1. Create a Sparkling Space With Glass Tile

The blue, grey and white tones in the Blue Twilight Brick tile create a waterfall effect on the inside wall of this stunning tub surround. Shiny and reflective, the glass tile shimmers as the light hits it, brightening the space and stimulating the senses. The glossy white tile on the outside walls provides another reflective surface, adding depth to the space. Shop glass tile to find styles as sparkling as your personality.

2. Match Your Modern Farmhouse Decor

Fashionably homey, modern farmhouse design celebrates elevated simplicity and a connection to rural roots. This bathroom, designed by I SPY DIY, embodies those ideals with a sleek surround featuring the Metro Bianco Gloss subway tile. The right-angled herringbone pattern adds dynamic movement to the space, enhanced by contrasting black grout. Blush-painted walls and a gossamer shower curtain infuse the space with a romantic sensibility, but the versatile tile design makes it easy to update by swapping out accessories. If this cozy-chic style is your (homemade) jam, check out 11 Charming Modern Farmhouse Bathroom Tile Ideas.

3. Surround Yourself With Luxury

Ultra-luxe slab design is often created using a single block of stone, which can be both expensive and difficult to install. Achieve this high-end aesthetic on a more modest budget with our new selection of porcelain panel tub kits. Each kit includes two 30″ x 64″ panels and two 32″ x 64″ panels that mimic the size and appearance of large pieces of real marble at a more accessible price point. The Calacatta White tub kit, shown here, replicates luxurious white marble with bold, realistic veining—delivering refined Mediterranean style for under $1,000 per kit.

4. Don’t Forget the Details

A bathtub surround offers a wide canvas–make the most of it with beautiful and intentional details, like the marble corner shelves and tiled picture frame featured in this elegant bathroom designed by LoPiccolo Contracting. The focal point is created by “framing” the Hampton Niles marble mosaic tile with a single layer of Hampton Carrara Somerset. This exquisite design detail highlights a favorite patterned or mosaic tile that might be overwhelming if used throughout the entire space. The Hampton Carrara corner shelves provide stylish storage, eliminating the need for a bulky shower caddy.

5. Soak in Sophistication with Warm Neutral Tile

Here is another example of our new porcelain tile tub kits, available in four distinct marble looks: Calacatta White, Mastersone White, Statuario Nuovo and Max Rapolano (shown here). The creamy ivory tones infuse the space with warmth and contemporary style. The coordinating 12″ x 24″ Max Rapolano Ivory floor tile completes the look, creating a sense of quiet luxury and filling the space with rich serenity.

6. Get it Straight (Stack)

Everything is stacked in this sleek bathroom’s favor. The Villa White Gloss tile is installed in a vertical straight stack, adding height to the walls and offering a chic, contemporary look. Slightly contrasting grey grout highlights the clean lines of this simple layout and provides a visual throughline to the Bronx Acero tile in the checkerboard-patterned floor. If subway tile is your style of choice, discover the myriad of installation options in our guide to subway tile layouts.

7. Tile the Tub Apron

Extending your tub surround to the tub apron creates a unified space that displays your style–even when the shower curtain is drawn. This lovely space, designed by Steph Cotherman Creative, features the Argile White Matte wall tile. The perfectly imperfect details of the handmade-look tile lend visual texture through purposeful variations in color and edge from piece to piece. The result is an understated grandeur that both soothes and invigorates the senses. Shop our wide selection of handmade-look tile to achieve this artisanal aesthetic.

8. Showcase Your Style With Patterned Tile

An expressive patterned tile infuses your space with personality in the form of durable and waterproof porcelain or ceramic. Here, the Nikki Chu Zulu Pumice tile (inspired by the celebrity designer’s popular wallpaper) brings bold, graphic design to this fashion-forward bathroom. Paired with the Nikki Chu Luxor Pumice subway tile on the far wall, the soft beige background and bold hand-drawn-look pattern add decoration while maintaining a neutral space. If you love this eclectic, global style, shop our exclusive Nikki Chu designer collection.

