Tile choices used to be simple. Pick a color, pick a size, tile the walls to shoulder height, and call it done. That approach has mostly gone. Homeowners planning a bathroom this year are treating tiling as the main design decision in the room, not an afterthought once the suite is picked. Below is what’s actually showing up in the jobs we’re doing right now and what’s worth considering if you’re tiling a bathroom in 2026.
Large-format tiles on the floor
Small mosaic floors are being replaced by large-format tiles, often 600 mm by 600 mm or bigger. Fewer grout lines means less cleaning and a floor that reads as one continuous surface rather than a patchwork. When you’re tiling a bathroom floor in a smaller room, larger tiles can actually make the space feel bigger, since the eye isn’t tracking dozens of grout joints across it.
Microcement and concrete-look tiles
Polished concrete has moved from industrial spaces into bathrooms, mostly through porcelain tiles that copy the look without the maintenance issues real concrete brings into a wet room. The finish is matte and slightly uneven and works well in bathrooms that are going for something calmer than glossy marble-effect tiles.
Textured walls in the shower
Flat, glossy tiles are giving way to ribbed, fluted, and lightly textured finishes on shower walls. Beyond the look, texture does something practical too. It hides water marks and soap residue better than a flat glossy surface does, which matters if you’re tiling a bathroom shower that gets used daily by a full household.
Tiling the ceiling in wet rooms
This one surprises people, but tiling the ceiling in a bathroom, particularly directly above the shower, is becoming more common in wet room designs. It gives a fully sealed, waterproof finish with no painted plasterboard to eventually blister or stain from steam. It’s a bigger job and adds cost, but for anyone building a proper wet room it solves a maintenance problem before it starts.
Warm, earthy colour palettes
Cool grays dominated for years. That’s shifting toward warmer tones, terracotta, sand, olive and warm taupe, often paired with brushed brass or matte black fittings. It’s a more forgiving palette in smaller bathrooms with less natural light, since warm tones don’t read as cold or clinical the way pale grey sometimes can.
Zellige and handmade-look tiles
Zellige tiles, with their uneven surface and slight color variation from piece to piece, are still popular going into 2026. They bring texture and depth that a uniform, machine-made tile can’t match. They’re pricier and take more skill to fit well, since the irregularity has to be worked with rather than fought against, but the result looks genuinely handmade rather than mass-produced.
Bold feature walls instead of full coverage
Rather than tiling every wall in the same finish, more bathrooms now use one feature wall in a bolder tile, pattern, or color, with the rest kept simple. It’s a way to get a striking look without the cost or visual overload of covering the whole room in a statement tile. It also gives you more flexibility if you want to update the room later without redoing everything.
Terrazzo making a comeback
Terrazzo tiles, with their speckled mix of stone chips set into a base material, are back in a big way. They work well on both floors and walls, and unlike a lot of trend-driven tiles, terrazzo tends to age well rather than looking dated within a few years. It’s a solid option if you want something with visual interest that isn’t tied too closely to a single passing trend.
Matching floor and wall tiles for a seamless look
Some homeowners are choosing the same tile, or very closely matching tiles, for both the floor and the shower walls. The effect removes the visual break where floor meets wall, which makes a small bathroom feel less broken up into separate zones. It works particularly well in wet rooms and bathrooms with a level-access shower where there’s no step or tray edge to interrupt the line anyway.
Sustainable and recycled tile materials
More manufacturers are producing tiles from recycled glass, reclaimed ceramic, and lower-impact production methods. The finish quality has caught up with standard porcelain in most cases, so choosing a recycled option no longer means compromising on how the bathroom looks. For anyone renovating with sustainability in mind, this is one of the more meaningful changes in the market this year.
Getting the tiling right matters more than the trend
A trend only looks good if the tiling itself is done properly. Uneven grout lines, poor waterproofing behind the tiles, or a badly cut edge around a shower tray will undercut even the best tile choice. Whether you’re tiling a bathroom floor, a full wet room, or just refreshing the walls around an existing bath, the fitting matters as much as the tile you pick.
At Sheldon Bathrooms, we work with homeowners on both the design side and the actual fitting, from choosing tiles that suit the room to handling the waterproofing and finish properly. If you’re planning a bathroom refresh this year, get in touch and we’ll talk through what would work in your space.
Frequently Asked Questions
What tile size is best for a small bathroom?
Large-format tiles, generally from 600 mm upward, tend to make a small bathroom look bigger by reducing the number of grout lines breaking up the floor or walls.
Is tiling the ceiling in a bathroom worth it?
It’s mostly used in wet rooms and shower areas that see heavy steam. It gives a fully waterproof finish and avoids the painted ceiling above a shower eventually blistering, but it does add to the cost of the job.
Are handmade-look tiles like zellige harder to fit?
Yes, they take more skill because the surface isn’t perfectly flat or uniform. An experienced fitter can work with that variation to get a good finish, but it’s not a straightforward job for someone without tiling experience.
How much does bathroom tiling cost in 2026?
It depends on the tile you choose, the size of the room, and how much preparation the walls and floor need before tiling starts. Get in touch with Sheldon Bathrooms for a quote based on your bathroom.
Do you handle both the design and the fitting?
Yes. Sheldon Bathrooms works with homeowners on choosing tiles that suit the room and then carries out the fitting, waterproofing, and finishing ourselves.