1. Introduce Elegant Expression

Express your care for your guests with a boldly luxurious—and exceptionally durable—marble look tile. Featuring rich veining, the Arabian Niro White matte tile fills this marvelous, Nikki Chu–designed bathroom with a wonderful sense of movement, creating a feeling of expansiveness in the small space. With cool neutral shades that mimic the look of real Carrara marble, this large format tile is easy to clean and maintain, helping you keep your guest space looking spotless.

Find a wealth of designs that combine luxury with durability when you shop marble look tile. 👉

2. Relish in a Rich, Earthy Palette

Timeless and on trend, rich, expressive earth-toned neutrals are filling modern spaces with soothing hues. This stunning space demonstrates how to mix neutrals to create robust visual texture. The Nuovo Riad tile in Bianco and Creme is installed in a checkerboard pattern on the wall and tub apron, while the Terrazzo Bianco Macro tile fills the floor with expressive flecks of brown, black, grey and beige. Though the floor tile is smooth, the design—based on real terrazzo—creates the appearance of texture that complements the gently uneven surface of the handmade-look wall tiles.

MORE TO EXPLORE | Warm and Inviting Earth-Toned Neutral Tile Ideas

3. Choose Coastal Chic

Welcome your guests with the breezy elegance of coastal chic design by choosing seaside-inspired colors and patterns. This charming space demonstrates the versatility of this contemporary style. The Jeffrey Alan Marks Sand Dollar Ash tile (also available in blue Ocean) features a delicate grey sand dollar design on a crisp white background. The cool colors and oceanic motif offer subtle coastal nods, while the woven sconces and white baseboard complete the relaxed aesthetic.

If you love this charming, coastal style, explore our exclusive Jeffrey Alan Marks designer collection.

MORE TO EXPLORE | Tile for Every Style: Coastal Chic

4. Create Seamless Luxury with Porcelain Panels

Exceptionally elegant, durable and easy to maintain, porcelain panels offer the luxurious look of a single stone slab. Featuring exquisite stone details, this oversized tile minimizes the appearance of grout lines for a cohesive design that creates a feeling of expansiveness, even in a small space.

This soothing bathroom exudes spa-like opulence with 32″ x 94″ Masterstone porcelain panels. Using complementary grout, the lines between the panels are almost indistinguishable, creating a seamless look across the walls. We love how the modern brass fixtures elevate the beautiful mix of warm and cool neutral tones, creating contemporary glamour.

Shop porcelain panels — also available in shower and tub surround kits —in four contemporary stone looks: Masterstone White, Calacatta White, Max Rapolano Ivory and Statuario Nuovo.

5. Set a Mood with Cool Blues

From stunning sapphire to soothing sky, blue in all its hues will uplift your guests’ moods by connecting them to the natural world. This stylish, feminine space pairs the gorgeous Kelli Fontana Inlay Proper Dutch tile with Signature Slate Blue bevel subway wall tile. The soft blues complement each other without feeling overly matched, and guests will appreciate how the theme carries through to the blue-veined Laura Park Watercolor Herringbone mosaic tile in the shower niche.

If this is the hue for you, explore our extensive collection of blue tile. 👉

MORE TO EXPLORE | Our Best Blue Bathroom Tile Designs

6. Play With a Checkerboard Design

Timeless, classy and effortlessly chic, checkerboard patterns are making major moves in contemporary design. While classic black-and-white squares will always be en vogue, if you want to level up your game, consider choosing an unexpected take on the look. Here, large format, marble look Livingstone tile in Grigio and Nero is arranged in an oversized checkerboard pattern across the floor and tub surround. We love how this unexpected design makes the space feel expansive and how the stone details give it a wonderful sense of movement.

Create this dynamic look by pairing any two same-sized square tiles or explore our curated checkerboard pairings for an easy design win.

MORE TO EXPLORE | Unique and Unexpected Checkerboard Tile Ideas

7. Add English Elegance

Posh and poised with a spoonful of whimsy, English country cottage design brings the best of Britain to American homes. This charming bathroom features the Morris & Co. St. James Pure Cloud tile. Inspired by William Morris’s historic wallpaper design that once graced the halls of St. James’s Palace, this tile fills the space with ornate beauty in a soft palette.

If this storied design is your cup of tea, explore our exclusive Morris & Co. designer collection.

MORE TO EXPLORE | Tile for Every Style: English Country Cottage

8. Keep It Simply Stylish

Like a well-tailored tux, a black-and-white color scheme is the epitome of sleek sophistication. Here, the Vintage White patterned floor tile adds design within a minimal palette. Layer in textures, patterns and materials—the handmade-look Mallorca White subway tile, uniquely shaped Arabesque Black tile in the shower niche and the Hampton Carrara curb along the tub edge—and you have a space rich in detail and visual texture.

Explore our wide selection of black-and-white tile for more effortlessly sophisticated designs. 👉

MORE TO EXPLORE | Fabulous Black & White Shower Tile Ideas

9. Add Niche Appeal

Form meets function in this stunning shower niche showcasing the Laura Park Cosmo Aegean Blue patterned tile. Featuring an abstract, hand-painted look motif inspired by her original watercolors and popular textile designs, this lovely tile is a cornerstone of our exclusive Laura Park designer collection. The vivid blues in the pattern pair perfectly with the Laura Park Seaside Marble porcelain tile surrounding the shower, creating seamless sophistication and convenient storage that keeps your guests’ toiletries from cluttering the tub ledge or floor.

MORE TO EXPLORE | Introducing The Tile Shop X Laura Park

10. Show Your Taste with Handcrafted Design

Every piece of Zellige tile is formed, painted and glazed by hand according to ancient Moroccan techniques. The result is an exquisitely unique tile that exudes character through perfectly imperfect variations in color, size and surface texture.

Display your good taste and love of authentic design by incorporating this handcrafted tile into your guest bathroom. Available in a range of traditional colors and styles, our Zellige tile collection offers a wealth of design opportunities, like this beautiful basketweave pattern created with Zellige Light Grey gloss petite subway tile. The crisscross pattern gives the space a soothing sense of movement and highlights the individual character of each piece.

MORE TO EXPLORE | Unique Zellige Bathroom Tile Ideas

11. Offer Your Guests a Seat

Not only does a seat add comfort to your shower, but it is also essential for people with mobility issues. A corner tile shower seat is an easy way to make your bathroom more accessible for guests. This Brooke Pavel–designed space features the San Dona honed marble shower seat. Matching the Picket Florencia Super Bianco wall tile, the seat is fully integrated into the shower, providing a place to rest without disrupting the design.

Explore corner shower seats to incorporate this essential design into your shower. 👉

MORE TO EXPLORE | Ideas to Equip Your Bathroom for Aging in Place

12. Achieve Affordable Luxury

Don’t let your budget cramp your style. The Tile Shop offers excellence at every price point. Case in point: this opulent shower featuring the Macula matte marble look tile. With expressive grey veining on a crisp white background, this large format tile creates a stylish, luxurious space—and at under $7 per sq. ft., you can give your guests the best without breaking the bank.

Find beautiful looks for every space, style and budget in our curated collection of tile under $7.

13. Add Abstract Expression

Show your guests your artistic side with the wonderfully abstract Jeffrey Alan Marks Big Sur Sea Spray patterned tile (also available in blue Off the Hook). Featuring a glossy green design over a cream-colored matte base, reminiscent of glazed pottery, this magnificent tile includes six distinct, multidirectional faces that inspire creativity. We love how it pairs with the Look Avio handmade-look subway tile in this fashionable shower for cool, contemporary coastal appeal.

14. Celebrate Midcentury Excellence

With sleek silhouettes and stylish palettes, our Fired Earth Stoneware collection is retro reimagined. Featuring chic subway tile in three earth-toned colorways with speckled details that mimic the look of 1960s pottery, this collection celebrates the best of midcentury modern design. Here, Fired Earth Stoneware Linen Brick tile infuses this bathroom backsplash with a warm beige hue punctuated with crisp white grout lines. Paired with contemporary fixtures, the space updates the classic look to create enduring design.

Shop Fired Earth Stoneware in all three colorways: Powder White, Rainwashed, and Linen Brick

MORE TO EXPLORE | Tile for Every Style: Midcentury Modern

15. Put a Twist on a Classic Design

A modern take on subway tile, picket tile features a similarly stackable silhouette with a distinctly pointed shape. Here, the Lanse Matte Black Picket tile is turned 45 degrees for a dynamic layout, with the pointed ends forming horizontal and vertical lines that offset the long diagonal body. Note how the tile is installed with matching black grout for soft, subtle lines that make this contemporary space feel just slightly off-kilter.

