20 inventive shower tile ideas guaranteed to make a splash
The shower room is one of the most functional and relaxing spaces in the home. Not all homes have room for a bath, but a shower can be squeezed into the tiniest of spaces.
Invented in 1767 by William Feetham, a stove maker from London, the humble shower has a host of health and well-being benefits. Hot showers are perfect for soothing aching muscles, whilst cold showers can help to reduce pain, inflammation and stress levels.
Keep reading to discover how your shower or wet room can become a stylish focal point with the help of well-chosen tiles.
Image credit: @speedcleaningpros
Recommended tile: Mazurka pepite mosaic
What is the best kind of tile to use in a shower?
When walls are regularly exposed to water, they need to be protected, ideally with a layer of tiles. As long as the tiles are glazed or treated with a waterproof sealant, they will be suitable for use in a shower or wet room.
Porcelain, glass, natural stone and even mother-of-pearl tiles are all ideal for cladding a shower. You can choose from large format tiles or popular metro tiles to tiny mosaics and boldly patterned tiles. And if you’re really struggling to choose, you can easily combine one or more tile styles to create your dream shower room.
Shower tile ideas
Whether you’re installing a new shower, creating a brand new shower room or embarking on a re-tiling job, we’ve rounded up some of the most stylish, unusual and beautiful shower tile ideas for your home.
Experiment with tile layout
Metro tiles are one of the most popular tile styles on the market. Part of their popularity is due to the huge range of attractive layouts that can be achieved. From the stylish and classic herringbone pattern to more modern vertical stack or block lays, there is huge scope for creativity with rectangular tiles.
Image credit: @lauradesignandco
Recommended tile: San Vincenzo white
Have fun with stripes
Shower cubicles provide the perfect space for experimenting with colour and patterns. You can use budget-friendly square or rectangular tiles to create stripes, borders and panels and mix bright colours or neutral shades.
Image credit: @eleanorhorwelldesign
Recommended tile: Dorset smooth Honey
Go for glorious green
Give your shower a fresh makeover with tile in shades of gorgeous green. Easy on the eye, green tiles go brilliantly with white, neutral shades and pink. Depending on the shade of green tiles that you choose, you can create a light, bright space or a more dramatic and cosy feeling sanctuary.
Image credit: @interiorsaddict
Recommended tile: Emilia sage
Make a splash with mermaid tiles
Add a little ocean charm to your shower space with quirky mermaid or scallop tiles. Available in various coloured glazes and iridescent glass finishes, these little tiles are perfect for giving personality to a shower area.
Image credit: @colleenhungerford
Recommended tile: Mermaid Meya
Mix it up with different tiles
If you can’t quite make your mind up between tile ranges, you could consider combining two or three different styles. You’ll need to grab some samples to make sure they’ll go together as planned, but there’s no reason why you can’t mix and match different colours, sizes, patterns and textures. Stone and wood-effect porcelain tiles will always be a good match.
Image credit: @nats.renos
Recommended tile: Naturae wood Effect Hazel
Add drama with matt black tiles
Black tiles ooze elegance and sophistication and are always a timeless choice for a shower area. Black tiles can make a space seem smaller, but in the case of a shower room, that’s not necessarily a problem. If you’re worried it may seem a little cave-like, you can restrict the black tiles to the shower enclosure and keep everything else light and bright.
Image credit: @kbbmagazine
Recommended tile: Onyx Black
Add a pop of pink
Pink tiles are a popular choice for bathrooms. Muted shades of pink can be treated like any other neutral colour, they’ll add warmth to a room and pair well with most other colours. Use pink tiles to add warmth and make a feature of the shower area.
Pink is a versatile shade that goes brilliantly with navy blue and black, grey, white and green and you can pair it with marble, real stone and patterned tiles too.
Image credit: @magdalenarepala
Recommended tile: Brick Pink
Freshen up with floral tiles
If you’re keen to add floral tiles to your bathroom or wet room, the shower area provides the perfect space to do so.
Patterned tiles are a fantastic choice, but too much pattern can sometimes feel a little bit much, especially in a small room. Stick to the shower cubicle or a feature wall if you prefer a more subtle sprinkling of pattern.
Image credit: @originalstyleuk
Recommended tile: Canyon Porcelain
Brighten it up with brilliant blue tiles
The colour blue is often associated with the ocean so it’s a natural choice for bathroom tiles. With shades ranging from pale powder blue to deepest midnight, there’s a shade of blue for every shower room.
