Wet Room Tile Ideas – 20 ways to get a clean, contemporary look
Recommended Tile: Rio Gris 65mm x 200mm
Space-saving, accessible and effortlessly stylish, wet rooms are taking the bathroom design world by storm.
Suitable for the smallest and the largest spaces, wet rooms can be squeezed into loft conversions and roomy cupboards, or you can transform part of a larger bathroom into a soakable sanctuary.
The wet room concept is inspired by Japanese design, where baths and showers are often located in the same room and the toilet in another room altogether. Wet rooms are highly desirable and can add as much as 4-5% to the value of your home.
Wet rooms aren’t just large walk-in showers, many include freestanding bathtubs behind a large glass screen, with the sink and toilet located in another area. An existing bathroom can be converted into a wet room, you’ll need to enlist the help of an experienced plumber and tiler to make sure that the water drains away as it should and to effectively waterproof the area.
Which tiles are best for a wet room or walk-in shower?
If you’re choosing tiles for a wet room it can be tricky to know where to start.
Essentially, a wet room is a completely waterproof space, so you’ll need to fully tile the area. You can choose different tiles for the walls and floors or go for the same tiles for a seamless look.
Porcelain tiles are the easiest to maintain and will give you the greatest choice in terms of size, colour and finish, or you can opt for natural materials like travertine or marble. If you’re planning a wet room but unsure of which tiles to go for, keep reading to discover our pick of the most gorgeous wet room tiles.
Wet room tile ideas
Whether you’re revamping an existing bathroom or installing a fresh new shower room, we’ve put together a varied selection of fabulous wet room tile ideas to get you started.
Luxe marble
If you’re looking to create a luxurious wet room, you can’t go wrong with the elegance of real marble. Natural marble is a fantastic choice for a wet room but because it’s porous, will need to be well sealed if used to tile the floor.
You’ll have more colour choices if you opt for natural marble, but if you prefer a lower-maintenance option, it’s best to pick marble-effect porcelain tiles. If you really can’t choose, you can always combine the two.
Recreate this look: Elgin Matt Marble
Wood effect and subway tiles
Wood-effect porcelain tiles are an attractive option and can work especially well if you have natural wood or wood-effect flooring in other areas of your home. Continuing the same style of flooring will help to create a cohesive look, especially if your wet room is located downstairs.
Wood effect tiles often have a grained texture, making them a practical option for a wet room floor. You can offset the natural look of wood with glossy, jewel-coloured metro and marble-effect tiles.
Recreate this look: Rio Marine 65mm x 200mm and Woodlands Natural 230mm x 1200mm
Light and bright
There aren’t really any rules when it comes to choosing the tiles for your wet room. Light tiles are a good choice in small spaces or areas lacking in natural light, but if you’ve got a large window in your wet room, light tiles can make it feel even brighter.
If you’ve opted for a light colour scheme, you can keep it interesting with unusually shaped tiles. Using hexagonal or smaller mosaic tiles is an effective way to add a modern twist to a wet room.
Recommended Tile: Ava Blanco 198mm x 228mm
Black and beige
You can use contrasting tiles to designate different areas of your wet room. This striking rooftop wet room utilises bold black tiles in the bath area and subtle beige tiles for the shower, floor and ceiling. You can also add interest by using matt and gloss tiles in the same room.
Patterned floor tiles
If your wet room is squeezed into a tight space, you might prefer to choose light-coloured tiles to stop it from feeling too cramped. Create contrast with patterned floor tiles, they’ll help to break up the area and stop it from feeling clinical.
Glossy metro tiles
High gloss metro tiles are one of the most popular tile styles for bathrooms and wet rooms alike. They’re easy to fit and clean, often budget-friendly and the choice of colours and styles ensures they remain a firm favourite.
Metro tiles are incredibly versatile and will pair well with any other tile style. You can also vary the layout of the tiles, for example, a brick bond lay on one wall and a herringbone lay on another.
Recommended Tile: Tinte Ash Blue 65mm x 200mm
Simple white metro tiles
If you’re struggling to choose tiles for your wet room, you can always count on white metro tiles. Timeless and elegant, these adaptable tiles can be used in every setting, from industrial-style to traditional and ultra-modern wet rooms.
Top Tip: Vary the grout colour for a completely different look, black or dark grey creates a striking contrast or opt for white for a cleaner, brighter look. You can also choose coloured grouts for a more unusual finish.
Recommended Tile: Dorset Smooth Blanco 100mm x 200mm
Simple squares
Amongst the sea of subway tiles, square tiles are having a well-deserved moment. These humble tiles are incredibly versatile and they’re often easy on the wallet too.
