1. Express Your Artistic Side With Laura Park Tile

Inspired by her abstract artwork and the popular textiles derived from her mixed-media designs, our new and exclusive Laura Park tile collection showcases a stunning array of colors, styles, and motifs—offering endless possibilities for creative expression. This elegantly dynamic bathroom features four Laura Park tiles in coordinating colors and patterns: the Cosmo Aegean Blue patterned tile, Seaside Marble porcelain tile, and Bespoke White in both 5 in. and 2.56 x 5 in. sizes. A simple, warm wood vanity anchors the space, adding a touch of traditional sophistication to this artful design.

Love this look? Explore the full The Tile Shop x Laura Park collection.

2. Make It Sleek and Boho Chic!

Worldly and eclectic, modern boho chic design is all about celebrating your unique taste. Here, designer Brooke Pavel showcases a more muted—yet still vibrant—interpretation of this globally inspired style. By pairing a Picket Florencia Super Bianco tile backsplash with a light wood vanity and a blush pouf seat, Pavel strikes a delicate balance between the soft color palette and the bold geometry of the elongated hex tile and wood-carved diamond design. If you love blending diverse styles to create one-of-a-kind spaces, explore our guide to boho chic design.

3. Create Contrast

This chic transitional bathroom, designed by @emerson.studios, is a prime example of how to create harmonious contrast. The vanity, with its fine woodgrain detail, is paired with diamond-shaped, dove-grey Chalk Silver RMB porcelain floor tile. The tile’s soft, cool coloring, leather-like texture and geometric pattern beautifully offset the vanity’s warm, hard, organic character. This contrast extends to other design elements as well—note how the black, modern hardware plays against the traditional brass fixtures.

If you love this elegant mix of contemporary and classic styles, explore our guide to transitional design.

4. Add Elegance With a Marble Mosaic

Delicate shapes crafted from exquisite stone bring a sense of exceptional elegance to any space. For a timeless traditional look, pair a marble mosaic backsplash with a stately wood vanity. This stunning bathroom features the Bisbane Brookfield diamond-shaped mosaic, which mimics the look of tufted upholstery. The refined design beautifully complements the dark wood vanity and classic fixtures.

If you love this elevated aesthetic, explore our wide selection of marble mosaic tile.

5. Bring Beautiful Blues

Cool-toned blues evoke the brilliance of the sea and sky, making them a natural complement to a warm, earth-toned wood vanity. Designed by @bellsheepstudio, this tasteful transitional bathroom features Imperial Slate Blue square mosaic tile. We love how the subdued blue tones are echoed in the chevron-patterned wallpaper and bath towels, while the creamy white wainscoting introduces another layer of warmth to the space.

6. Pair Patterns

A wood vanity provides a neutral anchor, giving the eye a place to rest and allowing creativity to shine throughout the rest of the space. Pairing two patterned tiles—or combining a patterned floor tile with wallpaper, as @andreak_covelladesigns does in this bold, elegant space—can make your room feel vibrant and full of life. The key to successfully mixing patterns is to create a visual throughline while maintaining clear distinction. Though aesthetically different, the black-and-white stone-look pattern of the Marble Star floor tile echoes not only the tones in the floral wallpaper but also its antique charm. Not quite ready to commit to mixed patterns in your primary bath? Try it in a powder room, where experimentation is less conspicuous.

7. Add Historic Details With Morris & Co. Tile

Inspired by the iconic British designer’s historic wallpaper motifs—which have adorned the walls of palaces and estates across England since the late 1800s—our exclusive Morris & Co. collection brings William Morris’s dedication to beautiful, accessible design to tile. Featuring ornate patterns in soft, neutral palettes—like the St. James Farrington Grey wall tile shown here—these sophisticated designs pair effortlessly with warm beige, grey or dark wood vanities.

