30 Stunning Tile Treatments
A beautiful tile is like a work of art for your home – we've rounded up 30 of our favourites for your viewing pleasure
While patterned tiles are undeniably stunning, even the plainest tiles can look incredible when they’re laid in an imaginative way. If you’re looking for tile inspiration for your reno or build, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve scoured the archives of Houzz for our all-time favourite tile treatments – everything from low-key textured styles to bold, show-stopping patterns. Tell us which one is your favourite in the Comments below.
And remember, you can get more details of a project and see more of a professional’s work, including their contact details, by clicking on an image.
And remember, you can get more details of a project and see more of a professional’s work, including their contact details, by clicking on an image.
2. Location: Paddington, NSW
Why we love it: The balance between playful and cool – so well done.
Why we love it: The balance between playful and cool – so well done.
3. Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Why we love it: Because pretty tiles don’t need to be confined to walls. We love how how the expressive, decorative tiles in this monochromatic scheme have been saved for the floor in this elegant bathroom.
Why we love it: Because pretty tiles don’t need to be confined to walls. We love how how the expressive, decorative tiles in this monochromatic scheme have been saved for the floor in this elegant bathroom.
4. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Why we love it: This splashback is tile perfection if you are a lover of soft hues and subtle texture. We also admire the handmade appearance and colour variation in these beauties, laid herringbone style.
Why we love it: This splashback is tile perfection if you are a lover of soft hues and subtle texture. We also admire the handmade appearance and colour variation in these beauties, laid herringbone style.
5. Location: Goonellabah, NSW
Why we love it: This tile feature wall works wonders in this country house with a big personality. We love the pattern and beautiful colourway.
Why we love it: This tile feature wall works wonders in this country house with a big personality. We love the pattern and beautiful colourway.
6. Location: Seattle, USA
Why we love it: A simple way to add cottage appeal to a space is applying patterned tiles to one vertical section. We love how this simple addition cosies up this kitchen.
Why we love it: A simple way to add cottage appeal to a space is applying patterned tiles to one vertical section. We love how this simple addition cosies up this kitchen.
7. Location: Perth, WA
Why we love it: Because why should fabulous tile treatments be limited to indoor spaces? Here, an outdoor breakfast bar is given a dramatic makeover with graphic encaustic tiles.
Why we love it: Because why should fabulous tile treatments be limited to indoor spaces? Here, an outdoor breakfast bar is given a dramatic makeover with graphic encaustic tiles.
8. Location: Tyrone, Northern Ireland
Why we love it: Time-worn timber furniture bathed in natural light, soft-grey pattered floor tiles and a twinkling ceiling pendant… there’s something irresistibly romantic about this set-up.
Why we love it: Time-worn timber furniture bathed in natural light, soft-grey pattered floor tiles and a twinkling ceiling pendant… there’s something irresistibly romantic about this set-up.
9. Location: Milan, Italy
Why we love it: It’s not a tile treatment you see all that often in Australian homes, but this is one worth considering, especially if you live in a temperate or tropical climate. We love how this tiled ‘hall-runner’ lifts this plain space, giving it a sense of place.
Why we love it: It’s not a tile treatment you see all that often in Australian homes, but this is one worth considering, especially if you live in a temperate or tropical climate. We love how this tiled ‘hall-runner’ lifts this plain space, giving it a sense of place.
10. Location: Elizabeth Bay, NSW
Why we love it: Striking Bisazza wall tiles are the perfect way to add drama and a sense of luxe to this striking black bathroom.
Why we love it: Striking Bisazza wall tiles are the perfect way to add drama and a sense of luxe to this striking black bathroom.
11. Location: Gothenburg, Sweden
Why we love it: These green mosaics provide a beautiful focal point in this otherwise very streamlined kitchen. They are a sterling example of the power of well-chosen colour in tiles.
Why we love it: These green mosaics provide a beautiful focal point in this otherwise very streamlined kitchen. They are a sterling example of the power of well-chosen colour in tiles.
12. Location: Gothenburg, Sweden
Why we love it: Here’s another, albeit bolder, iteration of this approach, where marble-style hexagonal tiles pull the eyes towards the splashback of an otherwise restrained kitchen.
Why we love it: Here’s another, albeit bolder, iteration of this approach, where marble-style hexagonal tiles pull the eyes towards the splashback of an otherwise restrained kitchen.
13. Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Why we love it: Going full-tile on a compact bathroom is a risk, but the calming sea foam colour and pared-back approach to accessories makes this space a real sanctuary.
Why we love it: Going full-tile on a compact bathroom is a risk, but the calming sea foam colour and pared-back approach to accessories makes this space a real sanctuary.
14. Location: Málaga, Spain
Why we love it: A beautiful patchwork of denim-inspired colours, we love the unapologetic approach to the interior of this bathroom. Absolutely lovely.
Why we love it: A beautiful patchwork of denim-inspired colours, we love the unapologetic approach to the interior of this bathroom. Absolutely lovely.
15. Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Why we love it: Kudos to the designers for creating a work of art using both colour and pattern to ramp up the appeal of this wall. A fun and funky treatment for a family home.
Why we love it: Kudos to the designers for creating a work of art using both colour and pattern to ramp up the appeal of this wall. A fun and funky treatment for a family home.
16. Location: Sweden
Why we love it: OK, we were naughty to include this… but we wanted to show that among all the attributes of tiles, it’s often not acknowledged that they also work wonders as a supporting act for wallpaper in the kitchen. Let tiles take care of the functioning area of the kitchen and leave wallpaper to be the star of the show.
