These eye-catching shower tile ideas run the aesthetic gamut, from vintage retro to inlaid stone, in various colors and styles.
Key Takeaways
- Tiling significantly influences a room’s atmosphere, especially in bathrooms.
- Ancient civilizations valued beautiful tile designs in bathhouses, many of which are still popular today.
- Attractive tile schemes, ranging from Mediterranean blues to Pacific wood, instantly enhance bathrooms.
- Mosaic squares are ideal for shower shelving, and elegant tile layouts rejuvenate the space.
What is the best tile size for showers?
| Shower Size | Tile Size for Walls | Tile Size for Floor |
|---|---|---|
| Small Showers | 4×4 inches to 6×6 inches | 1×1 inches to 2×2 inches |
| Medium Showers | 6×6 inches to 12×12 inches | 2×2 inches |
| Large Showers | 12×12 inches to 24×48 inches | 2×2 inches to 4×4 inches |
Frequently Asked Questions About Shower Tiles
What color tile is best for shower floor?
The best tile color for a shower floor is often a medium to dark shade, as it hides dirt and stains better than light colors.
What shower tile never goes out of style?
Timeless shower tiles, like subway tiles, consistently remain in vogue due to their classic appeal.
What is the best tile to put in your shower?
Porcelain tiles are ideal for shower areas because they are durable, less porous, and water-resistant.
What is the easiest tile to keep clean in the shower?
When considering maintenance, glazed ceramic tiles are among the easiest to clean in the shower.
What tiles make a shower look bigger?
To make a shower appear larger, go for light-colored tiles and larger tile formats, reducing the number of grout lines.
Which shower tile is more waterproof?
All shower tiles should be waterproof when correctly installed, but porcelain tiles are inherently more water-resistant than most other types due to their low porosity.
32 Shower Tile Ideas To Personalize Your Bathroom
1. Earth Toned Sonoma Tile Scheme
Mixing tile size and color is an excellent way to create dimension within your space. This example uses warm-toned bathroom tiles for the walls and cool-hued tiles on the floor which helps this shower feel larger. The contrast between small tiles and large tiles creates the illusion of grandiose scale.
The small tiles at eye level draw attention to the inset shelf without overwhelming the space. Because tile is a long-term investment, choosing neutral colors is a smart way to keep your bathroom from looking dated.
Related: 18 Incredible Bathroom Shower Ideas to Inspire Your Renovation
2. Scandinavian Lodge Stone and Hearth Tiles
Even though this shower is inside, the colors and surroundings make it feel as if it is one with nature. Walk-in shower tile ideas work best when they tie into the rest of the bathroom. Because the rest of this bathroom is filled with gorgeous wood tones, the shower’s pebble tiles are the perfect counterpart.
The entire space feels hand-crafted due to some of the stone tiles protruding subtly from the shower wall.
3. Moroccan Mermaid Fish Scale Tiles
Yes, it is possible to create an accent wall within your walk-in shower. This example pairs subdued white subway tiles with piscine tiles in a magnificent shade of Caribbean blue. Choosing tile with a natural variation in color is a fantastic way to achieve depth with no extra labor.
Beyond color, the playful scalloped shape mimics aquatic life which is perfect for a steam-filled shower. Silver hardware provides a marine ambiance. For a more glamorous look, experiment with gold hardware and jewel-toned scallop tiles.
4. Icelandic Spa Floor And Shower Scheme
Pale gray and white work together to build a bathroom that seems large, bright, and breezy. Although the pattern is bold, the subtle color keeps it within the Scandinavian theme. Continuing the same patterned tile through the bathroom and into the walk-in shower creates a sense of flow and cohesiveness.
The glass door certainly helps this shower feel like an extension of the bathroom instead of an entirely separate space. This is a great solution to enjoy a large shower in a small bathroom.
Related: 32 Gorgeous Small Bathroom Ideas for Every Taste
5. Tunisian Kasbah Blue Shower Tiles
Combining design elements, Tunisian tiles feature bold cobalt blues and star-inspired patterns. When paired with the right hardware, using Tunisian-style tiles can transform your shower into an exotic escape.
