Bathroom tile is moving toward stronger pattern, warmer color, and smarter placement. The current trend list also shows a useful split: floor designs lead the conversation, while shower walls get bold accents. Here are the standout looks, plus the rooms and remodel plans they suit best.
1. LIFT Construction (Our Top Pick)
LIFT Construction is our top pick for homeowners who want tile style matched with sound planning and skilled work. We serve Northern Utah homeowners and businesses with bathroom remodeling, renovation, and restoration work.
Tile selection is only one part of a bathroom project. The layout must account for drain slope, wall height, fixture locations, waterproofing, grout joints, and the number of full tiles visible from the doorway. A tile can look great in a showroom yet feel chopped up once it reaches a small room.
We help clients compare different tile sizes, shower tile options, subway tile, natural-looking finishes, and bold floor patterns before installation begins. Tile size can affect the number of grout lines on a shower wall. Tile layout and size also matter when planning a sloped shower floor and its pitch toward the drain.
For homeowners in Layton or Davis County, our bathroom remodeling services in Layton and Davis County include updated tile, vanities, lighting, storage, and shower work. We plan the room as one system, so the tile supports daily use instead of fighting it.
The limitation is simple: LIFT Construction is a remodeling contractor, not a tile brand. You still need to choose the look you want. We can help you test that choice against the room’s size, fixtures, budget, and long-term care needs.
If the project involves fire or smoke damage, tile selection also has to fit the repair plan. In that case, a full-service contractor can keep demolition, restoration, and finish work in one handoff.
2. Blue Subway Tile, A Familiar Classic with More Personality
Blue subway tile remains one of the easiest bathroom tile trends to adapt. It keeps the familiar rectangular shape but adds more mood than plain white tile.
In the source gallery reviewed for this article, blue subway tiles line a shower area as a strong accent. That placement works because the rest of the room can stay calm. A soft white, warm cream, or pale wood tone nearby gives the blue room to stand out.
Tile size and direction change the effect. A narrow subway tile can feel lively when stacked vertically. Vertical placement pulls the eye upward, which can help a short shower wall feel taller. A horizontal layout feels wider and more traditional.
Blue also works across several design moods. Deep blue can make a bathroom feel quiet and grounded. Pale blue feels lighter. A muted blue with a handmade surface adds texture without requiring a loud pattern.
Keep the grout choice in mind. A close grout color makes the tile read as one surface. A high-contrast grout makes each rectangle stand out. That can be attractive, but it also adds visual lines across the wall.
Blue subway tile has one clear caveat. It can look dated if the shade, grout, and fixtures all lean too heavily into the same period style. Pair it with a clean vanity or a simple neutral floor to keep the room current.
The examples reviewed provide useful visual inspiration, but they do not prove that blue tile is popular everywhere or that one shade will suit every home.
3. Mosaic Glass Tile, Reflective Detail for Shower Walls and Niches
Mosaic glass tile brings small scale and light reflection to the bathroom tile trends list. The reviewed example uses glass mosaic on a feature wall in a modern cottage bathroom.
Glass works best when you want detail in a focused area. A shower niche, vanity wall, or narrow band can gain depth without covering every surface in pattern. This detail can also help shape a design around corners and recesses.
Glass tile is different from porcelain or ceramic tile in the way it catches light. A reflective finish can brighten a darker room, while a less reflective finish keeps the effect softer. Glass tile is a separate material category from ceramic products.
For a small bathroom, use reflection with care. Small bathroom remodel ideas can help you balance a glass mosaic accent with practical layouts, storage, and other finishes. A glass mosaic on one wall can add depth. The same mosaic across every wall may feel busy, especially when paired with patterned flooring or strong metal finishes.
Shower floors need enough joints and a layout that follows the slope toward the drain. A mosaic may suit that job, but the tile still needs to be rated for wet-floor use and installed with the right waterproofing system.
Glass mosaic usually costs more to install than a plain large-format wall tile because there are more pieces and more joints to set. Cuts around outlets, niches, and valves also need care. If the layout is off by even a small amount, the error can show across the full sheet.
