Tile choices have a larger impact on a kitchen or bathroom's finished look than almost any other material decision. These five tile trends have strong design roots that extend well beyond any single year — they're worth understanding whether you're remodeling now or planning ahead.
1. Vibrant Colors and Patterns
Bold, colorful tile has returned after years of gray-and-white dominance. Deep emerald, cobalt blue, terracotta, and rich burgundy are appearing on bathroom vanity walls, kitchen backsplashes, and entryway floors. The most effective approach is to use color as an accent rather than a field: a vibrant tile on one feature wall behind the tub, a bold backsplash against white cabinetry, or a patterned floor beneath neutral walls. Herringbone, chevron, and zellige tile (the slightly irregular handmade Moroccan tile with a luminous variation in glaze) have become particularly popular formats for colorful statement tile. For those who prefer something more restrained, muted pastels and dusty tones achieve a similar fresh-feeling effect with less commitment.
2. Mixed Materials and Textures
Combining different tile materials and textures in a single space creates depth that a uniform surface cannot achieve. Popular combinations include matte porcelain walls paired with glossy mosaic accent niches, textured stone-look tile alongside smooth ceramic, and large-format matte tile floors with smaller glossy tile in the shower. The key to making mixed materials work is keeping the color palette consistent: if all tiles share a common tone or color family, variations in material, finish, and texture read as intentional rather than chaotic. Explore our tile collection for combinations that work across material types.
3. Geometric Shapes and Designs
Geometric tile — hexagons, diamonds, triangles, and elongated shapes like arabesque — provides pattern and visual interest without relying on color. This is what makes geometric tile so versatile: a black-and-white hexagonal floor is graphic and bold; the same hexagonal format in muted stone tones is subtle and timeless. Geometric tile works particularly well on shower floors (where smaller-format tiles with more grout lines improve slip resistance), powder room floors (where a bold pattern makes a strong first impression in a small space), and as bathroom wall accents behind vanities or in niches.
4. Subway Tile and Mosaics
Subway tile has been in continuous use since it was first installed in the New York City subway system in 1904 — which tells you something about its staying power. The standard 3×6 format has been joined by elongated subway tiles (4×12, 4×16), stacked layouts (rather than brick offset), and beveled edges that catch light differently than flat tile. Mosaic tile — small tiles mounted on a mesh sheet for installation — provides unlimited design flexibility for feature walls, shower floors, and accent niches. Both subway and mosaic tile are available in ceramic, glass, marble, and porcelain, making them accessible at nearly every price point.
5. Natural Stone and Wood-Look Tiles
Natural stone tile — marble, limestone, travertine, slate, quartzite — has endured as a premium tile choice because each piece is genuinely unique, with natural variation in veining, color, and texture that no manufactured tile can replicate. The tradeoff is maintenance: natural stone requires periodic sealing and is sensitive to acidic cleaners. For high-traffic areas, large-format porcelain tile in natural stone patterns achieves a similar look with none of the maintenance requirements. Wood-look porcelain plank tile has similarly improved to the point where it's difficult to distinguish from genuine hardwood at first glance, while providing complete water resistance — ideal for bathroom floors and kitchen applications where real wood would be impractical.
Frequently Asked Questions
What tile is most popular for kitchen backsplashes right now?
Subway tile in white or off-white remains the most popular kitchen backsplash choice because of its versatility and timelessness. Bold statement backsplashes — zellige, patterned encaustic tile, and large-format slab stone — are growing rapidly in popularity for homeowners who want a more distinctive look.
What size tile makes a bathroom look bigger?
Large-format tile (12×24 or 24×48 inches) with minimal grout lines makes a bathroom look bigger by reducing visual fragmentation. Using the same large-format tile on both the floor and walls amplifies this effect. Light colors enhance the sense of space further by reflecting rather than absorbing light.
Is natural stone tile worth the extra maintenance?
For a bathroom or kitchen where you want a genuinely premium, one-of-a-kind material with natural variation, natural stone is worth the maintenance commitment. Sealing once per year (or more frequently for marble in kitchens) is the primary requirement. For a lower-maintenance alternative, a high-quality porcelain tile in a stone pattern provides a very similar appearance with significantly less upkeep.