For more on-point styles, shop our wide selection of picket tile. 👉

MORE TO EXPLORE | Tips to Nail Your Grout Color and Design

16. Bring in Nature

Give your guests the gift of nature to brighten their morning and evening routines. Motifs and colors–like blue and green–that evoke the outdoors can boost serotonin and elevate moods. A floral- or leaf-patterned tile infuses your space with natural grace, as seen in this charming bathroom featuring the Morris & Co. Hawkdale Willow Olive tile (also available in China Blue).

MORE TO EXPLORE | Tile for Every Style: Biophilic Design

17. Keep It Neat

Neatly stacked rows of KitKat White tile create soothing lines in this gorgeous Japandi bathroom. The pleasing symmetry and subtle tonal shift between the white mosaic tile and beige grout lines evoke a meditative Zen feeling, offering your guests a wonderful respite during their stay.

MORE TO EXPLORE | Tile for Every Style: Japandi

18. Add Fresh Color

This bathroom, showcasing the gorgeously green Signature Mint glossy tile, will make your guests feel fresh and clean. Featuring 3″ x 6″ subway tile accented with London and pencil trim at mid-height and matching skirting along the floor, the design exemplifies how well-placed trim elevates a space. We love how the light green pairs with the Octagon Matte White with Black mosaic floor tile for a classic look that defies trends.

Find elevated basics designed to mix and match in our exclusive Signature collection tile. 👉

MORE TO EXPLORE | How to Elevate Your Space With Trim

19. Make Waves

By definition, tile is a hard material, but you can introduce softness to your design by choosing a style with rounded edges. The uniquely curved Wave Grey Owl tile evokes the gentle movement of the sea. Installed in an offset pattern along this contemporary sink backsplash, the soft gray tile feels at once dynamic and soothing.

Shop Wave tile in this and three more on-trend colorways: Blue Reef, Old Cream and White.

20. Mix Up Your Mosaics

Consisting of small individual tiles mounted on easy-to-install mesh sheets, mosaic tile adds visual interest to your space and, as a bonus, creates a sense of expansiveness. If you like to get creative with your design, cut sheets of two mosaic colorways to form a custom pattern, like this checkerboard created using Zellige mosaic tile in Shamrock and Light Grey. The blocks of 2″ x 2″ tiles, with their undulating color tones, add dynamic visual texture to the classic design.

For more small designs that deliver a big punch, explore our extensive selection of mosaic tile. 👉

21. Bring in High Fashion Design

Inspired by luxury-brand textiles, the Kelli Fontana Chain Reaction Black on Black tile (also available in Pearl Beige) features a polished marble chain mosaic set against a matte marble background. The interlocking chain design reflects the light, creating a sense of depth in this elegantly moody guest bathroom, designed by Kelli Fontana of West Bay Homes. We love how the mosaic motif feels alive with movement—the perfect complement to the expressively veined marble counter and sink backsplash.

If you love this classic, bold and whimsical aesthetic, shop our exclusive Kelli Fontana designer collection.

MORE TO EXPLORE | Step Inside: The Eden Project by West Bay Homes

22. Fashion a Fabulous Space

Globally inspired and effortlessly fashionable, the Nikki Chu designer collection features abstract motifs and contemporary styles in a range of trending neutrals. Here, the Nikki Chu Zulu Graphite tile (also available in Pumice [beige] and Cement [gray]) is installed in an alternating vertical and horizontal pattern, creating a unique checkerboard effect. Paired with the complementary stone-look Nikki Chu Fusi Carbon Steel tile, this space exudes sophisticated glamour.

Explore our exclusive Nikki Chu collection for more fashion-forward looks from the celebrity designer.

23. Make It Marvelous with a Marble Mosaic

A marvelous addition to any bathroom, marble mosaics offer a dynamic sense of movement and rich organic detail. This striking sink backsplash features the Alison Victoria Malibu Edit Pescador tile. Beautifully veined Volakas marble and a pleasing, rounded shape create a sense of flow across the wall, resulting in a space alive with movement and visual texture. We love how the gray- and beige-veined white marble contrasts with the dark wood vanity for a fashionable, contemporary look.

Shop this exquisite tile in all three colorways: Matador (green), Pointe Dume (blue) and Pescador.

MORE TO EXPLORE | Bathroom Tile Ideas to Pair with Wood Vanities

24. Mix Things Up

Mixing finishes is an excellent way to add visual interest to your tile design. A glossy finish adds shine to your space, and when paired with a matching matte tile, it creates a subtle contrast that becomes visible as light passes through. With a double band of vertically stacked Coco Canvas Glossy tile set against a wall of horizontally stacked Coco Canvas Matte tile, this striking bathroom uses finish and layout to create a subtly elegant design.

MORE TO EXPLORE | Classic Subway Tile Layouts

25. Make It Enviously Gorgeous

Your guests will be green with envy when they set eyes on the stunning Alison Victoria Gem marble tile. Featuring rich emerald stone accented with beige veining, this exquisite scalloped mosaic is perfect for a sink backsplash or shower.

Here, the real marble is paired with the marble look Marradi Calacatta Emerald tile. With a crisp white background and bold green and gold veining, the large format tile showcases all the colors of the wall tile—including the white grout lines—in a new format.

If you love this bold, elegant look, explore our exclusive Alison Victoria collection for more of the HGTV star’s signature city chic designs.

26. Blend Contemporary and Traditional Design

When contemporary chic and traditional elegance come together in one space, the result is era-defying transitional design. Here, traditional Hampton Hermosa Octagon marble mosaic tile lines the floor, while the wood vanity features contemporary circular gold knobs and contrasting silver faucets. The mirrors and sconces are also transitional; their silhouettes are sleek and contemporary yet reminiscent of early 1900s style. We love how @styleitprettyhome blends the old and the new to create a distinct space, and we know their guests will love it too!

MORE TO EXPLORE | Tile for Every Style: Transitional Design

27. Pick a Pretty Penny

Small but mighty, penny round tile is incredibly versatile, lending itself to custom designs—like this unique pattern by Timber Trails. Penny Round Gloss in White and Cloudy dots the floor with a graceful border and cross design. With its many grout lines, penny tile is also practical, as it creates traction on your bathroom or shower floor to help prevent slipping.

Explore penny round tile in a wide range of colors and finishes to create your own design. 👉

MORE TO EXPLORE | Penny Bathroom Tile: Pros and Cons

28. Add Perfect Imperfections

Featuring purposeful variations in surface texture and color, handmade-look tile offers a perfectly imperfect design element. This sophisticated space, designed by Renovation Husbands, showcases the Tribeca Gypsum White subway tile. The undulating tones and subtle shifts in surface texture are highlighted by light reflecting off the glossy tile.

Explore our wide selection of handmade-look tile for more perfectly imperfect styles. 👉

MORE TO EXPLORE | Ultra Stylish Neutral Shower Tile Ideas

29. Create Colorful Accents

A pop of color creates a vibrant tableau in this Zig & Co.–designed guest bathroom. The bright yellow vanity takes center stage, while the Cloth Black and White floor tile provides a neutral base and contributes a charming pattern. By choosing a black-and-white tile, the designer has created an easy-to-update space—simply add a new coat of paint and swap accessories to change the color scheme and refresh the design.

30. Display Your Taste

Add a decorative flourish to your guest shower by “framing” a favorite patterned or mosaic tile with trim. This is a great way to show off a lovely motif that might feel too overwhelming across the entire space. A tile picture frame can complement or contrast with the surrounding tile, depending on your taste.

This stunning shower highlights the Laura Park Martini Olives Taupe tile framed with a single band of Africa Tempesta Barnes trim. Set against a unique layout of Laura Park Bespoke White tile in 5″ and 2.56″ x 5″, this expressive tableau is sure to please any guest.

Discover your favorite motif in our wide selection of patterned tile. 👉

Let’s Create a Space Your Guests Will Love!

Ready to refresh your guest bathroom? Explore even more ideas in our favorite Bold and Beautiful Bathroom Tile Ideas, or shop our vast assortment of bathroom tile. Use our Tile Visualizer to see how it will look in your space, and schedule a free design consultation to start bringing your dream bathroom to life.

The post 30 Gorgeous Guest Bathroom Tile Ideas appeared first on The Tile Shop Blog.

