1. Select the Best Bathroom Tile Floor Material

With so many options for man-made tile (including luxury vinyl flooring) and natural stone—selecting the right material often depends on your desired look, your overall project budget, and your preferred level of maintenance. Here are some of the benefits of our most popular bathroom floor materials.

Man-Made:

Man-made materials include clay, vinyl, cement, glass and any other material that is not naturally occurring. In this section, we’ll discuss our most popular man-made materials for bathroom floors: porcelain, ceramic and luxury vinyl flooring.

Porcelain & Ceramic

Porcelain and ceramic tiles are made of clay that has been glazed and fired in a kiln. While porcelain tile, made from a stronger clay and fired at a higher temperature, is slightly more durable, both porcelain and ceramic floor tiles are robust enough to withstand typical bathroom traffic. In addition to being waterproof, these tiles are scratch- and stain-resistant, making them an excellent choice for bathroom floors. Available in a wide variety of shapes, patterns and finishes you can find porcelain and ceramic tiles to complement virtually any design. These tiles can even mimic the appearance of other materials; wood-look or marble-look tiles offer natural beauty with superior durability and easy maintenance.

From left to right: 1. Featuring: Truewood Beige. Design & Photography by Haneen Matt of Haneen’s Haven. 2. Featuring: Enredo Steel Dark Brown, Dark Stainless Steel Somerset and Quartzite Patagonia. 3. Featuring: Invisible Grey, DURAL Black Matte and Nord Ris Hex.

Luxury Vinyl Flooring

Waterproof, scratch- and stain-resistant luxury vinyl flooring offers the timeless appearance of natural wood and stone with unparalleled durability and hassle-free maintenance. With an affordable price point (styles start at just $1.79 per sq. ft.) and easy installation, luxury vinyl is a great option for budget-conscious or DIY projects. Plus, since all luxury vinyl styles are compatible with in-floor heat, you can create a space that looks and feels extravagant.

Note: Vinyl is a waterproof material; however, standing water can seep through the seams of your luxury vinyl planks and tiles. Ensure proper installation and promptly clean large spills to help prevent damage to the subfloor beneath. Not recommended for use in showers or wet rooms.

Pro Tip: DIY with confidence using our How to Install Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring guide.

From left to right: 1. Featuring: Cyrus Plus Fauna. 2. Featuring: Marmoreal Cement Silver Grey.

Natural Stone:

Unlike porcelain and ceramic tiles, stone is mined from the earth in large pieces and then cut into individual tiles, revealing inherently unique variations in color and veining. The Tile Shop’s stone collections include field tiles as well as coordinating mosaic and trim pieces, making them an excellent choice for a luxurious whole-bathroom remodel.

At The Tile Shop, you can find natural limestone, quartzite, slate and granite tiles, but here we’ll focus on our two most popular stones for bathrooms: marble and travertine.

These tiles are available in four distinct finishes:

Tumbled: A rough, textured look created by tumbling the stone with rocks.

Brushed: A textured look is achieved by combing the stone with a wire brush.

Honed: A smooth, matte finish.

Polished: A smooth, shiny finish with a sleek surface.

Marble

When choosing marble tile, the main considerations are color, finish, and shape. Available in a wide variety of colors–white, beige, and even green and black–marble floor tile can achieve virtually any aesthetic. Whether you like a rough, textured appearance or a smooth matte finish will determine whether you choose tumbled, brushed or honed marble. Polished marble tends to be slippery when wet, so if you prefer this shiny finish, consider a marble mosaic tile, which provides more grout joints for greater traction.

Pro Tip: Regularly treat your marble tile with made-in-U.S.A. Superior Enhancers and Sealers to keep it looking new.

Clockwise from top: 1. Featuring: Arctic White, Bandung Gris Acid, Riad White, White Pebbles (Small) and Arctic White Skirting. Design and photography by @MaryLauren. 2. Featuring: Arctic White. Design by Annie Selke. Photography by Bethany Nauert Photography. 3. Featuring: Meram Blanc Carrara, Verano White and Meram Blanc Carrara Somerset. Design by Timber Trails Development Company. Photography by John and Maura Stoffer. 4. Featuring: Firenze Carrara Hex. Design and Photography by The Grit and Polish. 5. Featuring: Siberian Pearl. Design by Timber Trails Development Company. Photography by John and Maura Stoffer.

