10 Ways to Use Colourful Tiles in Your Bathroom
Elevate your bathroom from clinical white or bland beige into something altogether more eye-catching
Colourful tiles have a luscious intensity and, topped with a glaze that makes them reflect the light beautifully, can really add something special to a bathroom. They create an opulent finish often not possible with paint alone.
There are lots of ways to incorporate coloured tiles into your scheme, from a few small areas in a quiet colour to a “full-fat” version with drama and vibrancy. Browse these ideas to get you started.
There are lots of ways to incorporate coloured tiles into your scheme, from a few small areas in a quiet colour to a “full-fat” version with drama and vibrancy. Browse these ideas to get you started.
Divide to conquer
Using interesting and contrasting coloured tiles to pick out several different zones in a bathroom can create a dramatic effect without overpowering the scheme.
Storage niches lend themselves well to a colourful tile treatment. Here, mosaic tiles have been used; they come on a mesh backing, making them easy to attach to the inside of a cubbyhole. If you like the effect, continue the mosaics elsewhere, such as on the floor, the side of the bath, or behind the basin, to lead the eye around the room.
Using interesting and contrasting coloured tiles to pick out several different zones in a bathroom can create a dramatic effect without overpowering the scheme.
Storage niches lend themselves well to a colourful tile treatment. Here, mosaic tiles have been used; they come on a mesh backing, making them easy to attach to the inside of a cubbyhole. If you like the effect, continue the mosaics elsewhere, such as on the floor, the side of the bath, or behind the basin, to lead the eye around the room.
Punctuate a pale scheme
This all-white bathroom has been given an eye-catching feature in the form of beautiful aqua green tiles in the shower enclosure. Using colour to zone this area creates the illusion of a larger space, drawing attention to the full-height side of the room, and, along with the pale grey of the floor tiles, removes the clinical feel of pure white.
Use any colour in this way depending on your taste – it would look equally good with deep cobalt blue or zesty shades – but keep the surrounding area simple, so it retains the same calm, clean atmosphere.
This all-white bathroom has been given an eye-catching feature in the form of beautiful aqua green tiles in the shower enclosure. Using colour to zone this area creates the illusion of a larger space, drawing attention to the full-height side of the room, and, along with the pale grey of the floor tiles, removes the clinical feel of pure white.
Use any colour in this way depending on your taste – it would look equally good with deep cobalt blue or zesty shades – but keep the surrounding area simple, so it retains the same calm, clean atmosphere.
Turn on the mute button
Use pale tiles in a muted shade that are a gentle contrast to the rest of the décor to add some colour without coming on too strong. A wide column will enhance the basin area and make it look more generous, as well as adding a pretty accent colour that can be picked up elsewhere in towels and accessories.
Note the pale yellow grout here – it creates a soft contrast, making the area work as one rather than appear more broken up (as it would had white grout – to match the white backdrop – been used).
This is a great way to add subtle detail. From a distance, the area looks like one, overall colour, and you only see the full beauty on closer inspection.
Use pale tiles in a muted shade that are a gentle contrast to the rest of the décor to add some colour without coming on too strong. A wide column will enhance the basin area and make it look more generous, as well as adding a pretty accent colour that can be picked up elsewhere in towels and accessories.
Note the pale yellow grout here – it creates a soft contrast, making the area work as one rather than appear more broken up (as it would had white grout – to match the white backdrop – been used).
This is a great way to add subtle detail. From a distance, the area looks like one, overall colour, and you only see the full beauty on closer inspection.
Let mosaics sing
Mosaics often have a depth of colour that adds intensity to a scheme. Use floor to ceiling in an alcove and keep everything else simple, so the tiles are the hero. Mosaics can be expensive, but if you surround them with more affordable large-format tiles, the cost should balance out, yet give you a beautiful focal point.
If you live in a hard-water area, consider matt or satin ceramic mosaics, as these will show up limescale less than gloss tiles.
Find more great ways with bathroom mosaics
Mosaics often have a depth of colour that adds intensity to a scheme. Use floor to ceiling in an alcove and keep everything else simple, so the tiles are the hero. Mosaics can be expensive, but if you surround them with more affordable large-format tiles, the cost should balance out, yet give you a beautiful focal point.
If you live in a hard-water area, consider matt or satin ceramic mosaics, as these will show up limescale less than gloss tiles.