Why we love it: OK, we were naughty to include this… but we wanted to show that among all the attributes of tiles, it’s often not acknowledged that they also work wonders as a supporting act for wallpaper in the kitchen. Let tiles take care of the functioning area of the kitchen and leave wallpaper to be the star of the show.
17. Location: Copehagen, Denmark
Why we love it: Beautiful in their simplicity, these tiles from Fired Earth in Denmark are everything all at once: restrained yet decorative, simple yet seductive, modern yet timeless. Top marks to these incredibly versatile tiles.
Why we love it: Beautiful in their simplicity, these tiles from Fired Earth in Denmark are everything all at once: restrained yet decorative, simple yet seductive, modern yet timeless. Top marks to these incredibly versatile tiles.
18. Location: Orebro, Sweden
Why we love it: We’re loving how the specially weathered finish on this tiled splashback adds a warm, lived-in vibe to an otherwise plain kitchen.
Why we love it: We’re loving how the specially weathered finish on this tiled splashback adds a warm, lived-in vibe to an otherwise plain kitchen.
19. Location: Canada
Why we love it: Tiles needn’t be scene stealers – and interestingly enough, needn’t ‘speak to each other’ thematically. This bathroom, with the unexpected pairing of different formats, finishes and sizes, somehow works beautifully together.
Why we love it: Tiles needn’t be scene stealers – and interestingly enough, needn’t ‘speak to each other’ thematically. This bathroom, with the unexpected pairing of different formats, finishes and sizes, somehow works beautifully together.
20. Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Why we love it: This home proves that you can have a personality-filled space that doesn’t rely on colour, but on shapes and forms.
Why we love it: This home proves that you can have a personality-filled space that doesn’t rely on colour, but on shapes and forms.
21. Location: London, UK
Why we love it: This kitchen demonstrates the power of pattern. While the tile itself is plain, the herringbone pattern adds interest and an intricate element to an otherwise sleek kitchen.
Why we love it: This kitchen demonstrates the power of pattern. While the tile itself is plain, the herringbone pattern adds interest and an intricate element to an otherwise sleek kitchen.
22. Location: Barcelona, Spain
Why we love it: These coloured tiles and their rug-like approach are so fetching in this urban apartment, and walk just the right line between eye-catching and practical.
Why we love it: These coloured tiles and their rug-like approach are so fetching in this urban apartment, and walk just the right line between eye-catching and practical.
23. Location: Gold Coast, Queensland
Why we love it: Plain tiles would have been the obvious choice for a practical room such as a laundry, but in this beachside home designer Donna Guyler has opted for decorative, Moroccan-style tiles instead, elevating the space far beyond the purely functional.
Why we love it: Plain tiles would have been the obvious choice for a practical room such as a laundry, but in this beachside home designer Donna Guyler has opted for decorative, Moroccan-style tiles instead, elevating the space far beyond the purely functional.
24. Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Why we love it: Because sometimes you want to make an impact without making your kitchen overly decorative.
Why we love it: Because sometimes you want to make an impact without making your kitchen overly decorative.
25. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Why we love it: Because we challenge anyone who steps inside this bathroom not to break into a smile at the black and white tiles laid in a chevron pattern. And that yellow ceiling is the perfect finishing touch.
Why we love it: Because we challenge anyone who steps inside this bathroom not to break into a smile at the black and white tiles laid in a chevron pattern. And that yellow ceiling is the perfect finishing touch.
26. Location: London, UK
Why we love it: We adore how the custom-made, encaustic-style tiles spill down from a single wall to the floor, filling the space with soothing shades of blue and green.
Why we love it: We adore how the custom-made, encaustic-style tiles spill down from a single wall to the floor, filling the space with soothing shades of blue and green.
27. Location: Brisbane, Queensland
Why we love it: The beauty in this Brisbane home lies in its careful attention to detail – see how the wall tiles have been laid vertically to line up neatly with the slatted screen on the side and ceiling planks above?
Why we love it: The beauty in this Brisbane home lies in its careful attention to detail – see how the wall tiles have been laid vertically to line up neatly with the slatted screen on the side and ceiling planks above?
28: Location: Newtown, NSW
Why we love it: Cheery yellow patterned tiles are an inspired choice for a shower area – what better way to brighten up your morning routine?
Why we love it: Cheery yellow patterned tiles are an inspired choice for a shower area – what better way to brighten up your morning routine?
29: Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Why we love it: The large-format, soft-grey floor tiles, the simple copper ceiling pendant, the freestanding tub, and the light flooding in from above… what’s not to love?
Why we love it: The large-format, soft-grey floor tiles, the simple copper ceiling pendant, the freestanding tub, and the light flooding in from above… what’s not to love?
30: Location: Albuquerque, USA
Why we love it: This one stole our hearts…
Tell us
Are you tempted to try any of these tile treatments in your own home? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to like, bookmark or share this story. Join the conversation.
More
Read more Best of the Week stories
Why we love it: This one stole our hearts…
Tell us
Are you tempted to try any of these tile treatments in your own home? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to like, bookmark or share this story. Join the conversation.
More
Read more Best of the Week stories
Why we love it: The simplicity of white and wood, dialled up by the fish-scale pattern of the tiles, is the perfect expression of a Scandi aesthetic in the kitchen.