Outdoor Tile Ideas – 15 Ways to Spruce up Your Garden
Whether you’re looking to liven up a pathway, lay a brand new patio or are searching for unusual tiles for your garden space, outdoor tiles have come a long way since the traditional cement patio slab offering.
Tiles are one of the best ways to transform your outdoor space. They provide a practical flat surface, are the perfect solution for placing furniture and other structures on and they can be used to create different zones in your garden. From natural stone to a range of attractive porcelain, Victorian and patterned tiles, the choice of outdoor tiles is vast.
We’ve put together our pick of the most innovative, unusual and beautiful outdoor tile ideas to inspire you. Keep reading to discover which tiles are the best for outdoor use and how to use them to add interest to your garden.
Image credit: @theoldmaltkiln
Recommended tile: Optimal Beige
What type of tile is best for outdoor use?
Outdoor tiles need to be tough. From sub-zero temperatures and baking summer heatwaves to regular drenchings and heavy footfall, outdoor tiles need to be weatherproof, strong and durable. These are the best tiles for outdoor use:
- Stone tiles are one of the most attractive outdoor tile options. You can choose a range of styles and sizes and opt for stones like slate and limestone. Natural stones can be used for patios, pathways and walls.
- Porcelain tiles are an excellent option for outdoor use. Outdoor porcelain tiles are often 20mm thick to allow for heavier footfall, but, depending on where you are using the tiles, you may be able to use thinner tiles too. Porcelain tiles won’t discolour, chip easily or stain, they’re really easy to clean and you have a vast range of finishes to choose from including realistic stone and wood effects, as well as patterned designs.
- Victorian tiles are a perfect choice if you have a traditional-style home. They’re traditionally used for pathways, porches and doorsteps but you can create a beautiful Victorian-style patio area and even use them on walls.
Outdoor tile ideas
It doesn’t matter whether you have a compact courtyard or a large outdoor space, you can use tiles anywhere. From showstopping doorsteps to perfect patios and wow-inducing walls, here are our favourite outdoor tile ideas:
Patterned porch tiles
Outdoor tiles don’t have to be plain, pretty up a porch or path with beautifully patterned porcelain tiles. They’re perfect for adding interest, super practical and very easy to clean, meaning your pathway will look at its best all year round.
Image credit: originalstyleuk
Recommended tile: Waxman Rustic Heritage
Victorian doorstep tiles
Victorian-style tile designs are created from individual mosaic tiles. These durable tiles come in a wide range of colours, are suitable for use inside and out and can be laid in a huge range of attractive designs. From classic chequerboard to more elaborate patterns, Victorian tiles are one of the best ways to add the wow factor to the entrance of your home.
Image credit: casaoldcorn
Recommended tile: St Andrews
Porcelain stone-effect tile pathway
When it comes to choosing outdoor tiles, porcelain is one of the very best materials. Porcelain tiles absorb very little water, so, unlike concrete paving slabs, they won’t stain or need to be sealed. They’re very easy to clean which is a huge benefit – anyone with traditional concrete patio slabs will know how quickly they discolour and harbour unsightly and hard-to-remove lichen spores.
Porcelain tiles can be produced in a huge range of sizes and several finishes including ultra-realistic stone styles. They can also be laid straight onto grass, gravel and sand, making installation a breeze.
Image credit: originalstyleuk
Recommended tile: Burlington Ivory
Grey porcelain tile patio
Porcelain tiles are perfect for achieving a sleek, ultra-modern look in your outdoor space. Grey tiles are perfect for all styles of property and they’ll go with all colours of brickwork and fencing, making them a popular choice.
Choose from large rectangular or square porcelain tiles and play around with the layout to get the perfect finish.
Image credit: myers.home
Recommended tile: Quartz Light Grey
Wood effect tiled patio
As well as realistic stone effect porcelain tiles, you can purchase a wide range of beautiful-looking wood-effect porcelain tiles. An excellent alternative to decking, wood-effect porcelain tiles can be kept clean with a regular sweep and occasional mop and won’t ever need staining.
Wood-effect tiles come in plank-sized lengths, so you can lay them in different patterns to suit your outdoor space.
Image credit: atlasceramics
Installation tile: Naturae Wood Effect Forest
Large format tile pathway
If you want to make a statement with your outdoor tiles, consider using very large format tiles. These tiles are often sized at 100x60cm, making them perfect for patios, courtyards and pathways.
Large tiles will make spaces appear larger and very large tiles can be placed directly onto level grassy areas, making installation quick and easy.
Large format tiles can be grouted, or you can increase the size between the tiles and fill it with decorative stones for a clean, contemporary look.