This exquisite bathroom from our Plymouth showroom was designed by Kirsty Froelich, Tile Shop Director of Design. A masterclass in layering trim and color, this space infuses timeless architecture with a soothing coastal palette. From the picture-frame shower accent to the molded trim and skirting, every surface is shaped by thoughtful tile details.

Read on for a closer look at the design choices that brought this beautiful bathroom together and for expert tips to help you confidently approach your own tile projects.

Traditional Elegance With Contemporary Appeal

What do we mean when we call a space “timeless”? It combines traditional and contemporary elements, also known as transitional design. This universally appealing style blurs the line between past and present by celebrating the best of both.

Here, you can see how these seemingly disparate styles effortlessly complement each other. Traditional elements in this space include the wainscot-height tile, topped with trim to resemble chair rail molding, and the elegantly carved legs of the wooden vanity. While subway tile may feel contemporary, it actually rose to popularity in the early 1900s—Victorians loved it for how it symbolized cleanliness and modernity.

Decidedly contemporary elements include the sleek lines and a mix of cool and warm neutrals—note the wooden vanity, Shapes Elongated Hex Off White Two Tone mosaic accents, and the beige detail in the patterned floor tile. The black shower fixtures, minimalist light fixture and mirror further enhance the contemporary feel of the space, while the color palette evokes the sea and sand of coastal chic design.

This space proves that you don’t need to strictly adhere to a single style. By blending designs, you can create a look that defies trends and is uniquely your own.

DISCOVER YOUR STYLE

Tile for Every Style: Transitional Design

Tile for Every Style: Coastal Chic

Cool & Calming Coastal Chic Bathroom Tile Ideas

A Signature Design

Featuring a suite of pieces from the Tile Shop–exclusive Signature collection, this space exemplifies how to mix these elevated basics to create a design that delivers color, depth and dimension.

Signature Denim gloss subway tile serves as the base of the layout, with layered molding details in coordinating trim. Denim London trim finishes the top of the shower divider, with a band of Denim pencil trim below that is carried across the tiled half wall, creating a traditional chair-rail design. Along the floor, a layer of Denim skirting trim finishes the edge with a subtle decorative flourish.

Designed to coordinate, the Signature collection features a range of subway field tile and matching trim in 16 versatile colors, available in both glossy and matte finishes.

MORE TO EXPLORE | Introducing the Signature Collection

DESIGN WITH CONFIDENCE

Tile Patterns & Layouts

Tips to Nail Your Grout Color & Design

How to Choose Bathroom Floor Tile

Classic Subway Tile Layouts

Picture Perfect

A tile “picture frame” detail serves as the focal point of the shower area, creating visual interest by punctuating the design and introducing new colors and shapes to the installation. The Shapes Hex Elongated Off White Two Tone mosaic tile adds a wonderful sense of movement, with vertical and diagonal lines that contrast with the long horizontal lines of the subway tile, installed in a brick-lay pattern.

A successful tile focal point is proportional to the space. Here, the shower fixtures are positioned along the center line of the framed area, while the upper and lower borders allow for a comfortable amount of space around the fixtures, trim edges, and surrounding wall, ceiling and floor.

Off-white grout lines throughout the space provide an element of visual continuity between the mosaic detail and surrounding walls, while subtly accentuating the precise alignment of the frame’s top and bottom borders with the adjacent rows of subway tile.

“You need a trim piece to finish off transitions (where two different finishes come together), so I like to layer in pieces that will work with the overall design.

“If you want your transition to stand out, select a different material or color from your main tile. For a seamless transition, choose a trim piece that matches your main tile.”

–Kirsty Froelich, Director of Design

Layered in Detail

The decorative Shapes Elongated Hex Off White Two Tone mosaic tile is framed by three layers of trim. The Signature Denim London and pencil trim pieces are bisected by a line of Signature Gris square pencil trim. Building dimension around the decorative mosaic, these distinct profiles transform the space with crafted architectural detail.

MORE TO EXPLORE | How to Elevate Your Space with Trim

Parisian Pattern

Featuring an ornate motif reminiscent of French scrollwork, the Alison Victoria French Connection Le Marais tile (also available in Saint Germain [dark green] and Montmartre [blue]) introduces subtle pattern to the space. A faded beige brick design draws the eye across the room, making the floor appear wider. Notice how the tile is installed on a diagonal, perpendicular to the tiled shower seat. This placement helps visually open the space, as the design expands outward from the shortest wall.

Bold geometry, delicate florals and HGTV Star Alison Victoria’s signature city-chic motifs—you’ll find a design to suit your space in our extensive selection of patterned tile. 👉

Pro Tip: A built-in shower seat and curbless entry make this space easier to navigate for people with mobility issues—essential elements of universal design.

MORE TO EXPLORE | Ideas to Equip Your Bathroom for Aging In Place

Form Meets Function

The best design elements are both decorative and functional. By providing a stylish space to store toiletries, a niche is an excellent addition to any shower. Here, the niche features the Shapes Elongated Hex Off White Two Tone mosaic tile, echoing the decorative picture frame. A band of Signature Denim gloss pencil trim outlines the niche, easing the transition between the recessed shelf and the surrounding tile.

Discover Endless Inspiration

Experience our inspiring vignettes firsthand when you visit your local Tile Shop showroom. There, you’ll find the materials, tools and expert advice to take your project from concept to completion. Can’t make it to a store? Schedule a free virtual design consultation (in-person consultations are also available), or use our tile visualizer to help envision tile in your space.

MORE TO EXPLORE | Bold & Beautiful Bathroom Tile Ideas

We 💖 Your Spaces

We want to see your design expertise! Share your next project by tagging us @thetileshop on Instagram or uploading it directly to our Customer Room Gallery (you can find even more inspo there, too)!

The post Project Spotlight: A Timeless Bathroom With Coastal Flair appeared first on The Tile Shop Blog.

Always in fashion and endlessly versatile, black and white tile transcends trends, creating spaces that feel both timeless and of-the-moment at the same time. From classic marble checkerboards to sleek modern mosaics, within this single color combination lies a surprising range of moods: dramatic or serene, vintage or contemporary, minimal or ornate.

And because both hues are true neutrals, they make the perfect foundation for evolving your space over time. Change up your look seasonally with new textiles or decor without ever losing that effortlessly polished backdrop.

Whether your taste leans traditional, modern, or eclectic, these 12 black and white shower tile ideas prove that this iconic color scheme is anything but basic.

1. Pair Black Floor Tile With White Walls

The contrast between crisp white wall tile and black floor tile adds depth and dimension to a space. In this bathroom, Jaime Nelson pairs Bianco Puro subway tile with Hex Matte Black mosaic tile on the floor. The white marble-look tile features delicate grey veining for subtle visual texture, while the mosaic floor tile offers added traction in the shower. We love how the large Black Hex floor tile complements the shower floor tile while still creating a visual distinction between the bathroom and the shower area.

2. Show Off Your Fashionable Taste

Eclectic and worldly, our exclusive Nikki Chu collection tiles are designed to complement each other for unique, fashion-forward spaces. This stylish shower features the Nikki Chu Fusi Carbon Steel and Zulu Graphite tiles. With its graphic, hand-drawn pattern, the Zulu Graphite tile creates a bold statement wall while maintaining the neutral color scheme, and the complementary dark-grey Fusi Carbon Steel tile adds chic cement-look detail.

3. Make It Marvelous With a Black and White Marble Mosaic

Rich and expressive, natural stone embodies luxury like nothing else—and because no two pieces are ever the same, your space is guaranteed to be one of a kind. Featuring subtle grey and beige veining, white Hampton Carrara marble is paired with black stone in the Geo with Noir mosaic wall tile. Raised, overlapping squares add both visual and tactile texture, creating a layered, sensory experience in this shower.

The Geo with Noir mosaic tile is no longer available; find similarly intricate looks in our wide selection of mosaic tile.

4. Go Geometric

Bold and graphic or whimsical and floral, a black-and-white patterned tile adds visual interest to your space while maintaining a classic color scheme. This contemporary shower, designed by @tilerhub, features the geometric Ragno Blanco hex tile. Deceptively simple, this pattern can be installed in a variety of layouts—we love how this starburst design creates a dynamic sense of movement.

5. Pair a Pattern With Solid Subway Tile

The constraint of a black-and-white color scheme invites creativity in mixing styles. In this charming shower, sleek handmade-look subway tile is complemented by the Jeffrey Alan Marks Summerland Toro hex floor tile. Subtle tonal and surface variations in the Tribeca Basalt and Gypsum White tiles pair beautifully with the patterned tile’s faded embroidery motif, creating an intentional, visually rich design.

