Go beyond subway tile with these fun ideas.
Picking the perfect tile for your bathroom can feel like such a commitment. Unlike paint, tile is a much longer-term decision. (Not to mention an investment!) If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the choices—and trust us, we know there are a lot—you’ve come to the right place. Whether you want something bold (hello, encaustic tile!), nostalgic (looking at you, hex tile!), or serene (bring on the zellige tile!), we’ve narrowed down the best choices for bathrooms of all sizes—and budgets, all with a classically country twist. These 65 designer-approved ideas are guaranteed to make your bathroom (or pretty powder room) renovation a breeze. floor drain with anti cockroach trap
Find more of our favorite bathroom decorating ideas:
Designer Christina Salway flipped the script on tile placement in her recent farmhouse renovation. In the primary bathroom, she kept the floors wood and opted to install tile only on the walls. The airy zellige tile lends the space a classic bathroom feel without sacrificing vintage old-house charm.
RELATED: Our Favorite Claw-foot Tub Ideas That Prove These Stately Silhouettes Can Be Happily Humble
Using retro-inspired checkered tile is an easy and time-honored way to bring a little bit of personality to your bathroom. In this Catskills farmhouse designed by Jersey Ice Cream Co., tiles in creamy white and taupe were chosen to complement the blush beadboard walls while an L-shaped chrome shower rod furthers the retro feel.
RELATED: Our 70 Favorite Rooms That Embody Farmhouse Style Perfectly
In bathrooms with bold walls, pick light-toned solid-colored floor tiles to create an easy-to-digest visual contrast. The shapely white marble floor tiles in this barn home bathroom offer just that, while shining chrome accents add an elegant twist against the rustic wood walls.
RELATED: These Paint Colors Will Be Everywhere in 2025
Looking for tile that comes out of the box with a huge dose of personality? Then look no further than encaustic tiles. These colorful tiles are traditionally made from different, vibrantly colored types of clay which are then fired together to create a single geometric tile.
Get the Look: Vanity Paint Color: Stuart Gold by Benjamin Moore
In this bathroom designed by Zio & Sons, designer Anthony D’Argenzio installed the same tile along the floor and up a bumped-out backsplash. Building the tile wall out not only creates spacial interest in the bathroom but also provides a practical perch for a mirror, decor, and fresh flowers above the sink.
RELATED: 30+ Rustic Bathroom Ideas for Lots of Cozy Character
The easiest way to add character to a newly built or renovated bathroom is to pick tile with patina. In this California beach bungalow, designer Alexis Garrett chose pre-patinaed terra-cotta tiles to ground the white bathroom and complement the vanity’s wood stain.
RELATED: These Are Designers’ Favorite Ways to Add Soul to the Bathroom
Inset storage nooks are a helpful addition to any tiled shower. In fabric maven Heather Taylor’s California cabin, the guest bath’s inset shower nook, which is roughly the same size and shape as the small window above, provides the perfect stash spot for various guest-ready toiletries.
RELATED: Our Best Cabin Decorating Ideas to Transform Your Home Into a Cozy Escape
Tile is loved for its practical applications, but it can also be used for purely decorative purposes. In this Wisconsin bathroom, vertically stacked subway tiles line the back of the arched built-in shelving.
RELATED: 25 Big Storage Ideas for Small Bathrooms
Tile with personality goes a long way in upgrading an all-white bathroom. Here, designer Gaelle Dudley installed cement plaid floor tile in a tonal blue palette and paired it with wicker sconces to give this coastal bathroom a fresh look.
RELATED: These Are the Best Designer-Approved White Paint Colors
Get the Look: Floor Tile: varied terracotta in Tavella by Fornace Brioni + Cristina Celestino x clé tile
Can’t choose just one color for your tile? You don’t have to! In this nautical bathroom, a smattering of penny tiles in various shades of nautical blues feels right at home next to the maritime chart wallpaper.
