Chinese Style Bathroom Tile Ideas – 9 Ways to Get the Oriental Vibe

The world’s most populous country, China is steeped in history. It’s also a country of contrasts, where you’ll find ancient buildings, futuristic skyscrapers, panda-inhabited mountain ranges and vast megacities.

From its 20,000km long Great Wall and ancient temples to the martial arts and incredible cuisine that’s loved the world over, China is also famous for its tea and silk and inventions such as paper, gunpowder and printing.

Chinese buildings range from traditional and ornate to ultra-modern and super sleek and interiors are often a mix of the two styles. If you fancy adding some oriental spice to your bathroom, keep reading to find out how.

Chinese interiors are often a mix of two styles ranging from traditional to ultra-modern, create this simple yet highly effective look using both.

Image credit: @house_design_and_decor

Recommended Tile: Gala Arena 

What is Chinese style and how can I get the look?

China is the home of Feng Shui, the ancient philosophy that dates back over 3000 years. Feng Shui is the art of arranging objects in such a way as to find balance and harmony between elements, bringing peace and prosperity.

Although the Chinese are famous for their elaborate ancient architecture, their interior style is simple and harmonious.  Think sleek wood, clean lines and a mix of vibrant colours and warm neutrals.

What tiles should I choose for a Chinese-style bathroom?

If you’re planning a Zen-like Chinese-style bathroom, these are the tiles we recommend:

• Natural stone tiles
• Boldly coloured, glazed porcelain tiles, especially in black, red and decadent gold
• Neutral-coloured tiles
• Unusually shaped, decorative tiles
• Wood-effect porcelain tiles

Chinese-style bathroom tile ideas

From bathrooms fit for an emperor to more chilled, spa-like sanctuaries, we’ve taken a virtual tour of China to bring you the inspiration you need:

Decorative tiles

Although you won’t often find heavily patterned tiles in Chinese-style bathrooms, you can add interest and texture with beautifully shaped tiles in plain colours.

Choose tiles in rich shades like green, black, red or even gold and balance them with light, bright neutrals to increase the feeling of space.

This classic oriental look uses rich shades complimented with light, bright neutrals to create a roomy feel.

Image credit: @soyuen_homedecor

Recommended Tile: Warwick Ceramic Blue Canard

Understated tiles

Simple styles and clean lines rule over Chinese-style interiors. Keep a bathroom simple with light, square tiles, You can add interest with accessories like decorative sinks, splashback tiles and Chinese-inspired wall art or wallpaper.

Plain tiles are a great choice if you’re on a budget too, if you stick to white or beige, there’s a huge range of tile shapes and sizes to suit all finances.

Simple yet highly sophisticated this light, white look is clean and fresh, quintessentially oriental.

Image credit: @niconicomansion

Recommended Tile: Stripwood White 

Black tiles

The colour of authority and, according to the Feng Shui philosophy, power, strength and mystery, black is dramatic and mysterious and it can make a serious style statement in your bathroom.

Black tiles will make a small bathroom feel more enclosed, but it will also make it feel cosy and luxurious. You don’t need to clad the whole bathroom in black, a wall of black tiles or a black floor can look just as impressive. Use black grout with black tiles for added impact.

If you want to design a snug and mystifying bathroom, black will always stand out, whether its the entire room or a statement wall.

Image credit: @livingedgeinteriors

Recommended Tile: Ava Nero

Bamboo print tiles

Thought to have originated in China, majestic bamboo plants are the main food source for pandas. Also a food source for humans, bamboo provided the material for clothing, books, instruments and housing in ancient China.

This versatile plant grows all around the world but is closely associated with China, so adorning your bathroom with delicate, hand-painted bamboo tiles is an excellent way to bring the spirit of China into your home.

Incorporate bamboo and plant prints to bring the spirit of China into your bathroom.

Image credit: @originalstyleuk

Recommended Tile: Fern Floral Decor

Red tiles

The colour most closely associated with China, red symbolises joy, happiness and luck. This vibrant, positive colour is perfect for pepping up interiors and red tiles can look incredible in a bathroom environment, particularly when combined with other, softer colours.

In China the colour red is symbolic of joy, happiness and luck, bold and beautiful in any shade, red represents Chinese culture beautifully.

Image credit: @sqaureroomsmag

Recommended Tile: San Vincenzo Oxblood

Gold tiles

Add a touch of opulent orient magic to your bathroom with decadent gold tiles. Symbolising power, wealth and happiness, gold tiles are surprisingly versatile and can work well with all interior styles from traditional to contemporary.

If you love the idea of gold tiles but are a little unsure how to use them in a bathroom, start by creating one gold feature wall, tiling a splashback or gilding the shower area in gold-leaf-infused tiles.

Create a luxurious and lavish look with glamourous gold, considered symbolic in China for power, wealth and happiness.

Image credit: @conceptmebynina

Recommended Tile: Kaleidoscope Gold

Dark wood tiles

Many of the woods used in Chinese furniture and homes are darker in colour and you can replicate the look of real wood with realistic and practical wood-effect porcelain tiles.

Available in a range of colours, wood-effect tiles are ideally suited for use in wet areas and you can use them to create a sleek, luxurious-looking bathroom. You can use wood-effect tiles on the walls and floors to get the look you love.

Darker wood is often used in China and offers an authentic, natural look, it is also available in numerous shades.

Image credit: @matkishowering

Recommended Tile: Stripwood Nut

Feng Shui style

Feng Shui is all about achieving balance and harmony through the way objects are placed; embracing simplicity, cleanliness and beautiful focal points.

Let qi, the energy that connects all living things, flow through your home by creating an uncluttered, spacious-looking bathroom. Choose simple, large-format tiles for the walls and floors in neutral colours for the best effect. Just don’t forget to close the toilet lid!

Large format, effortlessly beautiful tiles in neutral shades create a fresh, crisp look and a feeling of space to any size bathroom, adding a Bonsai tree completes the look.

Image credit: @wonderful.spaces

Recommended Tile: Timo Blanco 

Sleek and simple tiles

Continuing the Feng Shui theme, simple tiles are perfect for creating a flawless finish in your bathroom. Stick to large-format tiles in porcelain or natural stone for the ultimate clean, fuss-free look.

Feng Shui embodies simplicity and cleanliness, bring the Feng Shui theme to your bathroom with simple stone

Image credit: @cocoonbathroom

Recommended Tile: Mink Tumbled

Top Chinese style tile tips

From rich, bold colours, to Feng Shui-inspired neutrals these are the things to consider when choosing tiles for a Chinese-style bathroom:

Keep it simple – Whether you opt for dramatically coloured tiles or a more neutral shade, stick to plain tiles to create an understated but elegant finish. If you prefer a patterned tile, keep colours neutral and patterns simple.

 Consider your colours – Black, red, gold and neutral shades are all excellent choices when designing a Chinese-style bathroom.

Create a Zen-like aesthetic – for the most relaxing bathroom retreat, keep your tile colours light and bright to maximise the light in the room and stick to the same (or similar) tiles for the walls and floors for a fluid look.

Atlas Ceramics has a wide range of porcelain and natural stone tiles to choose from. Browse our selection yourself or call one of our experts for advice