Bathroom and Kitchen Tiles: A Complete Guide
When it comes to designing high-performance, gorgeous interiors, your tile choices are a big part of the equation, especially in the kitchen and bathrooms.
These spaces boast the hardest-working surfaces in your home, and the bathroom tiles and kitchen tiles must stand up to the test of moisture, spills, heat, and heavy use — day after day and year after year.
That means the right tile choice isn’t just about your personal style. It must be practical, too. Durability, safety, maintenance, and long-term value all matter. But don’t think for a second that you can’t achieve both form and function in your tile. At Otto Tiles & Design, we take pride in creating artisan contemporary tiles that balance performance and artistry. They aren’t just uniquely stunning, they’re resilient, too.
In this complete guide, we’ll cover the best types of bathroom and kitchen tile, along with factors to consider when choosing tile — plus beautiful bathroom and kitchen tile ideas to inspire you. We’ll also talk about practicality, how to install bathroom wall tile and kitchen floor tile, and cleaning and maintenance best practices.
Whether you’re planning a renovation or building a home from the ground up, this guide will help you make confident tile decisions.
Considerations for Bathroom Tiles and Kitchen Tiles
While bathrooms and kitchens serve completely different purposes, they share one thing in common: they’re both high-use, moisture-heavy environments.
That means there is a specific set of considerations that are important to take into account as you select the best tiles.
In your tile checklist, you’ll want to choose bathroom floor tile and kitchen floor tile that:
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Resists water absorption — or that can be effectively sealed
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Is relatively easy to clean and maintain
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Can withstand temperature changes — or underfloor heating, if you have it
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Handles heavy foot traffic
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Offers slip resistance
For shower or bathroom wall tiles, kitchen wall tiles, and backsplashes, you don’t need to be concerned with slip resistance, but the tile should be equally durable while delivering visual impact.
Bathroom Tiles: What Works Best
Choosing the right bathroom tile depends on where it’s being installed in your space. Some types of tiles are more appropriate for walls than floors, for example.
Best Tiles for Bathroom Floors
Here’s a short list of tile types that work well for bathroom floors, including underfloor heating zones. Ideally, you’ll want to consider tiles that are low-absorption (or properly sealed), highly durable, and textured or matte for slip resistance.
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Encaustic cement for bold, beautiful patterns and richly saturated colours
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Porcelain for durability and subtlety
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Terrazzo for statement-making speckles
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Zellige for authentic Moroccan flair and incredible versatility of shapes, patterns, and colour
Marble can also be used on bathroom floors, but it’s important to realize that the polished variety can be very slippery when wet. So, make sure to use the necessary rugs or precautions. You may opt to keep polished marble on wall spaces or in a powder room without a bathtub or shower.
Bathroom Floor Tile Ideas and Inspiration
From bold, geometric patterns in powder rooms to luminous, spa-inspired beauty and sophisticated stripes, there are so many ways floor tile can transform a bathroom. Here are just a few of them.
Mosaic Mood
With artisan craft, subtle pattern, and a menagerie of soft tones, the Colourful Mosaic Zellige is the ultimate bathroom floor.
Pastel Perfection
Pretty in pink, this blushing bathroom features the Zellige Marrakesh Stripes in Sea Salt on the floor — hello tones and textures!
Blue Beauty
Pattern play takes on a different vibe in this calming, character-filled space. The navy-toned tub pairs beautifully with Bel Air encaustic cement tiles, creating a lovely balance of colour.
Bold Geometry
The Odi encaustic cement tiles bring a striking pattern and monochromatic personality to this bathroom, creating a true statement underfoot.
Marble Marvels
Gentle shape and movement come courtesy of Moonstruck Marble tiles — a considered medley of three different marbles, including Nero Marquina, Bianco Carrara, and Tundra Grey.
For another take on marble, this petite toilet packs a punch with the Half Moon Bay tiles. This tile also combines Nero Marquina, Bianco Carrara, and Tundra Grey marbles in a chic pattern.
