Room Design
Bathroom Design
By
Kristin Hohenadel
Kristin Hohenadel
Kristin Hohenadel has written on design for publications including the New York Times, Interior Design, Slate, Fast Company, and the international editions of Elle Decor.
Learn more about The Spruce'sEditorial Process
Published on 12/24/23
Trending Videos
Choosing bathroom floor tile is an important job that will have an outsized impact on any size bathroom. You can cover your bathroom floor in solid neutral tiles that take a back seat to bolder or more colorful finishes on the walls. Or create an instant focal point by adding colorful or patterned tile to an otherwise neutral bathroom that can change the whole mood.
Check out these bathroom floor tile ideas in a range of styles, colors, patterns, and materials to help you lay a foundation for a design that you will love for years to come.
01 of 29
Checkerboard Tile
Checkerboard floor tile will lend your bathroom a timeless feel. Becca Interiors chose a variation on classic black and white with gray checkerboard floor tiles that add subtle pattern to a bathroom painted in a deep shade of gray with a vintage sink, but this versatile style can work with a variety of design styles including traditional, farmhouse, and modern bathrooms.
Continue to 2 of 29 below
02 of 29
Penny Tiles
Penny tiles are an enduring choice for floor tiles in bathrooms of any style. Erin Williamson Design used white marble penny tiles to renovate this Austin, TX, bungalow, a classic choice that blends well with white subway tiles on the shower walls and complements period-appropriate fixtures to create a timeless look.
Continue to 3 of 29 below
03 of 29
Black Hex Tiles
Simple black hexagonal tiles with bright white grout work with a variety of styles. Becca Interiors paired the geometric pattern with an industrial wall-mounted sink and a pair of planters for a modern feel.
Continue to 4 of 29 below
04 of 29
Colorful Patterned Tile
Colorful patterned tile will make a huge impact in a small space. Tyler Karu Design + Interiors used the same decorative patterned tile on both the floors and the shower niche to decorate this blue-and-white Maine bathroom in a historic home.
Continue to 5 of 29 below
05 of 29
Square Tiles
Square tiles are a sometimes-forgotten alternative to subway tiles that are easily adapted to a variety of spaces. Chango & Co. covered the floor of this warm and inviting bathroom with earth toned pale terracotta square tiles that echo the subtly patterned shower wall tiles for a cohesive feel.
Continue to 6 of 29 below
06 of 29
Herringbone Subway Tiles
Laying simple white tiles in a herringbone pattern adds subtle texture to the floor of this small bathroom from Emily Henderson Design.
Continue to 7 of 29 below
07 of 29
Blue-Gray Stone Tiles
Large format stone tiles will lend a rustic feel to a minimalist bathroom. Leanne Ford Interiors paired blue-gray floor tiles with dark wood and textured wall finishes in this midcentury modern bathroom.
Continue to 8 of 29 below
08 of 29
Terrazzo Floor Tiles
Terrazzo tile can be busy and bold or subtly textured. Desiree Burns Interiors added understated terrazzo floor tiles in pale neutral colors that add texture without taking focus from a bathroom accent wall of soft green tiles.
Continue to 9 of 29 below
09 of 29
Tile Rug Insert
Create a floor within a floor in your bathroom with a tile rug insert that can add pattern, color, or simply define a zone like the bathtub area. This elegant bathroom from Marie Flanigan Interiors includes tile rugs with borders to define areas in the large space using subtle variations of gray.
Continue to 10 of 29 below
10 of 29
Buffalo Check Floor Tile
Add a lively feel to your bathroom by choosing floor tile with a classic pattern in neutral tones, like the black-and-white buffalo check tile floors in this modern farmhouse bathroom from Chango & Co.
Continue to 11 of 29 below
11 of 29
Black-and-White Tile
Black-and-white tile can be classic or contemporary, creating a bold look that pairs well with walls of any color. Caroline Andreoni Interior Design paired black-and-white floor tile with a circle pattern with glowing terracotta walls to give this Paris bathroom character.
Continue to 12 of 29 below
12 of 29
Basketweave Mosaic Tiles
Complement a traditional bathroom with basketweave floor tiles, like this romantic space from Mary Patton Design that is decorated in cool tones of blue, silver, and white.
Continue to 13 of 29 below
13 of 29
Faux Wood Tiles
Faux wood effect floor tiles can make a rustic bathroom look more authentic or add subtle warmth to a modern bathroom like this black-and-white space from Brexton Cole Interiors.
Continue to 14 of 29 below
14 of 29
Neutral Patterned Tile
Make a small bathroom feel more spacious with soft neutral paint on the walls and small-scale patterned floor tile in soft shades of gray and white that creates movement, like this space from Desiree Burns Interiors.
Continue to 15 of 29 below
See AlsoBathroom Flooring Ideas15 of 29
Black Marble Tiles
Large format marble or marble-effect tiles on both floors and walls will create a polished feel. Caroline Andreoni Interior Design chose black marble tiles with white veining and grout to match for this sophisticated Parisian powder room.
Continue to 16 of 29 below
16 of 29
3D Geometric Floor Tile
Adding bold and colorful geometric floor tile with a 3D effect to an all-white bathroom is an easy way to transform a simple space into something memorable, like this space from Emily Henderson Design.
