Tile trends can be slow to evolve, usually echoing the shifts we see in fashion, colour palettes and furniture design. However, tiles are no longer the quiet background players they once were. Looking to 2026 tile trends, the forecast is wonderfully textural, indulgent, and design-driven like we haven’t seen before. They’re expressive, tactile, emotive: details that turn a space into an experience and encourage us to connect with our homes and spaces in a very human way.
So, from our studio to your home, here are the tile trends 2026 is shaping, and how you can bring them home with confidence.
Rich, Delectable Colours
I’ve become completely smitten with the colour shift unfolding right now. We’re moving away from pale, muted palettes and stepping into the richer, more indulgent world of chocolate browns, cherry reds, plum hues and lush burgundies.
These tones wrap a room in instant sophistication, the kind that feels both timeless yet contemporarily chic. Pair a rich red glazed tile with brushed brass, or a deep plum wall paint with warm oak wood-effect tiles, and suddenly the whole space feels delicious. There’s no other word for it!
If diving straight into these deep colours feels overwhelming, start small. A feature wall, tiled fireplace, or a bold splashback is all you need to completely shift the mood.
Modular Designs
2025 was the year that people rediscovered the joy of modular layouts within tile design trends, and they’re not going anywhere for 2026. Checkerboard tiles are still having a real revival, but looking ahead, think modern: oversized squares, tonal contrasts, or unexpected colour pairings as an evolution to the black-and-white classics.
Stripes, too, are stepping into the spotlight. Vertical, horizontal, diagonal, this trend is all about movement and play. Modular formats let you take a simple tile and create something structurally interesting without overwhelming the room.
It comes down to personalisation and a touch of creative freedom. Modular layouts give you the freedom to build something genuinely individual, without the pressure of a full redesign.
Solace Green & White (coming soon)
Tactile Materials
If last year flirted with texture, 2026 is doubling down. Think etched surfaces, 3D surfaces, and raised patterns that are inviting to the touch.
In a reality of digital fakes and fast-fashion dupes, textural finishes add a sense of authenticity and quiet luxury to your surroundings. In bathrooms, tactile marble-effect tiles create a spa-calm without ever feeling cold. In kitchens, textures from stone floors add depth and dimension where you least expect it, catching the light in those subtle, soulful ways.
Texture grounds a space in a very authentic way. It makes minimalism feel warm, maximalism feel intentional, and the whole space feel more considered.
Limestone Bianco (image: @ourhomeupnorth)
Fluted Surfaces
Fluting isn’t new, but it’s certainly evolving within this year's bathroom tile trends. What began with ribbed glass and reeded cabinetry has moved confidently into modern tile design, and I couldn’t be happier about it.
This three-dimensional linear effect brings architectural rhythm to a room, adding movement, texture, and contrast without relying on bold pattern. Whether you choose porcelain fluting that mimics carved stone or a warm slatted wood-effect slab, the result is a space that feels sculptural, calm and beautifully curated.
Fluted tiling works beautifully on bathroom feature walls, kitchen islands, statement fireplaces, anywhere that a little extra detail can make all the difference.
Calacatta Viola Nouveaux, Fluted
Tile Drenching
Following on from colour drenching, tile drenching is the next power move of being bold in your home decor. Whether you commit to one saturated shade or immerse a space in patterned tiles from floor to ceiling, the effect is enveloping, confident and incredibly contemporary.
It’s the opposite of feature-wall thinking. Instead, everything becomes the feature. Bathrooms become immersive and atmospheric, bold but cohesive, and design moments rather than just practical spaces.
To keep things feeling refined rather than chaotic, stick to one colour family or a single repeating pattern to pull the whole room together.
Herringbone Brick Flooring
If there’s one layout I never tire of recommending, it’s herringbone. In 2026, brick-format tiles, especially in warm, natural stone or stone-look porcelains, are transforming kitchens, boot rooms, and even bathroom spaces.
Herringbone bricks and cobbles are a top contender for this year's floor tile trends, adding a sense of craftsmanship without feeling old-fashioned. This year’s take is more relaxed: think wider bricks, softer tones, and grout colours chosen to blend rather than contrast. The result? Understated elegance that works with basically any interior style.
Herringbone floor tiles truly excel in those high-traffic rooms where you want something beautiful underfoot but also genuinely hard-working.
2026 is shaping up to be a year of richer colour, deeper texture and unapologetically expressive surfaces; a real celebration of interior tile trends. So, while tiling is primarily loved for its hardwearing and practical nature, this year proves they can also be emotive, atmospheric, and a channel of creativity.
If you’re planning a renovation and are on the hunt to find the right stone or porcelain tiles for your space, we’re here to guide you. This is an exciting year to design something beautifully yours.