Travertine

A type of limestone characterized by its formation in natural springs, travertine features rich veining and color variation, with shades ranging from brilliant silver to warm beige to black. Available in the same four finishes as marble, travertine tile has seen a resurgence in recent years thanks to its warm, earthy tones.

Pro Tip: Stretch your bathroom budget by pairing a natural stone floor with a stone-look porcelain or ceramic wall tile.

Right to left: 1. Featuring: Atlanta White, Claros Silver, Claros Silver Barnes, Claros Silver Threshold, Claros Silver Skirting and Claros Silver Hex. Design by Kelli Fontana Vogelgesang. Build by Rick and Kelli Vogelgesang of West Bay Homes. Photography by Spacecrafting. 2. Featuring: Claros Silver. Design & Photography by Coco & Jack.

2. Select the Best Style of Flooring for Your Bathroom

Both man-made and natural stone tiles are available in a wide range of styles. From hexagons and penny rounds to checkerboards–when it comes to design, there’s no wrong choice. Virtually any floor tile will meet the functional requirements of your bathroom. Ultimately, it comes down to your individual taste. Here are some of our most popular styles to consider.

Large-Format Tile

Since it requires fewer grout lines, large-format tile makes any space feel more cohesive and expansive. Defined as any tile with one side greater than 15″, large-format floor tiles are available in styles up to 48″ x 48″. The majority of these tiles are porcelain, as the strength of this material reduces the risk of cracks and breakage, ensuring smoother installation and superior durability. Cement and stone looks are especially popular in this format, as the large tiles create the appearance of a single, seamless slab.

Left to right: 1. Featuring: Softcement Graphite, Noir Honed Hixton, Noir Honed Threshold, Noir Honed Limestone, Alvarado Matte and Livingstone Nero. Design by Kelli Fontana Vogelgesang. Build by Rick and Kelli Vogelgesang of West Bay Homes. Photography by Spacecrafting. 2. Featuring: Argile Matte White and Livingstone Melange. Design by Nikki Chu

Patterned Tile

Delicate florals, abstract shapes and textile-influenced designs are all represented in our wide selection of patterned tile. Whether bold or subtle, a pattern can reflect your personality and set the tone for your space. Explore our patterned tile collection to discover the perfect tile for your style. 

Pro Tip: “If there’s a tile that stands out to you but you’re having second thoughts because it may be too bold or too colorful, a powder bath is the perfect place to experiment.” – Nikki Chu, Celebrity Designer

Clockwise: 1. Featuring: Nikki Chu Zulu Graphite. 2. Featuring: Tribeca Gypsum White and Jeffrey Alan Marks Summerland Miramar. 3. Featuring: Imperial Bianco Bevel Gloss, Laura Ashely Leaf Cloud Blue and Laura Ashley Sunflower Charcoal with Cloud Blue.

Mosaic Tile

Besides offering beautifully intricate designs, the small pieces that make up each sheet of mosaic tile feature more grout joints per square foot, which adds traction to your floors. This makes mosaics perfect for wetrooms, showers and primary bathroom floors. While more grout joints require more cleaning and regular sealing, the results are stunning.

Mounted on mesh sheets for easy installation, this highly versatile tile is available in a wide range of shapes, sizes, materials and styles. Some mosaics, like penny rounds and small hexagons, allow for custom designs by mixing colors in the same size and shape. When you select marble or travertine mosaics from The Tile Shop’s natural stone collections, you can choose from a variety of matching field tiles and trim to complete your bathroom design.

Pro Tip: Achieve a highly designed look by using your bathroom floor mosaic to create matching accents, such as a sink backsplash or shower niche.

Right to left: 1. Featuring: Penny Round Gloss White and Penny Round Cloudy. Design by Timber Trails Development Company. Photography by John and Maura Stoffer. 2. Featuring: Meram Blanc Carrara Polished Niles with Grey. Design by Timber Trails Development Company. Photography by John and Maura Stoffer. 3. Featuring: Hampton Carrara Cardine, Hampton Niles, Noir Hixton and Hampton Carrara Threshold. Design and Photography by Mas Means More.

Subway Tile

Sleek, chic and highly versatile, subway tile consistently ranks as one of our most popular tile styles. While commonly used on walls, subway tile is just as stylish on bathroom floors. The wide range of colors, materials (stone and man-made) and sizes (from petite 2″ x 6″ to long, skinny 4″ x 24″) make this tile compatible with virtually any contemporary or traditional design style. Its versatile rectangular shape can be installed in a variety of layouts, such as brick-lay, straight stack or herringbone. Check out this guide to subway tile layouts for more ideas.