A blue and white palette is crisp and pairs well with a wide variety of other bathroom decor. This image uses simple white shower walls to ensure the Tunisian tile shines as the focal point.
6. Multi-Color Mosaic Tile Squares
Shimmering iridescent mosaic tile can help any shower feel like it is straight out of a storybook. Shades of blushing pink, verdant green, and mysterious blue cultivate an ambiance that can only be described as magical.
While this reflective tile is a bold statement, which elements you pair with it can completely change the effect. For a walk in shower fit for a fairytale princess, choose decor that prioritizes pink and gold.
A more sophisticated look can be achieved by combining this tile with a matte black palette. Shower heads also play a significant role in the final enchanting ambiance.
7. Lapland Pearl Two-Tone Tile Pattern
With undulating gray and white, hexagonal marble tiles add a pearlescent glow to the shower. Because the larger tiles in this shower are actually floor tiles, it shows how versatile shower tiles can be.
Of course, there is nothing wrong with decorating your bathroom in subdued Arctic-inspired colors. This neutral gray approach is especially successful in homes filled with Scandinavian soul.
8. Modern Nautilus Abstract Turquoise Design
Rippling turquoise streaks in an abstract circular pattern almost make this walk-in shower feel like the ocean. A gray tile floor provides a natural foundation while soaring whites and a splash of greenery elevate this bathroom.
In any shower, lighting changes how the tiles will appear. This image illustrates how a skylight can flood a shower with natural light. Simple white subway tiles balance the extravagant blue tiles.
If you are going for a beachy feel in your bathroom, switch out the greenery shown here with palm tree-type houseplants.
Related: 27 Truly Inspiring Modern Bathroom Ideas for Your Private Oasis
9. Walk On The Beach Inlaid Pebbles
If you are more about pebble beaches than sandy beaches, this bathroom is worth checking out. Floor-to-ceiling tile gives it a feeling of immense scale, and the pebbles’ irregular shape is ideal for catching the eye.
A few touches that transform this shower from ordinary to luxury are the inset storage shelves and the black marble seat. By mixing glossy and matte elements, this walk-in shower succeeds in developing a study in immersive balance.
The monochromatic palette builds a soothing sanctuary.
Related: 45+ Decoration Ideas to Getting Your Dream Nautical Bathroom
10. Garden Walk Simple Inlaid Stone Tiling
A cobblestone-inspired tile breaks up the sleek lines to bring a splash of nature into your shower. A creamy white color scheme provides a spa-like ambiance.
The inlaid shelves give you a place to put all the equipment you need to pamper yourself without taking up precious cabinet space.
Although the pebble tile is white, there are traces of other colors that contribute dimension and depth to the shelves. If you prefer darker, more dramatic colors, this approach can be easily tweaked to fit your style.
Related: 32 Rustic to Ultra Modern Master Bathroom Ideas to Inspire Your Next Renovation
11. Big Sur Sauna Stone Flooring and Runner
Big Sur decor is all about celebrating the majesty of the Pacific Ocean and its magnificent coastline. This walk-in shower design reflects nature’s magnificence. While building a bathroom that is beautiful to the eyes is important, showers are also a sensory experience.
A pebble tile shower floor provides a pleasant tactile experience like a walk on the beach. A small triangular bench does not take up too much space but is an excellent place to unwind during a relaxing shower.
12. Modern Rodeo Glass Paneled Tile Shelves
This glass door evokes swinging saloon doors via a frameless construction. Materials like sleek glass, smooth tile, and shiny metal are the perfect ingredients for a shower that feels modern and refreshing.
Built-in shelves feature inlaid glass mosaic tiles that add a touch of dynamic depth that also appear interesting even when empty. With this approach, designing walk-in showers that fit within a modern home is easy. Switch up the color scheme to suit your style, and you have a recipe for success.
13. Woodland Wonderland Differing Duo Tiling
A rainfall shower head and wood-inspired tile offer an experience as refreshing as a stroll in the woods. Because wood is not known for durability in humid conditions, choosing a tile that resembles wood leads is a more practical choice.