8. Choose Moroccan-Inspired Artisanal Appeal

This stylish bathroom is another great example of contrasting design elements. It features Kasbah Star and Cross Terracotta tiles—drawn from traditional handmade Moroccan tilework—paired with a sleek, contemporary floating vanity. Though the tile and vanity reflect distinct styles, the warm wood and terracotta tones create a cohesive visual link between them. A curved doorway cut into the cool grey wall introduces tonal contrast, yet the modern color ties it to the vanity, while the arched shape nods to classic Moroccan architecture.

9. Create a Modern Farmhouse Haven

Refined rustic details make this space a perfect example of modern farmhouse design. The luxurious dark wood vanity perfectly matches the trim and wainscoting, while the marble countertop complements the Firenze Carrara Hex floor tile. These refined details are beautifully juxtaposed with exposed brick.

For more ideas on achieving this elevated homespun style, check out our guide to modern farmhouse design.

10. Select Sleek & Serene Stone-Look Tile

Stone and wood—two natural textures that go together like peanut butter and jelly. Whether warm tones, cool tones, or a mix of both, pairing fine woodgrain details with the delicate or dramatic veining of stone-look tile creates a space that soothes the senses. Here, the subtly veined Moonstone Off-White tile offers the organic beauty of stone in the form of durable, easy-to-maintain porcelain. If you look closely, you’ll see the tile’s horizontally oriented linear pattern flows perfectly with the vanity’s woodgrain.

11. Create Natural Tranquility With Biophilic Design

Defined by its use of colors, forms, and materials found in nature, biophilic design brings the outdoors inside, creating lush, serotonin-inducing spaces. Here, a wood vanity is paired with the gorgeous Look Oliva subway tile. The rich green hue and natural wood evoke a soothing forestscape, while the delicate floral motif of the Laura Ashley Wexbord Fresh Green shower niche adds a touch of whimsy.

For more ideas on how to infuse your home with mood-boosting tile, check out our guide to biophilic design.

12. Add Rustic Appeal With Tumbled Stone

This classic finish is created by tumbling stone with rocks to create a worn, rustic look—perfectly showcased in the Claros Silver tumbled travertine floor tile featured in this charming Coco & Jack-designed powder room. With natural shades of rich brown, beige, and grey, this stone subway tile adds an organic, brick-like texture that pairs beautifully with the dark wood vanity. We also love how the gold fixtures introduce an elegant contrast to these rugged elements.

13. Create a Custom Subway Tile Layout

Subway tile is a classic style that effortlessly pairs with natural wood. Endlessly versatile, this design staple offers a wide range of layout options—from traditional brick-lay to contemporary straight stack. Here, the Retro Lion subway tile is installed in a vertical offset, with each row separated by the Signature Slate Blue pencil trim, creating a custom design that adds interest to the blue-and-white theme.

MORE TO EXPLORE | 6 Classic Subway Tile Layouts

14. Marry Elegance and Whimsy With Kelli Fontana Tile

Wood offers natural elegance, as do the delicate patterns and textures of the Kelli Fontana designer collection. This chic bathroom showcases her classic, bold, and whimsical style with the fluted Tommas Carrara wall tile and the checkerboard Inlay Proper in Eden Ode and Florence Lace floor tiles.

Discover more romantic, feminine styles to pair with your wood vanity in our exclusive Kelli Fontana collection.

15. Match With a Modern Black-and-White Pattern

Like a well-tailored suit, a geometric black-and-white pattern exudes sleek, modern style. This ultra-chic bathroom features the Trois Bandes floor tile, whose concentric diamonds echo the points of the Picket Florencia Super Bianco backsplash tile. The floating vanity, with its contemporary black hardware and stone countertop, completes this suave space.

16. Soothe the Senses with Quiet Luxury

Quiet luxury embraces natural materials and tranquil designs, making a wood vanity essential. Here, sleek wood with a white stone top and black hardware pairs perfectly with the lush Livingstone Melange large-format marble-look tile and Argile White handmade-look subway tile. The blend of warm and cool neutrals, combined with rich visual textures throughout the room, creates an atmosphere of understated opulence.