6. Add a Pastoral Scene

Style meets function in this elegant shower, designed by Haneen Matt of Haneen’s Haven. The Saltus tile, featured in the double niches below, depicts a bucolic forest scene framed within the recessed squares. While the black-and-white patterned tile might be too bold for the entire space, it serves as the perfect accent for these decorative yet practical shelves.

The Saltus tile is no longer available; find a wealth of patterns in our wide selection of black-and-white tile.

7. Make a Hex-Cellent Pattern

A retro shape making a comeback, the six-sided hexagon is endlessly versatile. In this dynamic shower, Black Hex and White Hex tiles are paired to create a custom honeycomb design, while the Hex Matte White with Black Flower floor tile offers a complementary yet distinct touch.

Shop our extensive selection of hexagon tile to discover more mix-and-match possibilities.

8. Create Timeless Design

Our exclusive Signature tile collection features versatile basics that create spaces that are anything but ordinary. In this stately walk-in shower, the Signature Bianco Gloss Subway tile is accented with elegant lines of glossy black trim.

Explore the possibilities with the full range of mix-and-match elevated basics in our Signature collection.

9. Pair With Wood-Look Tones

Incorporating a third element into your black-and-white tile design adds visual depth and complexity. Here, the Mauvila Amber wood-look tile—with its natural woodgrain details—contrasts beautifully with the concentric diamond pattern of the Trois Bandes patterned tile stripe. If you love this mix of organic and geometric design, explore our wide selection of wood-look and patterned tile.

10. Don’t Forget About Grout

You don’t necessarily need black and white tile to create a bold color scheme. You can also achieve the look by choosing contrasting grout, whether you pair white tile with black grout or black tile with white grout. This gorgeous shower, designed by @kristenjoyhome, features white subway tile installed with black grout to highlight the brick-lay pattern. The dark grout not only adds drama to the white tile design but also helps hide the appearance of dirt.

Don’t let this essential detail be an afterthought. Unlock all the design potential of this functional detail with our top tips to nail your grout design.

11. Make a Point With Picket Tile

Resembling fence rungs, picket tile is a modern twist on traditional stacked subway tile. There are many design possibilities when pairing black and white versions of this tile, but this color-blocking approach—using Lanse Matte Black and White tiles—demonstrates how dynamic the shape can be, even when installed with complementary grout for a more muted effect.

Explore our wide selection of picket tile for more on-point designs. 👉

12. Add Drama With Marble-Look Tile

Featuring expressive veining, the Alvardo Matte and Livingstone Nero marble-look tiles bring drama to this sleek industrial-style shower. The white-on-black and black-on-white tiles pair beautifully, with complementary thin and lush veining that creates rich visual texture. Though they mimic the appearance of natural marble, these porcelain tiles offer easy maintenance and superior durability.

Shop our wide selection of marble-look tile for more designs that marry natural elegance with easy care.

Updating your space is easier than you think! Shop our vast selection of shower tile, or explore our Stunning Shower Tile Design Ideas for more trending looks. Need help getting started? Schedule a free design consultation and let us help you create your dream space.

The post 12 Fabulous Black & White Shower Tile Ideas appeared first on The Tile Shop Blog.

MORE TO EXPLORE | Tile for Every Style: Modern Farmhouse

1. Reduce Noise With Luxury Vinyl Flooring

Affordable luxury vinyl flooring offers the timeless look of wood or stone with exceptional durability, making it a perfect choice for your barndominium. With wear layers up to 28 mil., luxury vinyl planks help absorb noise while providing comfort underfoot. Easy to install and maintain, this versatile flooring comes in a wide range of realistic wood and stone designs to match your style. Plus, because it’s a 100% waterproof material, it’s ideal for bathrooms and entryways. (Thinking about a DIY project? Read our complete guide on How to Install Vinyl Flooring to learn more.)

2. Choose Laminate Flooring for Easy Installation

Like luxury vinyl, laminate is a durable, easy-to-install, and low-maintenance flooring option that replicates the look of real wood. The key difference between the two is water resistance: laminate is not a waterproof material, so we recommend avoiding it in spaces like bathrooms, laundry rooms, outdoor spaces, or anywhere else where floors will experience exposure to high amounts of moisture. Available in a variety of wood-look designs—including herringbone patterns—laminate flooring offers both beauty and affordability.

MORE TO EXPLORE | Laminate Flooring Buying Guide

3. Showcase Your Personality With Patterned Tile

If wood isn’t your style—or if you want to distinguish a specific area of your barndo—patterned tile offers a stylish solution. From floral to geometric, these designs let you showcase your personality and unique aesthetic. In this charming barndo mudroom designed by @plmdesignsllc, Laura Ashley Mr Jones Charcoal tile adds character with its whimsical floral pattern, inspired by the iconic British brand’s textiles. Explore our wide selection of patterned tile to find the perfect look for your space.

4. Add Distinction With Natural Stone

While synthetic materials deliver style, durability and affordability, natural stone brings a one-of-a-kind character to your space—perfect for adding distinction to a prefab barndominium. In this @saramoltumyr-designed space, the natural beauty of Andoni Black slate tile creates a striking focal point. Like man-made tile, stone is a hard material, so it won’t absorb noise as effectively as vinyl or engineered hardwood. However, when used in an entryway, it sets a sophisticated, welcoming tone.

5. Protect Your Floors With Wood-Look Tile

Waterproof and scratch-resistant, wood-look porcelain or ceramic tile delivers both style and durability. Ideal for moisture-prone areas like bathrooms or entryways, it’s even suitable for showers and wet rooms—allowing you to bring the warmth of wood into spaces where real wood isn’t practical. However, because tile is a hard material, it won’t absorb noise as effectively as luxury vinyl or hardwood, making it a better choice for secondary rooms rather than main living spaces.

6. Extend the Floor With Versatile Cement-Look Tile

Cement is a popular flooring choice for barndominiums, but if you’d prefer to avoid the upkeep of regular sealing, cement-look tile (like the Softcement Graphite tile shown here) provides a stylish, durable and low-maintenance alternative. It’s also more versatile than cement, giving you the option to extend the look onto walls—or even a half-wall, as seen in this chic industrial-style bathroom designed by West Bay Homes.

7. Add Natural Beauty With Engineered Hardwood

Sustainable, durable and easy to install and maintain, engineered hardwood delivers natural beauty in a modern format. Consisting of a real wood veneer and a composite eucalyptus core (up to 15 mm thick), it also helps absorb sound, reducing echo in your open-plan barndominium. This makes it an excellent flooring solution for your great room, especially if you want to bring a natural element into your home.

MORE TO EXPLORE | Engineered Hardwood vs. Solid Hardwood: How They’re Different

8. Keep Comfortable With In-Floor Heat

Luxury vinyl, laminate, tile, stone and engineered hardwood all share one key advantage: compatibility with in-floor heat. A barndominium’s large, open footprint can make heating more challenging, but heated floors provide added warmth and comfort from the ground up—keeping your space cozy even during the coldest months.

Finding the perfect flooring for your barndominium is easier than you think! Shop our wide assortment of engineered wood, luxury vinyl and tile for every budget and style. Need more assistance? Visit your local Tile Shop showroom, where you’ll find the flooring, tools and expert advice you need to get started.

The post 8 Barndominium Flooring Ideas that Combine Comfort & Style appeared first on The Tile Shop Blog.

1. Choose a Cool Blue

Stunning greyish blue tile surrounds this tub, creating a chic design with Timber Trails. The Signature Slate Blue gloss subway tile, installed in a brick-lay pattern, is accentuated with white grout. The result is a clean, composed space that keeps its cool, even in a warm bath.

From bright sky to deep navy, you’ll find a shade to suit your style in our wide selection of blue tile.

MORE TO EXPLORE | Our Best Blue Bathroom Tile Design Ideas

2. Match Your Modern Farmhouse Decor

Fashionably homey, modern farmhouse design celebrates elevated simplicity and a connection to rural roots. This bathroom, designed by I SPY DIY, embodies those ideals with a sleek surround featuring the Metro Bianco Gloss subway tile. The right-angled herringbone pattern adds dynamic movement to the space, enhanced by contrasting black grout. Blush-painted walls and a gossamer shower curtain infuse the space with a romantic sensibility, but the versatile tile design makes it easy to update by swapping out accessories.

