If you’re revamping your bathroom, tiles are one of the most important purchases you’ll make. The right tiles can have a huge impact on a room but they can also make a hefty dent in your wallet. If you’re hoping to give a timeless look to your bathroom, it’s important to choose tiles that you won’t go off in a hurry.
It’s easier than you might think to pick a classic tile design that will transcend the passing interior trends. Keep reading to discover the secrets of timeless style and the classic tiles that will help you achieve the look.
Herringbone floor tile
Image credit: @the_manse_1847
Recommended tile: Rio Blanco
What style of tile is timeless?
If you want to create a beautiful bathroom that won’t age, you’ll need to choose your tiles carefully. With such an enormous range of tiles to choose from, it can be tricky to know which ones will stand the test of time.
Tiling a bathroom is a big undertaking and, if you live in a property with dry-lined walls, removing the tiles will likely cause damage to the plasterboard so it’s not something you want to be doing often. Trending tiles can look incredibly beautiful, but if you prefer to pick tiles that you’ll be happy to live with for many years, here are our recommendations:
Natural stone tiles
Perhaps the most classic choice for tiles, natural stone is inherently timeless. Whether you prefer the elegance of marble, a more rustic slate or the beauty of travertine, stone is a winning option.
Stone-effect tiles
Not to be outdone by real stone, advanced tile printing techniques and plenty of variation in the pattern means that stone-effect porcelain tiles are hard to tell apart from the real thing. There isn’t a huge difference in cost between high-end porcelain and real stone tiles, but porcelain tiles are more durable and completely watertight so require minimal maintenance.
Classic metro tiles
An absolute classic, metro tiles have been a go-to choice for bathrooms since Victorian times. Suiting all styles of home, these tiles are extremely versatile and a great budget-friendly option.
Wood-effect tiles
Another timeless choice, wood-effect porcelain tiles are perfect for adding warmth and texture to bathrooms. There’s a huge choice of styles to suit traditional and more modern interiors and porcelain tiles offer the look of real wood without the maintenance.
Terracotta tiles
Often overlooked in favour of porcelain or stone, terracotta is extremely durable and can look incredible in a bathroom. One of the very first tiles to be made, terracotta is an option worth exploring.
Timeless Bathroom Tile Ideas
From classic stone to realistic-looking wood and show-stopping Victorian-inspired tiles, scroll through our pick of the most timeless bathroom tiles and create a bathroom that will never age:
Herringbone tiles
One of the most classic tile patterns, the interlocking herringbone design was created by the Romans to give strength to roads. It’s never gone out of style and the pattern can be created with rectangular tiles of any size and material.
Green Herringbone wall tile
Image credit: @half_a_hall
Recommended tile: Emilia Avocado
Penny floor tiles
Used to enhance bathrooms and kitchens since the early 1900s, these miniature mosaic tiles are steeped in history and ideal for creating a quirkier look. Penny tiles are often seen in black-and-white combinations, but there is a range of colours and materials to choose from, letting you put a spin on a timeless style.
Quirky Feature wall
Image credit: @bathroomideas.nz
Recommended Tile: Honeycomb Copper Mosaic
Feature stone tiles
Stone tiles are as timeless as they come and there is a huge choice to pick from. As well as large-format tiles, you can pick smaller subway-style, mosaic or square tiles to line your bathroom walls and floors and create an ornate finish.
All white bathroom
Image credit: @johnwilliscustomhomes
Recommended tile: Amelia White
Marble tiles
Loved by the Ancient Greeks and Romans, marble is a perfect choice for a timeless-looking bathroom. Marble is extremely durable and comes in a vast range of colours. You can opt for marble-effect porcelain tiles if you prefer a lower-maintenance tile.
Marble tiles are often thought of as large glossy slabs, but you can choose more rustic tumbled marble if you prefer and pick tiles in a range of different shapes and sizes to get the perfect look.
Marble bathroom
Image credit: @minimalinteriordesigns
Recommended tile: Canaletto Gold Mrable
Octagon and dot tiles
A timeless look from the ever-stylish Victorians, the satisfyingly simple symmetry of these tiles makes them perfect for upstyling your bathroom floor. As far as tile patterns go, this is one of the most ageless options. Often seen in black and white, you can combine other colours and even go for stone instead of porcelain for a softer look.
Octagon dot floor tiles
Image credit: @Atlasceramics
Recommended tile: York
Matchstick tiles
Matchstick mosaic tiles are a modern design, but with their understated elegance and simple looks, they have all that’s needed to become a design classic. You can match them with neutral floor tiles in stone or porcelain for a look that’ll still be in style in many years to come.
Matchstick bathroom tile
Image credit: @the.palm.co
Recommended tile: StoneFace-Snow White
Metro tiles
One of our favourite tile designs, metro tiles found their way into homes after being introduced in public spaces like subways and hospitals. Favoured for their versatility and ease of installation, they’ve never gone out of style.
