February 27, 2026 Blog


The Rundown on How to Choose Patterned Tile

Patterned tile can add a stunning focal point to any space, but navigating the world of patterns can feel overwhelming. In this blog post, we’ll address common concerns and provide expert advice to help you confidently embrace patterned tile in your home. 

Embracing Bold Patterns

You may struggle with the question of what patterns may be incorporated nicely into your home. Exploring the latest trends in patterned tile, from vibrant geometric designs to intricate Moroccan-inspired motifs can be helpful in determining your style. Bold patterns can inject personality and character into your space, creating a unique aesthetic that reflects your style. Some popular patterned tile that our designers are seeing used in flooring, bathroom, and kitchens are:

Geometric Patterns: Geometric shapes like hexagons, diamonds, and chevron patterns are popular for adding a modern and dynamic look to floors, bathrooms, and kitchens.
Encaustic Tiles: feature intricate patterns and vibrant colors, perfect for creating eye-catching floors and backsplashes with a touch of vintage charm.
Terrazzo Tile: Terrazzo tiles with speckled patterns and bold colors are making a comeback, adding a playful and contemporary touch to floors, countertops, and backsplashes.
Wood-look Tile Patterns: Wood-look tiles in plank formats with intricate wood grain patterns provide the warmth and texture of natural wood flooring while offering the durability and ease of maintenance of porcelain or ceramic tiles.
Large-format Tiles: Large-format tiles with bold patterns and designs make a statement in modern interiors, creating seamless and expansive surfaces in bathrooms, kitchens, and living spaces.
This modern basement remodel features large-format textured Porcelanosa tiles adorning the fireplace surround, creating a visually stunning and seamlessly integrated focal point.

Mixing and Matching: Creating Visual Interest

If you are questioning where and how to add patterned tile to your space, you should consider where you could add a bit of a pop. If your cabinets are a more bold color, the patterned tile might be best on the floor in just one area so it is not competing in the room. Or, you could have an overall more plain tiled backsplash and choose to pattern in one area behind your vent hood. You can also choose to base the style of tile on your homes overall architectural style. For example, incorporating a Terrazzo tile accent in a shower niche if your home was built back in the 50s. Or, consider adding some victorian-era encaustic tiles in a bold color or even copper! 

In this Elegant Transitional Kitchen remodel, the patterned tile accent behind the stove and vent hood, contrast the rest of the space whiche has a muted neutral tile.

Size and Scale

You can have a lot of fun with just scaling a striking pattern tile in any size room. Your designer will help you choose the placement and size of your patterned tiles, and if it extends for an entire area of wall or floor space, or perhaps just stays in one portion of the wall or floor. You can really get creative when integrating patterns into your space by using complementing bold colors and patterns! If you absolutely adore the tile, you can incorporating an entire accent wall in the room, shower, or floor. 

In this primary bath remodel, the client loves how the bold art-deco and Parisian style tile scaled from the vanity and extended all the way to ceiling, drawing the eye up all the way to the ceiling.
In this large and lavish kitchen remodel, the stunning patterned tile skirts around the huge island, and makes a statement as a bold accent by choosing not to use it in the entire space.

PERSONAL STYLE

If you love patterned tile, and others are telling you to stay away from it, listen to your instincts! You can choose to incorporate into small areas, like your mudroom, shower, powder room, etc. It is important to reflect your personal style in your space. It adds a feature to any more neutral or plain space. 

This powder room boasts a floral gold and black tile paired with a wallpaper to accentuate a small space and make a big impact.

Integrate Patterned Tile Into Your Space:

Patterned tile offers endless possibilities for creativity and expression in home design. By understanding the latest trends, mixing patterns effectively, choosing the right scale, and considering practical aspects like maintenance and durability, you can confidently incorporate patterned tile into your home with stunning results. Trust your instincts, embrace bold patterns, and let your creativity shine!

Our designers will integrate tiles in ways that are trending now, like incorporating back lighting behind stunning bespoke curved tiles for an ambient mood lighting while relaxing in your primary bath space. Check out this entire primary suite here.

Contact us at 515-855-6772, to speak with one of our designers today.

© City Design Iowa. All Rights Reserved
Design & Development by ShowroomMarketing.com

Request A Quote