MORE TO EXPLORE | Charming Modern Farmhouse Bathroom Tile Ideas

3. Surround Yourself With Luxury

Ultra-luxe slab design is often created using a single block of stone, which can be both expensive and difficult to install. Achieve this high-end aesthetic on a more modest budget with our new selection of porcelain panel tub kits. Each kit includes two 30″ x 64″ panels and two 32″ x 64″ panels that mimic the size and appearance of large pieces of real marble at a more accessible price point. The Calacatta White tub kit, shown here, replicates luxurious white marble with bold, realistic veining—delivering refined Mediterranean style for under $1,000 per kit.

4. Don’t Forget the Details

A bathtub surround offers a wide canvas–make the most of it with beautiful and intentional details, like the marble corner shelves and tiled picture frame featured in this elegant bathroom designed by LoPiccolo Contracting. The focal point is created by “framing” the Hampton Niles marble mosaic tile with a single layer of Hampton Carrara Somerset. This exquisite design detail highlights a favorite patterned or mosaic tile that might be overwhelming if used throughout the entire space. The Hampton Carrara corner shelves* provide stylish storage, eliminating the need for a bulky shower caddy.

*This tile is no longer available; achieve a similar look with Calacatta Evora corner shelf.

MORE TO EXPLORE | Stunning White Bathroom Tile Designs

5. Soak in Sophistication with Warm Neutral Tile

Here is another example of our new porcelain tile tub kits, available in four distinct marble looks: Calacatta White, Mastersone White, Statuario Nuovo and Max Rapolano (shown here). The creamy ivory tones infuse the space with warmth and contemporary style. The coordinating 12″ x 24″ Max Rapolano Ivory floor tile completes the look, creating a sense of quiet luxury and filling the space with rich serenity.

MORE TO EXPLORE | Tile for Every Style: Quiet Luxury

6. Get it Straight (Stack)

Everything is stacked in this sleek bathroom’s favor. The Villa White Gloss tile is installed in a vertical straight stack, adding height to the walls and offering a chic, contemporary look. Slightly contrasting grey grout highlights the clean lines of this simple layout and provides a visual throughline to the Bronx tile in Acero and Gris arranged in a checkerboard pattern on the bathroom floor.

MORE TO EXPLORE | Timeless Subway Tile Bathroom Design Ideas

7. Tile the Tub Apron

Extending your tub surround to the tub apron creates a unified space that displays your style–even when the shower curtain is drawn. This lovely space, designed by Steph Cotherman Creative, features the Argile White Matte wall tile. The perfectly imperfect details of the handmade-look tile lend visual texture through purposeful variations in color and edge from piece to piece. The result is an understated grandeur that both soothes and invigorates the senses.

Shop our wide selection of handmade-look tile to achieve this artisanal aesthetic. 👉

8. Showcase Your Style With Patterned Tile

An expressive patterned tile infuses your space with personality in the form of durable and waterproof porcelain or ceramic. Here, the Nikki Chu Zulu Pumice tile (inspired by the celebrity designer’s popular wallpaper) brings bold, graphic design to this fashion-forward bathroom. Paired with the Nikki Chu Luxor Pumice subway tile on the far wall, the soft beige background and bold hand-drawn-look pattern add decoration while maintaining a neutral space.

If you love this eclectic, global style, shop our exclusive Nikki Chu designer collection. 👉

MORE TO EXPLORE | Ultra-Stylish Neutral Shower Tile Ideas

9. Create a Relaxing Atmosphere with Dark Tile

Cool and modern, dark grey or black tile exudes sleek sophistication–as evident in this sharply styled bathroom designed by Timber Trails. The Imperial Pewter Frame Gloss subway tile features a slightly reflective, glossy finish that catches the light and highlights its chic raised “frame” edge. The black tub surround contrasts beautifully with the white walls and white-with-black-polka-dot hex tile floor. This simple color scheme allows for styling versatility–a few well-placed colorful accessories would really stand out in this space.

MORE TO EXPLORE | Brilliant Black Shower Tile Ideas

10. Extend the Tile to the Ceiling

If your shower space is on the short side, you can create the illusion of height by extending your tub surround tile to the ceiling. This elegant shower, designed by Yellow Brick Home, takes the Firenze Carrara tile up the angled ceiling to draw the eye upward and create a continuous space within the tub and shower area. We love how the marble tile is also used as wainscoting in the main bathroom area.

Updating your space is easier than you think!

Shop our wide assortment of bathroom tile to find your perfect style, and explore our extended list of bathroom tile ideas for more inspiration. Need more assistance? Visit your local Tile Shop showroom, where you’ll find the tile, tools and expert advice you need to get started.

The post 10 Chic & Unique Tub Surround Tile Ideas appeared first on The Tile Shop Blog.

If you’re starting a new reno project, you know there are countless decisions to make when designing your space. With literally thousands of tiles to choose from, it can be challenging to pick one, let alone the multiple tiles that might be required for a whole-room redo. Should your wall and floor coordinate or contrast? Should you feature all the same materials or mix things up? While your design will ultimately be determined by your personal taste, we have six tried-and-true tile combos that always deliver beautiful results.

1. Contrasting Colors

Dark and light or neutral and bright, contrasting colors add drama and dimension to a space. Drastic color contrasts allow each tile to stand out in relation to the other, resulting in a space that both stimulates and soothes the senses. Here are a few of our favorite spaces that use contrasting colors to stunning effect.

Black and White With Charm All Over

This modern colonial bathroom, designed by Chris Loves Julia, demonstrates just how elevated a simple black-and-white color scheme can be. The floor features a custom design using Hex Matte Black and Hampton Carrara Tumbled Hex tiles. The uniform shapes of similarly sized hexagon and penny round tiles allow for creative designs and borders, which are even more striking when using contrasting colors. The dark floor is juxtaposed with the subtly grey-veined white marble wall tile, and the addition of the slim black pencil trim provides a visual throughline that ties the design together.

Bold and Neutral

A bright, bold color will make your wall or floor pop, and that color becomes even more vibrant when contrasted with a neutral element. This kitchen features the Zellige Turquoise Gloss subway tile paired with the Arbour Lowlands Summer Oak luxury vinyl plank. The beige wood-look tones of the floor complement the brilliant jewel tones of the wall tile, and the mix of warm and cool colors gives the space a contemporary feel. For more durable, easy-to-install flooring options, shop our newly expanded wood and vinyl offerings.

MORE TO EXPLORE | How to Install Vinyl Plank Flooring

Color Blocking

Add interest to your tile design by color-blocking two contrasting colors. This chic shower features one black wall and one white wall, creating the illusion of depth, which helps the small space appear larger. The black-and-white patterned Jeffery Alan Marks Summerland Toro floor tile keeps the space feeling cohesive.

MORE TO EXPLORE | Fabulous Black & White Shower Tile Ideas

2. Monochromatic Mix

Contrast naturally adds depth to your design, but if you prefer the clean look of a monochromatic space, you can create interest by incorporating different finishes, sizes, shapes and materials. Here are three tile designs that prove a limited color palette can still be lively.

White on White

Crisp and clean, white is an invigorating shade that works in virtually any space. This beautiful bathroom, designed by @lifewithmadisonm, showcases white tile in two distinct styles. The shower walls feature the Regent Bianco handmade-look subway tile, while the floor is adorned with Calacata Brilliante marble-look tile (this tile is no longer available; achieve a similar look with Calacutta Bianco tile). The slight variations inherent to handmade and handmade-look tiles add subtle visual texture, while the striking grey veining on the marble-look tile lends depth to the space.

If you love the look of an all-white room, shop our wide selection of white tile. 👉

MORE TO EXPLORE | Stunning White Bathroom Tile Designs

Color Drenched

Embrace a bold hue to create a vivid tableau. A gorgeous green, beautiful blue or radiant red adds personality to your space. This lush shower pairs the Alison Victoria Gem marble mosaic tile with the Marradi Calacata Emerald marble-look tile. Though both tiles feature expressive veining, they are distinct in shape and tone, creating visual interest while maintaining color harmony.

MORE TO EXPLORE | Creative Color Drenching Tile Ideas

Neutral Territory

A neutral color palette is the perfect recipe for tranquility. If you like an all-over creamy look, like this serene beige-on-beige shower, use texture and shape to keep your calming neutrals stimulating. The subtle mix of travertine and marble stone tiles adds just enough variation in tone and texture to create interest, while the framed Arctic White Large Herringbone tile wall detail and the Claros Silver square mosaic floor tile provide a sense of movement.

