Try Colorful Geometric Tile
Colorful geometric cement tiles in shades of blue and gray create a focal point in this Brooklyn townhouse bathroom designed by Sonya Lee Architect. A skylight brings in natural light and emphasizes the ceiling height.
Use Square Bathtub Tiles
Classic square tiles have been making a comeback after years of subway tile domination. Chango & Co. tiled this bathtub shower wall with square light terracotta tiles interspersed with raised detailing that add soft color and texture to this New York City townhouse bathroom. Echoing the same aesthetic on the floor tiles gives the space a cohesive look.
Tile Around a Window
White subway tile with black grout will suit modern and industrial farmhouse bathrooms. Use it to tile around a feature window, like this space from Erin Williamson Design.
Add Color and Pattern
Give your bathtub shower a dynamic look with striking tile that adds both color and pattern. Michelle Berwick Design chose a teal fish scale tile with white grout for a modern Art Deco feel.
Energize With Orange
White and orange checkerboard tile energizes this London bathroom from Studio Peake. Patterned floor tiles with shades of orange and blue add another layer of decor that turns a traditional bathroom into something memorable.
Install Custom Lighting
Use lighting to add ambiance and turn your bathtub shower tile into a feature wall. Leclair Decor chose subtle gray tiles to complement this neutral space. The bathtub tile is carried onto the wall behind the sink to act as a backsplash, while the front of the built-in tub is clad in contrasting stone.
Include a Shower Niche
Carve a little space out of the wall and install a shower niche tiled in the same pattern as the wall for a sleek look. Marie Flanigan Interiors clad the bathtub shower wall and niche in white-and-gray marble tiles accented with bright brass fixtures for a timeless modern feel.
Choose Dramatic Stone Tiles
Create a jewel box effect in your bathtub shower with slabs of tile without visible grout lines. Emily Henderson Design chose a blue-green stone with pronounced veining that steals the focus in this otherwise white-walled bathroom, but you could choose gray, pink, or black marble or marble-effect quartz instead.
Try a Patchwork Pattern
Choose a patchwork tile pattern to cover a shower bathtub wall that you can stare at while you're showering and never see the same thing twice. Michelle Berwick Design chose fish scale tiles in pastel shades of yellow and blue, adding black plumbing fixtures for contrast.
Add Vertical Stripes
Vertical stripes will make walls seem taller and create an airy feeling in your bathroom. Michelle Berwick Design tiled the walls of this bathtub shower with vertical stripes of small square tiles in shades of green and gray from floor to ceiling.
Use All-Over Tile
If you prefer a more uniform look rather than just an accent wall, cover all the vertical surfaces in your bathroom in the same tile. Studio Peake tiled the bathtub shower, walls, niche, and front of the tub in shades of blue vertical stacked tiles. Two-toned patterned tile on the floor adds contrast and a hit of mustard yellow.
Tile the Ceiling, Too
Create a finished look by cover both the walls and ceiling in tile. Erin Williamson Design made the bathtub shower at the far end of this vintage-style bungalow bathroom feel like its own little alcove by tiling the walls and ceiling in simple white subway tiles with white grout that adds a whisper of contrast with the pearl gray walls.
Try Colorblocking
If your bathroom includes a separate shower and a bathtub built into a wall or a niche, use the same tile in both spaces for a cohesive feel. This bathtub niche from Max Humphrey and Beebe Skidmore for Emily Henderson Design has the same two-toned colorblocked horizontal and vertical stacked tile as the rest of the bathroom for a cohesive feel.
Mix Shades of Green
Give your bathroom a lively feel with a mix of patterns and colors. In this space from Sara Ligorria-Tramp for Emily Henderson Design, the bathtub shower wall is tiled in white square tiles with solid green accent tiles at steady intervals, and green grout to tie it all together.
Add a Zigzag Pattern
Crisp white bathtub tiles will make a shower pop against blackened wood paneled walls (or dark paint). Emily Henderson Design chose white tiles with a subtle zigzag pattern that isn't noticeable from afar but provides a detail to discover during a shower.
Pair With Wallpaper
If your bathroom has a retro-style bathtub with a handheld shower attachment, create a tile backsplash border that continues as wainscoting throughout the room. Ashley Montgomery Design chose a round green penny tile with matching grout and a wood trim border and integrated niche, adding patterned wallpaper above.
Add Triple Niches
Reinforce vertical wall tiles in your bathtub shower with a trio of identical stacked shower niches to store everyday essentials, like this bathroom from Michelle Berwick Design.
Preserve Vintage Tile
If you are renovating an older space with original bathroom wainscoting tile that's in good condition, save money and prevent waste by keeping it. Then add fun wallpaper on the wall above to refresh the space, like this retro style bathroom from Caitlin Higgins for Emily Henderson Design.
Try a Light Shade of Gray
Add subtle variation to an all-white bathroom by cladding the bathtub shower walls in light gray tiles that echo the floor tiles, like this calming space from Leclair Decor.
Choose Earth Tones
Tile the wall behind a standalone tub with or without a shower to create a backsplash and define the space. Ashley Montgomery Design chose green-gray tiles to complement the textured walls, wainscoting, and earth toned color palette of this farmhouse bathroom. A checkered shower curtain around the tub helps to conceal the shower when not in use.