Opt for classic, smooth square tiles or add interest with the irregular texture of zellige tiles. You can also add different coloured tiles to the mix or get creative with borders. Square tiles are great for achieving a minimal look and you can continue them onto the floor too.
Statement wall and floor tiles
There’s no reason why you can’t combine several different tile styles in a wet room, especially if it’s a large space. You can use bold tiles to create a feature wall in much the same way as you might use paint in another room of the house.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with different-sized tiles on the floors and walls, Often smaller tiles are used on the walls than the floors, but this wet room showcases how effective mosaic tiles can look on the floor. Mosaics are also a practical option for their non-slip qualities.
Recommended Tile: Rio Nero 65mm x 200mm
Feature lily pad tiles
Arguably one of the most beautiful tile styles, lily pad tiles will make a serious style statement in a wet room. We love the floor-to-ceiling use of these gorgeous green tiles, but you can keep it simpler by just tiling one wall if you prefer.
Check out our green bathroom tiles article for more inspiration.
Mixed marble tiles
Marble tiles are a classic choice and they’re always in style. Because marble is so popular, it’s available in a range of different shapes and sizes. Create interest in a wet room by combining different-sized tiles on the floors and walls. Wall indents are a great place to get creative too.
Contemporary large-format tiles
If you’re looking for a sleek and sophisticated finish in your wet room, large-format tiles are a savvy choice.
Working well in both small and large rooms, large tiles help a room to feel extra spacious due to the lack of grout lines and they’re ideal if you prefer a clean, minimal look.
Recommended Tile: Basalt Nero Range
Textured floor tiles
As you might expect, a wet room’s going to get regularly soaked. Although most tiles won’t pose too much of a slip problem when wet, if you’ve got young children or just want a failsafe floor, consider fitting pebble mosaic tiles. They’re great for adding interest and creating a look that’s a little bit different.
Perfectly pink tiles
Add a welcome pop of colour to a small wet room with pink tiles. Pink is ideal for adding character to a bathroom and, depending on the shade you choose, it can really lift a room. Pink goes beautifully with white, grey, black and other neutrals so you can easily introduce it into a wet room.
Recommended Tile: Rio Rosa 65mm x 200mm
Black and white floor tiles
If you prefer neutrals, the classic combination of black and white is always a good decision. You can choose from a range of tile styles, from geometric patterns to vintage star tiles.
Fitting a black and white tiled floor is a great way to liven up an otherwise all-white wet room and because the iconic colour duo is so timeless, you’re very unlikely to go off it.
Mosaic floor tiles
What better way to deck out a wet room than with a swimming pool-inspired mosaic floor? As well as looking incredible, mosaic tiles are a practical choice due to their non-slip qualities. Mosaic tiles are beautiful and easy to clean and the advantage of using smaller tiles in a wet room is that you’ll minimise the appearance of unsightly tile cuts around the drain area.
Classic floor tiles
Historically one of the most popular tile styles, the chequerboard floor is here to stay. Often seen in hallways and kitchens, there’s no reason why you can’t introduce this showstopping style to a wet room.
You can vary the colour of the tiles too, black and white are a striking combination but you can achieve a subtler look with lighter shades.
Recommended Tile: Damask Range
Bold stripes
Make a statement in your wet room with stylish stripes. Getting creative with colour is a great way to add personality to a room and you can choose from vivid colours, ice-cream pastels or neutral shades.
You’ll be able to find a rainbow of shades in square or rectangular tile shapes or you can create a subtler look by using several shades of natural stone or marble.
Moroccan-style tile floor
These characterful tiles are ideal for adding interest to small spaces. Use them on the floor, the walls or both for an affordable and attractive finish.
Although they’re heavily patterned, Moroccan-style tiles are surprisingly versatile and can be combined with a range of other tile styles and colours.
Recommended Tile: Damask Range
Concrete effect tiles
Add an industrial vibe to a wet room with concrete effect porcelain tiles. Choosing the same tiles for the walls and floors creates a fluid feel and it can be particularly effective in smaller spaces.
Wet room tile tips
You can use any type of tile in a wet room, just be sure that if the tiles are natural stone, they’re suitably sealed. You’ll also need to periodically seal stone tiles so that they remain watertight.
Remember that floor tiles will need to be skillfully cut to fit the contours of the wet room shower area. You may need to enlist the help of an experienced tiler.
Have fun choosing your tiles! As wet rooms are more open than traditional bathrooms, you can create a really contemporary, clean look and have fun combining different tile styles.
Atlas Ceramics stocks an impressive range of wall and floor tiles to help you achieve your wet room goals. Browse our selection yourself or call one of our experts for advice.