Your bathroom flooring can make or break the overall look and feel of your bathroom. With so many options to choose from, it can be overwhelming trying to settle on the perfect flooring material and design. Getting creative with your bathroom floor tile allows you to transform your bathroom into a stylish sanctuary that reflects your unique taste and personality. Follow the tips and trends below to inspire you to get creative with your bathroom floor tile.
Choosing the Right Tile Material
The material you choose for your bathroom floor tile sets the tone for the whole space. Consider the pros and cons of different types of tile when making your selection:
Ceramic and Porcelain Tile
- Pros: Extremely durable, water-resistant, easy to clean, variety of colors/patterns/textures, affordable
- Cons: Can crack or chip if heavy object is dropped, somewhat cold underfoot
Natural Stone Tile
- Pros: Beautiful natural patterns, durable, variety of stone types
- Cons: Expensive, may need resealing over time, can stain
Glass Tile
- Pros: Variety of colors/finishes, water-resistant, durable, easy to clean
- Cons: Expensive, tiles may crack or chip if heavy object is dropped
Mosaic Tile
- Pros: Creates visual interest, variety of materials like glass/stone/ceramic, versatile design options
- Cons: Tedious to install, grout may be hard to clean
Consider factors like your budget, bathroom usage, and style preferences when choosing a material. Porcelain and ceramic provide an affordable and water-resistant option, while natural stone offers unparalleled elegance.
Incorporating Texture and Pattern
Don’t limit yourself to plain white tile. Mixing up the textures and patterns in your bathroom floor is an easy and stylish way to add visual interest. Here are some ideas:
- Combine large and small format tiles in complementary colors
- Use mosaic tiles or tiles with pebble, stone, or crackle textures
- Alternate between tiles with glossy and matte finishes
- Create a pattern using contrasting tiles for the field and accent
- Incorporate trendy Moroccan fishscale tiles or patterned encaustic cement tile
- Arrange subway tiles or rectangular tiles in a fun herringbone design
Varying the tile sizes, shapes, finishes, and arranging them in an eye-catching pattern ensures your floor makes a statement.
Using Color Purposefully
Color has a huge impact on the overall look and feel of a space. Take color choice into account when selecting bathroom floor tile:
- Neutrals like white, gray, or beige are versatile and create a clean, spacious look
- Earth tones like brown, tan, or terracotta have a warm, inviting vibe
- Blues and greens give a calming, spa-like feel with a water-inspired palette
- Bold colors like navy, black, or dark red make a dramatic style statement
You can even combine colors in unique ways, like pairing navy blue with warm white terra cotta or using multiple shades of green glass tile. Choose colors that complement your cabinetry, countertops, and other fixtures.
Zoning With Floor Patterns
Using floor tile patterns is a great technique for zoning different areas in an open concept bathroom. Some ideas:
- Use a mosaic rug inset to define the shower floor area
- Choose contrasting tiles or colors to distinguish a tub zone
- Frame the vanity area with a border of contrasting tile
- Incorporate a tile rug or defined path to the door for the dressing area
Clearly defining each zone with a different tile pattern provides visual interest and organization.
Considering Layout and Orientation
The layout and orientation of your floor tiles impacts the overall look and flow of your bathroom. Some guidelines:
- Laying tile on the diagonal creates dynamic energy and visual motion
- Horizontal or vertical stack tile layouts have a clean, orderly look
- Mixing tile orientations adds diversity and complexity
- Large format tiles make small bathrooms seem bigger
- Small mosaic tiles create a busier, embellished aesthetic
Be strategic about tile direction. You can guide the eye and make the space seem larger by running horizontal tile lines parallel to the length of the bathroom.
Incorporating Decorative Accents
For serious style, don’t overlook the power of special decorative tile touches. Options include:
- An intricately patterned tile rug in front of the tub
- A bold border or mosaic band framing the floor
- Customizing a floor medallion as the focal point
- Contrasting geometric shapes or glossy tile inserts
- Listello, a decorative accent stripe running horizontally along the wall
Even this small bathroom detail can have a big design impact.
Choosing Grout Color and Finish
Your grout lines act as part of the overall tile pattern and aesthetic. Consider:
- Matching vs. contrasting: Do you want the grout to blend in or stand out from the tile?
- Matte, satin, or polished finish: Matte is great to minimize stains/dirt but polished can add shine.
- Darker or lighter grout: Will light or dark grout lines complement the tile better?
Factor in tile color, size, texture, and pattern when selecting the ideal grout.
And don’t forget—grout color can always be changed down the road if you want to refresh the look!
Creating Focal Points and Accents
Strategically using tile to create focal points or accents can make your bathroom design more dynamic. Ideas include:
Bold Backsplash
Make a tile statement behind sinks or bathtubs with eye-catching mosaic, artistic relief tiles, or a geometric glass design.
Decorative Niche
Recess shelves or niches in the shower wall clad with mosaic tiles, marble inserts, or metallic tiles for an elegant accent.
Statement Floor Medallion
Create a custom floor inset as the centerpiece using geometric, starburst, or artistic tile designs.
Contrasting Bands and Borders
Frame the room with contrasting tile bands or listello borders for added definition.
Vibrant Shower Bench
Make a boring shower seat pop with colorful mosaic tile or encaustic cement patterns.
Setting the Right Tile Work Budget
The cost of tile installation depends on the materials, complexity, and contractor fees. Budgeting by area:
- Floors: $7-$25 per sq. ft.
- Walls/backsplash: $5-$50 per sq. ft.