If you love this sophisticated style, explore our guide to quiet luxury.

17. Soften Your Design with Rounded Tile

By nature, tile is a hard element, but using a rounded shape—like the Alison Victoria Malibu Edit Pescador tile shown here—introduces soft lines that add a sense of gentle movement to your design. Creating wave-like patterns inspired by its namesake California beach, this grey-veined white marble tile flows naturally along the chic backsplash, providing a sleek contrast to the dark wood vanity. Shop our wide selection of uniquely shaped tile for more unconventional designs.

18. Reimagine Retro With Mid-Century Modern Design

Mid-century modern design celebrates natural textures, colors and forms; a dapper wood vanity with crisp, clean lines is the perfect choice to create this enduring style. The retro-inspired Stoneware subway tile from Fired Earth complements this look beautifully. Shown here in Indigo Spruce, this chic design is also available in Linen Brick (beige), Powder White, Blue Mist, and Rainwashed (sea green).

Find more ideas to achieve this classic style in our comprehensive guide to mid-century modern design.

19. Elevate Your Design With Trim

Like the perfect necklace or necktie, the right trim can elevate your tile design. This stunning black-and-white bathroom punctuates a basic white subway tile layout with Black Marquina marble Somerset trim. The wood vanity perfectly complements this stately tile design, adding natural refinement to the buttoned-up black-and-white walls.

Want to see more rooms in this home? Discover more of Timber Trails’ designer Julie Howard’s inspired spaces in this tour of her “Storybook” estate.

20. Match Wood With Wood-Look Tile

If you love the warm, natural look of wood, don’t limit it to your vanity. This organic element can extend further into your bathroom design with durable, waterproof wood-look tile. Here, the Tavola Decor tile perfectly coordinates with the blond wood vanity, while the fluted diamond design adds a tactile dimension that awakens the senses. Shop our wide selection of wood-look tile to find the perfect match for your vanity.

Let’s Create a Space You Love

Ready for a bathroom makeover? Updating your space is easier than you think! Shop our wide selection of bathroom tile to find the perfect design to match your vanity. Need more help? Visit your local Tile Shop showroom or schedule a free design consultation, and let us help bring your dream space to life.

The post 20 Bathoom Tile Ideas to Pair With Wood Vanities appeared first on The Tile Shop Blog.

1. Create Calm, Coastal Chic

Whether you’re seaside or street-side, the effortlessly cool tile from celebrated designer Jeffrey Alan Marks will transform any house into a beach house. The Natural Zen Birchwood Sea Blue tile, showcased on this coastal kitchen wall, features a raised linear pattern that mimics the look and feel of painted wood. Shop our exclusive Jeffrey Alan Marks designer collection for more coastal chic designs.

2. Choose a Cool Handmade-Look Tile

The undulating tones of the Marrakesh Blue tile give this stunning kitchen backsplash a sense of gentle movement. Mimicking the hand-painted look of authentic handmade tile, its color variation adds to the tile’s artisanal appeal. We love how the glossy finish reflects the light, enhancing the cool, watery effect. Explore our wide selection of handmade-look tile for more perfectly imperfect styles.

3. Embrace English Country Cottage Style

Like a spoonful of sugar, the Laura Ashley Wexbord Midnight tile sweetens this charming cottage-style kitchen. The delicate floral pattern—derived from Laura Ashley’s historic textile prints—adds whimsy and botanical beauty to the space. If this delightful style is your cup of tea, check out our guide to English country cottage design.

4. Pair Blue Tile With White Cabinets

This bright and cheery kitchen, designed by Bria Hammel, features the lovely Glass Periwinkle tile paired with crisp white cabinets. The soft blue backsplash provides subtle contrast, while white grout helps tie the tile into the rest of the space. We love how the light wood-toned chairs add both textural and tonal depth while maintaining the coastal color scheme.