MORE TO EXPLORE | Ultra-Stylish Neutral Shower Tile Ideas

3. Coordinated Collections

One of the easiest ways to ensure your design flows together is to use tiles from the same collection or series on both walls and floors. A main benefit of a Tile Shop stone collection is its variety of shapes, sizes and trim offerings. All the tiles within a Tile Shop stone collection are sourced from a single quarry, so while natural variation ensures no two pieces are ever the same, your overall design will remain cohesive.

Marvelous Marble

Nothing symbolizes luxury quite like marble. This exquisite stone comes in a wide range of colors, from black and white to beige, grey and even red. Here, Calacata Evora marble tile is used to create a sumptuous bathroom featuring eight different field, mosaic and trim tiles–all crafted from the same stone. The use of varying sizes and shapes elevates the design by creating a sense of movement and refinement. The mix of grey and beige veining in the classic white marble makes it a popular choice for both contemporary and traditional styles.

MORE TO EXPLORE | Marvelous Marble Tile Bathroom Ideas

Lush Limestone

Limestone is a naturally occurring stone formed from calcified coral and shells. Our limestone collections feature several stunning colors, including brown, tan, black and the shimmering grey tones of the Silver Mist collection showcased here. With the use of subway and hex mosaic tiles in the shower, along with 8″ x 20″ field tile for the main floor, this elegant bathroom, designed by Chris Loves Julia, demonstrates how to utilize different sizes and shapes within a single collection to create distinct yet cohesive spaces.

Timeless Travertine

Travertine, a type of limestone formed in mineral springs, is a rich stone distinguished by its naturally earthy tones. Shades of brown, grey, beige and silver (both alone and in combination) can be found in our travertine tile collections. Here, Legno travertine, with its soft beige tones and smooth veining, creates a relaxing atmosphere. Notice how the Wheaton mosaic, used as a focal point on the wall, maintains symmetry with the Double Chevron mosaic floor tile (this tile is no longer available; achieve a similar look with the Claros Silver Double Chevron tile).

4. Patterns That Pop

One of our most popular wall and floor tile combinations is patterned and non-patterned tile. For the bold at heart, there’s nothing better than an accent wall or floor brimming with striking shapes. Delicate, floral, abstract or geometric–shop our wide assortment of patterned tile to find a style to suit your taste.

Botanical Beauty

A nature-inspired pattern will fill your space with serotonin-boosting outdoor vibes (bonus points if it includes colors found outside, like the tranquil blue of the Fired Earth Designs Floreale tile shown here). This charming bathroom demonstrates how to feature a patterned tile without overwhelming the space. The colors in the floor tile are reflected in the blue sink vanity and white wall tile. By maintaining a simple color palette, the space feels elegant yet full of personality.

MORE TO EXPLORE | Tile for Every Style: Biophilic Design

Pattern and Color

Pulling a color or two from your patterned tile will ensure your design coordinates. However, if you choose a black-and-white patterned tile, like the Cloth Black and White tile shown here, you can pair it with virtually any hue. We love how the Glass Royal Blue Amalfi tile pops against the black-and-white design, and how the black hardware and white grout lines create a visual throughline between the shower walls and the bathroom floor.

Wallpaper Effect

A patterned wall tile provides the look of wallpaper with all the durability and easy-to-clean properties of ceramic or porcelain–perfect for mess-prone spaces like kitchen backsplashes, bathrooms or entryways. This fashionable kitchen features the Nikki Chu Tangier Graphite tile. Bold enough on its own, this patterned tile is paired with the black Iconic Steel floor tile and the Nikki Chu Luxor Winter White subway tile (on the kitchen island).

If you love this global, eclectic style, shop our exclusive Nikki Chu collection.

5. Tone on Tone

One way to ensure a cohesive look between your floors and walls is to coordinate the tones of your tiles. This involves choosing a color from one tile and carrying it through to another. The result is floors and walls that complement each other without exactly matching. Here are a few spaces that exemplify this concept.

Beige on Beige

Tiles that offer shade variation are perfect for the tone-on-tone concept. This elegant bathroom, designed by @jessicasmithhomedesign, pairs the Coco Canvas Glossy wall tile with a marble checkerboard floor featuring Royal Satin White and Avorio Fiorito tiles. The undulating surface of the handmade-look subway tile spans creamy whites to light tan tones, which are reflected in the white and beige floor.

Rust on Rust

Here, the crisp white background and expressive rust-colored veins of the Arabian Pisa Oro Matte tile are echoed in the Kasbah Cross Terracotta and Star Bone floor tiles. While a single white, beige or grey tile would capture the tones of the unique marble-look wall tile, selecting the most vibrant shade creates an invigorating space. While nothing beats the singular luxury of real marble, some ceramic and porcelain marble-look tiles offer colors and designs you won’t find in nature, such as blue, green and gold.

MORE TO EXPLORE | Unique and Unexpected Checkerboard Tile Ideas

Warm and Cool

Sometimes, multiple tones can be carried through from one tile to another. This welcoming entryway pairs the Organic Clay Taupe wall tile with the Jerica Ceniza floor tile. While one is dark and the other light, both of these handmade-look subway tiles feature a mix of warm brown and cool grey tones. The combination of the two creates a subtle visual texture that makes the space feel fresh and contemporary.

MORE TO EXPLORE | Stylish & Durable Mudroom Tile Ideas

6. Eclectic

Even tile rules are meant to be broken! While tried-and-true combos make for beautiful and unique spaces, good design can be found in the least expected pairings. Here are a few of our favorite eclectic tile arrangements.

Singular Looks

The Alison Victoria Brick x Brick Petal tile* and the Terrazzo Nero Macro tile are an unconventional couple that forms natural harmony in this sweetly chic bathroom, designed by Yellow Brick Home. The brick-like texture of the wall tile and the terrazzo-inspired floor tile, with its pattern of glass- and marble-look fragments, each contribute their own visual appeal. While the colors and textures are neither matching nor dramatically contrasting, their warm tones and singular styles make an interesting complement.

* This tile is no longer available; achieve a similar look with Color Market Rosa Cha tile.

A Reflection on Texture and Pattern

This opulent space, showcasing tile from our exclusive Kelli Fontana Collection, is a wealth of texture and pattern. The Patina Siren Mirror wall tile provides a smooth, reflective surface with striking aged details, while the Tommas Carrara fluted marble-look wall tile lends texture to the space. Paired with the Inlay Proper Naples Beach floor tile, with its elegant leaf pattern, these tiles come together to create a rich, romantic tableau. Though each piece in her collection is distinct, celebrated designer Kelli Fontana conceived of all her tiles to work together for a classic, bold and whimsical aesthetic.

Explore all of our exclusive designer collections for eclectic styles designed to complement. 👉

Shape and Movement

There are many ways to add a sense of movement to your tile design, as evidenced in this exceptional space. Though the three prominent tiles are aesthetically distinct, each brings its own visual flow. The center tile stripe features the Trois Bandes tile, with its black-and-white diamond pattern forming a horizontal zigzag. This movement is directionally mirrored by the organic woodgrain detail in the Amazon Amendoa tile*, while the half-hexagon shape of the Tory Black mosaic floor tile reflects the diagonals in the patterned tile. The result is a space that could feel random but has enough visual throughlines to maintain cohesion.

*This tile is no longer available; achieve a similar look with Rovere Honey tile.

Whether you seek a dramatic contrast, a soothing monochromatic space or a distinct eclectic pairing, there are as many wall and floor combinations as there are tiles at The Tile Shop (literally thousands!). We hope these classic designs have inspired your next project, and if you need a little more guidance, be sure to schedule a free design consultation or visit your local showroom–our tile experts are excited to help you create a space you’ll love.

The post Tried-and-True Wall and Floor Tile Combinations appeared first on The Tile Shop Blog.

1. Celebrate the Classics

Founded in 1861 by William Morris, Morris & Co. continues the renowned British designer’s mission of bringing beauty to everyday life. The Morris & Co. St. James Farringdon Grey tile, shown here, features warm grey coloring and an ornate pattern derived from the wallpaper commissioned in 1881 for the grand staircase of London’s St. James Palace. Though originally designed for the aristocracy, this lovely tile–also available in Pure Cloud (light blue) and Wandle River (bright blue)–embodies the casual elegance and vintage appeal of a well-appointed English cottage.

