We explore 5 bathroom tile trends you need to know for 2026. This is a year that will mark a decisive shift towards the personal sanctuary. It’s a trend that has been on the horizon for some time and we are now fully embracing that “spa like feel” with bathrooms akin to those in high-end hotels – full of warmth, luxury and tactile finishes. This is where porcelain tiles come into their own. Superbly practical and astonishingly beautiful, porcelain mimics so many other beautiful materials and is also superbly hardwearing, highly resistant to moisture, easy to clean and is scratch and stain resistant. Porcelain tiles are a superb choice for busy bathrooms and we have a whole host of “spa like” tiles to choose from.
2026 is all about earthy, neutral tones for bathrooms. We’ve seen a shift over the past few years away from that staple of colours – grey – towards warmer notes. Bridging the colour gap between grey and beiges we were plumping for greiges. Now we are plunging right into the neutral colour palette opting for warm creams, taupes, soft sages, clays and terracotta tones. All of these colours feed beautifully into the Biophilic design movement of bringing nature inside because they pair so well with all things nature inspired. Explore our Blend, Nest and Spark collections – all three are beautiful examples of carefully specified colour palettes that are perfectly fitting for today’s contemporary interiors.
Now let’s add a little texture to these gorgeous earthy tones. Texture is, as any interior expert will tell you, key to design. Layering different materials and using different textures is an art – at a simple level, polished surfaces will reflect light and this can make spaces feel cooler whereas matt surfaces absorb light and this in turn makes spaces feel cosier and warmer. It is this comfy vibe we will be turning to in 2026 as we seek to create spaces with that spa like feel.
With incredible advancements in tile technology, wood effect porcelain tiles are mimicking the texture, knots, gnarls and colours of real timber to new heights. For the bathroom it doesn’t get much better than porcelain. It is a material that is highly practical, highly moisture resistant and it won’t warp or bend even in the most humid of conditions – so your porcelain wood effect planks will stay looking beautiful. What’s more, porcelain doesn’t need any ongoing maintenance, so tiles are super easy to look after – a quick mop with warm water usually does the trick.
Check out our Knot collection of wood effect planks – warming tones, superbly realistic designs, a wealth of patterns so repeating the same plank even in a large area isn’t too much of a concern and a lovely silky finish. Or if you want something with a higher level of grip for the wetroom, take a look at Serenity in an R11 A+B+C antislip soft finish.
It’s part of the quiet luxury aesthetic – this is all about understated design, quality and tile designs that add texture and depth to spaces. With ribbed or fluted tiles characterised by vertical, thin grooves that repeat across the tile surface, you can turn a wall into a work of art! Check out our newly launched and aptly named Hush – especially Sand, Mocha and Frost – all tones that tap right into the heart of this aesthetic.
The number of tiles you might choose for a bathroom design will vary depending on the space, but as a rule of thumb most designers will opt for 2 and at a push perhaps 3. Now we are seeing more and more designers opting for the same colour tile across an entire bathroom. It’s called colour drenching – and it doesn’t necessarily need to be too colourful unless you want it to be of course!
By using the same colour tile across the walls and floors of your room you create a seamless flow of colour with minimal interruption – these can be as neutral as you like and throw large format tiles into the mix and now you really have a near seamless approach. Large format tiles with rectified ie straight tile edges demand a thinner grout line of 2-3mm – and by co-ordinating grout colour you really can achieve a stunningly simple design. Explore Nature, our latest sandstone effect tile collection.
How you lay your tiles can be as important as the tiles you choose – because it really can create such a different look and feel to any space. Smaller feature tiles have traditionally been installed in a classic brick bond style – think subway tiles for example. Moving away from this theme, tiles are now being laid in a stacked vertical line. This draws the eye upward making the space feel dramatically higher and brings a modern, architectural look and reel.
A tile layout can be just as important as the tile itself. Longer, thinner tiles are also making their way into our homes, enhancing this look and feel. Take a look at our Arc collection of tiles any of which can be installed in this latest style.
Texture is, as any interior expert will tell you, key to design. Layering different materials and using different textures is an art – at a simple level, polished surfaces will reflect light and this can make spaces feel cooler. Polished tiles are great for areas where there is limited light and you want to make the most of the light you have. They also bring a luxurious feel to spaces.
Matt surfaces on the other hand absorb light and this in turn makes spaces feel cosier and warmer. Polished, matt, natural, glossy – these are all examples of the textures tiles are available in and it is predominantly matt tiles we are turning to in 2026. They add a contemporary vibe to any room especially in concrete, cements and micro-cements. And they are ideal for creating that spa like feel in any bathroom.
2026 is all about texture, grounded colour palettes, gorgeous woods, simple clean lines and neutral tiles – all with the aim of creating bathrooms with a spa like, luxurious feel. The days of the functional bathroom are well and truly over, we are creating spaces in which we can relax and unwind in style and porcelain tiles play a crucial part in helping us achieve that – not just from an aesthetic point of view but from a practical perspective too!
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The TilePortfolio specialise in Italian and Spanish Porcelain and Ceramic tiles, in particular large format Porcelains and Porcelain tiles for inside and outside. Our carefully curated, stunning tile portfolios are beautifully presented online and supported by our fuss-free ‘go-the-extra-tile’ service. In addition, you can view our entire tile collection at our Northamptonshire Showroom. Visit our website for unmissable interiors inspiration. The TilePortfolio team are always available to chat, we’d be delighted to help with your project so please do get in touch.
Please note: We strongly recommend using a professional tiler for your project. Installation requirements may vary depending on the tiles you choose, the fixing products used and the specific conditions. Always check with your tiler regards the suitability of the tiles. Please get in touch with us if you have any questions.
