This Retro Bathroom Tile Trend Is Making a Big Comeback—and It’s Surprisingly Chic

If you’ve visited a home that hasn’t renovated its bathrooms in a couple of decades (or longer), you’ve probably noticed how much personality they have compared to the standard bathrooms you see in newer buildings. They oftentimes have cheerful, colorful tiles, sometimes accompanied by matching sinks, toilets, and tubs, which may seem a little outdated, but they have undeniable charm. And after years of neutral-color spaces, homeowners and designers are craving color and pattern everywhere, but especially in their bathrooms, which often feel like safe spaces to experiment. We’re calling it now: colorful tile is back in for bathrooms!

To back this rising trend up, we pulled some data from Yelp’s  2026 Home & Living Trend Report. Searches for tile contractors have surged 351%, reflecting a wave of home projects that use texture, color, and pattern to create standout spaces, while Yelp searches for eye-catching wall tile installation (up 35%) demonstrate that users want to bring new life to their homes.

Yelp’s Trend Expert Tara Lewis also shared the following: “The beauty of tile lies in its versatility — from glossy zellige and earthy terracotta to vibrant colors and playful patterns, there’s a style for every vision and space,” says Lewis. “Whether you’re dreaming of a bold backsplash, a tile-drenched bathroom, or a colorful shower niche, even small projects can deliver major impact without breaking the bank.”

Looking for inspo for your own bathroom? Here are some of our favorite colorful, creative, and pattern-filled tile ideas that nod to retro bathrooms in an updated, elevated way.

Create a “Random” Pattern

In the 2024 REAL SIMPLE Home, designer Hema Persad created a pattern using the same square tiles in four different colors. What we love about this look is that it creates interest without using a more traditional checkerboard pattern. Even though it’s very intentionally planned, the result of this pattern appears “random”, which keeps the eye moving and looks both effortless and sophisticated.

Use Tiles With Naturally Nuanced Coloration

“We love to take cues from recognizable objects, in this case, a pair of Vans sneakers, and turn ordinary tile installs into something special,” says Liz Hoekzema of Michigan-based design studio KLH Homes. “The solid blue base and all-white floor create visual breaks that allow the bold patterning of the shower walls to be the moment,” she explains. “A great way to elevate a graphic pattern like this is by using tiles that have naturally nuanced coloration, like this glazed cotto series from Zia Tile, which lends an almost watercolor-like effect.”

Mix Colorful Tile and Patterned Wallpaper for an Extra Pop

Using pink tiles in the shower surround, Arterberry Cooke Architecture created a color block-esque moment when paired with the scalloped wallpaper in the rest of the room.

Lean Into Original Charm

“The goal was to create a bathroom that felt connected to the home’s historic 1900s Victorian architecture while being clean, bright, and easier to care for,” says Elena Gaines, designer and owner of Afternoon Creative. “I fell in love with the beveled Viva Peak Ceramic Subway Tile in Forest. The craftsmanship—the way it catches the light and creates subtle reflections—felt perfect for this project. The green forest glaze contrasts playfully with the plum, adding a refined pop of color that feels unexpected yet classic.”

Don’t Be Afraid to Mix Tile Styles

Packed with personality, this charming loo, designed by Sara Simon of dasCasa, combines two different types of tiles in varying sizes—it works nicely, since the black wall tiles echo the smaller black squares in the floor. Don’t be afraid to play around with scale when mixing tiles! As long as there’s a connecting thread, it can work.

Go Floor-to-Ceiling for a Wallpaper Effect

“Sometimes the design of a space starts with one specific material; in this case, it was a patterned encaustic tile that stopped us all in our tracks,” says Hoekzema. “The perfect shade of powder blue, paired with warm ivory in a cheeky check, felt like just the right backdrop for a growing girl. To stretch the visual further, we brought the pattern down onto the toe kick for a full floor-to-ceiling effect that reads more as wallpaper than tile,” the designer explains. A fun visual trick!

Plus, according to the National Kitchen & Bath Association’s 2026 Kitchen Trends Reports, 68% of designers agree that backsplashes are evolving into bold, statement-making features, with more homeowners opting for unique textures, materials, and colors.

Power Clash Your Tiles

Have you ever seen a more fun bathroom? This stunner, designed by Arterberry Cooke, uses tile to create a checkerboard pattern and then employs wallpaper in the same palette for a creative power-clashing situation that we’re way into. Keeping the color range tight means you can have more fun with mixing patterns!

Use Bright Tile in a Dark Bathroom

“For this lower-level bath, we wanted to inject a dose of summer sky blue to make up for a lack of natural light,” says Hoekzema. “Cladding the space in small-scale mosaics—1 x 1 in. for floor, 2 x 2 in. for shower walls—packs a visual punch that makes the space feel more expansive and exciting. And rich materials like the custom oak vanity and quartzite stone top keep things from going too cute.”

Read the original article on Real Simple