Art Deco Bathroom Tile Ideas – 10 ways to get the glamorous look

Famous for its bold, rich colours, symmetrical geometric patterns and exquisite craftsmanship, the luxurious Art Deco style was first exhibited in Paris at the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes. Art Deco (short for Arts Decoratif) is a characteristic design style that exploded in Europe and the USA during the 1920s.

The flamboyant Art Deco style was heavily influential on architecture, notably the iconic Empire State and Chrysler buildings in New York.  Art Deco buildings displayed bold, often stepped geometric facades, with decorative panels used around doors and windows. Beautiful, ornate patterns were commonplace, with stylised female figures, animals, sunbursts and fountain designs being especially sought after.

Although the Art Deco style fell out of fashion at the start of the second World War, it saw a resurgence during the 1960s and continues to inspire interior design styles today. Keep reading to discover more about this opulent style and how you can use tiles to help you create a luxurious-looking Art Deco bathroom.

Art Deco is a very opulent style which luxurious tiles can effortlessly help you to create in your bathroom.

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Recommended Tile: Provenza 

What is Art Deco style?

Seen as futuristic at the time, the Art Deco style can be characterised by its simple, streamlined geometric shapes, bold colours and intricate details. 1920s style exudes glamour and luxury, and Art Deco designs would often fuse glass, plastic and concrete with more precious substances like jade, silver and bronze to create the ultimate luxe look.

A rainbow of rich, statement colours, the Art Deco colour palette is anything but subtle. Bold shades of blue, pink, red, green and yellow were firm favourites. It wasn’t all about bold brights, however, subtler neutrals like beige, cream and white were often used in living areas.

Art Deco bathroom tile ideas

If you want to give your bathroom a glamorous Art Deco-style makeover, here’s our pick of the fanciest tiles to help you get the luxurious look:

Choose patterned tiles

If you want to add an air of opulence to your bathroom, choosing patterned tiles is a great place to start. Art Deco patterns were sleek and often symmetrical, making them an attractive option for interior decor.

Combine beautiful tiles in rich colours with statement bathroom fittings for a truly extravagant look.

Patterned, colourful tiles can be used to add grandeur to any bathroom. These Art Deco style tiles make an attractive option.

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Fit mosaic tiles

Mosaics are one of the oldest art forms, dating back to the world’s earliest civilisations. They’ve remained popular throughout the ages, the Art Deco period is no exception.

Miniature mosaics are one of the best tiles for creating elaborate, Art Deco-inspired geometric patterns. Channel the Art Deco vibe by adding stepped borders, creating striking zigzag designs, inlaying sweeping curves and experimenting with statement chevron patterns.

Mosaics are ideal for creating elaborate, Art Deco-inspired geometric patterns.

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Recommended Tile: PJ Series Mosaic 

Add detail with feature border tiles

Statement borders and bold details are a key part of the Art Deco style. Add a retro touch with straight or curved borders in contrasting colours for maximum impact.

Art Deco was all about bold statement colours, revive your bathroom with your favourite Art Deco inspired tiles.

Image credit: @artdeco_la

Focus on a strong colour scheme

The Art Deco movement didn’t shy away from bold colours. If you want to make a statement in your bathroom, opt for deeper shades of your favourite colours.

Throw it back to the roaring 20s with classic, deep green tiles. They’ll radiate elegance and are versatile enough to go with many other colours. Add pops of pink for a refreshing combination.

Using deep shades of your favourite green create a classic Art Deco feel to your bathroom.

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Recommended Tile: Emilia Avocado

Go for iconic black and white tiles

Black and white tiles are always in style and they’re a great go-to if you’re looking to add a vintage look to your bathroom.

Keep it simple with clean lines and bold repeating patterns.

Wanting to add a high quality look to your bathroom, black and white is always in style.

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Recommended Tile: St Andrews 

Pick vibrant colours

Art Deco colours were often vivid and dazzling. Kitsch colour combinations weren’t unusual, with bright shades of green, blue, pink and metallics all vying for attention. Get the look with brightly coloured tiles and add statement borders in contrasting shades.

Vivid colours in your bathroom always inspire the lavish feeling of Art Deco, contrast with a complimentary border in a different colour.

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Fit black accent tiles

Black is often found in Art Deco interiors, either on a large scale or as an accent colour.  Add detail to paler colour schemes with black border tiles, tile a feature arched area or fit a glossy black tiled floor.

Black is one of the best colours if you want to add a dramatic, refined look to a bathroom.

Black is very popular in Art Deco interiors on walls and floors. A glossy black tiled floor beautifully compliments paler Art Deco colour schemes.

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Recommended Tile: Super Black

Jazz up simple square tiles

Simple square tiles are an excellent choice for an art deco bathroom. Their shape allows for a wide range of layouts and patterns, and they’re often an inexpensive option, especially if you’re opting for plain tiles.

Add pizzazz with moulded border tiles, beautiful embossed tiles or delicately patterned tiles. You can also pick different coloured tiles and create your own showstopping designs.

Simple yet highly effective square tiles are a popular choice for Art Deco bathrooms. Available in a large range of colours, mix and match to create your own unique bathroom design.

Image credit: @artdecojewel

Add drama with black tiles

Black tiles are one of the best choices if you want to create a striking and sophisticated-looking bathroom. Although black tiles can make a room feel smaller, this isn’t usually a problem in a bathroom. A more enclosed, cosy space can be more relaxing than a bright, airy room and dark tiles will help you to achieve a snug-feeling bathroom sanctuary.

Striking and sophisticated black tiles create an intimate and relaxed haven in your bathroom area.

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Recommended Tile: Rio Nero

Keep it sleek with neutral shades

Although bold, dazzling colours were commonplace in Art Deco interiors, calmer neutrals were also hugely popular.

Perfect for adding a sleek and luxurious feel to a bathroom, shades of cream, white and black or deep green go beautifully together. Glossy tiles are one of the best ways to add glamour to a bathroom, consider fixing a wall of glass mirror tiles for a practical and beautiful feature.

Art Deco interiors also included calmer neutrals such a cream and black offering a very suave fnish.

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Art Deco bathroom tile tips

• Go for bold, glossy tiles in rich shades of blue, green, red, pink and yellow and mix them with beautiful glass or metallic tiles for extra impact.
• Pattern is a key feature of Art Deco design, you can choose patterned tiles or create your own designs with mosaics, square tiles, metro tiles or gorgeous border tiles.
• Art Deco designs are often symmetrical and can include bold linear designs, or more elaborate curved details like arches and circles. Keep this in mind if you’re designing your own patterns.

Atlas Ceramics has an extensive range of traditional-style tiles to choose from in a selection of shapes, sizes and colours. Browse our collection yourself or call one of our experts for advice.