Square glass tile in shades of champagne, cream, and gray-green frame the shower while also providing charm to this walk-in shower.
Shelves built into the shower remove the need for a bulky shower caddy, and are another place to showcase the glass tiles.
14. High-Rise Palace Ivory Shower Tile Ideas
If your style is glamor mingled with elegance, this regal bathroom might speak to your soul. With shower wall tiles in a design reminiscent of European manors, this walk-in shower exudes sophistication.
Because the shower is not isolated from the rest of the bathroom, it is important to consider the aesthetic from a holistic perspective.
To magnify the regal feeling, include a few royal purple accents. Because a bathroom is one of the few rooms where you can pamper yourself, include any design elements that remind you to relax.
15. Slate and Sky Brick And Miniature Shower Tiles
Walk in shower designs that pair warm grays and brassy shower heads might be unusual, but that does not mean that they are any less alluring. Small rectangular glass tiles draw attention to the built-in shampoo niche.
Subway tiles and exposed plumbing provide an industrial vibe that is offset by the glossy finish on the tile.
16. Falling Colors Waterfall Tile Desing
In this playful bathroom tile design, pebbles cascade from the ceiling and pool on the shower floor. Although this shower uses natural colors, you could take this idea and spice it up to suit your aesthetic.
For a more realistic look, use iridescent tiles in shades like silver, turquoise, or azure in place of the pebbles shown here. If you would enjoy a more surreal shower design, pick your two favorite contrasting colors and follow this layout.
17. Simply Sea Foam Tile Scheme
To capture seafoam’s ephemeral essence, this shower mingles small alabaster and pale green tiles. Like real seafoam that floats above ocean waves, these small tiles break the monotony of the subway tiles.
Using different floor tiles in the shower from the rest of the bathroom defines the shower space. In addition, choosing a lighter floor color helps a small space feel spacious. While the soft seafoam green adds the impression of romance, you could use this approach with any color scheme.
18. Outdoor Shower Style Faux Wood Tiling
If your home has rustic wood, it can be challenging to find walk-in shower tile ideas that will look cohesive with the rest of your decor.
Discovering tiles that look like wood will revolutionize your shower designs. In these images, you can see two examples that achieve different effects depending on your style.
19. Manhattan Chic Black and White Tiling
This bathroom is proof that you do not need to match finishes and materials to achieve a cohesive space. By using patterned black and white cement floor tiles and smaller marble shower tiles, this bathroom feels harmonious.
Pairing dark grout with the subway tiles and white grout with the black shower tiles, the tile is coordinated to perfection. A black-framed shower door adds big-city chic to this already elegant space.
20. Roman Bathhouse Classic Shower Floor
This design draws on the classical tradition of Greco-Roman design. If the design is too simple, do not be afraid to get creative! Roman mosaic floors were known to feature elements like fish, people, and elaborate geometric patterns.
A black tile stripe mimicking a baseboard and two narrow stripes up above tie the walls into the rest of the shower. To emphasize ancient Roman chic, decant your favorite soaps into elaborate glass vessels as shown here.
21. South-By-Southwest Multi-Tiered Shower Design
Using a shade of rich chocolate brown as the primary color in a walk-in shower design is a bold decision, but pays off in this welcoming bathroom.
Because dark colors can sometimes cause small spaces to feel claustrophobic, this is something you will need to be aware of.
However, this shower combats claustrophobia with plenty of light, a glass door, and lighter-colored tiles. Mosaic tiles and a pebble floor bring rich reds, sandy beiges, and soft creams into the space.
22. Persian Style Tumurid Shower Shelf
Although Timurid-style artwork is often associated with high contrast, that is no reason for you to move away from a neutral color palette. Of course, if you enjoy bright colors, embrace Timurid vivacity in its full glory.
In this more subdued example, the soft gray tile ties in with the gray-veined marble shelf. Using marble tiles to create shelves is an excellent way to maintain integrity while adding storage.
Related: 26 Space-Saving Shower Storage Ideas to Improve your Bathroom
23. Desert Sands Stone-Inspired Tiles
When designing a shower, it can be tempting to use tile that comes in uniform colors. After all, if it is all the same color, you know exactly what you are going to get.
