Designer Emily Henderson Approves Of This Bold Tile Trend

Your home is a place not only where you can curate a style, but also show off your personality. For years, some design trends have focused on creating a timeless home, which often features neutral colors and a simple aesthetic. However, the pendulum has begun to swing the other way recently. In fact, brighter colors and bold styling have been rising in popularity on social media and in real life.

One of the best ways to add lots of color and pattern to your abode is with tiles. The editorial director of Style by Emily Henderson, Jess Bunge, wrote about a tile trend that Henderson herself considered adding to her farmhouse guest bath. Yes, it's audacious, and some people might be worried about using something so trendy for a permanent finish. But Bunge and Henderson love it because, although big and bold, it's also classic.

Stripes are a simple pattern that never fall out of favor, but can add a bold and visually interesting feature to any room. And the great thing about using tile is that it's versatile. Indeed, it looks great on walls and floors all around your home, including the kitchen, bathroom, and mudroom, especially when using ceramic tile, which is one of the most durable materials, according to Mercury Mosaics. Because stripes are highly customizable, you might want them in some fashion for your home.

Creating stripes with tile is a simple but impactful design, per Style by Emily Henderson. Although doing so adds plenty of pattern and color, it isn't visually overwhelming. However, be forewarned that it can take a lot of work. Stripe tiles have become popular, so they can come in sheets that make installation easier. But, more often than not, you'll have to install them individually to achieve any desired look.

First, consider the size of the stripes. Use thin, delicate versions that add a subtle hint of pattern, suggests Bert & May, but know this can become visually distracting. Or, for a bolder look, opt for thicker stripes, especially in larger rooms. Then, think of the room's orientation and whether you want the tile to run horizontally and vertically. Horizontal stripes can make a room look wider, so they're great to use in a narrow space, says Hadley Court. In contrast, vertical stripes make ceilings appear taller, which is great for elongating the walls. 

The versatility of stripes means there isn't just one way to add the pattern to your home. Style by Emily Henderson suggests using a herringbone tile pattern to create a striped look. This design choice adds a lot of movement and perfectly marries a modern and vintage aesthetic. Case in point: A neutral color helps to ground spaces and prevents the stripes from looking too busy in any room. Add an additional color that ties into your overall theme. 

But you also don't have to feature stripes on their own. For instance, Style by Emily Henderson features a bathroom that mixes striped tiles with floral wallpaper. Mixing these patterns adds plenty of personality, and thankfully, stripes pair well with florals, according to Hayneedle. You can also make the two prints look cohesive by matching up colors. Either choose a tone-on-tone design or a color palette with a complementary, analogous, triadic scheme.