6 Tile Design Ideas

What’s old is new again. Bold and colorful encaustic tile has been used in Europe for many years, but its popularity is recently rising in the US. The unique patterns and matte finish of encaustic tile are statement-makers for walls and floors.

Authentic encaustic tile is handmade from cement, and it’s slip-resistant, so it works well for bathroom floors and showers. However, it requires routine sealing because it isn’t waterproof. If sealing is too much maintenance for you, consider porcelain or ceramic encaustic tile, where you can get the look with less effort and a lower price tag. We have other water-resistant encaustic tile options available as well.

In the image above, a bold black and white star pattern livens up a kitchen nook. This encaustic tile is made of porcelain, so it's affordable and easy to maintain.

Creativity lends itself to a variety of ideas for tiles. Mixing and matching tile patterns is a popular look for kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms and more. It creates an interesting visual and allows you to play with color, design and size.

In this bathroom, gray and white hexagonal tile provides a beautiful backdrop to the wood vanities, black and glass globe pendant lights and black-framed arched mirrors. The bathroom floor is an oversized brown subway-tile. The shower tile design is a classic white subway tile.

As a general rule, try to limit your tile patterns to three types for bigger spaces, such as kitchens and large bathrooms. For smaller spaces, such as powder rooms, it’s best to limit yourself to two kinds of tile.

Watch This Video: 3 Ways to Makeover Your Bathroom

Marble is a natural stone that looks beautiful in traditional and modern homes alike. The most popular marble flooring is white with gray veining, but there are numerous color variations, including black, gray, pink, gold and even purple.

Marble tile can be used on floors or walls. Similar to encaustic tile, it requires sealing and is one of the pricier tiles on the market. Fortunately, there are marble-look tiles in ceramic or porcelain that are inexpensive, durable and moisture-resistant.

In the kitchen above, white and gray marble tile in a herringbone pattern creates a sophisticated backdrop. Brass hardware and accessories pair well with marble and give the space some needed warmth.

In the left image, a kitchen gets a sophisticated update with white cabinets, stainless steel appliances and dark slate kitchen floors. In the right image, simple black penny tile on the wall transforms this bathroom into a rich, masculine space.

If you’re searching for style on a budget, look no further than subway tile. The 3-inch-by-6-inch white subway tile is a classic that works in traditional, transitional and modern homes. The most well-known pattern is a brick formation, but the possibilities are endless. Create tile design patterns that are simple, elaborate or anywhere in between.

Some patterns include:

• Herringbone
• Vertical stacking
• Horizontal stacking
• Basket weave

However, a typical white subway tile is far from your only option. Subway tile now comes in a wide variety of colors, sizes and materials. For example, the backsplash in the laundry room above has a gray-green subway tile that's stacked vertically.

To see more variations, check out the Subway Tile Pattern Guide.

Check out this resource: 5 Uncommon Subway Tile Patterns

Wood-look tile is a trend that continues to be popular today. With wood-look tile, you can have the timeless appearance of a wood surface with the following benefits:

• Durable
• Waterproof
• Pet friendly
• No sealing required
• Stain-, scratch- and slip-resistant

Wood-look tile can be used in kitchens, bathrooms, living spaces, showers and even on walls. In the image above, brown and gray wood-look tile flooring is a nice contrast to the white sofas and bookcases in this living room.

For more tile ideas to liven up your home, check out these Inspirational Tile Looks from Lowe’s.