Metro tiles are an excellent choice if you’re on a budget and the sheer variety of colours, materials and classic layouts ensures their enduring popularity.
White Metro wall tiles
Image credit: @annkristinhejl
Recommended tile: Mini Metro Gloss White
Textured white tiles
While colour trends come and go, white is always in style. It’s no surprise that white tiles are the most popular choice for bathrooms and you can pick from every conceivable shape, size and material.
White doesn’t need to look clinical, you can add depth and interest by choosing beautifully textured tiles or picking natural marble or white wood-effect tiles. You can also vary the tile sizes and have fun combining dainty mosaics with metro tiles or add a twist with unusually shaped tiles.
Textured white tiles
Image credit: @mess_of_sparkles
Recommended tile: Acacia Blanco
Stone effect tiles
Few materials are as timeless as stone and you can replicate the look with durable and maintenance-free stone-effect porcelain tiles. Available in just about every style of natural stone, you can choose from highly polished marble-effect tiles to matt flagstone-type finishes and select a range of different sizes.
Stone effect bathroom tile
Image credit: @originalstyleuk
Recommended tile: Keope Extreme Beige
Terracotta tiles
Dating back to the 7th century BCE, terracotta tiles are definitely the oldest tile style on our list. Originally created to clad roofs, terracotta tiles are manufactured from clay and it’s the high iron content that gives terracotta its characteristic rich red colour.
Beautiful on bathroom floors, terracotta tiles will add a timeless, rustic character to your home. Although unglazed terracotta tiles are porous, they’re extremely durable and can be periodically sealed to make them suitable for use in wet rooms.
Terracotta bathroom ideas
Image credit: @c_rprojects
Recommended tile: Handmade Terracotta
Split face tiles
With their irregular texture and variations in colour, real slate or stone-effect split face tiles are perfect for picking out feature areas in your bathroom.
Splitface tiles are an ideal way to introduce a natural element to your bathroom and work exceptionally well when used on splashbacks and in shower areas.
Bathroom spitface feature wall
Image credit: @rk_signature_living
Recommended tile: Cubic White
Slate tiles
Classic slate flooring is a firm favourite in timeless bathroom designs. One of the most durable stones, it’s an excellent choice if you’re looking for a tile that will last. We love the beauty of the herringbone pattern in this bathroom; a classic material and a classic pattern that’s sure to stand the test of time.
Natural slate floor tile
Image credit: @deluxe_bathrooms
Wood effect tiles
Wood is another completely timeless choice for a bathroom and although we don’t recommend using real wood in areas that frequently get a soaking, wood-effect porcelain tiles are the perfect alternative.
Ultra-realistic textures and a wide range of colours mean that you can pick the perfect wood-look tile for your bathroom floors and walls, helping you achieve one of the most classic looks of all.
Wood effect tiles in bathroom
Image credit: @sandstone_and_sawdust
Recommended tile: Naturae Willow
Zellige tiles
Originating in Morocco, zellige tiles were crafted by hand before being glazed and fired, resulting in an attractive irregular finish. Although most modern, zellige-style tiles are produced by moulds rather than hands, they’re a beautiful choice for a timeless bathroom.
Zellige tiled bathroom
Image credit: @janeshomejournal
Recommended tile: Damask Series White
Victorian-style tiles
From the ubiquitous metro tile to elaborate mosaic floor patterns, Victorian tiles are an inspired choice for a timeless bathroom.
Less wasn’t really more with the Victorians and bold-coloured tiles set in elaborate patterns were highly sought after. You can go bold or be more subtle in your tile choices, whatever you decide, using Victorian tiles will enable you to create a stunningly beautiful bathroom.
Victorian style bathrooms
Image credit: @originalstyleuk
Recommended tile: Ambleside
Mosaic tiles
The earliest mosaic artworks were discovered in ancient Mesopotamia and, as mosaic tiles are still a firm favourite today, we think they’re a pretty safe bet in creating a timeless bathroom.
Choose from mosaics in mother of pearl, real stone, metal or glass to add the wow factor to your bathroom or stick to glazed ceramic tiles for a simpler touch.
Mosaic feature wall
Image credit: @boutiqueretreats
Recommended tile: Agleam
Timeless bathroom tile tips
It’s easy to create a timeless-looking bathroom with the right tiles, before you decide on the final style, consider the following:
Avoid trends
If you want to create a bathroom that will look as good in 20 or 30 years as it does today, it’s probably best to avoid trends like bold patterns and colours.
Stick to neutral colours
Timeless interiors are usually neutral in colour, think black, white, beige, grey and ivory for the most classic look.
Choose a classic tile layout
Once you’ve chosen your tiles comes the tricky choice of how to lay them. Classic patterns like brick bond and herringbone are good choices, modern stacked layouts are more likely to date.
Atlas Ceramics has a wide range of timeless style tiles to help you get the right look in your bathroom. Browse our selection yourself or call one of our experts for advice.