Clockwise: 1. Featuring: Coco White Matte. 2. Featuring: Coco Canvas Matte. 3. Featuring: Victoria Grey Dark.

Zellige Tile

Handcrafted by artisans using centuries-old techniques, Zellige tile is renowned for its authentic character and perfectly imperfect appearance. Available in petite subway, square and mosaic styles, the Star and Cross shapes are the most popular floor designs. These unique shapes reflect traditional Moroccan design and can be installed in alternating glossy and matte finishes to create subtle interest.

Note: part of Zellige tile’s handmade appeal lies in the slight variations in size, thickness and surface texture from tile to tile.

Pro Tip: For a slightly more uniform (and budget-friendly) floor tile, try the handmade-look Kasbah Cross and Star tiles.

Clockwise: 1. Featuring: Zellige Alabaster Gloss, Zellige Charcoal Chabone Cross Gloss and Zellige Charcoal Chabone Star Matte. 2. Featuring: Pisa Oro Matte, Kasbah Cross Terracotta, Kasbah Star Bone, Coco White Matte and Coco Canvas Matte. 3. Featuring: Kasbah Cross Terracotta and Kasbah Star Terracotta.

3. The Best-to-Clean Bathroom Flooring

Whether cleaning the bathroom is a chore you love or dread, chances are you want it to go as smoothly and effortlessly as possible. Easy to clean, stain resistant and waterproof, tile is perfect for bathroom floors. Whatever style or material you choose, a good broom and a mop will be enough for daily cleaning. However, you’ll occasionally want to do a deeper clean to address build-up in your grout joints. Large-format tile has the fewest grout joints, while mosaics have the most. Natural stone will also require extra maintenance, including regular sealing and special cleaning.

Pro Tip: A dark-colored grout will hide the appearance of dirt.

Featuring: Siberian Pearl. Design by Timber Trails Development Company. Photography by John and Maura Stoffer.

We hope this guide helps you select beautiful and durable bathroom flooring. Explore our Bathroom Flooring Ideas and shop bathroom floor tile for more inspiration. Have more questions? We’re always here to help! Visit your local Tile Shop showroom, or schedule a free design consultation to get started.

The post How to Choose Bathroom Floor Tile appeared first on The Tile Shop Blog.

1. Hotel-Inspired Interiors

Luxurious, serene and universally appealing, hotel-style interiors make every day feel like a vacation. This five-star shower features the Pisa Oro wall tile matched with the Kasbah Star Bone and Terracotta Cross for a rich and pampering space. Choose luxe marble- or handmade-look tiles in a warm, neutral palette to achieve this look.

2. Celebration of Pattern

Whether graphic and bold, or soft and floral, we predict that patterns will be gracing more walls and floors. Durable and easy to clean, porcelain and ceramic tiles are perfect for showcasing a favorite print–especially in high-traffic or high-mess areas like a kitchen backsplash. Shop our extensive selection of patterned tile to find a design you’ll love.

3. Picket Tile

A new twist on traditional subway tile, picket tile has gained popularity in recent years, and we foresee it continuing to add pointed charm for years to come. Shop our full selection of picket tile to find a style that fits your space.

4. Curves

Sofas aren’t the only traditionally boxy items turning to rounded edges; curved tile has fewer sharp points, creating a softness to your interior design. Scallops, waves and penny rounds–with their soothing silhouettes–will be featured in more spaces. Here, the Gem by Alison Victoria tile shows how the curved edge enlivens a space with gentle movement.

5. A Focus On Artisan Designs

Both interior design and fashion saw a renewed enthusiasm for handcrafted goods in 2024, and we expect this trend toward authenticity and quality to continue into the new year. Crafted, painted and glazed by hand, each Zellige tile adds one-of-a-kind character to your home. This kitchen, designed by Fox Homes and featuring the Zellige White Gloss tile, shows how the slight variations from piece to piece come together to create an elegant space.

6. Eclecticism

Artfully mixed patterns, colors and materials are what make eclectic design so intriguing. This style rewards the bold and unconventional, as seen in the uniquely patterned Big Sur tile from celebrity designer Jeffrey Alan Marks. The abstract layers of glossy blue patina top a cream-colored matte base, giving the appearance of glazed pottery. Shop Big Sur in its two distinct colorways: Sea Spray (green) and Off the Hook (shown).