Selecting bathroom tiles with a variety of shades can result in a unique look, even if using the same design. These tiles, with colors like smoky black, camel creams, and rusty reds, evoke images of deserts and winds.
To cement the rugged romance, a pebble floor and lots of natural light are incorporated within the design.
24. Cabin In The Wood-Tiled Shower
With the right design, even a small walk-in shower can seem spacious. Wood tile that wraps from floor to ceiling defines the shower’s space, and the glass walls let in plenty of light.
Because the wood tiles are installed horizontally, they help the shower feel wider than it is. Bright light and white-tiled walls are another key to helping a tiny shower feel luxurious.
25. Nouveau Baroque Black and White Tile Floor
Black and white is a classic combination for a reason – the two colors look fantastic together. An ostentatious black and white tile floor provides all the patterns you could desire while keeping the space elegant.
A single plant provides a pop of vibrant green that invigorates the entire space. If bright colors are more your style, jazz this bathroom up with colored towels or vibrant wall decor. When it comes to design, this modern bathroom is sleek and sophisticated.
26. Sunny In Palm Springs Tile Layout
Even in simple white, textured tile develops intense dimension and depth. Wavy lines evoke cool breezes or gentle ocean waves. Beyond providing an organic flow, the texture also balances the sharp edges created by the shiny shower jets.
Small mosaic tiles set in the shower floor provide a sprinkle of beachy colors like bright yellow and vibrant turquoise. With different colors, you could completely change how this Palm Springs-inspired shower feels.
27. Byzantine Metals, Gold, Silver, And Copper Tiles
At a glance, you can tell this sumptuous bathroom is designed for comfort. A freestanding slipper-style tub provides a place to soak, and the shower is furnished in sparkling copper majesty. In true Byzantine fashion, elaborately inlaid tiles scale from floor to ceiling. A shimmering copper floor frames the shower and ties into the other copper accents.
Textured gray tiles give the impression of ancient architecture and provide more interest than plain white. Silver hardware and glass doors mix modern luxury with archaic opulence to achieve a bathroom that embraces the best of both styles.
28. Art Deco Cabana Style Shower Display
When it comes to bringing more tropical resort vibes into your home, this image might provide a great deal of inspiration. Instead of choosing silky smooth white tile, opt for marble tiles like these that feature a touch of texture and depth.
That depth helps them appear handmade and brings the spa right to your shower. Smaller white marble tiles on the floor add a touch of variety and help the shower seem larger.
29. Industrial Fusion Shower Tile Ideas
With glossy subway tile, exposed metal plumbing, and a wood floor, this walk-in shower features all the hallmarks of industrial chic.
An unexpected bubblegum pink color choice puts a cheerful twist on the somber industrial style. Even if pink is not your shower color of choice, this shower tile shows what a powerful effect color can have in your designs.
30. Uptown Savvy Retro Style Studio Tiling
Even though this walk-in shower only uses white tile and dark grout, it evokes a graphic quality and seems almost as if a comic book has come to life.
A modified herringbone pattern makes up the majority of the tile work, but the built-in shelf is the focal point. Every detail from the framed shelf to the circular tiles inside works to create depth and dimension.
31. Modern Parquet Inlaid Shelving Unit
Although many parts of this bathroom are inspired by vintage elements, the parquet-backed shelf is a fresh twist on an iconic motif. The shampoo niche ties into the floor for a shower steeped in harmonious energy.
This walk-in shower is a study in achieving balance. Glossy tiles and reflective silver are offset by the matte parquet-patterned tiles. A black marble bench anchors the white subway tiles. Glass doors offer modern luxury while the retro pattern draws on nostalgic memory.
32. Huntsman’s Retreat Rich Wooden Shower Palette
Nothing fits a rustic bathroom better than faux wood tiles and a pebble shower floor. To tell a story with your decor, collect stones on vacation (as long as it is legal to do so) or from your property for use in your pebble floor.
This shower floor features assorted stone colors nestled within dark grout to anchor the shower space. Gunmetal gray hardware completes the rustic aura achieved in this mountain lodge shower.