Find more great ways with bathroom mosaics
Lift a gloomy area
Re-tile one wall in a sunny yellow to turn the bath area into a feature. The window wall is typically the darkest in a room, so a bright colour will give a potentially dull area a lift – in colour psychology, yellow is generally associated with cheerfulness and energy.
This yellow has an orangey hue to it, so it’s a softer option than an intense lemon or banana yellow, which will offer a brighter wake-up call. Pale blue accessories will automatically conjure up sunny beaches, or add grey for a fail-safe contemporary colour pairing.
Re-tile one wall in a sunny yellow to turn the bath area into a feature. The window wall is typically the darkest in a room, so a bright colour will give a potentially dull area a lift – in colour psychology, yellow is generally associated with cheerfulness and energy.
This yellow has an orangey hue to it, so it’s a softer option than an intense lemon or banana yellow, which will offer a brighter wake-up call. Pale blue accessories will automatically conjure up sunny beaches, or add grey for a fail-safe contemporary colour pairing.
Be bold with pattern
Don’t forget about colourful patterned tiles as well as plain ones. You can create separate zones with these busier tiles, and draw the eye to one particular area, such as the shower.
This space is made to look even more generous with patterned tiles on the floor, too, though if this amount of pattern isn’t for you, pick one of the colours and use that on the floor for a calmer version.
A large-scale pattern, as shown here, is best in a good-sized space, so you can see several tiles full width. If your space is more compact, consider choosing a more intricate pattern.
Don’t forget about colourful patterned tiles as well as plain ones. You can create separate zones with these busier tiles, and draw the eye to one particular area, such as the shower.
This space is made to look even more generous with patterned tiles on the floor, too, though if this amount of pattern isn’t for you, pick one of the colours and use that on the floor for a calmer version.
A large-scale pattern, as shown here, is best in a good-sized space, so you can see several tiles full width. If your space is more compact, consider choosing a more intricate pattern.
Create a cascade
The cascading tones of these mosaics look impressive and make the most of any reasonably big wall (the effect would be somewhat lost in a small area). The tiles come pre-spaced on mesh, with the colour mix created by the manufacturer, so they’re no more tricky to fit than standard, one-colour mesh mosaics.
Use in an alcove, inside a shower cubicle or floor to ceiling behind a basin, but keep the wall free of anything too heavy that will disturb the visual flow of these beauties.
The cascading tones of these mosaics look impressive and make the most of any reasonably big wall (the effect would be somewhat lost in a small area). The tiles come pre-spaced on mesh, with the colour mix created by the manufacturer, so they’re no more tricky to fit than standard, one-colour mesh mosaics.
Use in an alcove, inside a shower cubicle or floor to ceiling behind a basin, but keep the wall free of anything too heavy that will disturb the visual flow of these beauties.
Win with underwater tones
Stunning ocean green tiles paired with crisp bright white makes a charming space. Sea-inspired tones of blue and green are a popular choice in a bathroom – most people love the relaxing beach feel they bring, so this option is a real people-pleaser.
If you only want to use a small amount, how about a shoulder-height horizontal band, three tiles wide, with white either side, as a change from the norm?
Stunning ocean green tiles paired with crisp bright white makes a charming space. Sea-inspired tones of blue and green are a popular choice in a bathroom – most people love the relaxing beach feel they bring, so this option is a real people-pleaser.
If you only want to use a small amount, how about a shoulder-height horizontal band, three tiles wide, with white either side, as a change from the norm?
Dial it down with grey
If you’re not sure about vivid colours, dark neutral tones, such as grey or taupe, can still create an impact. For a traditional feel, have rectangular tiles laid in a brick pattern with painted walls above.
A tried and tested tip is to paint the wall above the tiles a shade or two lighter than the tiles themselves, so the room blends rather than feeling chopped in two.
TELL US…
How have you introduced colour to your bathroom? Share your photos and ideas in the Comments below.
If you’re not sure about vivid colours, dark neutral tones, such as grey or taupe, can still create an impact. For a traditional feel, have rectangular tiles laid in a brick pattern with painted walls above.
A tried and tested tip is to paint the wall above the tiles a shade or two lighter than the tiles themselves, so the room blends rather than feeling chopped in two.
TELL US…
How have you introduced colour to your bathroom? Share your photos and ideas in the Comments below.
Use a dramatic colour sparingly for maximum impact. Tile one wall behind a bath, inside a shower enclosure or behind a basin for fabulous drama without giving yourself a headache. This way, even the brightest colour is under control and doesn’t overwhelm.
Take a look at these key trends for bathrooms in 2016