What's Replacing Builder Grade Gray Tile? The Trend For 2026

Gray tiles have been a popular trend for a while as cool neutrals thrived in the spotlight. They could be found in kitchens, bathrooms, and even on floors. This design was particularly popular with Millennials, earning the nickname "Millennial gray" as so many people in the age group gravitated towards cool and simple tones. While design choices are already starting to move away from grays, builder grade tiles in gray have also associated the cool shades with common and impersonal designs. This has led them to become an outdated bathroom trend designers hope never to see in 2026. Of course, that means something has to take its place.

The newest trend appears to be tailored specifically to fight against the cold and impersonal grays. Amber-colored tiles are perfect for warming up spaces, especially in rooms with a lot of white, and taking away some of that sterile feel. There are several colors that tend to blend when it comes to this category, but amber tiles usually associated with shades of yellow, orange, brown, and gold that feel comforting and almost like honey or caramel. Warmer undertones are already the best type of tile for your kitchen floors and other parts of your home, but amber-colored ones really embody this trend. Since these tiles are rarely monotone and often have design-enhancing textures, choosing this color also helps to add a sense of personality and unique design that's impossible to get with builder grade gray tiles. 

Amber-colored tiles may embrace warmth, but they are also pretty forgiving. "Shades of rust often have a red tone that makes it tough to decorate with. And burnt orange can easily become too bright within a color palette. Amber is warmth without heaviness," interior designer Alexandra Cooper shared with Apartment Therapy. It's not just tiles in this color that are trending — the amber old-school glass trend is making a comeback, likely for the same reasons.

However, the main perk is that it's also neutral, so you don't have to worry too much about making sure everything perfectly matches, as it works well alongside many different colors. For example, it can seamlessly pair with whites, other yellows, bright blues, jewel tones, and more. If you enjoy cooler notes but don't want a space to feel sterile, adding a bit of amber-colored tile to the same room keeps some of the warmth and makes your cool tones feel much more inviting.

It's also flexible in how you use it. It works as an accent to subtly warm up a space, or as your main tile to drench your room in comfort and calm. It's also an amazing color to have in a bathroom. Amber-colored tiles are rarely one-dimensional, especially if you get something like Zellige tiles that embrace texture and imperfections. Regardless of how you style them one thing is for sure — with these in your home, it will never feel builder-grade.