- Accent decor: $50-$100+ per sq. ft.
Factor in extra costs like setting materials, pattern complexity, prep work, demolition, and tile work design fees. Get quotes from multiple contractors.
Higher quality tile costs more upfront but lasts much longer. Focus budget on high-traffic areas like the floor and shower walls which take the most abuse. Use accent tile judiciously.
Working With Tile Setters and Contractors
Carefully choose an experienced, skillful tile setter or contractor for the best results.
- View portfolios of their previous tile work to assess quality. Look for proper layout, crisp grout lines, level tiles, etc.
- Ask about experience with the types of tiles you plan to use. Look for expertise specifically in bathrooms.
- Get references and check reviews of work done for prior clients.
- Get a detailed written quote outlining specific scope of work and material costs.
For big complex jobs, many tile setters work as part of a larger remodeling company. Do your due diligence to get the best tile installation.
Maintaining and Cleaning Tile Floors
With proper care, your creative bathroom tile floors can look immaculate for decades. Follow these maintenance tips:
- Sweep often to prevent dirt, sand and grit from scratching tiles
- Use damp mopping instead of full wet mopping for routine cleaning
- Spot clean grout lines regularly using warm water and scrub brush
- Reapply sealers on natural stone tiles periodically as needed
- Use pH neutral cleaners instead of acidic or abrasive cleansers
Avoid letting moisture stand on the tile or grout lines. Address spills, flooding or leaks immediately to prevent stains and damage.
With routine cleaning and careful sealing, your artistic bathroom floor tile will beautifully withstand the test of time!
Get Creative With Your Bathroom Floor Tile
When designing your dream bathroom, don’t resign yourself to boring floor tile. Use these creative ideas to make your bathroom floors a showstopping feature:
Mix Geometric Shapes
Combine hexagons, circles, squares, diamonds or any shapes that appeal to you. This creates visual interest and life.
Contrast Tile Sizes
Pairing large and small format tiles adds diversity to the look. Alternate between big squares and tiny mosaics.
Play With Patterns
Herringbone designs, tessellated mosaics, Moroccan fishscale, and zigzag motifs make for lively flooring.
Try Terrazzo Effects
Recreate the trendy terrazzo look by incorporating polished stone or marble chips into concrete tile.
Use Encaustic Cement
This artistic tile is made using pigmented concrete pressed into patterns. The color goes all the way through.
Incorporate Metallics
Metallic glass, marble or stone add elegance. Gold, silver and copper finishes shimmer.
Create Tile Rugs
Define a section of floor with a “tile rug” surrounded by contrasting field tile, just like an area rug.
Make a Bold Statement
Dark dramatic tiles (think black, navy, dark red, or emerald green) create serious visual impact.
With so many tile shapes, materials, colors and designs to work with, it’s easy to get creative with your bathroom flooring. So don’t play it safe—have fun designing the floor that reflects your personal style!
Frequently Asked Questions About Getting Creative With Bathroom Floor Tile
Customizing your bathroom flooring with creative and stylish tile is an excellent way to give your bathroom a unique look and feel. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about getting creative with bathroom floor tile:
What kind of tile is best for bathroom floors?
Porcelain and ceramic tiles are most commonly used for bathroom floors. They are water-resistant, durable, easy to clean, and come in a huge variety of colors, shapes, and patterns. Natural stone and glass tiles can also work well but may require more maintenance.
What tile patterns work best in small bathrooms?
Small bathrooms can use small mosaic tiles or patterns like subway tiles, pinwheels, or row layouts that give the illusion of space. Avoid large tiles or busy patterns. Laying tiles on the diagonal can make the room feel more expansive as well.
How can I add an accent or focal point with bathroom floor tile?
Some easy ways to create a focal point include installing a decorative tile medallion, framing with a vibrant tile border, or adding a bold tile rug. Use contrasting textures, intricate designs, or bright colors to draw attention to that area.
Should floor tile match wall tile?
Matching floor and wall tiles can make the space feel monotonous. Contrasting your floor and wall tiles in terms of color, shape, size, or finish adds visual diversity and interest. But you want some cohesion, so use complementary or coordinating colors.
How can I jazz up my shower floor?
Use mosaic tiles, river rock tiles, or linear tiles laid in a fun pattern or direction. You can also recess shelves into the shower wall and tile them with mosaics, marble, or glass for a decorative accent.
What mistakes should I avoid with floor tile?
Getting sloppy with grout lines, choosing the wrong tile finish for water areas, not thinking about long-term maintenance, using a poor tile installer, or setting the wrong tile layout for the room. Do your planning upfront to get your floor tile design right.
With deliberate tile choice and strategic design, you can customize your bathroom flooring in any number of fresh, creative ways. Express your own personal flair by getting clever with your bathroom tile.
Conclusion
A creatively designed bathroom floor has the power to utterly transform the look and feel of your bathroom. With so many innovations in tile materials, formats, colors and patterns, the possibilities are endless for customizing a floor that showcases your unique personal style. Carefully think through the tile layout, color scheme, texture, grout choices and decorative accents to craft a cohesive aesthetic that reflects your vision. Choosing the right contractor for installation is crucial as well to perfectly execute your design. While creative tile may require a slightly higher budget, the dramatic impact is well worth the investment. With strategic planning and design, you can craft bathroom floors that make a beautifully bold statement and provide enjoyment for years to come. Stop settling for boring bathroom floors—unlock your creativity and refresh your home with tile floors that wow.
