12 White Metro Tile Ideas to Brighten Up Your Bathroom
With their timeless appeal and crisp, bright appearance, white metro tiles are one of the most popular choices for bathrooms.
Named after their early use in Victorian train stations, these versatile tiles are a savvy choice if you want to tile your bathroom in a tile that shows no signs of going out of style.
Metro tiles’ rectangular shape lends itself to a range of attractive layouts. From the classic, crisp bevelled edge tile to more rustic, zellige-style tiles, keep reading to discover some brilliant white metro tile bathroom inspiration.
Image credit: @doris_leslie_blau
Recommended Tile: Dorset Smooth Blanco
White metro bathroom tile ideas
From simple classics to metro tiles with a twist, here are our top white metro tile picks to brighten up your bathroom:
Add a traditional touch with bevelled edge tiles
One of the best tiles for creating a traditional aesthetic, bevelled edge tiles look incredible combined with moulded border tiles. As the name suggests, bevelled edge tiles are cut away at the sides, giving them a crisp, geometric look.
The combination of pristine white tiles and white grout is one of the most effective ways to enhance the feeling of space in a bathroom
Image credit: @athomewithtash_xo
Recommended Tile: Dorset Bevelled White
Add elegance with marble metro tiles
If you’re looking to add a luxurious element to your bathroom, look for metro tiles in magnificent marble. You can choose between sleek polished or more rustic tumbled finishes for completely different, but no less elegant looks.
Image credit: Original Style
Create contrast with white tiles and black grout
White tiles and black grout are a classic combination that’s as practical as it is eye-poppingly attractive.
Black grout will emphasise the tiles and is especially effective if you’ve chosen an attractive tile layout. Black grout is incredibly practical in a bathroom space, hiding unsightly mould and mildew stains.
Design tip: If you want to use a contrasting grout, consider spacing the tiles slightly further apart than you might do with a white grout for even more impact.
Image credit: @clemandsebastien
Recommended Tile: Emilia Blanco
Grout Suggestion: Kerakoll Fugabella colour 12
Keep it light with white tiles and white grout
If maximising space and creating a light, bright bathroom haven is your goal, opting for pure white tiled walls is hard to beat.
If an all-white bathroom seems too clinical, you can always offset white walls with a strong paint colour, break it up with patterned tiles and choose towels and accessories in bold colours.
Image credit: @victorianhouse1896
Recommended Tile: Dorset Bevelled Blanco
Add texture with zellige style metro tiles
As the trend for white metro tiles has shown no sign of slowing, the choice of finishes and textures has grown exponentially.
Choosing white tiles in differing textures is key to creating the popular tone-on-tone design trend where the same, or similar colours are used in combination with different textures. Think of a combination of matt, shiny and textured tiles to create a sophisticated and visually appealing bathroom space.
Zellige-style tiles have an irregular surface that catches the light at different angles. Lay zellige style tiles as close together as possible to emphasise the surface variations between the tiles.
Image credit: @drench
Recommended Tile: Kesha Bianco
Get creative with tile edging
Wall tiles don’t have to end in a straight line, take advantage of the simplicity of white tiles and do something unexpected. We love the unusual stepped finish of the tiles in this elegant bathroom. Simple, understated and effective.
Image credit: @our_thirties_semi
Recommended Tile: Dorset Bevelled Blanco
Try a classic herringbone layout
One of our favourite tile layouts, the herringbone pattern adds a different dimension to bathroom walls and floors.
You can use a herringbone layout in combination with other layouts for additional interest. Try tiling adjoining walls with white tiles in different layouts for a powerful design effect.
Image credit: @mrsoliviawalker
Recommended Tile: Dorset Bevelled Blanco
Add a twist to a traditional herringbone layout
Take the traditional herringbone layout and turn it around to create a more contemporary but no less striking effect. You can also double tiles up, creating the spectacular double herringbone pattern.
Image credit: @lbinterieurdesign
Recommended Tile: San Vincenzo White
Add interest with a basketweave pattern
Less popular than the brick bond and herringbone patterns but packing the same style punch is the beautiful basketweave tile layout. Perfect for contemporary bathrooms, this design is ideal for adding interest to a wall of white tiles. Add contrasting grout to highlight the distinctive pattern of the tiles.
Image credit: @project_fountains
Recommended Tile: Tinte Blanco Matt
Go for a modern vertical stack design
If you’re refreshing a tired bathroom on a budget or designing a new contemporary bathroom, stacking white metro tiles will give you a smart, modern look.
Combine white wall tiles with contrasting floor tiles; terrazzo effect tiles are the perfect partner for contemporary bathroom designs.
Image credit: @grinta_interieur
Recommended Tile: Habana White
Combine white metro tiles with wood
If you love the freshness of white tiles but don’t want to use them throughout the whole bathroom, try combining them with the warmth of wood-effect tiles.
A powerful combination, wood-look tiles will help to soften the harshness of all-white tiles, creating a luxurious and relaxing bathroom sanctuary.
Image credit: @rockettstgeorge
Fit a metro tile bath panel
Get coordinated and match the bath panel to your bathroom walls. It’s an easy and inexpensive way to create a high-end, hotel-style vibe in your bathroom.
Image credit: @living_at_number29
Recommended Tile: Dorset Bevelled Blanco
Are white metro tiles a good idea?
Perfect for brightening small spaces and with several budget-friendly options, white metro tiles are timeless, elegant and best of all, they’ll never go out of style.
You can add interest to a white bathroom scheme by choosing textured white tiles, tiles made from a white stone like marble and by varying the colour of the grout. Using black or dark grey grout creates a striking contrast within a wall of white tiles.
Metro tiles are exceptionally versatile and can be laid in a variety of interesting designs such as the contemporary stack bond, the classic brick bond, the more unusual running bond and the stylish basketweave and herringbone patterns.
Metro tiles can be laid in several different ways
White tiles are also one of the best options if you’re on a budget as you’ll be able to find a wide range of great value styles.
Top tips for using white metro tiles in the bathroom
However you decide to style your white metro tiles, they’re guaranteed to brighten up your bathroom.
Here are our top tips for these versatile tiles:
- Try different layouts – Maximise the impact that simple, white tiles can have by choosing a beautiful design layout. Rectangular metro tiles can be laid out in many eye-catching patterns. You can combine different patterns for even more impact.
- Play around with texture – Use a combination of textures in the same room to add interest and impact. Try smooth and rough, matte and glossy and natural stone tiles.
- Add pops of colour – An all-white bathroom is clean, practical and bright. Add interest with natural textures like wood and metal, introduce colour with attractive structural and trailing plants and use soft towels and rugs for warmth.
Atlas Ceramics has an impressive range of simple white metro tiles to help you achieve a similar look in your bathroom. Browse our selection yourself or call one of our friendly experts for advice.