5. Create a Picture Frame

By “framing” a favorite patterned or mosaic tile with trim, you can create a tile picture frame that offers a beautiful focal point to rest your eyes on while standing at the sink or stove. Here, the 4-D Nature tile is framed by layered pieces of Signature Slate Blue and Bianco pencil trim. The raised botanical pattern on the framed tile adds texture and interest to the Signature Slate Blue subway tile backsplash.

6. Get in the Groove

The concentric oblong circles of the Elipse Azul tile make a mesmerizingly stylish backsplash. This groovy patterned tile (also available in black-and-blue Preto) can be installed in a variety of layouts to create a personalized design. Shop our wide selection of patterned tile for the look that expresses your personal style—whether you prefer a gorgeous floral or a bold geometric.

7. Add a Historical Pattern

Derived from iconic British designer William Morris’s historic wallpaper patterns, our exclusive Morris & Co. collection brings royal English design into American homes. Here, the Morris & Co. James Wandle River tile features a beautifully ornate botanical pattern inspired by the motif used for wallpaper at St. James’s Palace. We love how it pairs elegantly with white cabinets and marble countertops, but it would look equally stunning with warm wood cabinetry.

8. Make Waves

The curved design of the Wave Blue Reef tile adds a soft, fluid touch to this charming backsplash. Its unique shape and deep sapphire hue give the tile (also available in Grey Owl, Old Cream and White) brilliant visual appeal. Offering a variety of layout possibilities, you can pair it with contrasting grout to highlight the pattern and watch as the glossy surface reflects the light like gentle waves.

9. Create Artisanal Excellence

Crafted, painted and glazed by hand, authentic Zellige tile is made by skilled artisans using ancient Moroccan techniques. Here, the deep blue Zellige Azul tile brings depth and character to this counter-to-ceiling backsplash. Shop our wide selection of Zellige tile for more traditional shapes, colors and finishes.

10. Make Your Backsplash the Star

This cozy-chic kitchen, designed by @georgesonstyle, captures modern farmhouse style with its wood cabinets, open shelving, white subway tile, and Star Blue patterned tile stove backsplash. The Americana-inspired design sets the cooking area apart while maintaining visual continuity with the rest of the space. If you love this fresh take on homestead decor, explore our guide to modern farmhouse design.

11. Marvel With Midcentury Modern Design

With its sleek silhouettes and earthy tones, midcentury modern design remains a favorite decorating style—even as we approach the mid-21st century. Our new Stoneware collection by Fired Earth celebrates this classic look with five subway tiles: Blue Mist (shown), Indigo Spruce, Linen Brick, Powder White and Rainwashed. If you’d love to return to the aesthetics of Mad Men, explore our guide to midcentury modern design.

12. Add a Textile-Inspired Pattern

Inspired by vintage block prints, the Annie Selke Aylin Blue tile brings the famous designer’s textile patterns to tile. The pup-approved pattern pairs beautifully with the wooden cabinets in this kitchen, designed by @ocotillohouseandhome, but it would also look chic alongside white, blue or green cabinetry.

13. Make Your Space Shine With Glass Tile

Naturally reflective, glass tile can brighten your cooking space—perfect for small backsplashes. This stylish kitchen, designed by Riemer Kitchens and Fine Cabinetry, features Winter Morning glass tile. The cool greyish-blue tones of the tile become brilliant when light hits the glass, like sunlight playing off the surface of a cool pool of water.

14. Add Captivating Movement With Chevron Tile

The zigzag lines created by the V-shaped chevron tile add a playful sense of movement to this beautiful kitchen. The Alto Midnight tile features grey, dark- and light-blue chevron pieces that draw the eye across the width of the counter. Though it works well with white cabinets, the bowl of lemons proves that this bold design would also look stunning paired with brightly colored cabinetry.

15. Think Beyond the Backsplash

In another charming example of modern farmhouse design, this I SPY DIY–designed kitchen features Look Avio subway tile on the kitchen island. The dark blue handmade-look tile complements the rest of the kitchen—the Riad White backsplash tile also has a handmade look—while adding its own visual complexity, bringing cool tones to this warm-colored space.

