Tile Trends That Will Be Dominating In 2025

Since antiquity, tiles have quietly shaped how we experience our spaces. Whether on floors, backsplashes, or accent walls, they serve as both functional and aesthetic elements, complementing and enhancing our home décor. Updating tiles can be seriously exciting — who doesn't want to transform a tired backsplash or bathtub surround for a current tile look, complete with fresh grout? On a serious note, though, there's no denying that tiles represent a significant investment. That's why keeping abreast of the latest tile trends isn't merely an option, but a necessity; otherwise, your renovation may look outdated before it's even complete.

Since interior designers are tasked with keeping informed about trends, we at House Digest decided to reach out to eight experts for exclusive interviews. The gist? Tile trends aren't occurring in a vacuum but are directly responding to the current cultural climate. Far removed from the minimalist designs that ruled the previous decade, especially during the pandemic, homeowners are embracing warm tones, texture, and nature, driving the demand for tumbled stone tiles, foliage prints, and their ilk. Decade-old designs like checkerboard floors and mosaics are being upgraded, while sustainability is becoming equally, if not more, important. Let's discover what our design experts have to say about the tile trends expected to dominate 2025.

Perfection, whether in the tile's finish, touch, or overall aesthetic, is being shunted out. Instead, in line with re-establishing their connection with nature, consumers are leaning toward more texture, evoking visual and tactile sensations often experienced outdoors. The relentless popularity of the "organic luxe" trend seems to further fuel this demand. "It's not a new trend but is an evolution of both the quiet luxury and biophilic-inspired interior trends which gained popularity in recent years," Camilla Masi, interior designer at Otto Tiles & Design, explains in her exclusive interview with House Digest. "Because of that, we're seeing an increased demand for natural hues, natural materials, and lots of layered texture, especially in the kitchens and bathrooms as customers are looking to create a timeless and richly layered interior."

Put simply, through textured tiles, homeowners are looking to infuse their spaces with greater depth, warmth, and dimension without sacrificing sophistication. "From this trend, we are seeing an increased demand for materials such as clay zellige and terracotta bejmat tiles, terrazzo, encaustic cement, marble, and other forms of natural stone," mentions Masi. With their imperfect, handcrafted quality that looks beautifully put together, zellige tile can make a lovely accent wall or backsplash, including in wet areas. But if you're looking to renovate your flooring, bejmat tiles are better suited since they are more wear-tolerant. Use terrazzo and cement tiles to create a seamless artisanal focal point in more minimalist designs.

Apart from finish and texture, interior designers are looking to nature for color inspiration, too. From clay, dirt, and rocks to plants, colors are being pulled from every earthly direction. Indeed, if you're clued into every 2025 color of the year, you will have noticed how most revolve around earthy tones to conjure feelings of calm, warmth, and coziness — feelings homeowners continue to demand right now given the topsy-turvy environment. So, it's no surprise that these colors are filtering into tile trends as well. Camilla Masi says, "For colors, expect to see nature-inspired tones across the spectrum, from soft beige to earthy clay, taupe, and a variety of green hues, to play a prominent role in both kitchen and bathroom design."

If you're worried that earth tones won't suit your home's architecture or your interior design style, think again. "I always say to clients that you should never underestimate the transformative power of a nuanced natural material palette. It's so versatile that it works across traditional, farmhouse, modern, industrial styles — whatever your preferred scheme may be, it can be tailored perfectly to your home's architecture and aesthetic," Masi shares. If you're looking to jump in on the trend while maintaining a contemporary style or spa-like aesthetic, simply pick tiles in a monochromatic palette. Pantone lists mocha mousse, cream tan, and sirocco to create a relaxed and inviting atmosphere. Or for a bold splash of color, consider covering your shower area or backsplashes with deep green tiles — a look that can be feel elevated yet down to earth at the same time. 

A little rough on the edges, a slight variation in their color, and a few chips here and there pretty much sum up artisanal and handmade tiles — theoretically. But there's more to their story. They reflect the art and skills passed down from one generation to the next, adding soul and character that mass-produced tiles cannot imitate. Indeed, they've been around for a while — just tour any California home built in Spanish colonial style, and you're certain to find many kiln-fired masterpieces. After taking a backstage to factory-made options for a few decades, handmade tiles are becoming a go-to design element once more, and it seems like they might just stay, despite their higher price tag.

Touching upon why artisanal tiles will dominate 2025, Tania Richardson, interior designer and founder of Tania Antoinette, says in an exclusive conversation with House Digest, "Handcrafted clay tiles with their unique undulations and glazes bring a rich, artisanal touch. They align with holistic and sustainable living trends, ideal for Mediterranean, organic modern, bohemian, or rustic interiors." Besides, given their timeless nature, they can be liberally used across the living space. "They add warmth and a sense of craftsmanship to kitchens, bathrooms, and feature walls," adds Richardson. For instance, if you're sprucing up your tub with marble, using handmade tiles on the flooring can complement their timeless aesthetic. They also look great on fireplace surrounds, TV walls, and kitchen backsplashes. What's more there's a handmade tile for just about any design style and aesthetic. After something charming and traditional? You can perfect the vintage kitchen look by using delft backsplash tiles. 