We love this electric shade of blue and how the tiles have been used on the ceiling to create a beautifully enclosed shower space.
Image credit: @jmtbuildersnj
Recommended tile: Emilia Navy
Explore different tile patterns
If you’ve decided to go for plain metro tiles, you can liven them up by combining different tile layouts. From brick bond to basketweave and herringbone to block lays, you can create a tile masterpiece on your shower walls.
Image credit: @joyarchitecture
Recommended tile: Dorset Bevelled White
Pep up a shower with pastel shades
Have fun tiling a shower cubicle and pick colourful tiles in soft ice cream shades. Tiles don’t have to be monochromatic and combining different colours can be a wonderful way to embrace your creative side.
To create a perfect patchwork effect, it’s best to stick to tiles of the same size and thickness.
Image credit: @interiorsocialclub
Add texture with zellige tiles and a rustic floor
Create a casual, boho-inspired shower space with the uneven texture of zellige wall tiles and a contrasting natural stone or terracotta shower floor.
The neutral tones will ensure that your shower room looks great for years to come and you can accessorise with any colours you like.
Image credit: @natalielouiseinteriors
Recommended tile: Rio Blanco
Make a statement with chequerboard tiles
If you want to make a feature of your shower room walls, a chequerboard pattern is well worth considering. Choose tiles in your favourite shades to create an eye-popping display.
We love the contrast between the sage green and white tiles in this stunning loft conversion, but you can pick any colours you like. Black and white is an iconic combination, or if you prefer a subtler look, try mixing neutral shades.
Image credit: @tinyandthehouse
Recommended tile: Damask Black
Go for modern matchstick mosaics
These contemporary tiles are a stylish alternative to square mosaic tiles. You can lay them vertically or horizontally to create different looks. Matchstick tiles are perfect if you favour a more minimalist look and the tiles come on a sheet so are a great solution for curved surfaces.
Image credit: @bellemagazineau
Add style with hexagonal tiles
Hexagonal tiles might look modern, but they burst into interiors during the early 1900s. A classic design, they also bring a modern touch to a shower space.
One of the great things about interestingly shaped tiles is that you can leave the tile edge uncut if you prefer to keep the hexagon shape intact.
Image credit: @brunssurfshack
Recommended tile: Ava Aqua Plain
Fit vintage star tiles
One of our favourite patterned tile designs, iconic star tiles are guaranteed to give your shower the wow factor.
Based on encaustic tile designs, modern star tiles are made from porcelain, making them a practical choice for a shower area.
Image credit: @athomein17
Recommended tile: Regal Negro
Go for insta-friendly lily pad tiles
Add character to a shower with bold lily pad tiles. Available in a range of colours, these beautiful tiles are a wonderful addition to a shower room and one of the best ways to transform a space.
Image credit: @nordiclivingincolour
Recommended tile: Ava Aqa Decor
Fit timeless travertine tiles
There is such an enormous range of tile styles that it can be really hard to settle on one type for your shower area. If you’re struggling to decide, it’s worth considering using real stone or stone-effect tiles.
They are one of the pricier options but stone tiles are timeless, luxurious and can add value to your home.
Image credit: @sunnychichome
Recommended tile: Always series
Add glamour with golden tiles
Give your shower area the Midas touch with glossy gold tiles. It may seem like a bold choice, but gold is surprisingly versatile and will go with many other colours. Adding a wall of gold is an effective way to add a little luxury to your bathroom without going over the top.
Image credit: @no15bythestream
Create interest with fun floor tiles
If your wall tiles are plain, why not do something unexpected with the shower floor tiles? Use boldly patterned tiles in a wet room area to add character and break up areas of plain colour.
You’ll need to make sure that floor tiles are glazed porcelain or sealed with an appropriate sealant if they’re getting a regular drenching.
Image credit: @popixdesigns
Shower tile tips
- Almost all tiles will be suitable for use in a shower area. If you’ve picked a porous material like stone or terracotta, it will be fine if sealed before use and periodically afterwards.
- With such a huge choice of tiles at your fingertips, it can be tricky to settle on the right tile style for you. It’s worth grabbing some samples, creating a mood board and popping into a showroom to speak to design experts who can steer you in the right direction.
If you’re thinking about revamping your shower area or creating a brand new one, Atlas Ceramics has a huge range of tiles to help you create your perfect space. Browse our selection yourself or call one of our experts for advice.