7. Japandi

A harmonious blend of Japanese and Scandinavian design, Japandi places significance on soothing colors, high-quality materials and a connection with nature. Choose warm neutral colors and wood-look tile (such as the Nidus Decore Mix tile shown here) to create your personal Zen retreat.

8. Brilliant Blue

From bright cobalt to rich navy to vivid sky, blue in all its hues will infuse our interiors with vibrant, serotonin-inducing vibes in 2025. Shop our wide assortment of blue tile–including the Zellige Azul gloss tile shown here–to find the perfect shade for your space.

9. Cozy Patterns

Charming florals are a cornerstone of some of our favorite emerging trends. “English cottage” and the closely related “granny chic” styles use vintage-inspired plays of pattern and color to evoke the cozy feeling of curling up on an overstuffed sofa with a warm cup of tea. The whimsical patterns in our exclusive Laura Ashley collection will help you achieve this timeless trend.

10. Glass and Mirrors

Reflective surfaces will brighten more spaces in 2025. Mirrored glass tiles add warmth and depth to your space, making them a great choice for kitchen backsplashes or entryway walls. Here, the Patina Siren Mirror by Kelli Fontana tile helps to illuminate this stylish kitchen.

11. Textured Walls

The coming year will be about celebrating all five senses, which means adding tactile elements to your home. Fluted tile, like the Violin Decor tile shown here, adds texture to your walls. Install this tile in your bathroom or shower to awaken your senses at the start of the day.

12. Natural Neutrals

The trend toward embracing the shapes, materials and colors of nature will continue into the new year. Warm browns and beiges reflect the outside world and create a serene and soothing atmosphere. Shop our full assortment of brown and beige tiles to create tranquil spaces.

13. All Things Green

Increasingly recognized as a new neutral, green inspires a feeling of connectivity with nature, making it a popular shade for home interiors. Its versatility in pairing with other colors makes it a go-to tone for a variety of styles. Shop our wide selection of green tile and create your own envy-worthy space.

14. Self-Care Spaces

Making time to be your best self is more than just a trend. Prioritize your self-care by creating spaces that promote well-being. Whether it’s an ultra-luxe bathroom like this Nikki Chu-designed room, or a tranquil shower, having a place in your home that relaxes and revitalizes you will help you care for more than just yourself.

15. Natural Stone

Luxurious and unique, natural stone continues to be a popular design choice. In addition to the ever-popular marble, we predict that travertine will grace many spaces in 2025. Here, Arctic White marble is paired with Claros Silver travertine for a beautifully textured shower.

We can’t wait to see all the amazing spaces you create in 2025! Share your next project by tagging us @thetileshop on Instagram or uploading it directly to our Customer Room Gallery (you can find even more design inspo there, too)!

The post Our Top 15 Tile Trend Predictions for 2025 appeared first on The Tile Shop Blog.

primary wall tile: hampton carrara polished subway | floor tiles: hex matte black & hampton carrara tumbled

design & photography: chris loves julia

Inspired by one of the first DIY projects they tackled in their new North Carolina Modern Colonial home – a custom penny round floor pattern for the powder room – Julia created a similar look in this space with 1″ hex tiles made of matte black porcelain and Hampton Carrara marble.

This tile project ended up being the most intricate but also one of the most beautiful tile jobs we have done in a home.

–Julia Marcum

So, aside from walls lined in Hampton Carrara subway tile and the striking custom floor pattern, what is it that elevates this bathroom from beautiful to breathtaking? Trim. Trim. And more trim. While these small tile accents may seem subtle, this design proves how much impact they really can have. The sleek black pencil liner draws the eye throughout the space and offers the perfect amount of contrast, while the marble durand adorns walls with dimension and interest in the form of elegant box trim.

Keep scrolling to see if you can spot even more tile trim and finishing pieces Chris and Julia used in this space!

Gallery

For a more in-depth look at this space, as well as the renovation process from start to finish, be sure to visit the Chris Loves Julia blog. Or, if you’re itching to see more of their drool-worthy bathroom design work, tour the breathtaking Modern Cottage Primary Bathroom in their previous home featuring our moody Silver Mist limestone collection from top to bottom.

The post Chris Loves Julia’s Modern Colonial Marble Bathroom appeared first on The Tile Shop Blog.