If your sensibilities lean toward the sophisticated, explore all the historic patterns available in our exclusive Morris & Co. collection.

2. Add a Touch of Whimsy

From King Arthur to Mary Poppins and Harry Potter, the British have a long tradition of creating classic characters and fanciful worlds. A spoonful of decorative whimsy brings the cheer and charm of imagined places into your very real spaces. This endearing kitchen backsplash features the Laura Ashley Wexbord Midnight tile (also available in Fresh Green). The petite floral motif is based on a 1981 pattern from England’s iconic Laura Ashley brand.

Full of delicate geometric botanicals, classic colors and unique shapes, the Tile Shop-exclusive Laura Ashley collection brings the best of British design to American homes.

3. Embrace Elements of Cottagecore

The on-trend cottagecore style is akin to English country cottage in many ways, but while English cottage embraces an abundance of patterns, cottagecore takes a more serene and rustic approach to the rural aesthetic. Combining traditional tile styles with playful patterns helps to tone down some of the busyness associated with the English style (though feel free to be busy if that’s your cup of tea!). This bathroom, designed by I SPY DIY, pairs the Splendor Blanco wall tile with the Laura Ashley Mr Jones Charcoal floor tile. The white, handmade-look subway tile, arranged in a classic brick-lay layout, is common in cottages and farmhouse design, while the patterned floor tile adds a distinctly English country touch.

4. Tile Your Floor in Natural Stone

Marble, slate and travertine offer natural beauty that elevates any design. Tumbled stone adds rustic appeal to your floors, while polished or honed stone creates a more sophisticated aesthetic. This pleasant bathroom, designed by @sposadesignllc, features the Hampton Delray marble mosaic tile. The basketweave pattern, reminiscent of traditional handicrafts, is complemented by a border of Hampton Carrara polished marble, making this floor feel both homey and high-end. The marble tile, paired with the blue-painted wood wainscotting and floral wallpaper, creates a space that exudes the cozy elegance of a posh cottage.

5. Add Traditional Molding Details

Common in English cottages, molding is a decorative detail often found where the wall meets the floor, ceiling or door and window frames. Available in a range of durable and stylish natural stone and man-made materials, skirting, cornice, capital and Barnes tiles allow you to incorporate these traditional trims, even if they aren’t original to your home. The wall in this bathroom is divided by Siberian Pearl cornice and Somerset, creating a classic chair rail feature. Though traditionally used to protect walls from dining room chairs, it is employed here as a transition between the painted wall and Siberian Pearl honed marble wainscoting.

6. Create Cozy Spaces with Warm Neutrals

Bright colors have a place in an English country cottage home, but that doesn’t mean you need to surround yourself with rainbow hues. Warm neutrals, especially when used in patterns, evoke a sense of comfort associated with this style. This mudroom, designed by West Bay Homes, features the Laura Ashley Wicker Dove Grey floor tile. The tile’s soft greige background and white geometric floral pattern complement the burnt orange accent wall and white cabinetry, creating a calm, inviting atmosphere.

7. Gather Around a Rustic Brick Hearth

Recreate the timeless appeal of a countryside cottage hearth with red brick-look porcelain tile. Its natural-looking distressing gives the fireplace a storied, well-loved feel, making it the perfect centerpiece for cozy moments at home. Add an armchair and ottoman, as in this inviting living room, and you’ve got a spot to put your feet up and savor a quiet, comfortable moment year-round, even when the fire isn’t lit.

8. Favor Florals

No English cottage is complete without a well-tended garden. Bring the botanicals indoors, and fill your home with year-round cheer with a floral-patterned tile. This dainty backsplash features the Maeva Petal Deco tile. The continuous design creates the look of wallpaper while offering the superior durability and easy maintenance of porcelain.

If you find a floral motif as enchanting as Mr. Darcy, shop our wide assortment of patterned tile.

9. Add Texture With Victorian-Inspired Tiles

Popular in Victorian homes, tin tiles featured ornate patterns punched into the metal to create a raised surface design. You can achieve this antique look in a more durable ceramic format with the Victoria Blanc tile. With their raised pattern and weathered appearance, these tiles add texture and vintage appeal to your space. We love how this chic kitchen pairs the tile backsplash with white and light green cabinets, but these tiles would also look stunning with cottage-style open shelving or rustic wood cabinets.

10. Use Wood-Look Tile for a Cottage Feel

A wood floor is a quintessential cottage element. Achieve this aesthetic in every area of your home (even mess- and water-prone areas) with durable, water-resistant and easy-to-clean porcelain or ceramic wood-look tile. This charming dining room, designed by At Home with Ashley, demonstrates the versatility of this tile. The blonde wood tones of the Baltimore Beige tile are in harmony with the botanical wallpaper and fireplace yet would complement a range of styles.

Find more durable, affordable and easy-to-install wood alternatives in our wide assortment of wood-look luxury vinyl flooring. Or, for naturally beautiful floors in less moisture-prone areas, explore our newly expanded selection of engineered hardwood.

Bring Your Dream Space to Life!

Whatever your style, The Tile Shop is here with tile, tools and expert advice to help bring your dream space to life. Explore stunning tile ideas for every room, or schedule a free design consultation to get started.

The post Tile for Every Style: English Country Cottage appeared first on The Tile Shop Blog.

Customizing Your Space

We’re sharing our best practices for layering tile to show you how you can take your space to the next level. The look below incorporates a combination of trim pieces and mosaics to transform a simple picture frame into an exquisite focal point.

Since this bathroom uses the Firenze Carrara marble collection throughout, the untrained eye may see it as quite simple. Look carefully at the transitions, and see if you can identify how many trim pieces are actually used to accomplish this sophisticated design.

Incorporating different shapes and sizes from the same tile collection can carry this elevated look through to other areas of the room, such as the backsplash, half wall and shower (photo top left). By sourcing all of the pieces of a collection from the same stone quarry, each piece complements the others for stunning variation that isn’t overbearing. If you have a focal point, repeat the same design element in other areas, like a shower niche (photo top right).

Thoughtful Transitioning

It’s important to think about how each part of your space will work together to form a unified environment. Utilizing trim pieces between different materials, sizes, shapes and textures of tile can create the perfect transition.

Dimensional tile can create dramatic depth and texture, but it can also leave an uneven edge when paired with other selections (top left photo). Incorporating transitional trim pieces will offer a seamless solution from one style to the next. Similarly, they can be used on the floor to separate different areas within a space – the top right photo displays a subtle transition, while the photo below incorporates durable curb pieces for a more prominent separation from shower to floor.

For tiles that vary in size, double up somersets and run them vertically for the greatest impact.

Using transitions is also the perfect way to emphasize an accent tile in your design. In the photo below, layered trim pieces instantly elevate the Brushed Bronze with Glass Metal Mosaic backsplash, while coordinating beautifully with the surrounding ceramic subway tile.

Each trim piece has its own unique characteristics that make it perfect for specific uses.

Coordinating Finishes

Pictured below is an example of how trim and profile pieces can provide an opportunity to coordinate with fixtures. In cases where there’s no need for a transition or storage solution, metal profiles can be used in between tiles as a unique accent that can coordinate with other design elements, such as faucets or lighting.

Layering trim and profile pieces can make every tile design better by adding dimension and interest. It shows that the design has been thoughtfully curated and has the finishing touches that elevate the space from basic to beautiful.

When And Where To Layer Tile

4 Design Plans With Layered Tile

Need ideas for your next remodel? Here are a few examples of design plans that incorporate tile trim and profile pieces. Bring them into your local store or schedule a design consultation to discuss dimensions, quantity, styles and more.

Learn more about layering in our comprehensive guide to trim and accessories. Ready for the next step? Schedule a design consultation with a tile design expert today!

The post Guide To Layering Tile Trim And Profiles appeared first on The Tile Shop Blog.

Zellige Tile

What is Zellige tile? Crafted in Morocco, each of these tiles is shaped, painted, and glazed by hand using ancient techniques, resulting in a truly one-of-a-kind look. These tiles come in a variety of colors and shapes, including the popular star and cross shapes, bringing old-world charm to contemporary design.

Square

4″ x 4″ glossy tile available in Alabaster, Azul (dark blue), Black, Dark Grey, Dirty Blue, Light Grey, Shamrock (green), Turquoise and White.

The slight variations in color and surface texture lend themselves to an array of beautiful designs, as evident in these three stunning spaces. In the top left, wide grout joints help create a more even appearance while still highlighting the tile’s perfect imperfections. With the Alabaster tile on the bottom left, you can see the difference in coloration from piece to piece. You can even pair two colors together for a chic checkerboard design, as demonstrated by the bathroom on the right.