9. Create a Relaxing Atmosphere with Dark Tile

Cool and modern, dark grey or black tile exudes sleek sophistication–as evident in this sharply styled bathroom designed by Timber Trails. The Imperial Pewter Frame Gloss subway tile features a slightly reflective, glossy finish that catches the light and highlights its chic raised “frame” edge. The black tub surround contrasts beautifully with the white walls and white-with-black-polka-dot hex tile floor. This simple color scheme allows for styling versatility–a few well-placed colorful accessories would really stand out in this space.

10. Extend the Tile to the Ceiling

If your shower space is on the short side, you can create the illusion of height by extending your tub surround tile to the ceiling. This elegant shower, designed by Yellow Brick Home, takes the Firenze Carrara tile up the angled ceiling to draw the eye upward and create a continuous space within the tub and shower area. We love how the marble tile is also used as wainscoting in the main bathroom area.

Updating your space is easier than you think! Shop our wide assortment of bathroom tile to find your perfect style, and explore our extended list of bathroom tile ideas for more inspiration. 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 10 Chic & Unique Tub Surround Tile Ideas appeared first on The Tile Shop Blog.

Zellige Tile

What is Zellige tile? Crafted in Morocco, each of these tiles is shaped and glazed by hand resulting in a truly one-of-a-kind look. These tiles come in a variety of colors and shapes, including the popular star and cross shapes, bringing old-world charm to contemporary design.

Zellige Gloss

Available in alabaster, black, dark grey, light grey and white, each of these 4″ x 4″ square tiles is handcrafted creating naturally uneven lines and variances in surface color. The effect on these walls is absolutely stunning! These handmade Moroccan tiles are great for creating an unexpected moment like this recessed shelf or to liven up a kitchen backsplash (below). These tiles are also available in 2″ x 6″ rectangles and 2″ x 2″ square mosaic.

Zellige Charcoal Chabone Cross and Star

This classic Zellige pattern will transform your space with old-world sophistication. Install the cross and stars in contrasting finishes for a unique, but subtle pattern, as shown here with gloss crosses and matte stars.

Handmade-Look

Do you like the look of handmade tiles, but want a little more continuity? Get the unique character of handmade tiles with less variance in color and size (and a lower price-point) with handmade-look tiles.

Riad

These 4″ x 4″ square tiles–available in white, sand and grey–mimic the square Zellige tiles, with uneven edges and variation in color and surface texture, but the differences are not quite as pronounced as in the true handmade tiles. If you like your lines a little more straight and your color a little more uniform, you can’t go wrong with the Riad tile. We love how Rachael Jackson used the Riad White and Grey to create a stunning checkerboard pattern in her kitchen remodel.

Splendours

The Splendours takes subway tile up a notch with perfectly imperfect character. This tile comes in a variety of colors (as well as the traditional white) to suit your style. For an added twist on a classic subway, try the elongated-hex-shaped picket tile.

Marrakesh

The Marrakesh tiles will add a wonderful sense of movement to your walls. Available in white, blue and green, the natural color variation in the tiles makes for beautiful kitchen backsplashes (as evidenced below) but we also love how ISPYDIY created a checkerboard pattern for their shower wall.

Look

Available in dark blues, green and white, the Look elongated handmade-look subway tile comes in bold colors with an artisanal appearance that will add texture and charm to your space. We love how the variations in color add character to this kitchen island.

Track Stack

The slight shade variation in the Track Stack mosaic tiles creates an artisanal look even as the long thin tiles align with beautiful symmetry. If you’re loving this look, check out the Track Stack Navy Blue tiles.

Annie Selke Artisanal

The Annie Selke Artisanal Blue tile shown used in this shower features slightly uneven surfaces for a handcrafted look and unique charm. The slight imperfections add character, but this tile is still even enough to create almost straight lines.

Argile

Embrace quiet luxury with the Argile matte subway tile. The slight variations in tone and texture create a handcrafted look that pairs well with the soft, marble-look Livingstone Melange tile.

You can find even more inspiration on Instagram and our Customer Room Gallery where our tiles are used in a variety of real spaces! Or, if you’re looking for some guidance on an upcoming project, set up a free design consultation to get advice from our tile experts.

The post 9 Elegantly Crafted Handmade & Handmade-Look Tiles appeared first on The Tile Shop Blog.