From an impressive kitchen showroom to a well-designed hotel bathroom, we've all seen firsthand how pairing the right tiles can elevate a functional space from being ordinary to extraordinary. But how can you achieve this professional look in your own home?
Although a single-tiled room can be a great solution for those looking to create a subtle style, combining different tile designs, colours, and shapes adds a dynamic edge to such a space that unleashes the creativity to truly reflect your personal design tastes.
Whether you're renovating an entire bathroom or are simply looking for a complementary match to an existing floor tile, knowing how to mix and match tiles effectively is key to achieving a harmonious design scheme that looks professional.
Verde Royale Marble-effect, Aura Green Kit Kat Tiles & Richmond White Porcelain
Understanding Mixing and Matching Tiles
Mixing and matching tiles is all about ensuring you consider the details and undertones of a design in order to create a cohesive, considered look. The goal is to balance these different elements so they complement, rather than compete, with each other.
This is an approach that interior designers tend to apply to many areas of the home in order to create visually engaging, well-connected spaces. Just as professionals would use a colour wheel to find complementary paint pairings, this same principle should be applied to tiling. Understanding the relationship between clashing and harmonious colours, patterns and finishes creates a well-balanced space that feels considered.
Devonshire Almond Antique-effect & Wentworth Cross Patterned Tiles
Mix and Match Tiles Ideas
In need of some inspiration to get started? Here are a few of our top mix and match ideas to consider for your next room renovation:
Cohesive Colour Match
Create a subtle mix and match tiling look by keeping the tones of your decor options cohesive. Start by choosing a decorative tile you love and then pick out the different individual colours within the pattern to apply to other areas of the room.
Bristol Grey Patterned Tiles & Tiffany Soft Grey Metro Tiles
Go brave with bold contrast
For those after something a little more daring within their decor, adding a bold tile design as a feature within your space is sure to leave a lasting impression. Use contrasting metro tiles within a striped or zig-zag herringbone layout to really add a wow factor, paired with simple, modern accessories to balance the overall scheme.
Firenza Nero Marquina & Firenza Carrara Metro Tiles
Colour Blocking
A similar approach with a different execution, another way of incorporating contrasting or complementary colours, is through colour-blocking. This technique involves visually zoning areas of your space through colour in large, solid sections and is a brilliant way to enhance a small, boxy room by visually breaking up surface areas.
Firenza Carrara & Firenza Verde Marble-effect Tiles
How to Mix and Match Bathroom Tiles
Thanks to the hardwearing and waterproof properties of bathroom tiles, washrooms, showers and WCs are the perfect canvas for experimenting with different wall and floor combinations through mix and match bathroom tiles. Here are some things to consider when it comes to bathroom tile combinations:
- Define Zones: Use different bathroom tiles combinations to highlight separate areas within your bathroom. A bold marble or patterned tile will help to highlight a shower area, while neutral tiles elsewhere would help maintain a sense of balance throughout the rest of the space.
- Combine Finishes: Consider using a mix of matte and glossy finishes in your space to create a dynamic look that plays with light reflections. A beautiful yet functional bathroom tiles combination; polished tiles brighten up a room, while matte floor tiles provide better grip underfoot.
- Introduce Accents: Combine simple, large-format tiles with pops of pattern or colour, such as terrazzo tiles or kitkat tiles, to break up large expanses of space and introduce a playful accent.
Agate Grey Onyx-effect & Richmond White Porcelain Tiles
How to Mix and Match Floor Tiles
If you’re looking to create a mix and match floor tiles design, using tiles of different styles or sizes can define areas while adding a certain wow factor to your space:
- Transition Between Spaces: Use different floor tiles to distinguish between areas in an open-plan space, zoning different areas such as the kitchen and dining room. This retains the natural flow without the need for physical barriers.
- Create Patterns: Incorporate tiles of contrasting colours to form eye-catching patterns such as checkerboard flooring, for a stylish, dynamic feature that is right on trend.
- Combine Plain and Decor Tiles: If you’re worried a decor tile alone would overwhelm your space, yet are equally concerned plain decor would be too boring, why not opt for a balance of both? Many of our tiles, including some outdoor paving options, are designed to be paired with a matching plain design to complement.
Noho Dove Grey Decor & Noho Beige Porcelain Paving
Mixing and matching tiles is one of the best ways to put a personal stamp on your space by unleashing your creativity! The key to a cohesive mix and match design is not to overload your space with too many different styles, keeping to two or three that work well together with accompanying accessories, furniture and paint colours.
An important part of any design process, we’d always recommend ordering samples of your mix and match tiles to see the exact colour and details in person. Lay out samples of your chosen tiles and paint swatches together before installation to visualise how they interact and relate to each other. From trend-led decorative tiles to outdoor paving and classic natural stone slabs, our wide range of products are designed to be mixed and matched to create a look unique to you.
Explore our full collection today and be sure to explore our inspiration and advice hub for further design ideas and easy-to-follow guides.
