Cheap Bathroom Tile Ideas – 11 Ways to Style Your Bathroom on a Budget

Creating a beautiful bathroom space is high up on most of our decorating agendas but how can you get the bathroom tiles of your dreams if you’re on a tight budget?

Image credit: @surreyonthemove

Recommended Tile: Rio Blanco

If you’re keen to tile your bathroom on a budget but don’t know where to start, keep reading to discover our cheap bathroom tile ideas and find some savvy ways to save money.

Budget bathroom tile ideas

Choosing tiles from a budget range certainly doesn’t mean that you’ll be scrimping on style. From space-saving hacks to clever use of border tiles, we’ve put together our pick of the best cheap bathroom tile ideas. 

Keep it simple

White, square tiles are probably the cheapest tiles that you can buy. They may seem plain but don’t underestimate the impact that simple, timeless tiles can have on a bathroom. 

A large part of tile’s aesthetic quality lies in how well they are fitted so unless you’re a whizz at tiling, it’s a good idea to get a pro to do the job. Keep the grout pristine and, if your budget can stretch, introducing a few other tiles into the design, as this homeowner has done on the bathroom floor, can help you create a high-end look for less.

Image credit: @clairethomas

Recommended Tile: Gloss Bumpy White

Go for a design classic

A design favourite, metro tiles are incredibly versatile and there are many budget ranges to choose from. Metro tiles are popular because they’re not only timeless, but you can lay them in myriad attractive patterns. Brick bond, herringbone, basketweave and modern stacked designs are just a few of the ways you can lay metro tiles.

Choosing a contemporary layout like a vertical stack is a great way to add style to an inexpensive tile. 

Image credit: @therowe

Recommended Tile: Emilia Blanco

Add interest with textured tiles

You’ll notice that white tiles feature heavily in this article and that’s because as the most popular tile colour for bathrooms, there is the widest choice for all budgets.

Spice up your space with subtly textured tiles, adding depth and character to a neutrally coloured bathroom.

Image credit: @boneandblanc

Recommended Tile: Rio Blanco

Introduce a splash of pattern

Patterned tiles are perfect for pepping up plain bathroom floors. When used over a small area and in conjunction with less expensive plain tiles, they needn’t cost the earth.

Many Moroccan-style tiles are well-priced, you can also save money by looking for end-of-line tile ranges and inserting a band or border of patterned tiles amongst plainer tiles.

Image credit: @maison_bailey_

Recommended Tile: Damask Series Decor 3

Fit chic border tiles

Creating borders is a brilliant way to brighten up a bathroom on a budget. Mosaic tiles can be expensive when used over large areas so using them sparingly is a cost-effective alternative.

You can use border tiles in several ways; finish off a half wall of tiles by adding striking tiles along the top or insert rows of miniature mosaics between plain tiles.

Image credit: @warmyourfloor

Recommended Tile: Casablanca Blue Brick Mosaic

Save space

When it comes to covering your bathroom walls, tiles are the most expensive option. Unless you’re tiling a wet room or have an open shower, you don’t need to tile every wall surface.

You can make big savings by only tiling the areas that need it and opting for a partially tiled wall is a great way to do so. Choose attractive moulded border tiles for a high-end finish.

Image credit: @overatsams

Recommended Tile: Dorset Bevelled Ceramic

Add a feature wall to a small bathroom

Tiny bathrooms certainly have their advantages when you’re tiling on a budget. Make the most of a compact bathroom by choosing budget-friendly tiles for all the walls, except one. 

Choose your favourite tiles to enhance the space, framing them with crisp, classic white tiles. Tiles with a bold pattern are a great choice for making a statement, we love the impact that geometric lily pad tiles can have on all shapes and sizes of bathrooms.

Image credit: @prettyprospectcottage

Recommended Tile: Regal Negro Star

Create a feature floor 

If you’re renovating a tired bathroom on a budget, just changing the floor tiles can make a huge impact. Wood panelling, paint and wallpaper can make great alternatives to bathroom wall tiles (as long as they’re not used in shower areas) and it means you can choose a more exclusive tile for the bathroom floor.

