The world’s most creative bathroom tiling ideas

A twist on the classic black-and-white chequerboard flooring, this graphic look by London-based Can Architects makes brilliant use of square tiles on a smaller-than-average scale. For that extra punch, pair with a bold hit of contrasting colour – like this bright-red ceiling. can-site.co.uk

At Inside Gallery interior design legend Claude Cartier’s Lyon showroom, a former exhibition showed how stripes can make an ensuite bathroom that’s on the smaller side look larger. Created from small mosaic tiles, the sunny yellow stripes draw the eye upwards. claude-cartier.com

We are not against a white tile. What is needed if you are going to take the plain approach though is a little edge in the delivery. Here, we love the strong black grouting and the varied sizes of the square tiles used in this bathroom by architect Andrea Vescovini of Ludens – see in the mirror a patch of scaled down tiles that creates graphic interest. @ludens.ludens

Daytrip studio has used ‘Hoxton Gloss’ tiles in ‘Olive’ from Mandarin Stone and Kashmir Gold granite – used to frame the entrance to the shower – to create an earthy take on spa style. By matching the paintwork to the tone of the tiles the feeliong of calm is elevated further. daytrip.studio

Tiny mosaic tiles in sky blue are paired with matching cabinetry in this home by Spanish design studio Plutarco. The effect is mildly retro – almost like a swimming pool in your favourite resort – but with a palette that’s bold and modern. plutarco.design

Sometimes a uniform approach is not what’s needed. To match the playful nature of the owners of Greyleigh, a former dairy farm in Australia, interior design studio Duet chose to mix and match materials and finishes. Here square terracotta tiles are paired with a marble splashback cut with a scalloped edge. Unconventional perfection. weareduet.com.au

In a historic NoHo apartment designed by Home Studios, a curving panel of toffee-coloured mosaic tiles enhances the soft edges of the tiled basin and bathtub. Tiles can be seen as a hard finish, but this home is proof that used in the right way they can create a soft and inviting look. homestudios.nyc

Break up the uniform nature of tiling by creating your own patterns. This bathroom in a Parisian project by Sandra Benhamou leans into the grid-like pattern of the square tiles by creating its own lattice of lines in dark green and navy. sandrabenhamou.com

Housed in a brutalist building that was once home to Camden Council, The Standard hotel takes its cues from the 1970s and, according to designer Shawn Hausman, the ‘naughtiness of King’s Cross’. The stripy tiles in the bathroom show how an unusual colour palette (here, pink and red) can be worth the risk. standardhotels.com

The glossy blue of this bathroom (like the colours on the body of a beetle) is a defining element of this Madrid apartment by architect and artist Raúl Almenara. The ridged design of the tiles emphasises the feeling of movement created by the spiralling walls in what is a compact space. raulalmenara.com

There’s a whiff of Wes Anderson about the palette of this bathroom by Gülmen Interiors, but the pattern of the tiles has edge – inspired by the home’s architectural details. This bathroom shows how to use pattern in a more subdued way, interspersed with plain white tiles that dilute the impact. gulmeninteriors.com

Tapetti patterned tiles and rosso francia mosaic tiles combine to amazing effect in this bathroom, with the clash creating a Missoni-like fashionable effect. ‘Red is thought to be symbolic of luck, joy, and happiness with an ability to ward off evil, so it felt like a great colour for the room where the owners would start their day together,’ says interior designer Lauren McGrady of the project. rflstudio.com

Tiling isn't just for walls and floor. Almost every surface in this bathroom by Barcelona-based design practice Cierto Estudio is encased entirely in candy-coloured mosaic tiles. The effect is disarming, but pleasing in its uniformity. ciertoestudio.com

Designing for homeowners who wanted to mimic the feel of a stay in a boutique hotel, Australian design studio YSG devised a scheme that was high on quality and low on frippery. The differing colours throughout the mosaic tiling give it a natural look that complements the use of marble. ysg.studio

Choosing just one area to tile can transform it into a focal point in your bathroom. Hand-painted terracotta tiles custom-made in Mexico were used to clad this shower space at Hôtel Peter & Paul in New Orleans. The work of multidisciplinary design firm Ash NYC, the hotel is housed in a former school building, where each floor features a different palette. ashiscoming.com