penny tile Archives - The Tile Shop Blog Mon, 20 Oct 2025 18:14:26 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 147117943 Penny Bathroom Tile: Pros and Cons https://tileshopblog.wpengine.com/penny-bathroom-tile-pros-and-cons/ https://tileshopblog.wpengine.com/penny-bathroom-tile-pros-and-cons/#respond Fri, 24 Oct 2025 13:00:00 +0000 https://tileshopblog.wpengine.com/?p=13784 Tiny but mighty, penny round tile has graced bathroom walls and floors for over a century. Beloved for its slip-resistant...

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]]> Tiny but mighty, penny round tile has graced bathroom walls and floors for over a century. Beloved for its slip-resistant surface and eye-catching patterns, this design’s small, circular tiles create a texture-rich surface that feels both retro and modern.

From historic homes to contemporary remodels, penny round tile has stood the test of time. But is it the right fit for your bathroom? Here’s what to consider before adding penny rounds to your bathroom design.

Bathroom backsplash featuring penny round porcelain mosaic tile on the wall above a sink and vanity. The tiles feature a mix of green, blue and grey tones, and the grout used in a light off-white color. A rectangular, frameless mirror over the sink reflects the rest of the room.
Featuring: Penny Round Thunderstorm.

What is Penny Tile?

As the name suggests, penny tile is a small, circular tile roughly the size of a U.S. one-cent coin—typically about 3/4″ in diameter. This charming style rose to popularity in the Victorian era, when it was associated with cleanliness. Though it never fully went out of style, penny tile saw a resurgence in the 1920s during the Art Deco movement and again in mid-century modern design.

Penny round porcelain mosaic wall and floor tile features an elegant diamond pattern in white, black and grey penny rounds, with a matte finish.
Featuring: Penny Round Matte Barga.

Penny Tile Pros

No need to pay us for our thoughts—here are three reasons penny tile might be the right choice for your bathroom or shower!

1. Adds Depth & Creates Visual Interest

It may seem counterintuitive, but small tiles can be just as effective at creating a feeling of expansiveness as oversized tiles. The many small elements draw the eye across the wall or floor, adding visual interest. In this charming blue and white bathroom, penny tile edges create a scallop-shaped border on the sink’s backsplash. White penny tiles continue across the adjoining wall of the walk-in shower, where the polka dot-like pattern on the blue hexagon-shaped tiles complements the shape and layout of the mosaic at a larger scale. This cohesive use of color and detail across multiple surfaces brings texture and interest to the space without overwhelming the eye.

A horizontal detail picture showing the vanity and walk-in shower interior in a blue and white bathroom. White penny round tile is used as a decorative backsplash over the vanity, continuing into the shower and covering one full wall. Blue hexagon tile with a white star pattern is used elsewhere in the space.
Featuring: Penny Round Matte White and Laura Ashley Louise Star Cloud Blue.

2. Customizable

All our penny tile comes in a standard size, allowing you to mix and match colorways to create a custom design for your floors or walls. Add a border or craft an intricate pattern by combining two or more colors—like this charming floor designed by Blue Orchid Living.

Overhead view of floor with white, blue and grey penny round tiles in a pattern with a border and repeated flower shapes.
Featuring: Penny Round Pale Taupe, Penny Round Gloss White and Penny Round Sky Blue. Design & Photography by Blue Orchid Living.

3. Provides Slip Resistance

Because of their small size, penny tiles require more grout lines than larger tiles, which adds grip to your bathroom or shower floor. For maximum slip resistance, choose a matte porcelain or ceramic penny round tile.

A primary bathroom features white walls, dark cabinets, and a custom penny round tile mosaic floor that is mostly white with accents of darker colors. A dark sliding barn-style door creates separation in the space.
Featuring: Penny Round Gloss White and Penny Round Cloudy. Design by Timber Trails Development Company. Photography by John and Maura Stoffer.
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Penny Tile Cons(iderations)

As much as there is to love about penny tile, it isn’t for everyone (or every space). While it delivers visual interest and slip resistance, it also has drawbacks—especially if you’re looking for a low-maintenance bathroom solution.

Installation

Though all our penny tiles are mounted on mesh sheets for easier installation, a custom layout may require cutting out individual tiles to create your design. Even if you’re installing a single color, the small pieces will require more grout than large format tiles, making the process more time-consuming.

Cleaning & Maintenance

If you dread scrubbing, penny tile may not be the best choice for your bathroom. With so many grout lines, dirt, mildew and soap can accumulate between tiles. While a dark shade of grout can minimize the appearance of build-up, cleaning penny tiles (especially floors) can be more labor-intensive than with larger tiles.

This elegant bathroom features a black and white penny tile floor.
Featuring: Penny Round Matte White, Penny Round Matte Black and Signature Bianco Matte. Design by Julie Howard for Timber Trails. Photography by John and Maura Stoffer.

Supporting Your Project at Every Step

Whether or not you decide penny tile is right for your bathroom, we’re here to help take your project from design from idea to installation.

Schedule a free design consultation or visit your local Tile Shop showroom to get started!

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