18 White Bathroom Tile Ideas
Pure, calming and timeless, it’s not surprising that white is the most popular colour choice for bathrooms.
Perfect for all sizes and styles of bathroom, white exudes a fresh and clean feel. It’s light reflective, flexible and best of all, it will never go out of style.
White is achromatic, meaning it has no hue and is often linked to innocence, purity and cleanliness.
If you’re inspired by this versatile, chalky shade, keep reading to uncover our pick of the most beautiful snow-white bathrooms.
Image credit: @interiorsecrets
Recommended Tile: Gala Blanco
White bathroom tile ideas
Whether you’re looking for tiles for an all-white bathroom, choosing light tiles to complement a strong paint colour or looking for a cool partner for patterned tiles, scroll through our pick of some of the best white tile ideas.
Lay metro tiles in a herringbone pattern
If you’re searching for a tile that will stand the test of time, you can’t go wrong with the classic, rectangular metro tile. Part of this versatile tile’s popularity lies in its ability to be laid in many different ways.
The herringbone pattern manages to be both modern and timeless and it’s perfect for livening up bathroom walls. Add a couple of rows of horizontal border tiles for a classy finish.
Image credit: @our_kentish_barn
Recommended Tile: Rio Blanco
Add interest with textured tiles
White tiles can be anything but boring. Opt for roughly textured, zellige-style tiles to add depth and character to your bathroom walls. Unevenly textured tiles should be laid as close together as possible to maximise the bumpy, rustic effect.
Image credit: @karenaspreastudio
Recommended Tile: Kesha Bianco
Apply a different coloured grout
We spend so much time choosing the right tiles that the grout is often completely overlooked. If you’re choosing white tiles, don’t underestimate the impact that an unexpected grout colour can have.
We adore this knockout bathroom with vibrant red grout, it adds a pink tinge to the tiles, giving them a completely different dimension.
Image credit: @archboom__
Grout Suggestion: Kerakoll Fugabella Colour 42
Add contrast with black grout
Black grout is a popular choice for white tiles and it can work wonders in a bathroom as you won’t need to worry about discolouration. Black grout provides a deep contrast to the white tiles and is an excellent option for an edgier, more dramatic look.
Image credit: @bunnings
Grout Suggestion: Kerakoll Fugabella Colour 12
Think creatively
Make an impact in your bathroom by laying milky-coloured metro tiles in different ways. You can divide a wall horizontally into quarters, thirds or halves, choosing a different layout for each section, or tile adjoining walls with different designs.
As white tiles are so simple, getting creative with tile layout is a brilliant way to upstyle your bathroom.
Image credit: @formandfield
Recommended Tile: Dorset Smooth
Opt for a classic design
If you’re revamping your bathroom on a budget, square white tiles are one of the most affordable options. Simple and understated, square tiles can be used alone or combined with other tiles for a fuss-free, sophisticated look.
Image credit: @threebirdsrenovations
Recommended Tile: Gloss Bumpy white
Use pretty fish-scale mosaics
One of the most beautiful tile styles, fish scale mosaics are a clever choice for an ocean-inspired bathroom or wet room design.
You can lay scallop-shaped tiles with the pointy end up or down for a different look. You can also dot tiles of different colours or insert pretty metallics into the design for a pop of colour or sparkle.
Image credit: @eskanddevelopers
Recommended Tile: Mermaid Rice
Fit modern matchstick tiles
Matchstick tiles are an attractive choice for a contemporary bathroom. These streamlined mosaic tiles can be laid vertically or horizontally and if you have curved surfaces in your bathroom, the tile sheets can be wrapped around them.
Image credit: @dezeen
Add class with marble tiles
If you’re looking to add a luxurious feel to your bathroom, using marble tiles is one of the most effective ways to do so.
Bright, polished marble is an excellent choice for small bathrooms as the reflective surface will help to bounce light around. You can opt for real marble or lower-maintenance, but no less beautiful, marble-effect porcelain.
Image credit: @jolauriedesign
Recommended Tile: Elgin Gloss Marble
Get the retro look with penny tiles
Cute and full of personality, miniature penny tiles can transform bathroom walls and floors and they work incredibly well alongside all other tile types.