16. Add Mediterranean Style

Design has the power to transport you—with the right tile, your suburban American kitchen can become a Mediterranean villa. That’s exactly the feeling this stunning kitchen, featuring the Catania Blue tile, evokes. The undulating turquoise-and-green-toned tile recalls the sea, while the bronze range hood would feel at home in a Spanish kitchen.

17. Make It Cool With Gunmetal Blue

With as many shades as there are gallons of water in the sea—from moody grey-blue to brilliant sky—you’re sure to find the exact tone for your space. Dark and greyish, the Signature Gunmetal Gloss tile offers a sophisticated tone, perfect for an elegant transitional space, like this Timber Trails–designed kitchen. We love how this stately blue pairs with crisp white cabinets. If this classic-meets-traditional style strikes the right balance for you, explore our guide to transitional design.

18. Capture Twilight Hues

If you’re more of a night sky enthusiast than a bright sky reveler, the Blue Twilight Brick tile might capture your preferred hue. With a mix of dark, grey and lighter blues, this beautiful glass mosaic reflects the subdued mood of dwindling daylight. We love how it’s paired with the Hampton Carrara chevron tile picture frame.

Updating your space is easier than you think! Shop our wide assortment of kitchen backsplash and blue tile to find your perfect style, and check out our guide on how to tile your backsplash yourself. 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 18 Brilliant Blue Kitchen Tile Ideas appeared first on The Tile Shop Blog.

1. Add Visual Texture with Terrazzo

Terrazzo didn’t originate in the 1900s, but it was a popular midcentury flooring choice. Loved for its durability, sustainability and organic look, authentic terrazzo is made by pressing pieces of marble, glass or granite in a cement base to create a strong, decorative material that traditionally graced Rennaisance plazas. Here, Yellow Brick Home uses the Terrazzo Nero Macro tile to add visual texture to this dreamy midcentury-inspired bathroom. With a mix of warm and cool neutrals, this tile (also available in Nero Micro) adds timeless appeal in a retro format.

2. Mix Materials

Another hallmark of midcentury design is the intentional pairing of materials, particularly wood, stone and metal. Layering natural and man-made materials adds depth and dimension. Metal accents represent the progress of modernism, while the inclusion of organic materials keeps the space from appearing too sterile. This midcentury kitchen features the Palermo Noir Stone Hex tile backsplash. The black marble hexagons are accented with bronze, creating dynamic movement across the backsplash that feels both modern and timeless.

3. Choose a Retro Red

Retro interiors embraced warm earth tones, and a burnt orange or deep sienna still evokes nostalgia for our grandma’s midcentury ranch house. This bathroom, designed by @johnmartinestudio, features the Imperial Sienna square and hex mosaics. We love how the rich tone is tempered with the neutral Imperial Sand hex tile and off-white walls, but don’t be afraid to really lean into an earthy palette with red, orange or yellow tile.

4. Feature a Retro Pattern

Nothing exemplifies the midcentury quite like a bold pattern. Whether floral or abstract, the pattern should feature clean lines and geometric shapes to be considered midcentury modern. This funky ’60s-inspired kitchen, designed by Total 360 Interiors, features the Star Olive/Grey Encaustic tile. With its retro coloring and starburst pattern, it gives this retro design flower power.

5. Use Wood-Look Tile

Teak furniture and wood paneling are necessities in midcentury homes, but you can include this warm, organic look in spaces you wouldn’t normally find the natural material with durable porcelain or ceramic wood-look tile. Bathrooms, kitchen backsplashes and even showers can feature the beauty of wood. Here, the Tavola Decor tile, with its raised fluted cross pattern, adds both the look of hardwood and the geometric shapes you find in midcentury modern design.