Striped and Fabulous
The playful charm of Green Stripes cement tile makes a sweet statement in this bathroom. The silky matte texture adds subtle elegance to this space.
This sophisticated bathroom blends beautiful materials, including marble on the walls and Navy Blue Stripes cement floor tiles. Continuing the tile as a skirted border along the wall makes for a striking finish.
Best Tiles for Bathroom Walls and Shower Walls
When it comes to bathroom walls and shower walls, you have even more creative freedom. Many people choose to use tile in place of wallpaper or art for a standout accent. The primary thing to keep in mind for showers is to make sure the tile is appropriately sealed, if necessary.
The same tiles that work for floors easily translate to walls and showers, including:
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Encaustic cement
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Terrazzo
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Zellige
But you also have another option in ceramic tile. Available in both matte and glazed formats, ceramic tile is too lightweight for floors, but it’s a beloved option for other bathroom surfaces because it’s not only beautiful but it’s also low maintenance.
Bathroom Wall Tile Ideas and Inspiration
Consider bathroom walls and shower walls a blank slate, where you can really use tile to tell a story, from checkerboard layers for classic charm to floor-to-ceiling shower tile, vertically stacked subway tiles, patterned accents, stunning ceramics, and so much more.
Subtle Serenity
This bathroom is peacefully luminous thanks to the carefully curated tones of the Echoes Cloudy Blue ceramic tile and the Echoes Vintage Lace ceramic tile.
Power Wall
Inspired by the fusion of Eastern and Western traditions, the unique pattern of the Hittites Beige ceramic tile doubles as art in this bathroom. Taking the tile from floor to ceiling heightens the impact, as does the green tile border in place of traditional molding.
Curves Ahead
Tile doesn’t have to be patterned to, well, show off a pattern. Here, this bold bathroom uses the solid Fes White and Crimson Red zellige tiles for an arch design that echoes the central mirror, creating a striking space with layers of depth.
Checked Out
Square cement tiles in blue and white make for a visually delightful twist on the checkerboard pattern, especially when used across the shower walls and the floor.
Cerulean Dreams
The Echoes Deep Blue ceramic tile bathes this entire bathroom in the beautifully colour-drenched hue.
Kitchen Tiles: What Works Best
Kitchen tiles play by many of the same rules as bathroom tiles, meaning choosing the right kitchen tile depends on where it’s being installed.
Best Tiles for Kitchen Floors
Here’s a short list of tile types that work well for kitchen floors. As with bathrooms, you’ll want to consider durable tiles that are low-absorption (or properly sealed) and highly durable, with a textured or matte finish for slip resistance. If your kitchen gets a lot of use, you’ll also want to choose a tile that’s easy to clean and stain-resistant.
Here are a few options to think about:
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Encaustic cement
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Porcelain
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Terrazzo
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Zellige
Kitchen Floor Tile Ideas and Inspiration
From new takes on checkerboard, geometric patterns to trendsetting terrazzo for a midcentury spirit, and warm, neutral porcelain tones, there are so many ways floor tile can set the vibe for a kitchen. Here are just a few of them.
Checkerboard Charm
When you put the Aubergine and Dirty White cement tiles in a checkerboard layout, you get a delightful twist on the pattern. The burgundy colour embraces a classic vibe while adding a rich charm.
Blue Zones
Zellige tiles always add soul. Here in the softest blue-green tones, they bring a gentle vibrancy to this refined kitchen. On the floors, the Bejmat Sage zellige tiles are perfectly complemented by the Ice Blue zellige tiles on the kitchen backsplash.
Terrazzo Time
This is such a happy kitchen with a mix of materials and colours — thanks to the Bologna terrazzo tiles on the kitchen floor.
Best Tiles for Kitchen Walls and Backsplashes
As with bathrooms, when it comes to kitchen walls and backsplashes, you have even more creative freedom with the tile, elevating the room as a standout accent.
That said, the same tiles that work for floors easily translate to walls and backsplashes, including:
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Encaustic cement
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Terrazzo
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Zellige
But, here again, you also have an option in ceramic tile. Available in both matte and glazed formats, ceramic tile is too lightweight for floors, but it’s a great option for other kitchen surfaces because it’s not only beautiful but also low-maintenance and easy to clean.