RELATED: Make Waves in Your Beach House with These Ocean-Inspired Design Ideas
Inspired by the homeowners’ collection of vintage blankets, ceramics artist Erica Shirey created a eye-catching graphic pattern on a wall in their guest bathroom by individually hand-painting each 8-by-8 tile. The installation is perfectly framed by the bold, black gridded shower door.
RELATED: Light Up Your Space with Our 25+ Best Bathroom Lighting Ideas
Antique tile in good condition makes a stylish alternative to readily available store-bought tile. In designer Christina Salway’s farmhouse bathroom, an antique rolling breakfast cart featuring stunning antique blue-and-white floral tile was retrofitted with an inset sink to turn it into the ultimate vanity.
RELATED: 45 Powder Room Decorating Ideas That Add Storage and Style
In this farmhouse-style bathroom, you have to look twice to see that the sink backsplash wall of the shower bumpout is different than the shiplap walls. This technique is a great way to get the practicality of tile without sacrificing your overall look.
We’ll let you in on a secret: Trim is the key to making any room feel professionally finished—including the bathroom. Try this with tile wainscoting to help pull the room together. You can go with classic black and white as Country Living’s Editor-in-Chief did here in her Mississippi hunting lodge, or you can choose to match it to your other paint or fabric choices.
RELATED: Yes, You CAN Use Wallpaper In A Bathroom! Here Are Our 40 Favorite Examples.
Delicate hex tiles will be a forever classic, but why not have a little more fun in your own space? We love the look of larger tiles that still have the same retro feel as the originals. If your bathroom has high ceilings, try larger silhouettes such as this to ground the space.
RELATED: Check Out These Designer-Approved Dark Blue Paint Colors for Your Next Paint Project
Take a note from designer Emily Henderson and go playfully geometric with your tile border. While she chose a clean-lined herringbone tile to cover the floors, Emily picked larger scale picket tiles to act as a wainscoting. A row-and-a-half of green picket tiles at the bottom of the wall adds a colorful geographic punch and helps blend the two tiles together into a seamless tableau.
RELATED: These Colors Go Perfectly With Green
If you have a colored tub, such as the black cast-iron tub shown here, then take your tile inspiration from that! Matching floor tile with striking bathroom features is an easy way to create cohesion. If you love the look of an old painted (preferably peeling) cast iron tub, seek out one in fun colors at your local architectural salvage yard and then match it with large-scaled tile in a similar color. Avoid patterned tile as that will create too much visual clutter.
RELATED: The Best Bath Towels on Amazon That Rival Those From a 5-Star Hotel
You love stripes on upholstery and rugs, so why not as a tile floor. If you don’t want to deal with the fuss (or the math!) of laying individual tiles in an intricate pattern, look for pre-patterned sheets of tiles. They guarantee you’ll get the same look and feel with half the effort of laying it yourself.
RELATED: These Are The Best Yellow Paint Colors Ever, According to Designers
If you want to bring a little bit of rustic charm to your bathroom, avoid clean white subway tile and go for something a little earthier. In this Ohio farmhouse bathroom, rustic terra-cotta tiles add timeworn charm.
Anna Logan is the Senior Homes & Style Editor at Country Living, where she covers design and decorating trends, home features, and gift guides. She also produces home features and styles content for the print magazine. When she isn’t working, can often be found digging around antique shops for the perfect find. Follow her adventures on Instagram!
Where to Buy Bathroom Vanities on Every Budget
Our Favorite Farmhouse Bedroom Ideas
This Farmhouse Fancy Collection Is So Cute
Don’t Miss The Secret Sale on Joanna Gaines’s Rugs
We Found the Most Stylish Furniture at Walmart
Upgrade Your Staircase With These 56 Stylish Ideas
Our Most Charming Farmhouse Kitchen Ideas Ever
Pretty Christmas Plants (Beyond Boughs of Holly)
HGTV Star Galey Alix Has a Surprise Afoot for Fans
Best Flowering Succulents for Your Home and Garden
The Complete Guide to Hardwood Flooring
38 Wainscoting Ideas for a Home With Character
A Part of Hearst Digital Media
We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back.
linear bathroom drain ©2025 Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.