Choose this look when you want a bright accent and can keep the rest of the room restrained. It is a detail tile, not always the best choice for every wall.
4. Patterned Cement Tile, Earthy Character with a Custom Feel
Patterned cement tile gives a bathroom an earthy, crafted look. In the reviewed example, patterned cement tiles act as the focal point in a mixed-style bathroom.
This trend fits homeowners who want the floor to carry the design. A repeated motif can define the room without adding a separate accent wall. Keep the vanity, shower wall, and paint more restrained so the floor does the work.
Cement also supports the warmer color direction seen in current bathroom design. Terracotta, sand, clay, olive, and cream can make a room feel less stark than a cold white scheme. Those colors pair well with brass, copper, brushed gold, or black hardware when the metal is used with restraint.
The material needs closer review before purchase. Cement is porous, so sealing and care matter. Ask the tile supplier about the required sealer, cleaning products, stain risk, and maintenance schedule. A tile with a cement-inspired appearance may offer a different care routine, depending on its material and product ratings.
Material details are often missing from trend galleries. In the nine-entry dataset used here, cement is one of only two materials named directly. That means the visual idea is clear, but the performance details are not.
Do not assume a tile’s pattern tells you where it belongs. Check the product’s technical sheet for floor use, wet areas, slip resistance, thickness, and installation needs. The term porcelain describes a ceramic tile type with specific manufacturing traits, but product ratings still control the correct application.
Patterned cement tile earns its place when you want warmth and character. It needs more care than a simple porcelain floor, so make that trade before you commit.
5. Graphic Black-and-White Tile, a Bold Shower Statement
Graphic black-and-white tile gives the bathroom tile trends list a bold visual hit. The reviewed example uses the tile in a shower, where the walls become the room’s main feature.
High contrast can sharpen a plain bathroom. It works well behind a freestanding tub, across a shower wall, or on a small powder room floor. In a larger bathroom, use the pattern on one surface and let the remaining walls support it with a quiet tile.
Black tile does not always make a small bathroom feel smaller. The result depends on placement, light, pattern scale, and the surfaces around it. A dark floor can ground the room. A dark shower wall with no variation may feel heavy, especially if the ceiling and nearby walls are also dark.
White tile creates a brighter look, but plain white can feel flat. Texture, soft veining, handmade edges, or a small pattern can add depth without pushing the room into visual noise.
Pattern scale matters. A large shape can read well in a spacious shower. A small room may look better with a smaller repeat or a pattern limited to the floor. Lay sample boards against the wall before choosing. View them in daylight and under the bathroom’s planned light.
Installation needs a clean starting line. Geometric patterns reveal crooked walls and uneven cuts quickly. The installer must plan the center line, corners, niche edges, and transition points before spreading adhesive.
Use this style when you want a firm design point. If you’re unsure, keep the pattern to one surface rather than trying to make every wall compete.
6. Herringbone and Chevron Tile Patterns, Movement Without Changing Materials
Herringbone pattern adds a young, energetic feel to a bathroom. Chevron pattern dresses the floor, adding visual interest. Both can bring movement to a bathroom without requiring a new tile material.
Herringbone and chevron create distinct visual effects, so review the actual tile sample and layout before making a final selection. The patterns can look different in a full bathroom than they do on a small sample board.
The reviewed examples describe herringbone as energetic and chevron as a floor treatment with visual interest. If you’re choosing a floor pattern, confirm that the tile has a suitable slip rating and that the layout will not leave awkward slivers near the walls.
Tile with larger pieces can make a room feel calmer because it has fewer grout joints. Mosaic tile can help a shower floor follow its slope. Neither choice fixes a poor layout plan. A tile professional must still check the room’s measurements and sight lines.
The reviewed examples describe herringbone as energetic and chevron as a floor treatment with visual interest. A pattern image can inspire you, but it cannot tell you if the tile belongs on a wet wall or shower floor.
Choose the layout first, then test it with the actual tile size. A pattern that looks balanced on a sample board may end with narrow cuts once it reaches the room.
More bathroom tile tips
Plan for Safety, Maintenance, and Long-Term Performance
Bathroom tile ideas must account for wet feet and daily cleaning. A pretty floor that turns slick after a shower is the wrong floor.
