Top Tile Trends for 2026

Tiles in 2026 aren’t just there to cover the walls and floor. They’re doing mood, texture and personality just as much as your paint, brassware and furniture.

Tiles for 2026 are all about warmth, texture and personality. Think spa-like bathrooms, earthy colours, large formats with barely-there grout lines and a mix of calm neutrals and confident patterns.

Some trends lean into quiet luxury with tactile, matt finishes and natural, biophilic tones. Others are bolder and more playful, using pattern, stripes and colour to turn walls and floors into design features in their own right.

So, if you’re planning a bathroom update, here are the tile trends we think will really matter in 2026!

1) Down-to-Earth Tones

2) Spa-Like Sanctuary Bathrooms

3) Large Format Tiles and Seamless Surfaces

4) Textured, Tactile and 3D Tiles

5) Handcrafted and Zellige-Style Glazes

6) Marble Effect and Stone Look Luxury

7) Terrazzo, Flecked and Speckled Finishes

8) Checkerboard, Stripes and Playful Pattern

9) Heritage Victorian and Encaustic Inspiration

10) Wood Effect Planks and Warm Timber Tones

11) Colour Drenching with Tiles

12) Inside-Outside Living with Porcelain

13) Moody Graphite, Charcoal and Inky Neutrals

The Top 13 Tile Trends for 2026

1. Down-to-Earth Tones

Grey had a long run. In 2026 it’s still around, but the spotlight’s moved towards warmer, earthier tones. Think soft sand, oat, putty, biscuit, clay, terracotta, warm taupe and muted greens. These colours feel like they’ve come from nature, so they instantly bring a calmer, more grounded mood into a bathroom.

If your current tiles feel a bit cold, swapping to a warm neutral’s one of the easiest fixes. A sand-coloured stone effect on the floor, paired with slightly lighter tiles on the wall, softens the whole space without making it dark. Clay and terracotta tones work well if you like a more Mediterranean feel, especially with off-white walls and black brassware. Soft sage and olive greens sit really nicely with oak, rattan and warmer metals.

The key with earthy tones is to keep contrast gentle. Try to stay within one warm “family” of colour instead of jumping from cold grey to strong terracotta in the same room. Use grout in a similar shade to the tile so you get broad, calm areas of colour rather than a busy grid. The overall effect should feel quiet, grounded and easy to live with.

2. Spa-Like Sanctuary Bathrooms

Bathrooms are leaning harder into “spa” territory in 2026. The look’s warm, restful and fairly minimal, but not cold or clinical. Tiles do most of the work here. You’ll see stone effect porcelain that mimics limestone, sandstone, travertine or soft marble, usually in matt or silk finishes. These tiles often come in warm creams, sands and soft greiges that pair well with timber, neutral towels and simple accessories.

To get that sanctuary feel, imagine your bathroom as a quiet, low-contrast envelope. Pick one or two stone look tiles in related tones and use them across the main surfaces. For example, choose a larger format stone effect on the floor and lower walls, then use the same tile cut down or in a smaller size inside the shower. Micro-cement look tiles also fit this trend, especially in walk-in showers where you want to feel like you’re stepping into one calm space rather than a busy tiled box.

Lighting really matters with this look. Textured and matt tiles catch soft shadows beautifully, so wall lights and recessed spots help the surface come alive without adding visual clutter. Keep brassware and furniture lines simple, with clean shapes and a few warm metallic touches, so the texture and tone of the tile can do the talking.

3. Large Format Tiles and Seamless Surfaces

Tile sizes have been getting bigger for a while, and 2026 really leans into that. Large format tiles cut down grout lines and help rooms feel more open and calm. In small bathrooms they reduce visual “noise”. In bigger spaces they give that sleek, modern, high-end look you see in hotels.

In a walk-in shower, large format tiles often mean you can span the full height or width with only one or two joints, which instantly looks more luxurious. On floors, big square or rectangular tiles create broad, uninterrupted planes that let the pattern of stone, concrete or marble effect really show.

To make this trend work, keep the layout simple and match your grout closely to the tile colour so joints almost melt away. If you like the idea of “colour drenching” later in this guide, combining a large format tile with matching grout is one of the easiest ways to get that seamless, wrapped-in-stone feel.

4. Textured, Tactile and 3D Tiles

Texture’s one of the strongest stories for 2026. Instead of every wall being completely flat, designers are using tiles with ribbing, fluting, waves and small raised details to add depth. This sits right in that quiet-luxury space you’ve probably seen online. It looks simple at first glance, but when you get closer you notice the surface has shape.

Fluted tiles with thin, vertical grooves are especially popular. They can frame a vanity, wrap around a shower or pick out a recessed shelf. Kit-kat or “finger” tiles, which are long, thin rectangles fixed in tight rows, create the same sort of shadow play. Split-face or softly riven stone-look tiles bring a more rugged version of the idea, which works well behind a bath or on a small feature wall.