MORE TO EXPLORE | Tips to Nail Your Grout Color and Design

Top left: Featuring: Zellige White Gloss. Design by Fox Homes. Bottom Left: Featuring: Zellige Alabaster Gloss and Alison Victoria Precious Metals 24 Katat Pencil Trim. Right: Featuring: Zellige Azul Gloss and Zellige Light Grey Gloss.

Mosaic

2″ x 2″ glossy tile available in Alabaster Pearl, Azul (dark blue), Black, Dark Grey, Dirty Blue, Light Grey, Shamrock (green), Turquoise and White.

Mounted on a mesh sheet for easy installation, these mosaic tiles create a complex tableau and exquisite visual texture. Try pairing two or more colorways for a gorgeous design, like this unique checkerboard featuring blocks of Zellige mosaics in Turquoise and Light Grey.

MORE TO EXPLORE | Unique and Unexpected Checkerboard Tile Ideas

Subway

2″ x 6″ glossy tile available in Alabaster Pearl, Azul (dark blue), Black, Dark Grey, Dirty Blue, Light Grey, Shamrock (green), Turquoise and White.

These petite subway tiles lend themselves to a wealth of layouts, whether stacked–like the kitchen on the left–offset in a brick-lay pattern, or in an alternating basketweave design–like the middle bathroom.

Note the Zellige Dirty Blue gloss subway tile featured on the backsplash in the kitchen on the left. The undulating tones of blue, green and brown create a stunningly unique olive color that lends warmth and richness to the space.

MORE TO EXPLORE | Classic Subway Tile Layouts

Left: Featuring: Zellige Dirty Blue Subway. Middle: Featuring: Zellige Light Grey Subway. Right: Featuring: Zellige Shamrock Subway, Zellige White Subway, Zellige White Mosaic.

Chabone Star and Cross

Available in Charcoal Star Matte and Gloss, Charcoal Cross Matte and Gloss, White Star Matte and Gloss, and White Cross Matte and Gloss.

A classic Moroccan design, the Chabone Star and Cross tiles are designed to fit together to create a captivating pattern. Try mixing finishes to create subtle contrast, or pair black and white for a distinct, checkerboard design.

MORE TO EXPLORE | Unique Zellige Bathroom Tile Ideas

Left: Featuring: Zellige Charcoal Chabone Cross Gloss and Star Matte. Right: Featuring: Zellige Black Gloss, Zellige White Chabone Star Matte and Zellige White Chabone Cross Matte.

Handmade Look

Do you like the look of handmade tiles, but want a little more continuity? Get the unique character of handmade tiles with less variance in color and size (and a lower price point) with handmade-look tiles.

Nuovo Riad

The Nuovo Riad 4″ x 4″ square tiles–available in Bianco (white) and Creme (beige)–mimic the square Zellige tiles, with uneven edges and variation in color and surface texture, but the differences are not quite as pronounced as in the true handmade tiles. If you like your lines a little straighter and your color a little more uniform, you can’t go wrong with the Nuovo Riad tile.

These stunning spaces showcase how the variations in surface texture and coloration create beautiful spaces, either alone or paired together for a chic checkerboard pattern.

Top Right: Featuring: Nuovo Riad Bianco, Nuovo Riad Creme and Terrazzo Bianco Macro. Top middle: Featuring: Nuovo Riad Bianco. Design by Alison Victoria. Top right: Nuovo Riad Bianco. Bottom left: Featuring: Nuovo Riad Bianco. Design by Timber Trails. Photography by John and Maura Stoffer. Bottom left: Featuring: Nuovo Riad Bianco and Riad Grey (this tile is no longer available; achieve a similar look with Zellige Dark Grey Gloss). Design & Photography by Racheal Jackson of Banyan Bridges.

Splendor

The Splendor takes subway tile up a notch with perfectly imperfect character. This tile comes in three on-trend neutral colorways: Blanco, Creme and Grigio to suit your style. For an added twist on a classic subway, try the elongated-hex-shaped picket tile (Blanco, Creme and Grigio).

Install these tiles alone of mix shapes and colors for a unique design, as demonstrated in these gorgeous spaces.

Left: Featuring: Splendor Blanco. Design by Clark + Aldine. Photography by Josh Stoddart. Right: Featuring: Splendor Grigio.

Left: Featuring: Splendor Blanco Picket and Splendor Blanco. Right: Featuring: Splendor Blanco and Hampton Carrara Shower Curb. Design & Photography by Coco & Jack.

Marrakesh

The undulating surface texture and color of Marrakesh tiles add a wonderful sense of movement to your walls. Available in White, Blue and Green, the color variation in the tiles makes for beautiful backsplashes and walls, and can even be paired together to create a contemporary checkerboard pattern, as featured in the I SPY DIY-designed bathroom on the right.

Top left: Featuring: Marrakesh Green. Bottom left: Featuring: Marrakesh Off White. Right: Featuring: Marrakesh Blue, Marrakesh Off White, Cross Snow White, Cross Black and Black Marquina Somerset. Design and photography by I Spy DIY.

Look

The Look elongated 2″ x 10″ subway tile comes in bold colors with an artisanal appearance that creates stunning visual texture. We love how the vibrant colorways pair with patterned tiles, such as the Oliva with Laura Ashley Wexbord Fresh Green in the top right space, and the Avio with Jeffrey Alan Marks Big Sur Sea Spray in the shower below.

Explore this lovely tile in all five on-trend colorways: Avio, Oliva, Bianco, Lino and Blu.

Left: Featuring: Nuovo Riad Bianco and Look Avio. Design and Photography byI SPY DIY. Top right: Featuring: Look Oliva, Laura Ashley Wexbord Fresh Green, DURAL Chrome, Arctic White Bullnose, Arctic White and Arctic White Hex. Bottom right: Featuring: Look Avio, Jeffrey Alan Marks Big Sur Sea Spray and DURAL Chrome.

Track Stack

Featuring slight shade variations, the Track Stack mosaic tile (available in White Two Tone and Navy Blue) creates an artisanal flair through elegant symmetry. With less variation in texture and edge, the handmade look is expressed with subtle shifts in color.

MORE TO EXPLORE | Tile for Every Style: Japandi

Left: Featuring: Track Stack White Two Tone. Design by Nikki Chu. Right: Featuring: Track Stack Navy Blue. Design and photography by @semihandmade.

Coco

Featuring striking color variation and a gently undulating surface, Coco tile is one of our most popular styles for a reason. Its versatile 2″ x 6″ format allows for a range of layouts and custom designs. Available in matte and glossy finishes and three on-trend colorways, this tile is perfect for mixing and matching to create dynamic designs.

Shop this exquisite tile in all three colorways and finishes: Canvas Matte and Glossy, White Matte and Glossy, and Amber Grey Glossy.

Left: Featuring: Coco White Glossy, Morris & Co. Pure Net Cloud Grey, Firenze Carrara Somerset, Firenze Carrara Honed and DURAL Plus Gold 24K. Top right: Featuring: Coco Canvas Glossy, Coco White Matte, Arabian Pisa Oro Matte, Kasbah Star Bone and Kasbah Cross Terracotta. Bottom right: Featuring: Coco White Matte.

Tribeca

Named for the trendy New York neighborhood with deep roots in the artistic community, Tribeca tile features captivating color variation and soothing undulating surface texture. Notice how the glossy finish captures the light to add brightness and show off the subtle surface variations, infusing these spaces with rich visual appeal.

Explore Tribeca in four gorgeous colorways: Oatmeal, Gypsum White, Basalt and Seaglass Mint.

Top left: Featuring: Tribeca Balsat, Tribeca Gypsum White, Firenze Carrara Somerset, Firenze Carrara, Bianco Carrara Curb, Firenze Carrara Bullnose and Jeffrey Alan Marks Summerland Toro. Bottom left: Tribeca Oatmeal. Right: Tribeca Gypsum White and Shanxi Black Flamed. Design and photography by Renovation Husbands.

Discover Endless Inspiration!

You can find even more inspiration on Instagram and our Customer Room Gallery where our tiles are used in a variety of real spaces! Or, if you’re looking for some guidance on an upcoming project, set up a free design consultation to get advice from our tile experts.

The post 9 Elegantly Crafted Handmade & Handmade-Look Tiles appeared first on The Tile Shop Blog.