The Biggest Tile Trends You'll See Everywhere In 2023

The moment has finally arrived. You've decided to rip out that dated backsplash, moldy tub surround, or tacky tile floor. But before renovations can begin, you have some decisions to make. Picking out tiles can be an exciting undertaking, but it can also be mildly nerve-wracking. What tiles will go with your space, look current, and show off your home best? You definitely don't want to pick a tile design that's on its way out and due to look dated in a couple of years. You also want to avoid one that doesn't gel with your design or that you'll grow to hate.

Tiles can have a transformative effect on interiors and a huge impact on the overall style and mood of your home. If you're feeling a little stuck or uninspired, don't stress. 2023 is awash with tile trends that are bound to get your creative juices flowing. What's more, most of these trends are broad styles that you can tweak to really speak to the rest of your home. To help you get the lowdown on this year's major tile trends, House Digest spoke exclusively to a range of leading design experts, picking their brains on how you can hop on these tile styles like a design pro.

Terrazzo has been trending for a few years, and it's still gaining steam. This unique material is a composite of marble, glass, and quartz chips in resin or cement. It's highly durable, and you can install it just about anywhere in your home, including areas that see a lot of moisture. Although it's a hot trend right now, terrazzo is an ancient material. First invented in the 16th century by Venetian mosaic artisans, it began as a way to use up leftover stone, going on to feature widely in art and architecture. Michelangelo and America's first president were both fans of terrazzo.

During the latter half of the 1900s, terrazzo's popularity tanked as hardwood and wall-to-wall carpet took over. After a few decades on the design backburner, terrazzo is trendy once again. But 2023's version is fresher, funkier, and more diverse, sporting wider color palettes and more choice in chip sizes. Interior designer Kevin Wang exclusively told House Digest, "This time around, the material features even more vibrant colors and intricate patterns, adding a touch of whimsy and personality to both floors and walls."

You can choose from fine pieces of quartz in neutral colors for a minimalistic feel or oversized chips in bright hues ranging from salmon to cerulean. Small-scale, low-contrast designs are great for larger areas where you want visual interest, but not so much that it overwhelms the eye. Bigger, bolder terrazzo motifs are ideal for accent areas, such as bathroom backsplashes.

Thinking of going the seamless, super-sized tile route in your reno? If so, you're right on-trend. Large-format tiles have been gaining space (pardon the pun) in the design world over the last decade, but 2023 is seeing them really come into their own. Technology developments have made the production of large tiles increasingly feasible. From a design perspective, these are tailor-made for modern, minimal decor aesthetics, thanks to their sleek, continuous look. Ivo Iv, founder of Decor Home Ideas, shared exclusively with House Digest that, "These oversized beauties, often more than 24 inches by 24 inches, bring a sleek and continuous look to surfaces. The secret behind their appeal is their ability to create an illusion of spaciousness, thanks to fewer grout lines."

Besides looking stylish, super-sized tiles are also pretty practical. They can be effectively used in both large and small spaces. You might be thinking that big tiles need a big room, but this is not the case. Iv points out that they are, "Ideal for smaller rooms, they not only provide a visually pleasing aesthetic but also require less maintenance." If you hate scrubbing tile grout, this might be the trend for you.

As far as downsides go, large-format tiles require precise subfloor preparation as well as specialized, ultra-strong adhesives. The sheer weight and unwieldy size make them a lot more difficult to install. Unless you have extensive tiling experience and a team of helpers, installation is best left to the pros.

A literal antidote to flat design, 3D tiles are part of a broad return to dressed-up walls, whether through limewash, wallpaper, or tile. Because of their irregular surfaces, they aren't suitable for all areas of the home, but you can use them to make a big impact in the right places. For instance, 3D tile backsplashes can be hard to clean, especially in the kitchen. But for an accent wall, going with dimension can create a pop of interest and a dynamic focal point.

"These tiles are perfect for creating a bold statement in living areas, entrance halls, or even bedroom accent walls," Iv exclusively told House Digest. "With their textured, sculptural designs, these tiles introduce depth, dimension, and visual interest to walls and ceilings. The possibilities for creating a unique and immersive environment are endless, with designs ranging from geometric patterns to organic shapes." Besides adding visual interest, 3D tiles can also play well with eclectic and mid-century modern design.

But before you make a mad dash to add 3D tiles to your mood board, there are a few things to think about. The first is corners. A lot of 3D tile designs are hard to wrap around corners. Instead of having flat edges, they may have an uneven profile that's tricky to match at a 45-degree angle. If you're going to be tiling around a corner, look for designs that can meet seamlessly, such as lateral grooves. 

