For too long, tile flooring has been relegated only to the bathroom, mudroom, and other areas that need a functional flooring option. It's time for that to change—tile is a durable, stylish flooring pick that can shine in any space—from the dining room to the entryway, to, yes, even the bathroom. Keep reading to see 26 picture-perfect tile flooring picks.
Try Something Smooth
For a tile that looks more slab-like than piecemeal, go for large, smooth tiles with barely-there grout lines. Tile flooring like this gives your space a grown-up, modern feel, and smooth tile flooring pairs well with extra texture, like rugs or woven knits.
Pick Marble for the Entryway
For a foyer that makes a statement, pick marble tile for your entryway. This classic tile flooring practically bursts with elegance and makes any space shine. Marble's neutral coloring also means it looks good with nearly any color combo.
Use Big Tiles
Not all tiles need be to 12"x12"—instead, think bigger. Plus-size tiles are a great flooring pick when you have plenty of ground to cover. The large size of the tiles makes an already-big space feel a bit more scaled-down and approachable, whereas tiny tiles might exacerbate the size of a large room and make it feel overwhelming.
Install a Herringbone Pattern
Looking for a tile flooring that's a bit more interesting than offset horizontal or vertical patterns? Try installing a herringbone tile flooring. This chevron-like pattern can give your space a vintage feel, and it will easily make the tile you have more eye-catching.
Don't Forget Brown
Though brown may seem like a downer of a color, its rich terracotta tones make it an outstanding tile flooring pick. For a picture-perfect look, pair brown tile with bright white furniture or creamy, off-white walls.
Try Beige
Beige tile is a classic for a reason. Its toned-down coloring makes it the chameleon of flooring—fitting in anywhere, without standing out. It's also fairly easy to find in whatever seize you need. Plus, since it's tile, it's low-maintenance and durable.
Look for Outside-the-Box Tile
Don't be afraid to venture beyond typical tiles for something more unique. Just because a type of tile flooring is popular doesn't mean it's a great fit for your home. Keep looking until you find a tile—even if it's a bit different—that's the perfect flooring for your space.
Try Tiny Checkered Tile
You've heard of (and seen) the classic checkered tile flooring that is quintessential Americana. But what about tiny checkered tile flooring? This petite take on the classic tile flooring is a great pick for smaller spaces like bathrooms, or as a more subtle variation if you're looking for flooring that's a bit more toned-down.
Get Geometric
Yes, flooring needs to be practical and useful, but it can also be fun too. That's the case in this lighthearted tile flooring from Katie LeClerq. Colorful, geometric tile is a wonderful way to give a small space some excitement, and if you're feeling bold, it's a great centerpiece in a bigger space too.
Pair Beige With Blue
Neutral tile can be the ideal companion to a bold color like blue. The simple coloring of the tile lets boldly colored cabinetry be center-stage. Plus, tile in the kitchen is often easier to maintain and is more durable than a hardwood would be.
Have Fun With Vintage
The tile flooring of decades and centuries past has brought with it some beautiful patterns. Take advantage of what history has to offer by installing some vintage (or vintage-inspired) tile. You can find vintage tile online or at reclaimed furniture or antique stores.
Mix Shapes
Looking to mix things up in your space? Mix shapes. A round room is a great spot for square tile, like what Katherine Carter did in this home. Likewise, an otherwise-basic square room is a good spot for some circular or hexagonal tile.
Use a Pop of Color
Color is important in any space, and there are so many great ways to incorporate it into your home. And of those ways is through tile flooring. Colorful tile flooring provides unexpected and unique style, and it's a great flooring pick for small spaces like bathrooms, mudrooms, or entryways.
Try Glazed Terracotta
For a tile flooring look that will instantly make your home feel more historic, try out glazed terracotta. This old-world style flooring provides durability, great looks and a sense of history, all in one.
Give Black Tile a Shot
Black tile may seem a little too bold for some, but it's a good way to make your space feel moody and elegant. Plus, its lava-like looks make it a nature-inspired flooring pick that's relaxing too.
Make Tile Your Centerpiece
For a flooring look that will really stand out, make your floor tile the main event. Pick a tile with a bold color or pattern and repeat in a larger space like a living room or dining room.
Pair Your Tile With Your Cabinetry
Another easy floor tile combo can be found in coordinating the color of your tile with the color of your kitchen cabinetry. This simple combination provides coordination to a room that can sometimes be all over the place.
Mix Materials
Tile doesn't need to be the only interesting material you use in a room. Instead, pair tile flooring with richly-grained wood, or alongside rattan and linen.
Use Marble for a Spa-Like Feel
Marble can do it all—a dramatic entryway, a stunning countertop, and a spa-like bathroom. Marble tile flooring in the bathroom makes the space feel 10x more elegant and grown-up. Just don't blame us if you also spend 10x longer in it.
Add a Rug
Whether you're renting and don't love the tile you've got, or you simply want to add a bit more texture to your tiled floor, the simple rug is your best friend. A large area rug can hide tile you feel 'meh' about, or add some more color and dimension to your tile floor.
Have a Hexagon
Hexagon tiles are making a comeback. They provide a light-hearted, retro touch to any room, and they fit in well with a lot of different styles too. Use hexagon tile flooring anywhere you'd use tile flooring, like the kitchen, bathroom or entryway.
Use Long Lines
For a tile flooring look that doesn't occupy too much visual space, line large tiles up so there are only a few grout lines, rather than 50. Match the grout color to the tile to further emphasize the subtlety of your tile flooring.
Make Your Flooring Go Up the Wall
Tile flooring doesn't need to stop at the baseboard. Instead, have it continue up the walls of your space for a seamless and modern look. This works perfectly in bathrooms (and it boosts the room's functionality) or other more utilitarian spaces.
Match Your Floor to Your Wall
If you're looking for a more seamless tile flooring look, but don't want to continue your floor tile up your wall, try to use a floor tile with similar coloring to your wall instead. Here, Devon Grace Interiors pairs white marble tile flooring with creamy white patterned wallpaper.
Use Contrasting Texture
A smooth tile flooring is the perfect canvas for extra texture, like a jute area rug or lushly woven accent rug. Or consider pairing a smooth tile flooring with a more textured wall material, like brick or high-quality wallpaper.
Use Tile as an Accent
Though tile flooring can (and does) look good in large amounts, sometimes it just makes sense to use it as an accent rather than as the main flooring material. In that case, pick a tile with an intricate pattern for an accent that stands out, even in a small amount.