11 Creative Bathroom Tile Ideas Perfect for Australian Homes

Bright and spacious Australian bathroom featuring creative tile pairing with white subway wall tiles and natural stone-look floor tiles

Looking for fresh bathroom tile ideas to transform your space into something truly special? You’ve come to the right place! As the head of purchasing at Ross’s Discount Home Centre, I’ve guided countless Perth homeowners in finding the perfect tiles for their bathroom renovations. From renovating my own properties, I understand exactly what works—whether you want to make your bathroom brighter, more spacious, or simply stunning.

In this article, you’ll find inspiring bathroom tile inspiration perfect for your bathroom, whether you’re seeking a classic subway style, coastal charm, or bold feature wall. You’ll also discover specific tile solutions for small spaces, modern aesthetics, floors, walls, and standout feature areas, alongside practical advice to simplify your tile selection process.

Inspiring Bathroom Tile Ideas for Australian Homes

The right bathroom tiles set the foundation for your bathroom’s overall aesthetic, influencing designs, styles, and even functionality. Whether you’re aiming for timeless elegance or a contemporary feel, these practical bathroom tile ideas offer diverse inspiration for Australian homes. From coastal charm to striking feature walls, you’ll find tile choices designed to elevate your bathroom’s style, reflect your personality, and enhance your space—no matter its size or layout.

Timeless Subway Simplicity

 White subway tiles in a modern bathroom with horizontal layout and contrasting grout

Subway tiles remain one of Australia’s most-loved bathroom wall tile designs, admired for their clean lines and endless versatility. Their enduring popularity comes from a simple yet classic appearance that suits almost any bathroom style, from vintage to modern minimalist.

When installing subway tiles in bathrooms, consider traditional subway tile patterns, such as horizontal layouts, to elongate your space. For a dynamic twist, vertical arrangements or herringbone patterns can add personality and visual interest. Grout colour also dramatically affects your look—white grout keeps things seamless and spacious, while dark grout creates a striking contrast and emphasises the tile pattern.

At Ross’s Discount Home Centre, our best-selling subway tiles are the Gloss White Wall Tile 100x200mm and the slightly larger Gloss White Wall Tile 100x300mm, both of which are perfect for achieving a timeless and stylish bathroom. Want more subway tile inspiration? Browse our Subway Tile Collection for further ideas.

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Coastal Bathroom Charm

Coastal bathroom with soft blue subway tiles and natural timber accents for a relaxed beach-inspired look

Imagine stepping into your bathroom and instantly feeling the calm of your favourite beach. That’s precisely what this coastal bathroom tile idea can offer—bringing the relaxed beach aesthetic into your home. By choosing tiles in soft, coastal-inspired colours like gentle blues, soothing sea greens, and warm sandy neutrals, your bathroom becomes a peaceful retreat reminiscent of summer holidays by the sea.

To master this bathroom tile idea, pair glossy tiles—reflective like sunlight on water—with matte tiles for an authentic, sand-like texture. Our Richmond Shelly 200x200mm tile beautifully captures this beachy, organic feel, while the Bracken tile provides a sophisticated yet organic texture, enhancing a natural seaside feel.

For more bathroom tile inspiration to achieve that perfect ocean-inspired design, browse our extensive collections of blue tiles and green tiles.

Bold Feature Walls

Modern bathroom with bold geometric feature wall tiles creating a striking focal point behind the vanity

Bold feature wall tiles are an excellent way to elevate your bathroom design, creating an impactful focal point. Selecting a striking feature wall tile design can dramatically transform an otherwise plain bathroom into a stylish, modern space.

This bathroom feature wall tile idea uses vibrant colours, strong geometric patterns, or unique shapes to ensure your wall captures attention. A single accent wall behind your vanity or shower creates visual interest without overwhelming your bathroom. Balance bold designs with simple bathroom wall tiles to achieve a harmonious look.

Our Hexia Rapsodia feature tile boasts eye-catching appeal, making it an ideal choice for contemporary bathrooms. Alternatively, patterned encaustic tiles, such as the Richmond Buckingham, can effortlessly add personality and charm.

For more bathroom tile inspiration, explore our articles on Patterned Tile Ideas and the Top Patterned Tile Trends of 2025.

Vintage-Inspired Elegance

Vintage-inspired bathroom featuring ornate Victorian-style floor tiles and a classic freestanding clawfoot bath

Vintage-inspired bathroom tiles offer a timeless elegance that is perfect for traditional Australian bathrooms. Ornate Victorian-style tiles instantly add sophistication, transforming your bathroom into a luxurious, period-inspired space.