6. Use Retro-Inspired Ceramics

Artistically speckled midcentury ceramics come to life in the form of sleek subway tiles with the Stoneware collection by Fired Earth. The soft earthy coloring and clean lines of these tiles—available in Rainwashed, Blue Mist, Indigo Spruce, Linen Brick and Powder White (shown)—transform any space with elevated retro charm. This chic living room demonstrates how you can blend midcentury decor with contemporary design elements. The Stoneware Powder White fireplace surround blends seamlessly with the white woodwork, for an elegantly timeless space.

7. Create Pattern

Midcentury modern design offers a lot of flexibility in color and form. If you can’t decide on a single earthy hue to showcase, use several to create an original pattern. Featuring all five colorways of the midcentury-inspired Fired Earth Stoneware collection, this shower strikes the right balance between sleek style and expressive design.

8. Choose Squares

A vintage tile that’s making a comeback in interior design, the 4-in. square was favored in midcentury interiors up to the 1980s. Here, Fox Homes reimagines the retro design using Zellige White Gloss tile. The handmade tile features purposeful variations in the edges—going against the grain of the famously straight, clean lines of midcentury, but they compensate for this design detail with wide grout joints. The result is a slightly uneven grid, reminiscent of midcentury modern design, but with a timeless twist suited to contemporary styles.

Whatever your style, The Tile Shop has the tile, tools and expert advice to help you take your project from design to completion. Start by exploring stunning tile ideas for every room, or schedule a free design consultation to get your project started.

The post Tile for Every Style: Midcentury Modern appeared first on The Tile Shop Blog.

Unique among design styles, mid-century modern design can be traced back to a specific person. The history begins with Joseph Eichler, a real estate developer in California during the 1940s through the 1960s, who advocated and built more modern-style housing. Whole suburban neighborhoods of homes (called “Eichlers”) from this movement still exist in California and beyond today. Influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright, Eichlers often feature flat or A-framed roofs, vertical wood siding, clean and geometric lines, few street-facing windows, and large windows or skylights that let in light and nature. Their interiors introduced the country to exposed beams, concrete floors, sliding doors and en suite bathrooms. While we may take many of these design features for granted today, in postwar America, when people were used to mass-produced homes, architecturally pleasing Eichlers were a breath of fresh air. See some examples of this style, and read more about it here.

Why did this new style make such an impact that we’re still talking about it decades later? Many of the hallmarks of mid-century modern design still feel as fresh, clean and current today as they did in the 1950s:

• Open floor plans
• Simple, clean lines
• Neutrals (especially grey) combined with bright colors (especially orange and green)
• Floor-to-ceiling windows
• Simple furniture (similar to today’s Scandinavian style)
• Artistic items

There are also some specific things you can look for to determine mid-century tiles:

• Color, especially rich colors like green and orange
• Geometrics
• Fan shapes
• Organic shapes
• Metal edging
• Handcrafted, artisan look
• Straight stacked subway tile
• Beveled and framed subway tile
• Large-format tiles

Let’s look at how some real spaces use these mid-century modern elements. You’ll notice that a lot of the trends overlap from picture to picture which goes to show that these elements are true hallmarks of mid-century modern design!

Color

Who doesn’t love a pop of color?! Whether featured in tile, cabinetry, fabrics or accessories, have fun with your design and include something bold and bright (bonus points for rich colors like orange and green).

Geometrics

Geometrics are another style that often appears in mid-century modern design. There are as many different ways to use geometric tiles as there are geometric tiles available. Use one color, mix and match or stick with neutrals for a more subtle approach to geometry.

Straight Stack

The most common and classic layout for subway tile is the brick-lay pattern. (Learn all about subway tile patterns on our blog post about the topic.) A more contemporary and mid-century modern way to install rectangular tiles is the straight stack. It features a clean layout and straight, even grout lines.

Organic Shapes

Handmade-look tiles, an artisan feel and organic shapes all work well in mid-century modern style. A subway tile with a soft twist and a hexagon with a handmade-feel beveled edge fit the bill.

Explore more design styles on the blog or our website. Loving mid-century modern for your next project? Book a design appointment to get started today!

The post Mid-Century Modern Style appeared first on The Tile Shop Blog.