If you want to try this trend, pick one area to highlight so it feels special rather than overwhelming. A fluted tile behind the basin with a round mirror and simple wall light will instantly look designed. You could also use textured tiles in the same colour as your smooth main tiles, so you get depth and interest without adding extra shades to juggle. Vertical stacking, where smaller tiles are lined up in straight columns instead of offset like brickwork, fits neatly into this mood and can make ceilings feel higher.

5. Handcrafted and Zellige-Style Glazes

Handmade-look tiles and zellige-style ceramics are a big part of the “beauty of imperfection” story. Instead of perfectly even colour and sharp edges, these tiles have tiny differences in tone and shape from piece to piece. Light bounces differently off each one, so walls feel alive even if you stick to a simple colour like white, green or blush.

You’ll often see these tiles in smaller formats around basins, behind kitchen sinks or in shower niches, because that’s where they really shine. A glossy yet slightly uneven glaze on a small tile gives a jewel-like effect in a niche, especially when you add a small spotlight. In a larger area, like the wall behind a freestanding bath, a grid of handcrafted tiles in a soft green or bottle green can feel both classic and modern at the same time.

To keep the look calm rather than busy, it helps to pair handcrafted wall tiles with plainer floors. For example, you might have a deep green zellige-style splashback above the basin, but keep the floor in a warm stone-effect tile with a matt finish. That contrast of glossy, varied wall and soft, steady floor feels very 2026 and fits neatly into that “sensory minimalism” mood.

6. Marble Effect and Stone Look Luxury

Marble and stone effect tiles are still key, but the 2026 take’s a bit richer and more expressive. You’ll see marble-effect porcelain in larger sizes with stronger veining, more warmth in the base colour and, in some cases, bolder shades like green or cocoa running through the pattern. Stone effect tiles inspired by travertine, sandstone and slate are important too, especially when they pick up those earthy tones we talked about earlier.

The big advantage of marble effect and stone-look porcelain is that you get the drama of natural stone without worrying about stains, sealing routines or etching from products. In busy bathrooms that’s a very real benefit. You can have a striking marble effect feature wall behind a bath or shower that still behaves like practical porcelain.

To balance the look, it’s usually best to let one stone be the hero rather than mixing lots of different effects. If you choose a bold marble effect wall, keep the floor in a coordinating plain or very gentle stone look so the room still feels calm. If you prefer things softer, warm beige or sand coloured stone effect tiles in a matt finish are a great base to build a spa-like scheme on top of, with towels and accessories doing the rest.

7. Terrazzo, Flecked and Speckled Finishes

Terrazzo came back a few years ago and it keeps evolving. For 2026 the feel’s softer, with more neutral backgrounds and chips that sit somewhere between playful and refined. Terrazzo effect tiles also work as a neat bridge between plain surfaces and full-on pattern, which makes them easy to live with.

In bathrooms, terrazzo floors are practical as well as pretty. The small flecks of colour break up everyday marks, so water spots, a bit of dust or the odd stray hair don’t jump out at you straight away. On walls, a terrazzo feature in a shower or behind a basin can add character without feeling like a mural.

You can lean into the pattern by echoing one or two chip colours in your towels or accessories, or keep everything else simple and let the terrazzo do the talking. If you already love maximalist tiles from earlier trend guides, this is a more relaxed, 2026-friendly way to get that same energy without committing to a full patterned wall.

8. Checkerboard, Stripes and Playful Pattern

Pattern’s still a big part of tile design, but it’s grown up a bit. Checkerboard floors in soft neutrals, two-tone stripes on walls and bold geometric layouts are all being used to add personality without turning the whole room into a theme. This sits firmly in that “playful living” trend, where tiles are allowed to be fun as well as practical.

A classic checkerboard in black and white will always work, but softer versions in cream and charcoal, greige and white, or sage and off-white feel more in line with current bathrooms. They give you that graphic look without making the room feel cold. Stripes are another big story. Slim brick tiles stacked in vertical lines can make a room feel taller and give a subtle “cabana” feel in a shower. Horizontal stripes can make a narrow wall seem wider.

If you like brave patterns, encaustic effect and geometric tiles are still very relevant. The 2026 twist is to use them more sparingly. For example, create a “rug” of patterned tiles in the centre of the bathroom floor and border it with plainer tiles, or use a geometric design just in a shower tray while keeping the rest of the floor simple. This keeps cleaning practical, shows off the pattern and still gives the room space to breathe.

9. Heritage Victorian and Encaustic Inspiration

Victorian and heritage-inspired tiles are ideal if you want to give a new bathroom a sense of history, or if you live in a period home and want the room to feel like it belongs. In 2026, this look’s less about exact recreations and more about “classic with a twist”. You’ll see traditional star, fleur-de-lis and geometric patterns in softer palettes, like sage, ink, clay and warm white, instead of only black and white.

These tiles work really well on floors, especially in bathrooms that open off a hallway or landing where you already have some character. Laying them in a bordered layout, where a patterned “carpet” sits inside a frame of plainer tiles, creates a strong focal point. In showers, a Victorian-inspired floor under a simple glass screen can be a nice way to add interest without touching the walls.