Because penny tiles have a large grout-to-tile ratio, they make an excellent non-slip surface and are a safe option for shower or wet room floors. Penny tiles are a surprisingly chic yet playful option for a bathroom.
Image credit: @home__interiors
Search for subtle surface patterns
Think about combining different styles of white tile to create multi-textured wall and floor spaces.
Sticking to one neutral colour can give you more creative freedom when it comes to combining tiles as virtually all styles will look good together. Think about large and small, smooth and rough and glossy and matte.
Image credit: @zephyr_and_stone
Recommended Tile: Gala Blanco Decor
Add a traditional touch with bevelled edge tiles
There is something so aesthetically pleasing about a wall of glossy white bevel-edge metro tiles. Traditional and timeless, these tiles are a perfect solution for all shapes, sizes and styles of bathrooms.
Image credit: @homewithrue
Recommended Tile: Dorset Bevelled
Create interest with moulded border tiles
If you want to break up a wall of plain white tiles or use a different tile to frame the edge of a splashback, border tiles are a stylish option. You can also use border tiles as a transition between tiles of different colours.
Image credit: @originalstyleuk
Recreate this look: Dorset Smooth Honey
Get a rustic look with white, wood-effect tiles
White tiles are perfect for achieving a sleek and elegant-looking bathroom, but if you prefer a more rustic approach, look for bleached, wood-effect porcelain tiles.
Wood-effect tiles are available in an impressive range of colours and realistic textures and they’re a durable and practical solution for wet rooms.
Image credit: @boutiqueretreats
Recommended Tile: Naturae Wood Effect Snow
Choose tactile relief tiles
Add visual interest to a white-tiled bathroom by choosing tiles with a relief pattern. You can use textured tiles over small or large areas and combine them with smooth tiles to create interesting patterns.
Image credit: @originalstyleuk
Add character with patterned tiles
Use patterned tiles to draw attention to specific areas of your bathroom such as a shower area, splashback or bath panel. Look for subtle patterns against a white background to keep the bathroom feeling bright and airy.
Image credit: @originalstyleuk
Recommended Tile: Fern Green Decor
Go for glossy glass tiles
Glass tiles are one of the most beautiful and contemporary options for a bathroom. Easy to clean, glossy and super light reflective, glass tiles are an excellent option for all types of bathroom
Using roughly half as much energy to produce as their ceramic counterparts, glass tiles are an eco-friendly alternative.
Experiment with different tile combinations
Large and small, smooth and rough, plain and patterned; try combining different tile styles to ramp up the visual interest in an all-white bathroom.
Image credit: @housebeautifuluk
Are white tiles in a bathroom a good idea?
There’s no doubt that an immaculately clean white bathroom is hard to beat. Light, bright and space-enhancing, white tiles will make even the smallest, darkest bathroom glow.
Tiling a bathroom can be costly so opting for a timeless colour scheme is an excellent way to protect your investment.
An all-white bathroom can appear clinical, but experimenting with tiles of different sizes, using interesting tile layouts and introducing a mix of materials and textures will add depth and character.
If you’re on a tight budget, plain white tiles can be an affordable option. You’ll also have the top choice of styles as most tile ranges will include a white variant.
Top tips for white-tiled bathrooms
White tiles are the most classic and timeless of them all, but white doesn’t have to be sterile and dull, with a little planning, you can create a visually appealing bathroom that you’ll never grow tired of.
- Create a mood board -We often mention mood boards and they’re a brilliant way to bring together different tile materials, as well as paint and fabric samples. You can easily swap different materials to see which combinations you prefer.
- Combine different layouts and tile textures – Sticking to one colour means you can be extra creative with your tile layouts and textures. Even in the smallest bathrooms, you can combine a range of different tile styles to amazing effect.
- Introduce textures – white colour schemes are undeniably beautiful but they can feel a little cold. Use plenty of soft rugs, plush towels and foliage to soften the look.
Atlas Ceramics has a wide range of white and off-white tiles to choose from, helping you to create the lightest, brightest bathroom. Browse our selection or call one of our experts for advice.