If you’re looking for transformative tiles with the wow factor we recommend tiles with bold prints or patterns and terrazzo-style tiles.

Image credit: @the_girl_with_the_green_sofa

Recommended Tile: Ava Aqua Decor

Choose a beautiful splashback

The smaller the area you tile, the cheaper it will be so saving your tiling budget for a modest splashback is a savvy move.  

Tiled splashbacks don’t need to be large, a height of 2 to 3 tiles should be sufficient to guard against splashes.

Image credit: @beach_life_living

Recommended Tile: Mermaid Maya

Tile a shower niche

If your bathroom includes a handy wall storage nook, turn it into a feature with beautiful tiles. Shower niches look especially effective when tiled with contrasting tiles and as shower niches are usually very small, you can use this to your advantage.

All types of tile will work well in a shower niche, some of our favourites include mosaic tiles made from marble and mother of pearl, glass tiles, bold patterns, terrazzo-style tiles and bright colours. 

Image credit: @lets_stay_home_and_decorate

Recommended Tile: Canyon Mosaic

Mix and match tiles

When you’re on a tight budget, choosing combination tiles can work wonders. Sticking to a neutral colour palette will give you the most choice when it comes to tile styles, many of the budget tile ranges are available in white, beige, cream, black and grey.

One of the most effective and inexpensive ways to combine tiles is to use the same tile but lay it in different patterns on different walls. The metro tile is perfect for this with its many layout possibilities. Try brick bond and herringbone or vertical stack and basketweave on adjacent walls.

You can also look for end-of-line and discounted tile ranges in similar or contrasting shades and combine them to create a stylish aesthetic in your bathroom.

Image credit: @drench

Recommended Tile: Aurora Beige

Why You Should Tile Your Bathroom On a Budget?

Bathroom design is big business, with the average bathroom refit coming in at a staggering £7000. It’s estimated that changing the tiles in a standard-sized bathroom will cost between £800-£1200 in labour and that’s not including the cost of the tiles.

Tiles can vary hugely in cost, from under a pound per tile to hundreds of pounds per square metre. Fortunately, there are several ways to create a bathroom that looks like a million dollars for a fraction of the price.

What is the least expensive tile to install?

Ceramic tiles are the cheapest option on the market. With prices starting from as little as 48p per tile, choosing ceramic over stone is the easiest way to save money.

In terms of installation costs, smaller tiles are generally quicker and easier to fit than very large format tiles. Large tiles may also require more than one person to lift and install them, adding to the overall fitting price.

Cheap bathroom tile tips

Tiling your bathroom doesn’t need to be a huge expense and there are many ways to keep costs down. From picking tiles from the cheapest ranges to tiling small areas, here are our top inexpensive bathroom tile tips:

• Only tile where you need to – Hotel-style bathrooms are often fully tiled but you can make big savings by partially tiling your bathroom. Shower areas and splashbacks will need to be tiled but you can cut costs by painting or part tiling the other walls.

• Get creative with layout – Inexpensive tiles don’t have to be boring. Pick versatile metro tiles and experiment with different layouts to create a chic and interesting look.   

• Combine tiles – Depending on your budget, you might be able to introduce slightly more expensive tile ranges across smaller areas of your bathroom. Combine cheaper tiles with small doses of more expensive ranges on borders, shower niches, splashbacks and feature walls.

• Stick to ceramic and porcelain – Ceramic tiles will be cheaper than stone, terracotta and glass. Ceramic is often cheaper than porcelain as it’s fired at lower temperatures so isn’t quite so durable, it is, however perfectly suitable for use in bathrooms.

• Shop at the right time – To bag one of the best bargains, wait for sales or look out for discontinued tile ranges.

Atlas Ceramics has a range of brilliant budget tiles for your bathroom. Browse our selection yourself or call one of our friendly experts for help and advice.