Recommended tile: Fossil Stone Light Grey
Natural slate patio
Natural slate is exceptionally durable and beautiful and it’s a perfect choice for outdoor paving. It’s also one of the most attractive outdoor tiling options and it’ll suit traditional and more modern garden designs.
Slate feels smooth underfoot and it’s naturally non-slip so is a good option for use around pools. Unlike non-porous porcelain tiles, moss and lichen can grow on slate tiles, but they can be removed with appropriate solutions and won’t damage the stone.
Image credit: nicky_tyman_design
Recommended tile: Amazon Green Natural Slate
Natural limestone patio
If you prefer a lighter stone, limestone is another beautiful option for outdoor use. Limestone is usually white to grey in colour and it’s well-suited to a life outdoors. It’s advisable to seal limestone tiles as it’ll help protect them from stains and spills. Both limestone and slate are less porous stones than sandstone, so they’ll be better able to resist the growth of moss and lichen.
Image credit: theeditinteriordesign
Recommended tile: Perpignan – Tumbled & Brushed
Hexagonal tile seating area
Pep up the area beneath a pergola with gorgeous hexagonal tiles. Perfect for adding an unusual touch to an outside space, hexagonal tiles are excellent in areas that are an awkward shape.
Easy to clean and cool underfoot, porcelain tiles are a superb and often less expensive alternative to natural stone.
Image credit: little_savage_life
Recommended tile: Ava Blanco Plain
Outdoor kitchen tiles
Outdoor tiles don’t have to be reserved for patios and paths, add interest to an outdoor kitchen area with pretty patterned tiles. You’ll be able to use thinner tiles on vertical surfaces, giving you more choice when it comes to pattern, size and colour.
Patterned tiles are perfect for adding character; give your garden an exotic touch with Moroccan-inspired designs or add a pop of colour with brightly glazed porcelain tiles.
Image credit: dreamhomesandlifestyle
Recommended tile: Damask Decor 8
Feature wall tiles
If you’re looking for a brilliant alternative to a wall or slatted fence panel, why not try a tiled garden wall? Tiles are the perfect way to put your creative stamp on an outdoor space and you can choose from just about any tile style. They’re super practical too, no more staining, fading or rotting to contend with, just a quick wipe-over to keep them gleaming.
Image credit: Atlasceramics
Recommended tile: Arun Oxido
Star tile patio
If you have a large outdoor space to tile, consider breaking it up with a section of patterned tiles. Ideal for delineating a separate dining or seating area, patterned tiles are perfect for adding interest, character and style.
Choosing the right pattern can be tricky but almost all styles can work well in outdoor spaces. We love vintage-style designs like stars, Victorian tiles and bold, geometric patterns.
Image credit: 1930slondonhouse
Recommended tile: Madrid Castilla Light Star
Split face tiles
With their irregular surface and rustic looks, splitface are the perfect indoor/outdoor wall tiles.
Whether made from porcelain or cut from real stone, they’re exceptionally durable and ideal for cladding houses, garden buildings and walls. Although splitface tiles might look tricky to install, they come affixed to panels, making them quick and simple to fit. They also have the advantage of needing very little to no grout.
Image credit: atlasceramics
Recommended tile: Arun Dark
Indoor/outdoor tiles
With the trend of spacious open-plan living areas and wide-opening patio doors, tiles that have a matching indoor and outdoor range are hugely popular.
Porcelain or natural stone tiles can both be used inside and out, the only difference being the tile thickness. Outdoor floor tiles are usually at least 20mm thick to withstand the pressures of life outdoors, you’ll also need to make sure that porcelain garden tiles have an adequate slip rating.
Fitting the tiles in the same layout will create a seamless flow from house to garden and is one of the best ways to get a contemporary look in your home.
Image credit: @atlasceramics
Outdoor tile tips
Material
Consider the best materials for your garden and grab some tile samples before making your final decision. All materials have pros and cons; stone is expensive and attractive but can be harder to maintain than durable porcelain.
Size
Think about the size of your outdoor tiles. Large tiles are perfect for enhancing the feeling of space and they’re easier to fit too. Very large tiles can be laid straight onto grass or sand.
Pattern
Outdoor tiles certainly don’t have to be plain and you can introduce patterns by creating borders with different coloured tiles, using patterned tiles to create different areas within your garden or introducing subtle patterns through the use of wood and stone-effect porcelain tiles.
If you’re thinking about giving your garden a glow-up, Atlas Ceramics has an excellent selection of outdoor tiles to choose from. Browse our selection yourself or call one of our experts for advice.