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10 Of The Most Iconic Tiled Bathroom Ideas For NZ in 2024

15th Mar 2024

10 Of The Most Iconic Tiled Bathroom Ideas For NZ in 2024

The ‘beigification’ of bathrooms is finally over, and colour is in! Tile Space’s in-house designers and specialists are looking beyond the neutral, plain palette of 2023 to brighter, more exciting bathroom tiles for your 2024 reno. 

So, without further ado, here are our top ten picks for tiled bathroom ideas for NZ featuring fun, fabulous colours and bold, beautiful patterns like stripes, checkers and basketweave! 


Coloured Bathroom Tiles - The Biggest Bathroom Trend in 2024 and Beyond 

Terralma Mandacaru Matt

The beige home trend of the past few years is undergoing a major shift! Rather than being the primary focus, beige is now being used to complement more colourful tones. Picture a refreshing palette where earthy coral, warm yellow, navy blue, and salmon pink tiles take centre stage while beige accents beautifully enhance their impact. 

Strike a balance by mixing bold-coloured tiles with neutral tones for a harmonious and stylish look, as shown above - the sage green Terralma Mandacaru Matt pairs perfectly with the warm shades of a concrete tile. 

Bring colour into your bathroom with the new Terralma collection at Tile Space. These are Brazilian clay-look tiles with vibrant earthy tones inspired by nature. 

Terralma Bora Bora Matt

Terralma Jalapao Matt


Terralma Sardenha Matt

See more colourful Terralma tiles here


Grout, but Make It Fun: Choose Feature Grout For Bathroom Tiles 

Orange grout paired with our Luxe White Matt 7.6x15.2 was created using our Design Space service. 

A colourful palette is not just for your bathroom walls and tiles - add grout to the party, too! Add an extra pop of vibrancy to coloured bathroom tiles with grout in shades beyond the classic trifecta of black, white and grey. 

Warm colours like peaches and terracottas are the most popular shades for the year, followed by greens, blues and yellows. 

The Luxe Mint Matt tile with an orange grout designed with our Design Space service

If you’re not a fan of too much colour in the bathroom, use coloured grout with plain tiles to add a subtle pop without going overboard. 

Create the look with RAL 9016 White Matt Sheeted 10 or White Matt 97mm bathroom created using our Design Space service

Thicker grout lines are another way of introducing feature grout to your bathroom. The contrast between the tiles and the thicker grout lines draws attention to the pattern, creating a visually captivating effect. See more clever techniques with our guide to feature tiles here


Timeless Statements: Patterned Bathroom Tiles 

Patterned tiles are turning bathroom spaces into captivating canvases. Here are some of the timeless tile patterns to incorporate into your bathroom renovation or new build in 2024: 


Checkered Bathroom Floors 

Medley white and green minimal design created using our Design Space service.

Mid-Century Bathroom Tile Patterns

The Kayo Square Olive Gloss Mosaic tile


Art Deco Bathroom Tile Patterns 

The Bali Besakih InOut 20 tile

Featured: 4 Glamorous Art Deco and Mid-Century Tile Ideas That Are On-Trend


Victorian Bathroom Tile Patterns 

The Alaska Octagonal 31.6 tile


Geometric Patterned Bathroom Tiles 

Kasbah Taco Orchad Pink Matt square tile

Carrara Polished + Black 10mm Insert basketweave tile


Mix and Match Shapes With Modular Bathroom Tiles 

The Ostuni Avorio Matt French Module tile

Modular tiles, like our Ostuni range, are a huge trend in 2024 - they use different formats to create a larger, more striking pattern. 


Embrace The Rustic Aesthetic With Handmade-Look Bathroom Tiles

Handmade-look tiles like the ones from our Hida White Matt tile from our Japanese collection feature a beautiful rustic effect with their speckles and unique imperfections. 

Hida White Matt handmade-look tile


Styling Bathroom Tiles: Design Tips From A Kiwi Interior Designer 

Tile Space's in-house designer, Moet Walker, shares her insights into bathroom tiling. 


Is A Fully Tiled Bathroom A Good Idea? 

Yes, fully tiled bathrooms are recommended because they make your bathroom more durable as tiles are easy to clean and maintain, whereas painted walls are known to age badly in bathrooms due to steam and mould. 

While it may seem like an easy and budget-friendly option, the truth is painted bathroom walls don't last as long as tiled walls. Because moisture, such as steam from your shower, can sneak its way through the paint and create unsightly texture, bubbles, and peeling. 

Don't forget to check out our guide to waterproofing your bathroom and this beginner's guide to bathroom tiles


What Parts Of The Bathroom Should Be Tiled? 

If you don’t want to tile the whole bathroom, then it is recommended to tile the following areas; 

Shower walls and floors

- Bathroom floors 

- Behind the vanity 

Not tiling these areas can lead to water damage, mould growth, and other costly repairs. 

Take a look at our guide helpful guide on shower floor tile ideas for more details on styling these areas. 


How Do You Modernise A Tiled Bathroom? 

Fully tiling a bathroom modernises the space. Also, installing XL and large format tiles creates a modern, seamless look. 

But, if you want to modernise your current bathroom without re-tiling, here are a few suggestions, 

  • Re-grout your tiles - Grout can become discoloured over time as a result of dirt and grime. Re-grouting can refresh a bathroom without the need to replace the tiles. 
  • Change accessories and fixtures - Replace your outdated bathroom accessories like vanities, mirrors, and handles with what's trending. 

For more info on renovating a bathroom, take a look at this ultimate guide on how to renovate a bathroom in NZ


Is It Better To Use Big Or Small Tiles In The Bathroom? 

This depends on the space and what you want to achieve. Generally, bigger tiles are used in smaller bathrooms to make the space feel larger. Small tiles are used when you want a feature or statement, small tiles create a point of difference. 


How Can I Make My Small Bathroom Look Luxurious? 

Infinito Patagonia Polish Marble-Look tile

You can create a luxurious-looking bathroom using natural stone-look tiles such as marble, quartz, and onyx. 

Our Onyx Unique MattCristallo Amber MattQuartz Mont Blanc Matt and Infinito Patagonia Polish are a few examples of tiles that present a luxurious look at an affordable rate. 


What Tile Pattern Makes A Small Bathroom Look Bigger? 

Trav.Navona Grigio Matt linear patterned tile

To make your small bathroom feel wider or longer, choose a tile with linear movement and lay the tiles horizontally for a wider look or vertically for a higher look. 

Linear movement can achieve different looks; the most common is the travertine vein cut, but quartz or concrete tiles can achieve the look if you pick the right tiles. 

Examples of linear tile movement can be found in our Trav. Navona Grigio MattNavona Bone Vein MattQuartz Mont Blanc Matt and Concrete Smoke Matt tiles. 

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Should You Tile A Bathroom Floor Or Wall First? 

It's always best to start with the floor first. By doing this, the bottom row of tiles on the wall and corners will align nicely with the floor tiles, resulting in a cohesive and sophisticated appearance. But, we recommend talking to your tiler about this as they know your space best. 

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How To Bring Your Tiled Bathroom Ideas To Life 

Visit your local Tile Space store to discuss your bathroom renovation using our new Design Space service, and we’ll bring your tiled bathroom ideas to life with realistic 3D renders! 

Browse our floor and wall tiles range here, and visit our bathroom inspiration page for more ideas. If you want to know more about tile ideas, check out our 2024 Tile Trend Predictions or book a free consultation with one of our consultants.

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