Ask for wet slip data, not only a dry showroom rating. Choose a surface with dependable traction under wet conditions, while a higher rating may provide more margin.
A matte or textured floor surface is often a sensible choice. Small mosaics also add grout joints, which can give bare feet more points of contact. Large-format tile can still work if its wet rating fits the room and its surface is not glossy.
Do not use wall glass mosaic as a floor substitute. Smooth, polished stone can also become hard to manage when wet. If someone in the home has balance or mobility limits, ask about a shower entry designed for easier access, grab-bar blocking, a bench, and a floor with reliable wet traction.
Maintenance starts with the grout plan. A close grout color hides small marks. A strong contrast makes the pattern stand out but may show buildup sooner. Seal grout when the product and installer call for it. Natural stone usually needs more care than porcelain.
Waterproofing sits behind the tile. Tile and grout alone do not protect the wall assembly. The shower needs a suitable backer, a water-resistant layer, sealed penetrations, and a drain slope that moves water away. An appropriate tile-installation material is commonly used for tile installation in wet areas. Mastic is not a universal substitute, so follow the tile and waterproofing system instructions.
Ventilation matters after the work is done. Run the exhaust fan during a shower and for a suitable period afterward. Keep the room dry enough that moisture does not linger on grout, trim, or painted walls.
A safe choice is simple: select the floor based on wet traction first, then fit the color and pattern around it. Style comes second in a shower floor.
Build a Tile Layout With Color, Pattern, and Scale
Good bathroom tile ideas depend on scale. The same tile can feel calm in one layout and crowded in another.
Start by drawing the room to scale. Mark the door, vanity, toilet, shower valve, drain, niche, mirror, and lighting. Then draw the tile lines. This shows where cuts will land before installation begins.
Large-format tile can make a small bathroom feel more open because it reduces grout lines. It can work well on a floor or shower wall. But large tile needs a flat surface, careful handling, and enough room for clean cuts around corners.
A vertical tile layout can make a low ceiling feel taller. A stacked layout gives a clean, modern look. A vertical offset adds a little movement without the busy feel of a complex pattern.
For a basement with limited natural light, light tile can help reflect the lamps. White, pale gray, sand, and soft beige are useful starting points. A single-color scheme can also make the room feel less chopped up. Add depth through a matte floor, a lightly glossy wall, or a raised texture.
Patterns need a clear job. Subway tile can frame a shower. A geometric floor pattern can add shape. Checkerboard tile creates a strong focal point. A handmade-look tile brings subtle variation. Use one main pattern, then let the other surfaces stay quiet.
Think about storage before you lock the layout. A niche needs framing space, waterproofing, and a location that works with the shower valve. A vanity that leaves more floor visible can make the room feel more open, but it still needs solid wall support. The mirror should align with the vanity and lighting, not land in the middle of a grout line by accident.
Before installation, dry-lay the pattern. Place a few tiles on the floor or use a paper layout. Check the first and last cuts on each wall. A narrow sliver beside a door often looks worse than a planned shift in the starting point.
We can help you compare a bold accent wall with a quieter full-room design. If the room is especially tight, these small bathroom remodel ideas can help you pair tile scale with storage and compact fixtures.
By now, you should have a marked layout with approved tile direction, grout width, accent placement, and niche location. Don’t approve the design from a single sample board. Review it in the actual room.
Assess Your Basement Bathroom Before Choosing Tile
The best bathroom tile ideas start with the room itself. Before you pick a color or pattern, check the space, the plumbing, and the moisture risks.
Measure the floor area, wall height, shower footprint, door swing, and space around the toilet. A basement half bath often uses about 35 to 50 square feet. A full bath with a shower may need 50 to 75 square feet. These numbers are planning guides, not fixed rules.
Next, look for capped drain pipes near the foundation walls. These pipes may be a rough-in for a future bathroom. An existing rough-in can reduce the amount of concrete work and new plumbing needed.
Basement wastewater may need help moving up to the main sewer line. Plumbing equipment and drainage details depend on the layout and existing connections. Your plumber or contractor should review the best fit before the floor plan is set.