Achieving this look involves balancing decorative tiles with simple fixtures. Opt for tiles featuring delicate floral motifs, intricate patterns, or classic geometric designs. Soft, muted colours like sage green, dusty blue, or neutral creams complement these designs beautifully, reinforcing the refined aesthetic.

Our Richmond tile range is ideal for vintage bathroom tiles and designs, providing a selection of traditional encaustic patterns. Similarly, the Heritage tile range captures the authentic charm of a bygone era, offering excellent bathroom tile inspiration for homeowners seeking a classic yet stylish look.

Organic & Earthy Serenity

Organic and earthy bathroom featuring stone-look wall tiles, timber-look vanity, and calming neutral tones for a relaxing sanctuary

Creating an organic and earthy bathroom is all about embracing natural textures and calming tones. Bathroom tile ideas featuring stone-look, timber-look, or soft neutral colours instantly evoke serenity and warmth, perfect for a relaxing sanctuary at home.

To achieve this soothing aesthetic, combine textured wall tiles that mimic natural materials—such as stone or timber—with matte-finish floor tiles. This contrast adds subtle depth without making the space feel busy or cramped, which is especially helpful in smaller bathrooms.

Explore our Normandy tile range for bathroom tile inspiration reminiscent of soft sandstone textures, ideal for a peaceful, organic ambience. Alternatively, our realistic Timber Look tiles in warm, natural oak shades beautifully mimic genuine timber, bringing nature indoors effortlessly.

Luxe Terrazzo Tiles

Modern bathroom vanity with luxe terrazzo feature wall tiles and minimalist brass tapware for a sophisticated look

Terrazzo tiles offer a luxurious and contemporary look, making them one of the most popular modern bathroom tile ideas in Australia. Their distinctive speckled appearance combines marble or granite fragments with concrete, creating a durable and easy-to-maintain surface that exudes sophistication.

To incorporate terrazzo into your bathroom, pair these striking tiles with minimalist fixtures and neutral accessories. This balance prevents visual clutter, allowing the terrazzo to shine as a sophisticated focal point. Terrazzo is also incredibly versatile, suitable for floors, walls, and even feature areas.

For standout terrazzo designs, consider our Terrazzo Stone Marshmallow, which features a soft, contemporary colour palette, or the elegant Terrazzo White Matte, ideal for brightening your space. These stylish tiles aren’t just bathroom essentials—they’re also featured in our Trending Kitchen Floor Tile Ideas for 2025, proving their versatile appeal throughout the home.

Tile Ideas for Specific Bathroom Applications

Finding the right bathroom tile ideas often involves targeting specific areas of interest or concern. This section provides tailored ideas for common applications, including tile solutions ideal for small bathrooms, modern aesthetics, bathroom floors, wall-specific designs, and statement feature walls.

Small Bathroom Tile Ideas

Modern small bathroom featuring large-format light tiles to create a spacious and bright appearance

When it comes to small bathroom tile ideas, choosing the right tiles can significantly enhance the feeling of space. Using large-format tiles in small bathrooms reduces grout lines, creating a seamless look that visually expands the space and opens up compact bathrooms. Using reflective bathroom tiles—especially in light colours and glossy finishes—maximises both natural and artificial light, making small bathrooms appear brighter and more spacious.

For small bathroom tile inspiration, consider our Venato Carrara Marble Look Tile. This sophisticated tile creates an airy, luxurious feel that is ideal for smaller spaces. Alternatively, the Gloss White Wall Tile 300x600mm offers a bright, reflective surface that is perfect for creating an illusion of depth. Both tiles are top recommendations for customers seeking stylish yet functional bathroom tile ideas for small bathrooms.

Modern Bathroom Tile Ideas

Modern Australian bathroom with concrete-look wall and floor tiles, bold geometric feature wall, and sleek black fixtures in a minimalist monochrome design

When exploring modern bathroom tile ideas, look for sleek, minimalist styles that complement contemporary aesthetics. Concrete-look tiles offer an ideal choice, adding an urban, streamlined feel perfect for minimalist bathroom designs. Monochromatic schemes, mainly featuring blacks, greys, and whites, further enhance modern spaces, especially when combined with bold geometric tile patterns.

For modern bathroom tile inspiration, consider our Paradigm Concrete-Look Tiles. They deliver a sophisticated industrial look that aligns perfectly with contemporary interiors. Alternatively, our stylish black tile ranges create a bold, striking contrast suited for sleek, modern bathrooms. Both tile options are excellent choices for homeowners seeking contemporary tile trends that strike a balance between visual interest and minimalist elegance.

