7. It’s All About You
Your shower serves a purpose, and that purpose is specific to you and your family. However large or small your shower, your ceramic tile installer can create both a unique layout for your tile and also any desired niches, benches, or additional accents. So, if your teenagers need a double niche for hair products and you would like a candle ledge away from water spray, it can all be yours! Consider if you need a curbless shower or perhaps a doorless shower, a shower that is more private, or a shower with an open feel. Ceramic tile can meet all of your needs.
Incorporate tile benches, shelves, or niches into your shower to meet your every need.
8. Coordinated choices
Including too many different types of tile in your shower will give it an overwhelming look. As a rule of thumb, you can consider three different styles (we know it’s hard to choose). For example, choose a mosaic tile size for the shower floor, a larger tile for the walls, and a coordinating texture or design for your shower niche. Coordinate the rest of your bathroom’s ceramic tile within the family of one of your choices. For example, your bathroom floor can be the same as your shower walls and maybe your backsplash picks up the niche tile. Choosing your must-have-dream-tile first will help your other choices fall into place. We’ve seen a niche choice set the tone of an entire bathroom.
9. Think Long-Term Value
Ceramic tile has one of the longest lifespans and lowest life cycle costs of any flooring option, and its durable, hard surface won’t easily scuff, tear, dent, or puncture. Your tile choice will withstand daily use and look great for years to come. But don’t take our word for it — just check out the many centuries-old tile installations that are still intact today.
10. Have Fun!
Choosing shower tile is fun! Explore your style options and get creative. The safety, functionality, and beauty of ceramic tile ensures you will make a smart choice and gives you the freedom to focus on creating a space your family will love! We’re sure you’ll get a lot of inspiration of this guide on shower tile ideas.
Download our free Tile Buying Guide companion guide to help you with each step of your tile shopping.
40 of Our Favorite Shower Tile Ideas
With our tile tips in tow, you can start exploring the many shower tile ideas and design options. These ideas should inspire you!
1. Marble-Look Walls and Mosaic Flooring
Marble-look shower wall tile with octagon and dot shower flooring tile
Marble-look ceramic tile walls with a large horizontal running bond pattern and coordinating mosaic grid flooring give this bathroom an elegant look. Using the same flooring throughout the entire bathroom visually amplifies the space.
2. Make Mine a Combo
Patterned tub surround wall tile
When you have a tub and shower combination, you may have the opportunity to create a feature wall with decorative tile. We love the color consistency of this decor, especially with the unique tile flooring pattern! For tubs that are not freestanding, consider a tub surround with your ceramic tile choice. An amazing bathroom shower wall tile ideas to keep in mind!
3. Rustic Rectangles & Shower Tile Elegance
Curbless shower with rustic, weathered-looking tile panels
This unadorned, urban vibe is accentuated by large rectangular panels and a curbless shower.
4. Sleek Subway Tile
White subway tile shower/bath
White subway tile provides a classic feature backdrop that contrasts well with the slate gray flooring (notice that the grout in the tile picks up the color of the floor tile).
5. Diamond Rug Accent
Dark stone-look shower tiles with a beige stone-look tile diamond rug accent
This lighter diamond rug accent pattern of tile on the shower wall pops against the darker natural stone-effect tile. The lighter grout accentuates the tile on the floors and walls and compliments the feature area.
6. Modern Octagon and Dot
Octagon and dot ceramic tile shower wall
The varying yellow tones of these octagon and dot shower walls make for a bold contrast with the black grid flooring, creating a striking look and a unique design for this shower tile ideas guide.
7. Subtle Accents
Beige stone-look shower tiles with subtle patterned tiles sprinkled in
Subtle floral patterns accent the earth tones of this shower for a clean, comforting environment. While the shower walls feature a rectangular grid, the flooring uses a mosaic for added slip resistance.
8. Not Your Average Black and White
Brick-look shower tiles wall with wood-look tile shower flooring
This modern farmhouse bathroom is a mastery of complements and contrasts: rustic white brick walls against charcoal mosaic shower floor tiles surrounded by a feature floor of unique patterns that bring together all the color elements in this bathroom.
9. Better Where It’s Wetter
Brick-look tile wall with a blue mosaic ceramic tile window border
The blues, yellows, and greens in this mosaic window border add an under-the-sea sensation to this shower’s earthy, variegated subway tile walls and iridescent navy tiled ceiling.
10. Aqua Agua Shower Tiles: Vertical Harmony
Vertical aqua subway tile provides an invigorating pop against the white on white subway and the stone-look mosaic tiles completing this look. A curbless shower allows the flooring to flow in and out of the shower (but the water stays IN)! If you’re aiming for a modern and stylish bathroom, consider incorporating trendy shower tiles like subway tile shower designs into your space for a contemporary aesthetic.
Vertical aqua subway tile wall with stone-look mosaic tile flooring
11. Family Bath: Unified Tile & Shower
Stone-look ceramic tile shower
This bathroom uses different sizes and shapes of natural stone-look tile but keeps it in the same tile family of coordinating options.
12. Functional Grid
White ceramic tiles with a gray tile stripe
This dark gray mosaic accent stripe and three-dimensional white wall tile forms a simple grid design that’s fun and functional. Note: The shower floor reuses the same mosaic but with a matte finish and dark grout.
13. Unique Shower Tile Idea
Marble-look ceramic tile wall in an uncommon tile shape
Some of the best shower tile ideas use a variety of tile shapes, textures and colors. For example, the accent wall in this shower combines the look of marble with an uncommon shape. The result is a shower that’s simultaneously classic and modern.
14. What’s Old Is New Again
Octagon and dot ceramic bath tile
Using a marble-look for this elongated octagon and dot pattern adds a modern twist to a style made popular in the Victorian era.
15. Stone Grids
Oversized stone-look subway tile shower
The different sizes and shapes of these stone-look tiles build a clean, consistent look both inside and outside of the shower.
16. Warm Wood-Look Tile
Wood-look ceramic shower tiles
You might not think to put wood on your shower walls, but this bathroom pulls it off effortlessly without worrying about water-damaged wood because it’s actually wood-look ceramic tile.
17. Size and Color Contrast
Green mosaic tile wall with beige stone-look tile flooring
This is a lovely example of juxtaposing colorful mosaic tile as a feature wall and backsplash with large, natural stone-look tile panels. Combining color, texture, and size contribute to the dramatic focus of the feature areas.
18. Gray Harmony: Shower Tile Designs
Gray stone-look tile wall with hexagon tile flooring
Shades of gray marble-look ceramic tile in rectangles and hexagons define vertical and horizontal surfaces to create a serene and clean master bath getaway.
19. Move Over, Subway Tile
Stone-look tile with a subway tile horizontal accent stripe
This shower’s dramatic stone effect uses a horizontal accent stripe of pearled tile paired with large rectangular grid walls and mosaic flooring.
20. Ultra Modern Walk-In Shower: Geometric Tile Showcase
Modern geometric tile in herringbone and grid patterns
Stone-look square tile flooring supports the ultra modern geometric design of these herringbone-striped walls. The lines of dark grout in the white rectangular floating accent wall bridge the bathing areas and become a focal point of the room.
