29 Striking Shower Tile Ideas to Inspire Your Bathroom Renovation

Compared to painting or using a surround, tiling allows you to personalize your bathroom shower area. There are endless possibilities, and you can choose between different shapes, materials, colors, and patterns. Plus, once installed, they’re an easy-maintenance surface. Whether you want an elaborate arrangement or a sleek modern design, tiling gives you that option.

Discover some inspirational shower wall tile ideas to integrate into your own bathroom design. 

1. White on White Tiles With Texture

You can’t go wrong with opting for white tiles in your shower, so it’s no wonder that it’s a lasting bathroom tile trend. It looks clean, chic, and modern. But instead of going with just flat or glossy white tile, consider creating an accent wall or two with slightly textured tiles. This will create movement in your space while adding a touch of refined elegance.

2. White With a Pop of Color

You might be really into the idea of white shower walls, but maybe you want something with a little more pizzazz. Add a splash of color with tiles of different colors and sizes for your shower wall inset (a recessed shelf, also known as a shower niche). Choose a color that matches the rest of your bathroom decor or wall paint to really tie things together.

3. Repeat Patterns for a Cohesive Look

For a unified theme throughout your bathroom, you can highlight an eye-catching tile design. Use the design for your flooring, and incorporate it into your shower by placing it in your wall inset. To keep things from getting too busy, it’s a good idea to stick to neutral tones for the rest of your bathroom walls and floor.

4. Glass Block Murals

Although you might not have thought about adding windows to your shower walls (for obvious privacy reasons), you can actually use glass blocks to achieve this unconventional look. You can get these blocks in many colors and designs, so you can choose one that best fits your bathroom. It allows more natural light into the room while adding an airy feel. If you’ve been researching unique walk-in shower ideas, this one could be what you’ve been looking for.

5. Spa-Like Stacked Stone

The best tiles for shower walls will transform your space into an oasis of comfort and relaxation at the end of a long day. A natural stone or faux stone wall resembles the ambiance of a spa. The stacked design adds dimension and serves as a texture-rich choice.

6. Tiny Square Tiles

While they may be small, tiny square tiles make a big design statement when used on your shower wall. These iridescent squares the size of postage stamps add a luster when put together, acting as a focal point amongst the other deep hues in the room. 

7. Reclaimed Faux Wood Planks

While natural wood isn’t the best choice in a moisture-rich environment, you can still achieve this sought-after look. These faux wood planks are actually porcelain tiles and are completely safe to use in your bathroom. Continue the planks onto the walls for a seamless transition. 

8. Classic Subway Tile

Subway tile is a popular interior design wall covering and doesn’t seem to be going away any time soon. The bright white rectangles staggered in a horizontal direction open up the room and can make a small bathroom feel bigger. Consider different subway tile ideas like mixing textures or stacking tiles horizontally. Install a gold faucet and shower head to complete the look.  

Consider calling a tile installer near you who can help accomplish the shower tile idea you’ve been dreaming about.

9. Shades of Grays

Gray is a classic color choice for the bathroom and appeals to a wide variety of tastes. Use marble tiles with assorted shades of gray, arranged in a herringbone pattern to serve as a feature wall. Combine the tile design with a natural wood mirror to add contemporary flair to the room.  

10. Coastal Fish Scale Tiles

Bring the seaside to your bathroom using nautical-inspired tiles. These tiles emulate fish scales or scallops and work particularly well in bathrooms. Choose one subtle color or pick multiple coordinating shades with pops of bright blue throughout the design to make you feel like you’re collecting seashells at the coast.    

11. Narrow Stacked Strips

Create a focal point in the room with tiles of varying colors and patterns. Pick the shower wall that is the first one you see upon entering and arrange narrowly stacked rectangular tiles in a staggered pattern. Use differing shades and tones in the same color family to add depth and dimension to the space.

12. Honeycomb Arrangement

A honeycomb tile arrangement can make your shower wall look as sweet as honey. This popular design can cover your entire shower or just a portion of the wall. Use a neutral color scheme with soft patterns on a few artfully placed tiles for a chic look.