Of course, handmade tiles can be quite pricey, considering the time, labor, and craftsmanship that goes into them. If your budget isn't going to extend to a full backsplash, there are other ways to incorporate this "trend" without busting too big a hole in your wallet. For instance, you could use a cheaper, simple tile for the bulk of the installation, do a border of hand-painted tiles, intermingle a few within the tile field, or create a focal point with them above your stove, similar to this Tempera Ceramics Tile Mural from Etsy. Alternatively, you could try making your own simple designs using paint pens and white tiles. These Overseas Paint Markers from Amazon can be used on ceramic surfaces and could work for a backsplash area that doesn't need to get aggressively scrubbed. 

Although large-format tiles have been in vogue for a while now, you'll see them highlighted differently in 2025. Enter printed tiles. Jodi Peterman, CEO and owner at Elizabeth Erin Designs, describes in her exclusive interview with House Digest, "Large-format printed tiles are taking center stage this year, bringing bold, high-impact visuals into spaces." The upshot of this combination is that you enjoy a more expansive room — since large-format tiles have fewer grout lines (or breaks) — and simultaneously dabble in more artistic styles, fashioning a unique aesthetic. "These tiles create seamless, mural-like designs and create a custom artwork feel with the durability of the tile. This makes them perfect for statement spaces that are begging for attention," says Peterman.

So, how can you incorporate large-format printed tiles into your home? "We are adding them to spaces such as pool house cabanas and outdoor retreats by using foliage and tropical colors. Large-scale slabs like these are perfect for creating spa-like sanctuary spaces," details Peterman. Some designers are tapping into TileBar's Tropez collection, which invokes the French Riviera with its bold foliage prints, to tile up pools or bathrooms. But if you're into pastel floral patterns and are only looking to redo your backsplash or accent wall, the porcelain-look Monet collection might enthuse you. Aesthetics aside, Peterman also reminds us that the large tiles with fewer grout lines makes for easier cleaning — what a win-win!

The recent revival of the tumbled stone tiles in design parlance perhaps stands testimony to how our color preferences bleed into and influence tile trends. In her exclusive talk with House Digest, Dana Berkowitz, interior designer and showroom manager at Nemo Tile + Stone, highlights, "Color trends are also evolving; we're seeing a departure from the once-dominant gray and white palette, with warmer colors making a comeback." In other words, homeowners are moving on from sterile minimalist designs to organic textures, and the 2025 trends are echoing this turn of events. "This shift includes a resurgence of materials like tumbled marble and travertines, reminiscent of 1990s styles," says Berkowitz.

Although available in a gamut of colors, warmer tones like beige, tan, and cream tones will be more popular in tumbled stone. Or you could explore them in mosaics like the Nature Tumbled Lovina Pebble tiles from TileBar. Since tumbled stone tiles are already distressed, they are suitable for rustic or Mediterranean styles. As they provide great traction, you can ditch traditional flooring to hop on this stunning design trend and use tumbled stone both outdoors, around patios, decks, and barbeque pits, as well as indoors, in the kitchen or the living room. If affordability is a deterrent, opt for stone-effect porcelain tiles. As opposed to the '90s when real stone was the only way to convincingly achieve this look, "the biggest difference now is the prevalence of porcelain products designed to mimic these natural stones, offering the aesthetic appeal of stone with the durability and ease of maintenance of porcelain," notes Berkowitz.

You could argue that checkerboard floors were never out of style, and you would be right. Starting from their inception in Egyptian architecture to their adoption in the art deco movement and American diners, checkerboard designs have been a part of every era-defining movement (even the Renaissance period). But they're getting a new spin in 2025 — partly to accommodate Gen Z's adoration for the checkerboard motif on sneakers and belts (yes, fashion inspires tiles, too), but also because they add a dash of endless whimsy. Todd Harmon, co-founder at Patio Productions, states in his exclusive interview with House Digest, "Classic black-and-white checkerboard floors are having a renaissance, but with more adventurous color combinations — deep navy and cream, sage and terracotta, even burgundy and blush."

Even if you aren't on board the bold color train, there are ways to use checkerboard patterns in home décor, especially if marble floors have your stamp of approval. Marble checkerboard tile is popular right now, explains Dana Berkowitz, adding, "In terms of decor, marble floors are incredibly versatile. For instance, the classic color scheme of white and black can seamlessly integrate into various areas of a home, from mudrooms to master baths, often used in large panels or as part of a marble checkerboard pattern." However, if you aren't a fan of this iconic motif but would like to center your modern interiors around marble floors, Berkowitz advises toggling to herringbone or mosaic patterns.

