Tiles with talent Let these tile ideas

Turn a practical recess shelf into a decorative feature by lining it with small-scale mosaic tiles that contrast with the wall Echo Ivory gloss tile, £22 per sq m; Cream/Beige Pearl mix mosaic tile, £17.95 per sheet, Tile Giant

TILES WITH TALENT

Whether it’s the shape, pattern or colour, tiles offer endless creative opportunities. So, let your imagination run wild and use these eye-catching ideas to design the bathroom of your dreams… I

f you ’ re looking for a way to inject some pizzazz into your bathroom, tiles are the way to go. Not only are they functional, protecting your home from water damage, but they also offer the perfect opportunity to exercise your creativity and do something a little different. Forget plain white tiles – we ’ re talking Victorian-style star patterns, pastel ombré and statement shapes. Whether you ’ re after a laidback spa-inspired aesthetic, or a look that’ s a bit more dramatic with clashing colours or bold motifs, the world of tiles is your oyster. Even if you ’ re tentative about mosaic patterns and vibrant colour pops, you can still tap into these creative ideas. Just stick to one accent – if you ’ re choosing a bold hue, keep the shape simple, and vice versa.

The shape of these fish scale tiles does all the talking! They’re an investment buy, but with a limited amount you can still create an arresting feature wall behind a freestanding bath, or in the shower Fish scale Turquoise ceramic tiles, £180 per sq m, Otto Tiles

COAT Paints + Urban Outfitters Philadelphia Sky paint, £40 for 2.5L, Urban Outfitters Beautifully tactile, these fluted tiles create a striking accent without being overpowering –definitely one for those who prefer a more demure style of décor! Flute terracotta tile, £59.85 per sq m, Topps Tiles

Metro orange wall tiles, £19.49 per sq m, Tile Mountain

Make A Mint paint, £49.99 for 2.5L, Dowsing & Reynolds

Unleash your creativity by adorning plain white tiles with a delicate floral design. If you’re arty, try painting it freehand, or use a stencil if you’re worried about making mistakes Meadow Flowers stencil, £17.95, Annie Sloan Peace Lily medium, £20, Leaf Envy

If you’re a tile lover, get the best of both worlds and mix and match a selection of styles. For a balanced look that still stands out, choose a black-and-white geometric tile for the floor and a striking green herringbone for the walls Milan modern shower bath suite, £469.95; Victorian metro wall tiles in Green, £28.35 per sq m, both Victorian Plumbing

Contrast busy mosaic tiles with crisp white bathroom furniture and finishes. They’ll tone down the explosion of colour and bring a touch of cool to the space Central Park patterned ceramic wall and floor tile, £27.50 per sq m, Wickes Ava wall mirror, £160, Very

Crystalline regal select matte, from £24.50 per 0.94L, Benjamin Moore

Choose a tonal combination of sage green tiles – the colour of the season. Bring balance to a speckled terrazzo with block-hued metro tiles and complete the scheme with gorgeous greenery Atro white tile, £59.92 per sq m, Topps Tiles

GO GEOMETRIC

‘As hexagon tiles create quite a busy effect, people don’t tend to tile all four walls of a room with them. They are typically best used as a feature, whether that be for a full shower wall or a feature floor to create interest underfoot – we often lay hexagon tiles down for wet room shower trays. ’ Leigh Price, Co-Director at Real Stone & Tile

Treat your metro tiles like a jigsaw puzzle and arrange them in a simple but effective mismatched pattern. Double the impact by opting for a high-gloss finish Teal gloss metro tiles, £17.95 per sq m, Walls and Floors Hexagons are a simple way to create a striking look, without going overboard. Let the shape speak for itself by choosing a muted palette of pale grey or duck egg blue Platinum hexo tiles, £110 for 50 tiles, Utopia

Hanging plant in cement pot, £8, Wilko Not one for the faint-hearted, this multi-coloured triangular pattern makes a real statement. If you want to dabble in the trend without going all out, use them to tile a statement space in your bathroom – they’d look fab as a border around the sink and mirror, or as a splash of colour in alcoves Bert & May Soho Majadas tiles, £74.70 per sq m, Fired Earth

Make your bathroom the star of your home with these unique lily pad tiles. Twist and turn the tiles to create your ideal pattern before you commit – diamonds or stars would be our top picks! Lily pad tile in Peacock, £57.60 per sq m, Real Stone & Tile

Supreme bath mat in Samba Sun Yellow and Bali Burnt Orange, both £12.50, Christy

SMALL STEPS

‘If taking your first steps into tile arranging, we’d recommend choosing something relatively straightforward such as chevroneffect tiles. These will work to create a mesmerising effect on floors or act as a stunning focal point when arranged on feature walls. ’ George Holland, Bathroom Design Expert at Victorian Plumbing

Terrazzo dispenser, £9; terrazzo soap dish, £6, both Habitat

If you prefer to stick to a black-and-white colour palette, inject some interest with abstract arrangements and stone-effect finishes. Try concentrating the darker tiles in one corner of the room or in your shower enclosure, to create separate zones without physical barriers Ador Black Nero marble tiles, £34.95 per sq m, Walls and Floors