How to Match Tiles in the Bathroom

Matching tiles in the bathroom is an art that balances style and function. Choosing the right bathroom tiles can transform your space into a cohesive and stylish sanctuary. Whether you’re after a modern monochromatic scheme or a bold mix of textures, matching tiles ensure your bathroom exudes harmony and sophistication.

This guide will help you navigate the essentials of how to match tiles in the bathroom, offering tips for coordinating floor and wall tiles, feature tiles, and more. With Ross’s Discount Home Centre’s extensive range of high-quality bathroom tiles, you can find everything you need to create a seamless and stylish design. Read on to discover practical tips and tricks to achieve a perfectly matched bathroom design without compromise.

1. Choose a tile style that complements your bathroom design

There are many ways to go about choosing tiles in a bathroom. However, most importantly, your tile style needs to complement your bathroom design style.

For example, you wouldn’t choose a farmhouse style tile for an industrial bathroom design. So if you’re choosing an industrial bathroom design, then do research to find what tile styles are currently being used in industrial bathrooms.

You can easily perform a Google image search or search the likes of Pinterest for inspiration.

Once you understand the tile style that best matches your design, you can turn your attention to size and colour.

You can learn more about popular bathroom styles by reading our article on popular bathroom styles to consider for your renovation.

Popular bathroom tile styles

Popular bathroom styles to consider include:

• Modern tiles: For a minimalist bathroom design, tiles should be neutral in colour and small in size. Large tiles can make a bathroom look smaller, while tiles with too much going on may make the room appear cluttered
• Traditional tiles: If your bathroom design has a classic vibe going on, use large tiles to create an old-world feel. Also, consider using patterned tiles with motif, retro, heritage deco, art deco, nouveau, or encaustic designs printed on them.
• Coastal tiles: Large tiles work the best for a coastal bathroom design, as large tiles appear visually lighter and reduce the effect of small spaces on walls
• Minimalist tiles: For bathrooms with a minimalist interior design, choose neutral tiles. Keep colours to a minimum, preferably within the same family of materials, such as tiles with a white background and grey pattern.
• Industrial tiles: Style your bathroom like an industrial warehouse by choosing tiles in materials such as concrete, terrazzo or other stone tiles

2. Choose a tile size that complements the size of your bathroom

Selecting the appropriate tile size is crucial in bathroom design, as it significantly influences the room’s overall appearance and functionality. The right tile dimensions can enhance the sense of space, improve maintenance, and contribute to the desired aesthetic. Below, we provide guidance on choosing suitable tile sizes for both small and large bathrooms.

Best tile size for small bathrooms

In compact bathrooms, the goal is to create an illusion of more space while maintaining practicality. Contrary to common belief, larger tiles can be advantageous in small areas. Tiles measuring 300x600mm or even 600x600mm reduce the number of grout lines, resulting in a more seamless and open look. This approach minimises visual clutter and can make the room feel more expansive.

However, small tiles, such as our 100x100mm, 150x150mm, and 100x200mm subway tiles, can also be effective, especially when used strategically. For instance, employing smaller tiles in specific zones like shower areas or as decorative accents can add texture and interest without overwhelming the space.

If you need help designing a small bathroom, be sure to read ‘Tips to Renovate a Small Bathroom Smartly‘ and ‘How to Make the Most of a Small Bathroom‘.

Best tile size for large bathrooms

There’s greater flexibility in tile selection in large bathrooms. Large-format tiles, such as 600x600mm or even larger, are excellent for efficiently covering expansive floor and wall areas. These larger tile sizes create a sleek, modern aesthetic with minimal grout lines, enhancing the room’s openness and making maintenance easier.

Alternatively, incorporating smaller tiles, like our 200x200mm tiles, can add character and detail, especially when used to create patterns or as feature elements. This approach allows for a blend of textures and designs, contributing to a more personalised and dynamic space.

By carefully selecting tile sizes that align with your bathroom’s dimensions and design goals, you can achieve a harmonious balance between aesthetics and functionality, ensuring a space that is both beautiful and practical.

3. Select a tile colour that matches your design style

Now it’s time to choose tiles in colours that complement your design style. Tiles come in almost every colour imaginable, but popular bathroom tile colours include white, beige, grey, brown, and charcoal. Each colour offers a unique aesthetic, so consider the atmosphere you want to create.

• White bathroom tiles: Perfect for a timeless, clean, and bright look, ideal for small or modern bathrooms.
• Beige bathroom tiles: Bring warmth and softness, working beautifully in neutral or rustic designs.
• Grey bathroom tiles: Versatile and stylish, these fit both minimalist and industrial-style bathrooms.
• Brown bathroom tiles: Great for creating a cosy, earthy feel, particularly in spa-inspired or traditional spaces.
• Charcoal bathroom tiles: Bold and dramatic, adding depth and sophistication to contemporary or monochromatic designs.

To narrow down your options, first decide on your design style. For example, if you’re aiming for an industrial aesthetic, you might prefer warehouse-inspired colours like grey, black, or rust-look tiles. Alternatively, for a coastal vibe, consider shades of white or soft blue. Resources like the latest colour trends, bathroom tile trends, and bathroom design trends can help inspire your decision.

Don’t overlook “look” tiles like timber-look or stone-look tiles, which can beautifully mimic natural materials while matching your chosen style. These options often complement your design better than a solid colour.

4. Mix and match different tile finishes and textures to add interest

Tiles are available in a wide range of finishes and textures, making it easy to add depth and character to your bathroom design. Combining smooth and textured tiles, or tiles with different finishes like matte, polished, brushed, or honed, can create a visually interesting and unique space.