Metallic looks are popping up everywhere, from runway outfits to entryway tile. The last time metallic hues rippled through fashion and design was in the early 2000s. Now, they're making a comeback as AI takes society by storm. These shiny-finished tiles can add a highly unique look to your home and play into a variety of looks, including Art Deco decor. The versatility and durability of tile means you can get a metallic look in places where real metal might not be practical or possible, such as the shower or your backsplash. Lori Jernigan, interior designer at Crown and Paw, told House Digest in an exclusive interview that, "Tiles with metallic finishes, such as gold, copper, or silver, are becoming more prevalent. These tiles can add a touch of glamour and sophistication to a space, particularly when used as accents or in small doses."

Metallic tiles are an obvious choice for glam home decor aesthetics. But you can also use them to infuse your space with unusual, rustic charm. For instance, a copper tile backsplash could imbue your kitchen with a classy yet artisanal touch. Besides opening up exciting design opportunities, these tiles also have one highly practical benefit. They are great at bouncing light around. If you're dealing with a dark space and want to bring in more light without adding mirrors, a metallic tile accent wall could be something to think about.

Bold colors are on the rise across the board, with vivid hues reverberating through fashion, design, and decor. Interior designer Lori Jernigan confirmed this when speaking exclusively to House Digest, saying, "Vibrant and bold-colored tiles are becoming a trend, moving away from traditional neutrals." This is partly pushback against the monochromatic interiors that have been dominating design and partly triggered by the pandemic. Brighter, dopamine-inducing tints are known to sneak into the zeitgeist after psychologically challenging times.

But before you go all out on this tile trend, you need to be intentional about how you incorporate bold colors in your home. Bright shades exude energy and trigger emotion, so consider carefully how you're going to harness this effect in your space. For instance, if you're intent on creating relaxing, zen-like vibes in your master bath, tangerine orange tiles might mess with the mood. But in the kitchen, brightly colored tiles could trigger more creativity, energy, and youthfulness. If you do want to go bold in the bathroom but are feeling tentative, test the waters by doing your powder room. Half baths, backsplashes, and small entryways are great places to make a bold design statement, especially with something permanent like tile. Undecided on which daring tints to pick out for your tiles? According to Jernigan, "Rich blues, deep greens, and bold yellows are among the popular choices for adding a pop of color and personality to kitchens and bathrooms."

Wood-look tiles have been around for a while. But over the last few years, the designs have become so close to the real thing that homeowners are jumping at this innovative style, turning it into a growing trend. Wood-look tiles can be installed anywhere you'd put in hardwood flooring. They are also ideal in areas where actual wood won't be a good option, such as heavy foot traffic zones and places that see a lot of water. You can even install wood-look tiles in showers and tub surrounds. Thanks to their hardwearing nature, they can be an ideal wood alternative for rentals, resale, and busy families.

In an exclusive talk with House Digest, Ryan Fitzgerald, owner of Raleigh Realty, shared the perks of wood-look tiles saying, "It's an exciting choice, and I'll tell you why. They're the perfect mimics of natural wood flooring. I mean, they've got the beauty, the warmth, the rustic appeal — everything you love about wood, minus the hassles. They're like stunt doubles of actual timber, more challenging and resilient, and won't get bent out of shape when exposed to water, scratches, or termites. If you've ever had to deal with a termite problem on a wooden floor, you'll certainly appreciate this."

Besides the practical perks, wood-look tiles also offer design flexibility. Fitzgerald continues, "The patterns these tiles are available in are enough to make a designer's heart sing. Whether you're into a classic chevron, elegant herringbone, unique hexagons, or even rounded shapes — there's a wood-look tile waiting for you."

Checkerboard tiles have never truly gone out of style, but they haven't been a big trend for a few decades. Originally featuring heavily in Medieval and Renaissance architecture and then gracing the floors of French châteaus and Victorian mansions, checkerboard tile had its last bout of popularity during the '50s. Fast forward to 2023, and it's back with a bang, largely thanks to Gen Z's adoption of the '90s and early aughts fashion trends that included checkerboard motifs. Brooke Moore, an interior designer at Freemodel, exclusively told House Digest, "Checkerboard patterned tile is quite timeless, but recently there's been a resurgence."

There are no limits to where you can adopt this tile trend in your home. From backsplashes in colorful, small-scale checkerboard, to expanses of flooring in large, contrasting squares, these can be used anywhere from entrances to kitchens and everywhere in between. You can leverage it to make your space feel serious and sophisticated, or youthful and current. Moore explains, "The checkerboard tile pattern has been reimagined by steering away from the typical white and black monochrome colors to using bright, saturated colors. Checkerboard pattern brings an uplifting and fun aesthetic to a space, especially with this fresh take by adding bright colors. Zellige tile has been a popular tile to use to create this pattern and look by giving it a bit of an organic twist due to the unique texture of zellige tile."