25 Stylish Shower Tile Designs for Every Taste
The easiest way to pick a design for a shower is to find some inspiration you love. And that’s where this list came from.
So in case your bathroom could use a little pick me up, here are some shower tile ideas to help get you started.
Stone Shower Tiles
When it comes to unique shower tile designs, pebbles are in a league of their own. They can create a really interesting look when you use them the right way. On the floor, they add a wonderful tactile feeling to the shower.
I’ve seen pebbles look a little dated or even unappealing sometimes. But that usually only happens when a design gets too busy with different patterns and colors.
In this bathroom, the light-colored pebbles are paired with simple, smaller subway tiles. The look is so clean and bright, which is a perfect fit for the bathroom’s size.
Natural stone such as marble or slate is a popular choice for shower and bathroom tiles. Onyx is a rarer and more expensive option, but just like marble, it delivers a totally luxurious look.
I think onyx brings so much more color and intricate detail to a room.
Because onyx has such complex patterns, you can use it to build a beautiful feature wall in your shower.
Of course, there are simpler versions of the stone’s pattern that you could use to cover most of the bathroom’s surfaces if you wanted to.
Using marble tile is a surefire way to get a classic, elegant look. It’s always beautiful, sometimes even breathtaking, and it almost never lets you down visually.
I will say, though, it costs more than standard tiles and needs a bit more upkeep.
If you have the idea that all marble is the same, there are actually a ton of subtle differences between the stones.
And if you’re looking for something really different, you can find marble in red, green, or even purple.
Shower Tile Colors
You should never underestimate what a simple black and white tile combination can do. There are just so many stylish designs you can put together with only these two colors.
From a cool zebra outline like this shower stall to all the amazing ideas you can find on Pinterest, black and white is an inexpensive path to a totally unique room.
I think that differently shaped tiles, like hexagons or fish scales, would create a really nice contrast in black and white.
Shower tiles don’t always have to be white or cream, either. Modern choices are bursting with color, so why not use them to brighten up the very first place you go in the morning?
Tiles this bright create a fantastic contrast with neutral whites and blacks. The sleek faucets and accessories in this design elevate it even more and complete the whole look.
Yes, heat sensitive tiles are a real thing! While you might only see the heat patterns when you’re actually taking a shower, they can look amazing all on their own.
They come in various colors, but the hot water and the heat from your body leave temporary marks on them. It’s fun and totally unexpected!
Shower Tile Shapes
Subway tiles is the name for those white, rectangular tiles you see in so many bathrooms. They are budget friendly and simple to install.
It’s surprising, but these can look both dated and super modern, all depending on how you use them.
And you can do so much with these plain, and at first glance, uninspired tiles.
You can arrange them in different patterns, mix them with printed ceramic tiles, pair them with glass, or combine them with black fixtures. They’ll look fantastic.
Speaking of fish scales, there are tiles shaped exactly like them. Using them on a shower wall or throughout the entire bathroom will absolutely give your space a one of a kind appearance and feel.
Fish scale tiles come in a huge range of colors. While a lot of people might first think of blue and green, you can have a ton of fun with different shades. Try mixing and matching a few to see what you come up with.
A herringbone layout is just one of the patterns you can make with simple rectangular or subway tiles. There are also other patterns you can create with some creative tile placement.
Hexagonal tiles are also getting more and more popular lately. They offer a neat alternative to the traditional rectangular and square tile shapes and also come in all sorts of sizes and colors.
For example, these gorgeous mother of pearl hexagon tiles create a fish scale effect in this white shower. This is a perfect way to dress up a plain white room and give it some dimension.
The small size of these hexagon tiles gives them a very delicate look that you don’t typically see with tiled surfaces. It’s also a great choice for a decorative backsplash.
Patterned Shower Tiles
Mosaic tiles show up in all sorts of shapes and forms. They are not just big puzzles. There are a ton of different mosaic shapes that will give your bathroom a completely new look.
While rectangular tiles might be more affordable, mosaic tiles are just as easy to install.
Finally, this list just wouldn’t be complete without textured, or as some call them, 3D tiles. These are amazing because they don’t just add texture to your shower wall; they also come in a huge variety of shapes.
You can find wave shaped 3D tiles, as well as round and triangular ones. They stick out from the wall to make it look irregular and interesting.
With these, you can find patterns that you would never see in other types of shower tile designs. And while they might be a little tougher to clean, the look is absolutely worth it.
Speaking of mosaics, tiles made from crushed stone and glass can offer a totally unique pattern.
This backsplash is a strip of crushed mirror shards, which gives this modern, stylish shower a really eye catching accent.
This is a great way to save money on new tiles, by the way. Almost anything can go into it. Think about using old mirrors, old tiles, or even ceramics.
Patterned tiles are the simplest way to decorate your bathroom. Just choose the right colors and a pattern you like, and most importantly, decide where to put them.
A shower wall is the obvious first choice.
It also makes a lot of sense if you only have a shower bath. The patterned tiles will highlight it and let it stand out in the room.
Good old square tiles can actually give your shower a surprisingly fresh look. Of course, it all depends on their size and color.
These ones are from High House by Dan Gayfer Design. They’re a smaller size and come in a lovely shade of pink.
When it comes to shower tile colors, it’s tough to beat the popularity of blue, but a quartz pink definitely creates an impact.
Floors are another fantastic spot for your patterned tiles. You can cover both the shower wall and floors with them to make a focal point in the bathroom.
In this room, the colors from the pattern are also used in the rest of the decor, with wooden and metallic accents that soften the look.
Thin rectangular tile strips are perfect if you want to break away from the average bathroom look. Installing these can be both a creative and a technical job.
Cutting them randomly, or close to it, can create a specific pattern.
When paired with more traditional tiles, these create an unusual accent in the shower.
Shower Tile Materials
Glass is a less common shower tile material, especially when compared to ceramics, but it can create a really unique look.
Typically, showers have a glass stall with ceramic or stone tiles, but here, the two were combined into one, which resulted in a gorgeous outcome.
The thick glass tiles add privacy to the shower stall while also giving it an unusual appearance. It’s a good idea to use these for walls, because they can be way too slippery for flooring.
Glass tiles are available with different finishes. These mirrored ones have a beautiful platinum color and a reflective finish. This is a fantastic way to visually open up a small bathroom and shower.
Reflective tiles might need to be cleaned more often, but they bring a modern and surprising look to the room.
Patterned tile floors give a monochromatic room a much needed accent, but the plain walls also make it easier on the eyes. The pattern is hard to ignore, but since it’s down on the floor, the bathroom feels lighter overall.
A great thing about these is that their seams are practically invisible, which makes them look like a continuous, repeating pattern. Easy to install pattern tiles bring a dynamic feel to the bathroom interior.
Shower tile designs aren’t just limited by their size or shape. The combinations of colors, patterns, and shapes are endless, and the way they are used and installed plays a huge role in the final design, too.