For example, polished tiles reflect light and can make a bathroom feel brighter and more spacious, while matte finishes offer a more understated, natural look. Brushed or honed finishes add subtle texture, giving surfaces a softer, organic feel, while structured tiles provide a bold, tactile dimension—ideal for feature walls or floors.

You can also mix different tile finishes in complementary ways, such as using polished tiles on the walls for shine and matte tiles on the floor for practicality and contrast. Or combine smooth tiles with lightly textured ones to subtly highlight different areas of the bathroom.

The key is balance—choose finishes and textures that enhance each other without overwhelming the space. Thoughtfully mixing finishes and textures creates a bathroom that feels dynamic and cohesive.

5. Choose variations of the one tile

An easy way to create a cohesive yet stylish bathroom is by choosing variations of the same tile. This could mean using tiles in different sizes, finishes, or colour tones from the same range. For example, you could use 300×600 tiles for the walls and larger 600×600 tiles for the floor or opt for a matte finish on the floor and a gloss version on the walls.

This approach ensures harmony in your design while keeping it visually interesting. By sticking to variations of a single tile, your bathroom avoids looking monotonous but still feels balanced and unified. It’s a subtle but effective way to elevate your space while making the design process simpler.

6. Mix and match different tile shapes and sizes for visual interest

Mixing tiles of different shapes and sizes is a great way to create a bold, dynamic bathroom. Tiles come in a variety of forms, from classic subway tiles and hexagons to trendy KitKat or penny tiles. For instance, you could use vertical subway tiles on the walls and arrange large-format tiles in a herringbone pattern on the floor.

This mix of shapes and sizes allows you to define areas or create striking contrasts in your design. While this approach encourages creativity, it’s essential to ensure the tiles complement each other for a cohesive overall look. The result is a bathroom that feels contemporary, textured, and full of character.

7. Combine patterned floor tiles with plain wall tiles

While plain large-format bathroom wall tiles look great, they look even better when paired with pattern floor tiles. This tile combination will really make your bathroom stand out.

Patterned tiles come in all sorts of different designs. Some tiles have a design printed onto them, while others may be textured tiles with a pattern embedded within the tiles themselves. You can even opt for tiles that look like tiles of old. For example, tiles with a motif, retro, heritage deco, art deco, nouveau, or encaustic printed pattern are reminiscent of tiles from the past and are today very much on-trend.

Geometric-patterned floor tiles are also gaining popularity again. Along with printed patterned tiles, they pair very well with plain wall tiles. The simplicity of the wall tiles means the floor tiles become centre stage without any clashing.

8. Mix plain floor tiles with patterned wall tiles

If you’d rather have feature walls and a plain floor, then take the suggestion above and flip it. Place your patterned tiles on your bathroom walls and have plain bathroom floor tiles to avoid any distraction or clashing of patterns.

In addition to printed patterned tiles and geometric patterned tiles, you may consider the pattern in which the tiles are laid to create visual interest. Subway tiles are ideal in this respect, as they can be laid in many patterns. Popular patterns include herringbone, stack bond, basket weave, running bond and Flemish.

Using wall tiles placed in patterns is a great way to personalise your tiles, especially if you’re not confident about using tiles of different colours throughout your bathroom.

9. Match tiles with other elements in your bathroom

When designing a cohesive bathroom, consider matching tiles with other key features in the space. For example, ceramic tiles around bathtubs are a practical choice due to their waterproof properties, protecting surfaces from water damage while maintaining a sleek and polished look. This approach ensures both functionality and style are seamlessly integrated.

Floor tiles can also complement other elements, such as windows, vanities, or accent walls, creating a harmonious aesthetic throughout the bathroom. By selecting tiles that match or contrast subtly with natural light sources or outdoor views, you can enhance the room’s ambience and create a brighter, more inviting atmosphere. For instance, matching floor tiles with window surrounds or feature wall tiles can make your bathroom feel balanced and thoughtfully designed.

10. Mix and match tiles of different materials

Finally, tiles come in different materials, such as ceramic tiles, glass tiles, and porcelain tiles.

For example, you may choose ceramic tiles for your floor but then use glass or porcelain tiles on your walls. You might even select tiles made from marble, which will give a cohesive and natural look to your tiles. The key to using tiles from different materials is to maintain a similar colour or colour theme.

By using tiles of different materials throughout your bathroom, you can create interest as well as break up the plain tiles. And providing you don’t go overboard and choose more than two materials, you really can’t go wrong.

Mixing and matching tiles of different materials can add depth, warmth, and texture to certain parts of your bathroom. And this applies to the tile texture too. For example, use tiles with a matte finish for your shower or bathtub surround and tiles with a shine finish on your walls.

Conclusion

Matching floor and wall tiles in the bathroom is more than a design trend—it’s a practical way to create a cohesive and visually appealing space. Whether you’re aiming for subtle elegance or bold contrast, matching tiles can tie the entire room together, ensuring harmony and balance.

When deciding how to match tiles, consider your bathroom’s size and layout. For example, 600x600mm tiles in a small bathroom can create a seamless look and make the space feel larger by reducing grout lines. Pairing these with smaller feature tiles in the shower or vanity area can add interest without overwhelming the design.

At the heart of it all is finding the perfect balance between textures, patterns, and colours. Whether you prefer matching floor and wall tiles for a uniform appearance or coordinating different styles to create contrast, the key is to ensure everything works together seamlessly.

Explore our extensive range of bathroom tiles at Ross’s Discount Home Centre to find everything you need to bring your vision to life. Visit our showroom or shop online today to transform your bathroom with style and ease!

For additional help, explore our expert guidance on wall tile selection and practical tips for choosing floor tiles.