Are you still clutching onto your subway tiles despite knowing they've joined the cohort of outdated tile trends that are going away in 2025? Fret not, for there's still a way to accommodate them in your renovation while keeping things trendy: just play around with their layout. "Pattern play with tile is something we're seeing more of in 2025, and for good reason — it's an easy way to take classic shapes like 3-by-6, 2-by-8, or 4-by-4 tiles and make them feel elevated," Rose Zefferino, CEO and principal designer at Z Domus Designs, tells House Digest in her exclusive interview.

However, you should not limit your creativity to brickset and straight stack tile layouts alone. "While these classics will always have a place, today's tile trends are embracing more creative and dynamic layouts to add personality, movement, and sophistication to spaces," describes Summerlyn Feckner, owner and interior designer at Ginger Designs in her exclusive House Digest interview. In short, look for innovative layouts that highlight your personality and compliment your space. For instance, long, narrow tiles in a vertical stack has been a raging hot tile layout that feels very current, and also helps to emphasise wall height. 

There are other options, too. "Mixing sizes in an alternating layout, creating a checkered effect with two tones of 12-by-12, or stacking 2-by-8s in alternating directions are all great ways to bring more interest to a space without relying on high-cost materials," suggests Zefferino. Fortunately, they work for both modern and transitional interior styles, giving off an impression of intentional curation. 

The color drenching trend isn't just for paint; tiles are in on the fun, too. In her exclusive interview with House Digest, Courtney Cole, interior designer at TileCloud, explains, "Tile drenching has become really popular over the past few months, and I can only see it growing in popularity." But what is it exactly? "Tile drenching is essentially when tiles are used to wrap an entire room, from the floor to the ceiling," explains Cole. At times, designers also include shower stalls and basins under its ambit.

Tile drenching adds a sense of fluidity and continuity to rooms, thus imparting them with a dramatic look you can't help but appreciate. While you can attempt tile drenching with things like penny tile,  large-format tiles dominate this look, according to Cole. "At the moment, I have seen people using full slab tiles instead of the classic subway tile," says the designer. Given that, she feels, "This type of design suits spa-like bathrooms really well as spaces that are designed to appear more luxury." Of course, drenching a space in tile will cost a lot more than covering the walls in a fresh coat of paint. If you're feeling nervous about this investment, try giving it a go in a powder room rather than your master bath. Since there aren't any hard-and-fast rules to follow, experiment with different finishes, layouts, and patterns. For instance, mixing and matching matte and glossy finishes can create a nuanced but seamless look, provided the grout lines match.

With tile manufacturers becoming cognizant of their responsibility to curb carbon emissions and create a circular economy, markets are certain to see more recycled tile offerings. This could prompt eco-conscious designers and homeowners to adopt them, thus reducing the number of tiles piling up in landfills. Courtney Cole stresses, "Recycled tiles are becoming less niche and more streamlined, with concerns about sustainability on the rise. I think that as the year goes on, we will continue to see this on the rise." If you're feeling guitly at the thought of ripping out backsplash or tiled floor just for aesthetics, you'll be excited to hear that manufacturers can turn "post-consumer" reclaimed waste like glass or porcelain — tile or otherwise — into new tiles. For instance, TileCloud reprocesses booze bottles into recycled tiles, stating that they're durable for floors, wet areas, and outdoor applications. Chipped, cracked, or waste tiles generated during production can also be reprocessed into recycled tiles.

But will you be sacrificing style to keep sustainability at the forefront? Not really. "Because they are made of old tiles, they usually have some visual interest to them that makes them more unique and a perfect fit for space where you want to look a little different," explains Cole. They might also mirror the local heritage. For this reason, she feels, "These can really be used in any space but will look really nice in spaces that are a little more eclectic." Many options allow you to tap into a range of fun colors and patterns, like Livden's Honeysuckle collection, which offers geometric motifs in recycled materials.

Mosaics have an almost chokehold on designers. They were trendy in the 1950s when white mosaic tiles adorned mid-century floors. Next, they got a facelift in the 1980s, infusing glamor in oversized bathrooms. Then again, in the 2000s, they were reintroduced as aqua accents, especially in kitchens, until they took over the whole backsplash. Now that we're in 2025, they're coming back in style — not in their larger, subway tile scale, but much smaller and a whole lot prettier. Courtney Cole says, "Another trend I am seeing (and loving), are small-scale mosaics. These are fantastic and might not be coming back in the way you are thinking."

Dishing on the specifics, she continues, "Instead of mosaics like what we saw in the 2000s, we are seeing mosaics that are in more natural stone and matte finishes, which add a beautiful texture to your kitchen or bathroom." Consider covering your backsplashes with mosaic tiles in your next renovation. Or place them in the hallway or around the bathtub to define boundaries. However, pay attention to grout lines. If you're worried that a mosaic motif will be too busy looking, consider going with a tonal grout. This will make the grout lines less obvious and give the installation a softer look while still offering tons of visual and tactile texture.