Wall Tile Designs: Ideas Inspiration and Expert Advice

Choosing wall and floor tiles is one of the most important parts of designing a bathroom. Tiles do much more than provide a practical, water-resistant surface — the size, colour, texture and laying pattern can completely change the character of the room.

At Surrey Bathroom Studio, we help clients explore different tile combinations as part of the bathroom design process, from understated stone-effect porcelain to decorative patterns and contemporary geometric designs.

Herringbone Tiles

Herringbone remains one of the most versatile tile patterns. Rectangular tiles are laid at angles to create the distinctive zig-zag effect, introducing movement and interest without overwhelming the room.

It works particularly well behind a basin, inside a shower area or as a full feature wall. Herringbone can look equally at home in a traditional bathroom using softer colours and handmade-effect tiles or in a contemporary scheme with darker tones and contrasting grout.

Smaller-format tiles create a busier, more detailed effect, while longer tiles give herringbone a cleaner and more architectural appearance.

Double Herringbone

For something a little less conventional, consider double herringbone.

Rather than using a single tile for each section of the pattern, two tiles are placed together. This produces a broader and more dramatic design while retaining the elegant movement associated with traditional herringbone.

It is particularly effective on larger feature walls where there is enough space to appreciate the pattern.

Geometric Tile Designs

Geometric tiles offer almost limitless possibilities.

Hexagons, diamonds, triangles and patterned shapes can introduce anything from a subtle contemporary detail to a striking focal point. They can be especially effective behind a vanity unit or within a shower enclosure, allowing the remainder of the bathroom to stay relatively simple.

Geometric designs don’t necessarily have to be bold. Tonal greys, warm neutrals, soft greens and natural stone colours can create a sophisticated pattern without dominating the room.

Metro Tiles

The classic Metro tile continues to be a bathroom favourite for good reason.

Simple rectangular tiles are extremely versatile and can be installed in numerous ways, including traditional brick bond, vertical stack, horizontal stack and herringbone.

Gloss finishes reflect light and can be particularly useful in smaller bathrooms, while matt and handmade-effect Metro tiles create a softer, more characterful appearance.

The grout colour can also transform the result. White tiles with matching grout create a clean, subtle finish, while grey, charcoal or black grout emphasises every tile and makes the pattern much more prominent.

Decorative Floor Tiles

Decorative floor tiles provide an excellent opportunity to introduce personality without making every surface in the bathroom a feature.

Traditional encaustic-inspired patterns work beautifully in period properties, while contemporary geometric designs can bring interest to a modern bathroom.

One of our favourite approaches is to combine a decorative floor with relatively restrained wall tiles. The floor becomes the feature while the rest of the bathroom provides a calm backdrop.

Modern porcelain manufacturing also means that many traditional-looking patterned floors are now available with the durability and practicality of porcelain.

Porcelain or Ceramic Tiles — What’s the Difference?

Both materials can be excellent choices, but there are some important differences.

Porcelain Tiles

Porcelain is manufactured at higher temperatures and is generally denser and less porous than standard ceramic tile. This makes it exceptionally hard-wearing and highly suitable for bathroom floors as well as walls.

Porcelain is available in an enormous range of finishes, including convincing reproductions of marble, limestone, travertine, concrete and even timber.

Large-format porcelain has become particularly popular for contemporary bathrooms because fewer grout joints can create a cleaner and more seamless appearance.

Ceramic Tiles

Ceramic tiles are generally lighter and easier to cut, making them an excellent choice for many bathroom walls.

They are available in a huge selection of colours, textures, shapes and glazed finishes and can often be a more economical option than porcelain.

Rather than thinking of one material as automatically being better, the right choice depends upon where the tile is being installed, the desired appearance and the requirements of the individual bathroom.

Don’t Overlook the Grout

Grout is sometimes chosen almost as an afterthought, yet it can make an enormous difference to the finished design.

Choosing a grout close to the colour of the tile allows the pattern to blend together and produces a calmer appearance. Choosing a contrasting grout highlights the edges of every tile and makes the laying pattern considerably more noticeable.

Popular grout colours include white, ivory, beige, light grey, mid grey, anthracite, charcoal and black, with numerous additional shades available to complement today’s tile collections.

For example, a sage-green herringbone tile with a similar muted grout creates a soft, sophisticated surface. The same tile combined with a pale contrasting grout makes the herringbone pattern much more obvious.

Practical considerations matter too. Depending on the installation, options can include flexible, waterproof and mould-resistant grouts as well as specialist products designed for demanding wet areas.

Matching Grout or Contrasting Grout?

There isn’t one correct answer — it depends on what you want the tiles to do within the room.

Matching grout tends to make a wall feel calmer and more continuous and can be particularly effective with stone-effect and large-format tiles.

Contrasting grout celebrates the shape and laying pattern of the tile. It can work particularly well with Metro, herringbone and geometric designs where the pattern itself is an important part of the overall look.

Choosing the Right Combination

The best bathroom schemes don’t necessarily use the most elaborate tiles. Successful design is usually about balancing colour, texture, pattern and proportion.

A decorative floor might be paired with understated walls. A dramatic herringbone feature can sit alongside large-format neutral porcelain. Alternatively, using the same stone-effect porcelain across several surfaces can produce a beautifully calm and cohesive bathroom.

At Surrey Bathroom Studio, we can help you put these elements together, allowing you to see how tiles, grout, brassware, furniture and bathroom products will complement one another before making your final choices.

With free home visits, free bathroom design and full installation services available, we can help take your bathroom from the initial ideas through to the finished room.

Surrey Bathroom Studio - Beautiful bathrooms start with the right details.