How to Choose the Perfect Bathroom Tile for Your Space, According to Interior Designers

Selecting a bathroom tile may seem simple, but anyone who's done it will tell you that it's important to consider every detail—no matter how small. Color, material, and style all play a role, as well as the overall scale of your room.

It's a conundrum that even interior designers face every day; fortunately, they have a few tried-and-true strategies up their sleeves. Below, we spoke to designers who share a few tips and tricks for choosing the perfect bathroom tile.

Decide on a Color

Before you even look at swatches, decide how you want the bathroom to feel. “Do you want a five-star hotel experience, or something warm and grounded?” says Tennille Joy Burnup, founder of Tennille Joy Interiors. That mood sets your palette.

The golden rule of color is to never trust a tile until you’ve seen it in your actual bathroom. Burnup warns that overhead lights with warm bulbs, for example, can completely shift a cool-toned tile. Test samples in place, morning to night.

As a general rule, Brittny Button, founder of Button Atelier, notes that creams, tans, and off-whites tend to age well. However, she warns against bold reds, yellows, and terracottas. “People get tired of them quickly, and darker colors show every bit of dirt and wear," she notes.

When mixing colors, be intentional. Burnup says designers will first test different combinations across the whole room. This ensures that they complement one another and that they don't compete.

Pick the Right Material

Designers are leaning into depth, tactility, and surfaces that feel as good as they look.

Burnup swears by porcelain tiles for floors: “They’re softer to walk on and more durable due to being baked at a higher temperature." Ceramic tiles are best used for backsplash or feature walls, as they're not quite as sturdy.

Thomas Hamel, principal of Thomas Hamel & Associates, recommends natural stone and solid terrazzo: “Anything that will age beautifully, rather than feel dated quickly."

Overall, try to focus on texture, rather than shine. “You want a material that softens the bathroom," says Button. "Honed stone, handmade porcelain, and matte finishes feel more grounded and lived-in." Even in cleaner, contemporary spaces, clients are asking for surfaces that aren’t too perfect.

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Consider Style Options

Before you get lost in the endless sea of swatches, take a step back and think about the style that you naturally gravitate toward. “It always comes back to how you want the room to feel,” says Burnup. “Tiles are the biggest visual cue in a bathroom, so their shape and style need to support that mood.”

According to Button, simpler shapes are having a moment because they’re so adaptable. “Classic rectangles and soft, rounded forms tend to age well,” she says. She also recommends subway or square styles.

However, if you want more personality, then texture-driven styles are your friend. Fluted and softly curved tiles add movement, for instance. “They’re a great way to introduce interest, without relying on bold colors or patterns,” says Burnup.

Here are a few spatial rules that designers live by:

• Small bathrooms: Use larger tiles or elongated shapes to visually stretch the space.
• Bigger bathrooms: You can play with smaller patterns without it feeling busy.
• Feature walls: Fluted, curved, or sculptural tiles work best when they’re the star, not the whole cast.

Plan Proper Placement

Think about what you’re trying to correct or enhance. Running tiles horizontally “widens and elongates a room,” says Burnup, making it ideal for narrow bathrooms or tight shower zones. It creates a calm, continuous line that tricks the eye into reading the space as broader than it is.

If you’re working with low ceilings, consider going vertical. Button says that vertical stacking or vertical fluting can “draw the eye up and add height to a room that feels squat.” These lines introduce a clean, modern rhythm, which is perfect for contemporary or spa-inspired bathrooms.

When in doubt, treat the shower as its own canvas. Hamel recommends using direction to reinforce function: “Tile orientation can help define zones," he says. "A vertical stack in the shower and horizontal field tiles outside can make the room feel layered and intentional.”