{"id":13784,"date":"2025-10-24T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-24T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tileshopblog.wpengine.com\/?p=13784"},"modified":"2025-10-20T13:14:26","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T18:14:26","slug":"penny-bathroom-tile-pros-and-cons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tileshopblog.wpengine.com\/penny-bathroom-tile-pros-and-cons\/","title":{"rendered":"Penny Bathroom Tile: Pros and Cons"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Tiny but mighty, penny round tile<\/a> 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\u2019s what to consider before adding penny rounds to your bathroom design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Bathroom
Featuring: Penny Round Thunderstorm<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

What is Penny Tile?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As the name suggests, penny tile is a small, circular tile roughly the size of a U.S. one-cent coin\u2014typically 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.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Penny
Featuring: Penny Round Matte Barga<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Penny Tile Pros<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

No need to pay us for our thoughts\u2014here are three reasons penny tile might be the right choice for your bathroom or shower!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Adds Depth & Creates Visual Interest<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a> continue across the adjoining wall of the walk-in shower, where the polka dot-like pattern on the blue hexagon-shaped tiles<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"A
Featuring: Penny Round Matte White<\/a> and Laura Ashley Louise Star Cloud Blue<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

2. Customizable<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2014like this charming floor designed by Blue Orchid Living<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Overhead
Featuring: Penny Round Pale Taupe<\/a>, Penny Round Gloss White<\/a> and Penny Round Sky Blue<\/a>. Design & Photography by Blue Orchid Living<\/a>. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

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3. Provides Slip Resistance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"A
Featuring: Penny Round Gloss White<\/a> and Penny Round Cloudy<\/a>. Design by Timber Trails Development Company. Photography by John and Maura Stoffer.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
\"Sign<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Penny Tile Cons(iderations)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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\u2014especially if you\u2019re looking for a low-maintenance bathroom solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Installation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019re installing a single color, the small pieces will require more grout than large format tiles, making the process more time-consuming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cleaning & Maintenance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"This
Featuring: Penny Round Matte White<\/a>, Penny Round Matte Black<\/a> and Signature Bianco Matte<\/a>. Design by Julie Howard for Timber Trails<\/a>. Photography by John and Maura Stoffer<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Supporting Your Project at Every Step <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Whether or not you decide penny tile<\/a> is right for your bathroom, we’re here to help take your project from design from idea to installation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Schedule a free design consultation<\/a> or visit your local Tile Shop showroom<\/a> to get started! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>
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More Bathroom Inspo!<\/strong>
36 Bold & Beautiful Bathroom Tile Ideas<\/a>

10 Unique Zellige Bathroom Tile Ideas<\/a>

12 Cool & Calming Coastal Chic Bathroom Tile Ideas<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Tiny but mighty, penny round tile has graced bathroom walls and floors for over a century. Beloved for its slip-resistant…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":14005,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[7,5],"tags":[662,157,575,309,158,644,618,741,321,729,164,159,425],"class_list":["post-13784","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bathrooms","category-inspired-spaces","tag-bathroom-floor-tile","tag-bathroom-tile","tag-black-tile","tag-blue-tile","tag-floor-tile","tag-penny-round","tag-penny-round-tile","tag-penny-tile","tag-shower-tile","tag-shower-wall-tile","tag-subway-tile","tag-wall-tile","tag-white-tile"],"yoast_head":"\nPenny Bathroom Tile: Pros and Cons - The Tile Shop Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Tiny but mighty, penny round tile has graced bathroom walls and floors for over a century. 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