, you'll find a vast array of products available in marble-effect porcelain. This is a more affordable way of achieving this on-trend look and comes with an exceptional range of beneficial characteristics, including durability, resistance to stains and scratches, and suitability for family bathrooms.

I used the following products:

Wood-effect tiles

If you take a look at just some of our fabulous customer bathrooms, you'll see one big trend emerging: bringing the outdoors indoors. With organic elements, materials, textures and colours, all influenced by nature, the "natural look" is much sought after.

Natural wood, when used on bathroom walls and floors, comes with its own set of issues. Unlike engineered wood (for example, MDF), which can be easily shaped and made moisture-resistant, timber simply isn't practical for use in bathrooms, requiring plenty of care and maintenance. This is the reason why wood-effect tiles have become another big bathroom trend in recent times. With manufacturing and printing techniques becoming ever-more sophisticated, wood-effect tiles look incredibly similar to the real thing, whilst being durable, hardwearing and easy to clean.

In my bathroom design, I’ve opted for a light wood effect design, laid in a vertical—rather than a horizontal—pattern. This is a great interior design trick, especially for small bathrooms, giving the illusion of a heightened ceiling.

The wood-effect wall also works well with the other wooden accessories I’ve used around the bathroom, including the towel ladder and stool. To give contrast to the lighter wood, I’ve opted for a vertical radiator in black, which complements the darker metallic accents found throughout my bathroom design.

I used the following products:

Coloured grout

Another marvel of the modern age! With the number of different coloured grouts available these days, your tile designs now come with infinite possibilities. As a backdrop to the delightful low level toilet, I’ve added large format “maxi” metro tiles, again in a vertical, linear pattern. For yet another on-trend look, I've contrasted the sage green colour with a pink grout, which gives off a Danish pastel vibe, which you can find out more about in our article on the latest bathroom trends.

This really does prove that the small things matter when designing your new bathroom. Grout colour, trims and accessories all play an important role in directing the overall look and feel of your bathroom.

And when it comes to your bathroom tiles, you should bear this old saying in mind: “Buy once, buy well”. Your tiles should last you for many years to come, so make sure you invest in quality tiles, adhesives and grouts, rather than skimping on this aspect of your bathroom design.

I used the following products:

Decorative wall panels

OK…you’ve rumbled me. While this style guide is meant to be all about tiles, I’ve gone slightly off-piste and discovered a stylish, on-trend alternative to tiles. Despite the name, shower wall panels needn't be exclusively used with shower enclosures. They offer a quick, easy and cost-effective way to decorate your bathroom walls with a wide choice of designs available.

For my bathroom design, I've gone with a delightful print in sepia, depicting plants and animals from the African savannah, including giraffes, elephants, cheetahs and ostriches. I simply adore this wall covering, as it brings real character to the décor, plus, with no grout lines, the imagery is uninterrupted.

I used the following products:

Get the Look in a small bathroom

Of course, your bathroom is unlikely to be as cavernous as the one I worked on above, but that needn’t mean that you can’t create your own bit of "tile style". You can still work some magic with a few of the trends mentioned above, or even just one, in a smaller bathroom.

Small master bathroom

As you can see, I've managed to incorporate all 5 trends into this more compact space. Immediately, you’re bound to spot the chequerboard floor and the green metro tiles, but the geometric tiles, wood-effect tiles and decorative wall panels are all a little more subtle.

I used the following products:

Downstairs cloakroom

Downstairs cloakrooms can come in all shapes and sizes, but I’ve chosen to furnish a long, narrow space with green metro tiles along the lower portion of the side walls, whilst decorating the toilet end with a wall panel. I’ve also added the chequerboard floor for visual impact.

To help save space, I've added a wall hung toilet, with the cistern neatly concealed behind a false wall.

I used the following products:

Shop bathroom tiles

If you've been inspired by my latest style guide, you'll find all of the tiles featured, plus many, many more, on sale at Victoria Plum. And, at the time of publishing, we're now offering an extra 10% off all tiles! To start shopping, simply click below.

Get the Look

No matter what type of bathroom you’re looking to revive and refresh, at Victoria Plum, we’re here to show you how to “Get the Look”.

From classic styles that have stood the test of time to the latest contemporary trends, browse our wide range of bathroom style guides and discover a look you’ll love. Simply click below to let the adventure begin!