Kitchen Wall and Backsplash Tile Ideas and Inspiration
From full-height backsplashes that command the kitchen in the best way to contrasting (or matching!) island tile details, accent wall patterns, and tone-on-tone neutral layers, there’s so much you can do with vertical walls and surrounds in your kitchen.
Emerald City
When Dark Green zellige tiles are used across this island and kitchen backsplash, it’s a jewel-toned delight, especially when paired with peachy-toned walls and higher cabinets and metallic lower cabinets.
Delicious Medley
This medley of colour creates the most cheerful atmosphere, with the Anthropology Green Slim Line cement tiles making for a brilliant choice for the kitchen backsplash with this classic-meets-modern pattern design.
Rustic Charm
Timeless terracotta creates a handcrafted, charm-filled kitchen with this Terracotta Gray Octagon Zellige tile on the backsplash.
High Lights
The highlight of this kitchen? The cheerful Citron Stripes Zellige tile, which covers the backsplash with a sunny colour and pattern.
How to Install Bathroom Tiles and Kitchen Tiles
The tile installation process is incredibly important — because no matter how beautiful the tile is, how it is installed can make or break the overall effect. Handmade, artisan tiles also require extra attention to detail — and that’s even more the case when those tiles have distinct or complex patterns.
At Otto Tiles & Design, we can work with you to suggest expert installers in your area. If you’re taking a DIY approach, just know that the installation process and tips will vary depending on the tile material.
That said, we like to recommend some overarching best practices to keep in mind, including the following:
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Before the installation begins, “dry” lay your tiles to ensure you like the overall pattern and colour or tonal variances. This is especially important for tiles like zellige that are known for subtle yet unique differences from tile to tile. You may also want to mix and match tiles from different boxes to help spread out the variations.
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We only recommend using adhesives and grouts that comply with European Standards EN 12004.
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A minimum of 2 mm joint is generally advised, unless you are using a dry-stack method for zellige with no grout lines.
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The double-spreading method of applying the mortar and adhesive generally yields the best results, where you apply the adhesive to the back of the tile and onto the surface.
In general, here are some overarching steps for taking a DIY approach to installing tile.
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Prep your subfloor and ensure it’s clean, level, and dry.
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Dry lay your tile to ensure you are confident in the pattern and colour variations.
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Begin installing by applying thin-set mortar to the tiles and walls.
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Set the tile with spacers, so there is a very uniform grout line throughout.
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Allow the full curing process to take place (don’t rush this step!).
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Grout your tile — and don’t forget to seal your tiles, if necessary.
For surfaces like shower walls, this process should also include installing waterproofing membranes and ensuring proper drainage.
Cleaning and Maintaining Bathroom Tiles and Kitchen Tiles
Properly caring for your bathroom tiles and kitchen tiles will help maximize their longevity — and how good they continue to look in your space.
While there are some nuances in how to clean different tile types, routine cleaning includes sweeping or vacuuming debris, using pH-neutral cleaners, and avoiding acidic products that can damage materials like cement and natural stone.
In moisture-rich environments — like showers and bathroom floors — wiping away excess water after use will help prevent any water spots and mildew.
For cement and artisan tile, it’s often necessary to apply a sealer before and after grouting as well as reseal periodically, generally once a year.
Porcelain and glazed ceramic tile are a bit lower-maintenance with no sealing required.
Where to Buy Bathroom Tiles and Kitchen Tiles
Choosing the right bathroom tiles and kitchen tiles can feel overwhelming, and it’s not just a technical decision about function. It’s about how you want your space to feel. The right tile doesn’t just fit your space; it reflects how you live in it and what you love.
Otto Tiles & Design is an international brand known for its wide selection of artisan tiles that work beautifully across both kitchen and bath spaces.
Whether you’re browsing the stunning Otto collections online or visiting Otto's London showroom, you can always rely on a distinct level of craftsmanship, quality, and design innovation.
