Shabby Chic Style Bathroom Tile Ideas – 11 ways to get the elegant, worn look
With its slightly worn, effortlessly elegant and easy-on-the-eye style, the shabby chic look is a firm favourite in the world of interior design trends.
A mix of vintage and more modern designs, shabby chic furniture is often distressed in order to make it look old and worn. Shabby chic interiors have a timeless and romantic feel and combine subtle colours and natural materials to achieve a casual, lived-in look.
Keep reading to discover how you can use a range of tiles to help you achieve a gorgeous shabby-chic style bathroom.
Image credit: @beyond.the.dutchdoor
Recommended Tile: DD Biscuit
How do I make my bathroom look shabby chic?
The shabby chic style is warm and welcoming. Think soft, neutral colours, plenty of texture, subtle patterns and plenty of accessories. A few well-chosen vintage pieces of furniture will help you to get the shabby chic look in your bathroom and you can easily upcycle items that you find. An old, preloved cupboard can make a perfect vanity unit and you can pick up some amazing bargains from online marketplaces.
Tiles can also help you to achieve the shabby chic look. Consider using natural materials like limestone and slate, pick pretty patterned tiles for a softer, more romantic look and think about interesting textures when choosing your tiles.
Shabby chic bathroom tile ideas
From vintage style to natural stone, fabulous florals and interesting textures, we’ve curated our favourite shabby-chic bathroom tile designs to inspire you:
Metro tiles
One of the most versatile tiles on the market, the metro tile looks good in all styles of bathrooms from traditional to modern and everything in between.
Metro tiles are stylish and timeless and they form a perfect backdrop for feature furniture, quirky sanitaryware and vintage-style bathroom fittings. You can create different looks by changing the layout of the tiles and they’ll go with all other sizes and styles of tiles too.
Plain, ceramic metro tiles are an excellent choice if you’re on a budget, or you can opt for more expensive tumbled stone or marble metro tiles. Either way, they are going to look incredible on your bathroom walls and/or floors.
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Recommended Tile: Dorset Smooth White
Marble tiles
Another incredibly versatile tile, marble can be used in all styles of bathrooms and it’s perfect in a shabby-chic room where vintage and distressed materials contrast beautifully with the sleek elegance of marble.
Marble is extremely durable and, as long as it’s sealed, fine for use in a bathroom. You can also opt for marble-effect porcelain tiles which are completely water-tight and virtually maintenance-free.
Image credit: @loredanasari
Recommended Tile: Elgin Gloss White Marble
Slate floor tiles
If you love the rustic look, then it’s hard to beat the beauty of a natural slate floor. Slate is exceptionally durable and can contain huge variations in colour. If you prefer a less busy-looking floor, you can opt for a grey or black slate which is more uniform in appearance.
Slate is a good choice if you want a floor that will last for decades and, it’ll go beautifully with other types of tile, so you can have fun choosing completely different wall tiles.
Image credit: @ariennealdecoa
Recommended Tile: Welsh Porcelain Slate
Chequerboard floor tiles
One of the most classic floor tile designs, this iconic pattern was loved by the ancient Egyptians and 1950s Americans alike. It’s an eye-catching and timeless style that suits bathrooms of all shapes and sizes.
You don’t have to stick to the traditional black and white colour scheme, you can create a softer look with different coloured tiles; white and beige or ivory and sage green are subtler options that will look just as incredible.
Image credit: @simplyfrenchmarket
Recommended Tile: Damask Black and White
Star tiles
Vintage-style star tiles are one of the hottest tile trends at the moment. They’re a perfect way to introduce pattern without it feeling over the top and they work surprisingly well in more neutral design schemes.
Use them for the floors, add detail to a shower enclosure or fit a celestial splashback, however you use these tiles, they won’t disappoint.
Image credit: @fansofshabbychic
Recommended Tile: Regal Negro
Mix and match tiles
One of the great things about the shabby-chic style is that you can blend different materials to great effect. Experiment with tiles in different styles to get an eclectic look in your bathroom.
Wood-effect porcelain and stone tiles will sit perfectly next to plain ceramic, mosaics and glass tiles, creating a feast for the eyes. Combining different tile textures works well in smaller bathrooms where you might not have room for many vintage fixtures and furnishings.
Image credit: @ifwisheswerehouses
Recommended Tile: Naturae Wood Effect Snow
Natural stone tiles
Stone tiles are one of the most beautiful choices for bathroom tiles. You can choose from timeless travertine, elegant marble or natural slate and opt for different finishes for a completely different look.
Tumbled stone tiles have a worn, more rustic appearance so will work particularly well in a shabby chic style bathroom.
Image credit: @kcc21integra
Recommended Tile: Elements Titanium
Patterned tiles
Add interest to a shabby-chic style bathroom with patterned tiles. There is such a huge choice of patterns, colours and styles that it can be hard to know where to start so we suggest ordering some samples to help you choose.
You don’t have to use patterned tiles over large areas, just a few feature tiles laid across a splashback or feature wall can have a big impact.
Image credit: @mulberrytreehomes
Recommended Tile: Ava Azul Decor
Black and white floor tiles
Black and white floor tiles are hugely popular. They’re neutral enough to go with all colour schemes, look great alongside natural materials like wood and stone, and there’s a wide range of patterns to choose from.
Patterned floor tiles are ideal for adding interest to small bathrooms and, if you’re worried that you might go off them, stick to more classic designs.
Image credit: @mdcabinets
Recommended Tile: Damask Series Decor 1
Wood effect tiles
Wood is an essential part of the shabby chic look, whether it’s used in furniture, floorboards or accessories. Wooden floors aren’t the most practical choice in a room that’s prone to getting wet so we recommend the use of wood-effect porcelain tiles instead.
Advanced printing techniques mean that the colour and patterns of real wood are replicated perfectly onto durable, waterproof porcelain tiles. The tiles are textured too, so they’re a great option if you’re looking to add a more rustic look to your bathroom. You can also find wood-effect tiles in a distressed finish, perfect for adding the finishing touch to a shabby chic bathroom.
Image credit: @unguilleentremafaldas
Recommended Tile: Woodlands Natural
Floral tiles
And finally, if you’re a romantic at heart and want to create a dreamy and serene shabby chic bathroom, consider adding some floral tiles into the mix.
There’s an impressive range to choose from and Original Style has introduced a range of hand-painted, English-garden-inspired tiles, allowing you to enjoy the brilliant blooms all year round from the comfort of your bathtub.
Image credit: @originalstyleuk
Recommended Tile: Canyon Mosaic
How to get the shabby chic style with tiles
- Keep it neutral
You don’t have to stick to white and grey, but a shabby-chic interior isn’t the place for bright, bold colours. You can add interest with different textures (think natural materials or tiles with a relief design) and add subtler colours with delicately patterned tiles.
- Add natural materials
Shabby chic style makes the most of interesting textures and materials. You can introduce this to your bathroom with stone tiles or go for realistic-looking stone and wood-effect porcelain tiles instead.
- Use pattern carefully
If you love patterns, you can opt for gorgeous floor tiles in neutral colours, we love black and white vintage-style star tiles and monochrome, traditional-style designs. You can also opt for beautiful floral tile designs for a more romantic-looking bathroom.
Atlas Ceramics has a wide range of plain stone and porcelain and patterned wall and floor tiles to help you nail the shabby chic look in your bathroom. Browse our selection yourself or call one of our experts for advice.