New ways with tiles: 15 creative ideas for using tiles at home
Selecting tiles for bathroom walls, high-traffic hallways or kitchen splashbacks is a bit of a balancing act between creative decisions around colour, style, shape and placement, and the more practical considerations of resilience and ease of cleaning. There are also broader ways of approaching tiles that consider innovative uses, clever laying patterns and unexpected placement.
Beyond the classic and admittedly elegant uses of grey kit kat tiles in a bathroom, or large terracotta tiles on a kitchen floor, there are myriad tiling ideas, from retro tiled chimneys to large-scale murals, tiled pedestals that prop up bathroom sinks, and benches that wrap around the boundaries of a garden.
Here we look at 15 novel ways of using tiles in your home as well as the brilliant tile brands and retailers with the most creative collections.
Creative wall panelling
We’re really taken with these wood-effect ceramic tiles from Mandarin Stone that make an utterly durable alternative to wall panelling in a busy kitchen. Design developments are such that ceramic tiles can replicate more premium materials like solid wood or marble with barely perceptible differences.
Pictured: Riga Tiles at Mandarin Stone
Zig zags
These two-tone square tiles have been organised into a novel zig zag pattern, which makes a striking feature wall in small bathrooms.
Pictured: House Beautiful Cube Blush Porcelain Tile at Homebase
Matching mixed materials
It’s rare that you can coordinate your tiles to your soft furnishings, but House of Hackney have both available, covered in matching screen-printed Jacobean hibiscus flowers. The collection extends to curtains, lampshades, chairs and carpets should you be inclined to create a full maximalist scheme.
Pictured: Artemis Hibiscus Printed Tile and Artemis Rose Printed Tile, both at House of Hackney
Pedestals for small bathrooms
This is a clever one for small bathrooms. A tiled pedestal can provide pretty foundations for a small basin sink – this fabulous example is from the London Basin Company – and with the helping hand of a skilled tradesperson, you can create recessed storage on three of its sides.
Pictured: Pavilion porcelain russet red at Ca’Pietra
Illustrated tiles
Whimsical illustrations have supplanted geometrics as a way to introduce colour, pattern and depth to tiles. These pretty pink examples are the work of British artist and designer Sasha Compton, who has created a collection of tiles for Ca’Pietra covered in delicate hand drawn vessels and intricately decorated borders.
Pictured: Joyous expressions wall ceramic by Sasha Compton at Ca’Pietra
Faux rug effect
This is such a creative tile effect, and one that can be easily replicated. A faux tiled rug can sit neatly under a freestanding bath or dining table, and a tiled runner can stretch the length of a hallway and up your stairs. There are really no restrictions on size or shape, and you can have a bit of fun putting together your pattern and trim.
Pictured: Reclaimed tiles from Bert & May
Two-tone stripes
These fabulous glossy tiles work wonderfully in a two-tone stripe pattern. The Fellini tile comes in olive green, grey and turquoise should you wish to recreate this effect in a different colour. And we love the squiggly paint effect that crowns the whole look.
Pictured: Fellini Argilla Gloss Tiles at Claybrook Tiles
A wrap around mural
Tiled murals are nothing new, they have long been used in high-traffic or otherwise high-wear areas to create a wonderful and splashproof feature. But new design developments see them covering entire walls and even whole rooms in a wraparound effect. Botanical motifs are a great choice for this sort of large-scale mural to create the enveloping impression of the outdoors.
Pictured: 'Timonius Timon' Ceramic Tile Mural at Surface View
Hard surface/soft space
Hard surfaces are traditionally kept out of soft spaces like the living room or bedroom, but they can be a really striking way of introducing pattern. In this instance, the pattern sits below eyeline which can be less of an assault on the senses than a densely patterned wallpaper. And it won’t necessarily rob you of warmth if accompanied by sink-in soft rugs or even underfloor heating.
Pictured: Rosso Tumbled Marble, Verdi Alpi Tumbled Marble and Carrara Tumbled Marble, all at Mandarin Stone
A feature wall
Here's a compelling case for laying creative patterns with your tiles. Checkerboard is part of a resurgence in sweet vintage detailing in the home – alongside scalloped accessories, ruffling and candy cane stripes – that feels playful and nostalgic in equal measure. A tiled feature wall is a great alternative to paint or wallpaper in a demanding area like the kitchen or bathroom.
Pictured: Nina Campbell Rivage Indigo and Nina Campbell Rivage Ivory, both at Fired Earth
Uneven surfaces
These tiles are novel for their uneven surface – which picks up the light in really interesting ways – and for the absence of grouting which gives an unbroken wash of colour.
Pictured: House Beautiful Bermondsey Kitchen at Homebase
A retro tiled chimney
A statement hearth has become the default design choice for fireplaces in recent years, but a tiled chimney breast has wonderful retro references that bring to mind the homes of the 60s and 70s. This chimney breast is covered in the striking Moire tile by 2LG from Maitland & Poate, that has lovely undulating waves creating a vibrant and graphic finish.
Pictured: Moire tile by 2LG at Maitland & Poate
The bespoke indoor/outdoor bench
Perfect for a terrace or conservatory, tiled benches provide integrated seating in a totally bespoke finish. Much like our bathroom pedestal, recessed storage can be built in, and you’d need little more than a scatter of seat cushions for comfort.
Pictured: Blue Marine Stripes Zellige at Otto Tiles
A framing device
Tiles are a brilliant framing device for arches or alcoves. It is most effective when there is a link between the tiled frame and the room beyond, like this fabulous Mandarin Stone example where the marbled veins hint at a decadent, spa-inspired bathroom beyond. You only need a small number of tiles to achieve this effect, so you could indulge in a luxury tile without spending too much.
Pictured: Tivoli Sand Linear Matt Stone Effect Porcelain and Violetta Honed Marble, both at Mandarin Stone
Matching tiles
Picking up your feature tiles on a smaller scale around your bathroom is a really simple way to create a bit of cohesion. This is such a clever little corner too that maximises space with a compact floating sink/storage unit and miniaturised mirror and wall lights.
For similar, try the Giardinetto Lawn Tiles at Claybrook Studio
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