The Boring Bathroom Tile Floors We're Leaving Behind In 2026

Gone are the days when a bathroom remodel was just a blip on the radar of home design. That's because bathrooms are no longer just a pit stop (pun intended) on your way to the next room. We don't want a quick layover, we want an experience. In fact, designers are calling in the same techniques they use to design living rooms into the bathroom to make it more cozy and relaxing. So we aren't just throwing any old tile on the floor and calling it a day. Nope. In 2026, we're saying goodbye to traditional, builder-grade bathrooms, including their boring plain white floor tiles.

That all white color scheme can feel more clinical than homey. "With tiles, don't go for a plain white tile, instead choose options that are textured and pair with darker grout, perhaps gray," Grazzie Wilson, Brand Director at Ca' Pietra, told Homes & Gardens. Damla Turgut, founder of Otto Tiles & Design, echoed a similar sentiment when she told Woman & Home that the color palette even for trendy Moroccan tile is changing and moving beyond white. She says, "think mushroom, clay, tobacco, olive-grey, chalky petrol blues and muted berry tones. They still behave like neutrals, but they have much more warmth and depth than a flat beige or grey." Apart from color, there's also a shift in tile trends towards texture, something that tells a story, and lends itself to an overall sense of wellness. We're expecting more from our bathrooms, and 2026 is coming for your boring, basic white floor tiles.

Of all the bathroom trends that will be taking over in 2026, ditching your boring white floors is going to come in clutch when it comes to upgrading your space. Consider the floor to be what sets the mood and helps define the overall vibe. If you want to warm things up and lean into a cozy luxury, you can do that with stone-look porcelain tiles in sage green or patterned tiles in modern terrazzo. If you want to feel like you're walking into a wellness spa, use warm stones or micro-cement tiles. Bathroom tile trends you don't want to skip in 2026 include colors from soft greens and beiges, clay, terracotta, and taupe to darker emeralds and deep navy blue.

Porcelain tiles are still a fantastic choice for flooring, as they are durable and easy to take care of. But opting out of the boring plain whites allows us to venture into the elevated designs that actually mimic natural materials like wood and stone. Bringing in those warmer floor tones also complements other fixtures in the room like wooden vanities and layered lighting that pull the whole room together. It's time to pick tile colors that really express your personality and create a space that feels like home.