13. Tone-On-Tone Neutrals

Elevate your walk-in shower with a classy tile design. Use different pattern arrangements on the walls and let the tile spill out onto the bathroom floor, continuing the same neutral color family to add elegance to the space.

14. Spacious Marble Tiles

Marble is a distinguished and classic material choice for bathrooms because of its luxurious look and durability (when regularly sealed). Large marble tiles that cover alcoves and nooks within the shower area can make the room feel larger. Use stark white grout between the tiles so it provides a seamless look and appears as though the entire shower is covered with one slab of marble.

15. Polygon Tessellation 

Make a shelf or indent in your shower a point of interest by using accent tiles as a backdrop. The darker color of these small polygonal-shaped tiles contrasts with the ivory shower wall while pulling the whole area together. Illuminate the shelf using a water-resistant light fixture to make your favorite soaps and lotions stand out.  

16. Modern Tiny Rectangles

These tiny rectangles are an alternative to tiny square tiles and can give the room a more modern feel. Stack them in a vertical pattern to look like stripes, enhancing the clean lines within the room. Opt for a simple shower door and hardware and combine it with neutral paint so the tiles stay the focal point of the room.

17. Soothing Tones 

Seaglass doesn’t have to be reserved just for the beach. These seafoam green glass tiles can take your bathroom from ordinary to statement-worthy. Arrange the rhombus shapes in a coordinating pattern on one wall, then combine them with the perfect sandy neutral tone on the other walls. 

18. Decorative Stripe

Jazz up uniform porcelain tiles by incorporating a vertical stripe down the center. Get the look by arranging mosaic glass tiles in a vertical pattern. This unexpected feature adds a unique and decorative flair and works in either a large primary bathroom or creates a welcoming look in a guest bathroom.

19. Vertical Subway Tiles

If you like subway tiles but want to change up the traditional look a bit, arrange them horizontally instead. Stack them in an upright pattern to make the walls feel taller, which can work particularly well in bathrooms with less headroom. 

20. Mixed Materials

Rather than take on a full shower remodel, work with the existing features of your room to update the entire space. Tile only a portion of your shower area and paint the existing walls a water-resistant white for a budget-friendly fix. 

21. Glossy Metallic Finish

Give your shower a lustrous look with these glossy metallic shower tiles. Shiny copper tones mixed with aqua blues give a custom feel and can brighten up the entire space. Opt for sheets of pre-arranged backsplash so you don’t have to install each individual tile.

22. Distinctive Monochromatic Tiles 

Choose monochromatic tiles and carry the color scheme throughout the room. This feature wall highlights the swirling pattern of the tiles then includes black and white accents in the room to pull everything together.

23. Inventive Geometric Shapes 

Use tiling to create a unique design using geometric shapes. When put together, these scalene triangles create a customized look. Dark grout between the tiles combined with a dark faucet and showerhead makes the pattern stand out even more. 

24. Inviting Floral Pattern 

Blend together old-world charm and modern styling with floral patterned ceramic or porcelain tiles. A neutral color scheme with pops of blue creates a refreshing shower area to start your day.

25. Aquatic Blues

Feel like you’re going deep sea diving when you take a shower with these aquatic blue tiles. Carry the pattern throughout the room for a dramatic statement and pair it with natural wood to offset the bold color.

26. Elegant Sheen

These regal tiles have a luxurious sheen and work well in a bathroom that lacks natural light sources. By providing brightness with the silky finish, the tiles catch the light and open up the room. Pair with an opulent mirror and gold accents to bring even more brightness into the space 

27. Contrasting Black Grout

Ensure your unique tiling pattern doesn’t get overlooked by using a contrasting grout color. Stark white tiling arranged in a herringbone pattern stands out against the black grout and black accents within the room. Add a small potted plant to bring an unexpected pop of green into the space. 

28. Stately Mosaic Design

Make your bathroom shower functional as well as decorative by using small square tiling to create a custom look. Tiny squares can be used to design a larger mosaic picture that looks unmistakably personalized within the space.

29. Clean Lines

Highlight natural architectural elements and lines within the space using different types of tiling throughout. Choose refined wall and floor tiles to cover the majority of the room. Then, splurge on intricate glistening tiles as a way to accentuate the insets of the wall and tub.