6 of the Best Tiles for Bathrooms

Choosing tiles for bathrooms shouldn't be a chore. We'll show you how to narrow down your selection and pick the perfect wall and floor coverings.

With so many different options available on the market today, finding the right tiles for your bathroom can be an incredibly difficult task indeed. With different materials, sizes, shapes, colours, finishes and styles, the possibilities are endless! There's already enough to think about when planning your bathroom, so choosing tiles shouldn't bring your refurbishment project to a grinding halt.

Luckily, help is at hand! As experts in all things to do with bathrooms, we’re here to help you narrow down your options. Looking specifically at general styles, we’ve picked out 6 of the best tiles for bathrooms.

1. Metro tiles for bathrooms

Metro tiles (also known as Subway tiles) have soared in popularity, with online searches increasing by over 100% during the past 10 years.

Reminiscent of the type of tiles found in London Underground stations and other metropolitan transit stations around the world, they earned the name “metro” tiles (or “subway” tiles, influenced by the American term) due to this connection.

A classic design that’ll never go out of fashion, metro tiles work perfectly in both contemporary and traditional settings. The smaller-than-average size means they can be laid out in different patterns and combined with different-coloured tiles and grouts to produce a variety of effects. It’s this versatility that makes them so popular.

Smaller tiles can help make small bathrooms appear bigger, which is just another reason why they prove so popular with UK homeowners.

When compared to other tile styles, the one downside may be the fact that they are a little smaller than conventional tiles, meaning they require a little more installation work. However, the extra effort is most definitely worth it!

The bevelled finish provides texture while the traditional gloss finish helps to reflect light, making a small bathroom feel brighter and more spacious. In our opinion, one of the best tiles for bathrooms and even kitchens!

If you do feel that Metro tiles may be too small or fiddly for your bathroom, you’ll be delighted to discover our range of Maxi metro tiles (pictured above). At 100mm x 300mm, they are a little large, meaning less installation work, fewer grout lines, yet the same stunning effect.

2. Marble-effect tiles for bathrooms

For luxury and opulence, marble has always been a much sought-after material, especially when it comes to tiles for bathrooms. For a long time, marble was the preserve of the rich and the famous, thanks to its high price tag, however, with modern manufacturing and printing techniques it’s now just as easy to “fake” the look.

Marble as a bathroom look is making a comeback, but this needn’t mean breaking the bank to make a style statement. Marble effect tiles, made from hardwearing ceramic, cost a fraction of the real thing and look just as elegant.

So, what will marble do for your bathroom? Well, for starters, it produces a clean, cool and opulent look. Lighter-coloured tiles, such as these, will also help to make your space look larger and brighter, which is ideal if your bathroom is a little on the small side.

Versatility is another key benefit of marble-effect tiles. They can be used in both contemporary and traditional settings to great effect.

For a truly luxurious look and feel, why not consider tiling both your walls and floors?

Marble-effect tiles come in a variety of neutral shades, from traditional white to grey and beige, meaning it's easy to complement your chosen colour palette.

3. Patterned tiles for bathrooms

Another big bathroom trend we’ve followed closely in recent years is the statement wall or floor. If your space looks a little boring, patterned tiles can help add visual interest and depth, making your décor more inviting and luxurious. Patterned tiles are designed to draw the eye, creating a focal point and bringing balance to your bathroom.

More often than not, patterned tiles have been inspired by Victorian or traditional designs, which are ornate, elegant and flowery. These can be monochrome or have a touch of colour to them, which you can match with your chosen palette. They look simply stunning and, in our opinion, are some of the best tiles for bathrooms.

If creating a statement floor, make sure you buy bathroom tiles suitable for floors. These are specially manufactured to be extra strong and able to withstand the volume of footfall you might expect in a family bathroom.

4. Stone-effect tiles for bathrooms

With the busy modern lives we all lead, there has been a move, in recent years, to reconnect with the natural world. This is reflected in the choice of materials we use in our bathrooms, resulting in a look that is much more organic.

To achieve this effect, stone effect tiles are proving a popular choice among UK homeowners. When combined with rustic wood surfaces and plants suitable for the bathroom environment, the effect is both calming and soothing.

Slate, granite and marble (which we’ve already touched upon), are all stone finishes which are incredibly desirable. However, splashing out on the real thing can cost serious cash and requires lots of care and maintenance.

Luckily, we live in a time where advanced printing and manufacturing techniques mean that stone-effect tiles for bathrooms can look and feel just like the real thing. And, with the popularity of grey bathrooms, stone-effect tiles can fit easily into a monochrome colour scheme.

With so many different stone-effect tiles available in a wide variety of shades, you can easily create the natural look in your bathroom.

5. Geometric-shaped tiles for bathrooms

Something that has really caught our eye in recent years is the move away from the traditional, rectangular or square tile shape, to embrace other geometric outlines. Hexagonal tiles, in particular, have captured the imagination of budding interior designers up and down the country.

6. Wood-effect tiles for bathrooms

Much like stone-effect tiles, wood designs are another big trend for modern interiors.

Natural wood, unless it is pre-treated or engineered for specific use in warm, moist environments, isn’t a great material for use in bathrooms. That’s why many homeowners are turning to wood effect tiles to create the desired effect.

Wood-effect tiles offer a warming and welcoming finish that is both durable and easy to clean. Available in a wide selection of wood finishes, like oak, birch and walnut.

One good design trick, to make a small bathroom feel taller, is to fit your tiles vertically, rather than horizontally!