Continue to 17 of 29 below
17 of 29
Gray-and-White Marble Tiles
Timeless gray-and-white marble-effect floor tiles are a quiet complement to this small guest half bath from Ursula Carmona of Home Made By Carmona that is decorated with wainscoting, wallpaper, colored glass, brass accents, and framed art.
Continue to 18 of 29 below
18 of 29
Floor and Shower Tile
In a small bathroom with a walk-in shower, run the floor tile into the shower for a cohesive look. Michelle Berwick Design created flow in a tight bathroom by running light blue patterned tile from the shower pan to the floor, giving the impression of a larger space.
Continue to 19 of 29 below
19 of 29
Hexagon Daisy Mosaic
Black and white penny tiles in a daisy mosaic will add whimsy to a modern bathroom. Caroline Andreoni Interior Design paired the retro-inspired flooring with textured pink walls in this Parisian bathroom.
Continue to 20 of 29 below
20 of 29
Airy Patterned Tiles
Blue and white is an easy and winning bathroom color combination that works every time. In this Edwardian London bathroom from Studio Peake, matching floor and wile tile in an airy soft blue-and-white pattern enhances the elegant look of the space.
Continue to 21 of 29 below
21 of 29
Green Marble Subway Tiles
Pair dark green marble subway tile floors with lighter green shower tiles for a tonal look, like this bathroom from Michelle Berwick Design.
Continue to 22 of 29 below
22 of 29
Penny Tile Mosaic
Spell out a favorite word, phrase, or simple greeting with mosaic penny tiles to add a lighthearted feel in a guest or kids' bathroom, like this powder room from Michelle Berwick Design.
Continue to 23 of 29 below
23 of 29
Large-Scale Tiles
Choose large-scale tiles with matching grout to create an uninterrupted appearance and allow other decor elements to shine. Michelle Boudreau Design paired simple white floor tiles with patterned wallpaper and boho-style touches for a textural look.
Continue to 24 of 29 below
24 of 29
Monochromatic Patterned
Add understated texture to your bathroom with monochromatic patterned floor tiles. Michelle Berwick Design chose an interlocking star and cross pattern from Fireclay Tile that is inspired by Moroccan tile and Spanish Colonial Revival architecture to add interest to this neutral modern bathroom.
Continue to 25 of 29 below
25 of 29
Green Geometric Floor Tile
Take a colorful and maximalist approach by pairing different tiles on the walls and floors. Studio Peake clad the walls of this compact bathroom with shiny vertical teal wall tiles, then tiled the bathroom floor with matte floor tiles in a triangular geometric pattern in shades of green that complements the color story without matching it.
Continue to 26 of 29 below
26 of 29
Concrete-Effect Tiles
Create the look of a cement floor with cement-effect large-scale tiles with matching grout for an uninterrupted look. This style can work with many styles, from minimalist to industrial. Brophy Interiors chose cement tiles that pair easily with textured vertical shower tiles, terrazzo countertops, and sage green cabinetry.
Continue to 27 of 29 below
27 of 29
Porcelain Oak-Effect Tile
Wood-effect tile doesn't have to be rustic. Michelle Berwick Design chose porcelain floor tiles with a faux oak finish that are laid out like puzzle pieces on the floor to create a dynamic and natural feel in this modern bathroom.
Continue to 28 of 29 below
28 of 29
Colorful Terrazzo Tile
Complement colorful terrazzo floor tile with similar shades on the walls for a cohesive and dimensional look. Caroline Andreoni Interior Design paired soft pink and gray terrazzo tile floors with earthy terracotta wall paint and a mix of rustic wood and industrial elements in this shared French family bathroom.
Continue to 29 of 29 below
29 of 29
Oversized Hex Tiles
Oversized hexagonal floor tiles will add texture while allowing more colorful wall tiles to take center stage. In this bathroom from Max Humphrey and Beebe Skidmore for Emily Henderson Design, off-white floor tiles add contrast with two-tone blue wall tiles for a calming but dynamic feel.
What is the best color for bathroom floor tile?
The best color for bathroom floor tile depends on the look you want and the colors of your walls, cabinetry, and wall tile. Popular colors include neutrals like white, cream, beige, gray, and black. Many people choose blue and green tiles that evoke the color of water.If you have trouble deciding, consider multicolored terrazzo or patterned tiles.
What size and style of tile looks best in a small bathroom?
You can use any size and style of tile in a small bathroom. Smaller tiles such as penny tiles are easy to adapt to small or irregular spaces. Choose a grout color that closely matches the tile itself, like white marble penny tiles with white grout, for a uniform look.
Medium-sized tiles such as square, subway, or patterned tiles are well suited to smaller bathrooms. Or you can use larger tiles such as marble or porcelain with fewer grout lines to create the feel of a single slab that will give your small bathroom a streamlined look.
What size and style of floor tile makes a bathroom look bigger?
To make a small bathroom look bigger, choose large-scale tiles with fewer grout lines to create an uninterrupted and uniform look. Laying subway tiles in a diagonal format will create a dynamic look that can make a smaller bathroom feel larger. Using a bold geometric tile will add movement and pattern, keeping the eye moving rather than focusing on the contours of the room.
Porcelain vs. Ceramic Tile: How to Choose the Best Type for You