If your suite and taps are quite modern, pairing them with a heritage floor stops the room feeling too clinical. The mix of old and new is very current and means your bathroom’s less likely to date quickly. It’s also a good way to bring some of that bold, opulent drama into a room without making everything dark or shiny.

10. Wood Effect Planks and Warm Timber Tones

Wood effect porcelain tiles are one of those trends that quietly became a staple. For 2026 they shift further into warm territory. Honey, treacle, walnut and rich oak tones are the ones to watch. These tiles mimic the grain, knots and texture of real wood so well that you get the warmth of timber with the practicality of porcelain.

In bathrooms that means no worrying about warping, swelling or constant sealing. You can use wood effect planks on floors, in walk-in showers and even up feature walls, knowing they’ll cope with steam and splashes. Herringbone and chevron layouts are still very popular, especially in small bathrooms where the zig-zag can make the room feel wider. Straight plank layouts give a calmer, more relaxed feel and work well in spa-like schemes.

Pair wood effect floors with stone-look walls in warm neutrals and simple black or brushed brass brassware for that modern spa look. If you prefer more colour, warm green or inky blue walls also sit nicely with deeper wood tones, especially when you keep the rest of the surfaces matt and simple.

11. Colour Drenching with Tiles

Colour drenching started with paint and it’s now moved on to tiles. The idea’s simple. You pick one main colour and wrap it around the whole room, using different sizes, shapes or textures of tile in that same tone. In 2026 this often means neutral or muted colours rather than very bright ones, which keeps bathrooms feeling restful.

For example, you might choose a warm stone-coloured porcelain tile for the floor and lower walls, then use a smaller, ribbed version of the same colour in the shower or behind the basin. Or you could go for a soft sage green concrete effect tile on both floor and walls, with matching grout so joints almost disappear. The effect’s calm, cocooning and very “designed”.

To stop a drenched room feeling flat, it helps to play with texture and scale. Mix large smooth tiles with smaller textured ones. Balance glossy handcrafted tiles in a niche with wider matt tiles on the main walls. Keep brassware and furniture simple so the flow of colour stays the main story instead of fighting with lots of different finishes.

12. Inside-Outside Living with Porcelain

Linking indoor and outdoor spaces with tiles is another strong 2026 trend. Porcelain’s the go-to material because it’s hardwearing, low-porous and available in co-ordinating indoor and outdoor formats, often with a standard thickness for inside and a thicker, more slip resistant slab for patios and paths.

In practice this means you can run the same stone effect tile from a bathroom or kitchen out onto a terrace, or choose a floor tile for an open-plan living space and continue it through bi-fold doors to the garden. The result’s a much bigger-feeling footprint, because your eye reads one continuous surface instead of two separate areas.

If you like this look, think about how your chosen tile will sit with planting, outdoor furniture and the light in your garden as well as with your suite and walls indoors. Warm sand and soft grey stones are easy to work with. Earthy clays and mossy greens can look fantastic with lots of greenery and darker fencing. Keeping grout joints tight and colours close inside and out helps the whole thing feel seamless.

13. Moody Graphite, Charcoal and Inky Neutrals

Darker tiles aren’t going anywhere. Graphite, charcoal and inky blues and greens are all over the more luxurious side of 2026 tile design. The difference now is that they’re used with a bit more care so bathrooms feel cosy and cocooned rather than gloomy.

You might see a deep charcoal stone effect floor paired with warmer stone effect walls, so the room feels grounded but not heavy. Or a shower area fully tiled in an inky green or graphite porcelain, framed by lighter walls in the rest of the bathroom. Rich marbles with dark bases and strong veining also sit in this space, especially when you add warm metallics and timber to soften the look.

If you’re drawn to dark tiles but worried the room’ll feel small, a simple trick is to keep everything above about shoulder height lighter. Use darker tiles on the floor and lower walls, then switch to a soft neutral on the upper walls and ceiling. Good lighting makes a huge difference too. Aim for a mix of overhead light and softer wall lights so the texture of the tile can show rather than disappearing into shadow.

How to Choose the Right Tile Trend for You

With so many emerging tile trends, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. The simplest way to start is to decide how you want the room to feel. If you want calm and spa-like, look at earthy tones, large format stone effects, matt textures and maybe a little fluting or handcrafted gloss in one small area. 

If you love character and pattern, explore checkerboards, heritage designs, terrazzo and stripes, then balance them with plainer surfaces. If you lean towards luxe, focus on marble effect tiles, darker neutrals and rich texture.

You don’t need to layer every trend here in one bathroom. One or two that work together is usually enough. Pick a hero idea then let every other decision support that.

When you’re ready to plan your own space, browse our tile collections and start saving the looks you keep coming back to. That repeating instinct’s usually your best clue. 

Once you know the mood you’re chasing, the trends for 2026 become less about rules and more about picking the tiles that help your bathroom feel like somewhere you actually want to linger.