Moisture deserves the same attention. Check for damp walls, musty odors, cracks, and poor air flow. Plan a proper exhaust fan, then confirm where it can vent. A bathroom below grade also needs a properly prepared shower area, sound substrate, and a floor surface suited to wet use.
Permits and inspections may apply to new plumbing, framing, and electrical work. Local requirements vary by city, so confirm them before demolition. The basic function of a basement also affects how you plan light, drainage, and ventilation in the room.
We also look at how the bathroom will work with the rest of the basement. A bathroom near a guest room may need a quieter door and stronger sound control. One beside a workout room may need an easy-clean floor. If the ceiling is low, space-saving fixtures and door choices can help preserve room.
By now, you should have a measured room plan, a rough plumbing plan, and a list of moisture concerns. Don’t choose tile until those three items are clear.
Choose Bathroom Tile Materials That Suit the Space
Bathroom tile ideas only work when the material fits the surface. A shower wall, shower floor, vanity wall, and main floor each face different demands.
Porcelain is a dense tile with low water absorption. Learn more about porcelain tile. That makes porcelain a strong choice for wet walls and bathroom floors when the full installation system is correct.
Ceramic tile gives you many colors, shapes, and finishes. It works well on walls and in light-use areas. Use a properly glazed product on shower walls, and pair it with the right waterproof backing.
Natural stone brings one-of-a-kind veining and texture. A textured natural stone can add grip underfoot, while travertine brings warm earth tones. Both need more care than many porcelain products. Acidic cleaners can damage some stone surfaces, so choose a cleaner made for the material.
Glass tile can reflect light in a dark basement. Keep it on walls, niches, or a backsplash. Its smooth surface and fragile edges make it a poor choice for a shower floor.
Mosaic tile has many grout joints. That takes more time to install, but the joints can add traction on a shower floor. Small hexagons, penny shapes, and simple squares can also bring pattern into a room without taking over the whole design.
We usually suggest choosing the floor tile first. It has the most direct effect on safety. Then select wall tile that supports its color and texture. For more local direction, compare these current bathroom tile ideas with the light and layout in your own basement.
Order samples before you commit. A tile that looks warm online may look cool under basement LEDs. Place samples near the vanity, shower, and floor. Look at them in the morning and at night.
By now, you should have a short list of materials for each surface. Keep one backup option in case a trim piece or special finish has a long lead time.
FAQ
What bathroom tile is most popular right now?
Large hexagon tile, blue subway tile, glass mosaic, warm earthy tile, and geometric tiles are all part of current bathroom tile trends. Popularity alone should not decide the purchase. Match the tile to its location, slip needs, cleaning routine, room size, and the amount of contrast you want.
Are large tiles better for small bathrooms?
Large tiles can make a small bathroom feel calmer because they create fewer grout lines, but they are not always the best fit. A small shower floor often needs smaller pieces to follow the drain slope. Large tiles also need enough wall width to avoid awkward cuts at corners and fixtures.
What tile is best for a shower floor?
Smaller pieces are often easier to shape across a sloped shower floor, but the product must be rated for wet floors and have suitable slip resistance. Two-by-two tile or other smaller pieces are common examples. Confirm the rating and installation details before buying because appearance alone cannot show whether a tile is safe.
Are different tile finishes better in a bathroom?
A softer-looking finish can create a calmer look, while a light-reflecting finish can brighten a wall. Neither finish is best everywhere. A light-reflecting finish often suits a shower accent or backsplash. Softer-looking finishes may feel calmer on floors, but the product still needs the right wet-area rating.
What colors are trending for bathroom tile?
Warm cream, beige, terracotta, soft sage, olive, blue, and black-and-white patterns fit the current direction. Color affects mood, but light also changes how a tile reads. Order a large sample and view it beside the vanity, hardware, grout, and planned lights before making a final choice.
Conclusion
Choose tile by location before choosing it by trend. For a Northern Utah remodel, start with samples, test the floor and shower separately, then review the full layout with LIFT Construction before installation. A sound plan will protect the look you want from start to finish.