Bathroom Floor Tile Ideas

Modern Australian bathroom with stone-look floor tiles and coordinating wall tiles for a cohesive and practical design

The most practical bathroom floor tile idea is to choose stylish yet practical tiles that anchor your bathroom’s entire design. Stone-look floor tiles, for example, can ground your bathroom, providing a natural aesthetic that pairs effortlessly with various wall tiles. Coordinating your floor tiles with complementary wall tiles helps create a cohesive, harmonious design. For guidance, our article How to Match Tiles in the Bathroom offers practical tips and expert advice.

Consider our Magic Stone Tile range for a sophisticated stone effect that enhances modern bathrooms. For a luxurious, spa-inspired feel, our Normandy Stone Look Floor Tile combines timeless elegance with advanced SmoothGrip nano-surface technology, making it ideal for Australian bathrooms that require stylish yet slip-resistant flooring. These options strike a perfect balance between aesthetics and practical durability.

Bathroom Wall Tile Ideas

Modern bathroom with large-format wall tiles and textured mosaic feature in shower area, combining style and practicality

When it comes to bathroom wall tile ideas, design should take a back seat to practicality. A practical wall tile can dramatically enhance your bathroom’s overall aesthetic while ensuring functionality and ease of maintenance. Choosing the right tile size and tile finish can significantly impact the look and feel of your wall spaces. Large-format tiles, for instance, minimise grout lines, providing a sleek, seamless appearance, while textured tiles introduce depth and visual interest, transforming plain walls into stylish focal points.

Our versatile Matt White Wall Tile (Rectified) 300x600mm offers classic elegance, creating a sophisticated and timeless backdrop that suits various bathroom designs. Alternatively, the rustic charm of our Aged Wood White tile adds warmth and character to both contemporary and traditional bathrooms. For more practical guidance on selecting decorative wall tiles, explore our article Tips for Choosing the Perfect Bathroom Wall Tiles to ensure you achieve both aesthetic appeal and practicality in your bathroom design.

Bathroom Feature Wall Tile Ideas

Modern bathroom feature wall with classic white subway tiles and dark grout for bold contrast and timeless style

When customers come to me for bathroom feature wall tile ideas, I always suggest choosing tiles that make a bold design statement. Subway tiles, laid horizontally, vertically or in a striking herringbone pattern, create timeless elegance and instantly draw attention. For added contrast, our Gloss White Wall Tiles with dark grout offer both classic appeal and modern style.

Another standout idea is using patterned encaustic tiles, such as the eye-catching Richmond Buckingham, which works beautifully behind vanities or freestanding baths. Alternatively, textured dark tiles add depth and contemporary sophistication, making them perfect for shower feature walls or vanity backdrops.

For more bathroom tile inspiration, our article, How to Choose the Perfect Feature Wall Tile, provides detailed advice to help you achieve a stylish and impactful look.

Practical Tips for Choosing Bathroom Tiles

When exploring various bathroom tile ideas, consider both practical factors and aesthetics. Tiles in bathrooms must withstand daily wear, moisture, and frequent cleaning, so choosing durable, moisture-resistant tiles is essential. Porcelain tiles are particularly robust, easy to maintain, and suitable for floors and walls, making them an excellent choice for busy family bathrooms.

Planning your tile budget early can help narrow down your bathroom tile and design options. While it’s tempting to splurge on premium feature wall tiles, balancing your budget across functional and decorative areas ensures you achieve style without compromising quality.

To better visualise your tile selection, I always recommend creating a simple mood board or using physical tile samples. Digital tools can also help you picture how different tile sizes, colours, and finishes will interact within your bathroom’s broader design.

Finally, ensure your chosen tiles complement the overall bathroom aesthetic, including tapware, vanities, and fixtures, for cohesive style and functionality. For more guidance, see our article outlining 5 Crucial Steps to Make When Choosing Bathroom Tiles, offering practical renovation tips for stress-free tile selection.

Conclusion & Recommendations

Throughout this article, I’ve shared some of the most popular bathroom tile ideas in Australia, offering inspiration suitable for every bathroom style, size, and budget. Whether you’re drawn to the timeless elegance of subway tiles, the relaxing coastal aesthetic, or bold feature wall designs, there’s a tile design to enhance your bathroom beautifully.

When seeking bathroom tile inspiration, always consider your bathroom design style and practical requirements, such as ease of maintenance, durability, and the size of your space. Remember, your tile choices can dramatically transform both the functionality and look of your bathroom.

At Ross’s Discount Home Centre, we offer an extensive range of stylish bathroom tiles to bring your ideas to life. With my expert tile advice and our exceptional product range, you can be assured of a seamless renovation experience and a stunning bathroom makeover.

Visit us today to bring your bathroom vision to life!