No matter what room of the house you’re decorating, achieving the perfect interior design look often comes down to the details, and one of the smallest decisions that can have a big impact on how your bathroom, kitchen, and floors look is the tile you choose to furnish them with. If you’re considering giving your tile an upgrade in 2026, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with the tile trends expected to become popular in the new year.
Some of the upcoming trends may even be surprising. For example, in 2026, the humble yet ubiquitous white subway tile trend is moving over in favor of more detailed, decorated looks. Think more patterns, more craftsmanship, and more texture. Not only is the look of tiles shifting, but you can also expect to see more tile in more spaces, as well as bigger, bolder dimensions on floors, bathroom surfaces, kitchens, and even fireplaces. Let’s take a closer look at the 10 tile trends we’ll be talking about the most next year.
Read more: 50 White Kitchen Designs That Will Never Go Out Of Style
Tiles with warm undertones
Erika Dale, House Digest’s interior design expert and founder of Erika Dale Interior Design, told House Digest in an exclusive interview that a growing preference for earthy colors is extending to floor tiles and that manufacturers are producing more options that mimic natural stones. “This trend toward cozy, inviting hues isn’t just reserved for wood, as tiles and other flooring options are also gravitating toward warm undertones,” she explained. As a result, homeowners can now achieve a grounded, organic look without the maintenance or cost associated with real stone.
Retro tile designs
Retro tiles in midcentury geometric patterns and colors have already been popping back up in bathrooms, and it’s a trend that we’re expecting to see continue in 2026. Yelp’s 2026 home, beauty, and lifestyle trends report, which analyzes search data to predict next year’s big hits, specifically called out colorful tiles and retro tile designs as elements that more people have been using to create vintage-inspired bathrooms in their homes.
Floor-to-ceiling bathroom tile
Haddy House Interiors founder, Ashley Hunt, and design partner, Savannah McPartland, told Southern Living that backsplashes are getting higher, and interior designer Shamika Lynch told Martha Stewart that we can expect to see tile climbing up every surface of the bathroom in 2026, even reaching ceilings. She explained that this style “emphasizes the height of the bathroom and can make small [ones] look bigger than they are,” and it offers “an easy luxury look with minimal additional effort.”
Plaid tiles
You’ve probably been seeing plaid literally everywhere thanks to its ubiquitous role in the Ralph Lauren Christmas trend. Crisscross patterns are expected to dominate in 2026 and appear in more kitchen tile designs as well. As Danielle Chiprut, the founder of Danielle Rose Design Co., told The Spruce, “Plaid designs add structure and quiet complexity to a space.”
Textured tiles
The National Kitchen & Bath Association’s 2026 Bath Trends Report, which surveys hundreds of designers, manufacturers, remodelers, and architects, found that a majority of industry experts say patterned and textured tiles are on the rise in U.S. homes. We love incorporating textured tiles in bathrooms because it’s an easy way to mix and match different elements while maintaining a consistent color scheme.
Tiles with smaller grout lines
The great part about this tile look is that it’s also a low-maintenance trend for bathrooms and showers. In 2026, tile patterns are expected to use less grout with fewer, thinner lines as homeowners seek styles that are easier to clean and maintain. “This should not come as a surprise,” Caroline Kopp, an interior designer in Westport, Connecticut, told Good Housekeeping. “Grout is the part of the bathroom that generates the most angst and dissatisfaction!”
Artisanal, handmade tiles
Zillow’s 2026 Home Trends Report found that more Zillow listings now include the term “artisan craftsmanship,” and concluded that unique, custom-made details such as handmade tiles are likely to be in demand next year. And this isn’t just a trend for showers and bathrooms. Handmade floor tiles, for example, can elevate a hallway’s look and deliver some personalized charm and character, while hand-painted tiles in showers and bathrooms give a nod to traditional craftsmanship like the classic Delft tile.
Playing with different tile sizes in the same space
Tatum Madden, the lead designer at O’Hara Interiors in Dallas, Texas, told Southern Living that using the same floor pattern in a larger and smaller tile size can help designate different areas of larger bathrooms and keep things interesting yet coordinated and not too busy. “In primary bathrooms where you have more square footage, we’re doing larger format tile on the floors and then doing a smaller, mosaic version of that floor in the shower,” she said.
Large stone kitchen backsplashes
One trend that’s sure to require less grout is the use of very large tiles, a style expected to take over kitchen backsplashes, particularly large stone tiles that create a seamless look. “We’re seeing everything from dramatic full-height slabs that run up to the ceiling, to more understated versions that leave space for a small integrated stone shelf, which adds such a pretty, thoughtful detail,” New York-based designer Justine Wolman told Good Housekeeping.
Zellige-tiled fireplaces
Designers say Zellige tiles are especially fitting for 2026. They perfectly encapsulate the artisan, handcrafted tile trend with the textured tile trend that we’re expecting to see so much of next year. One unexpected place to use these rustic beauties is on fireplaces. As Amy Dublin-Nash of Lisa & Leroy told House Beautiful: “I love the handmade feel of the tiles and how the light reflects off them to create visual dimension.”
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