I love a good trend but I try to avoid using trends when it comes to the fixed materials in a home. Those are the materials that are not easy to replace like flooring or tiles. Getting these choices right is exactly where my finishes and material selection helps.
I’d much rather opt for trends in spaces where a quick switch is simple and manageable. Light fixtures and faucets are great examples of items that can be switched without too much effort.
It’s hard sometimes to decipher what’s a trend and what has longevity so today I’m sharing my go-to tiles that will never go out of style.
1/ Subway Tile
SOURCE: Here Magazine
If you really want to ensure that your tile won’t date, this is the one for you. Subway tile was created to be used in New York’s subway in 1904 so there’s a testament to its longevity. It was created for ease of cleaning and originally came in a 3”x6” format.
Today we see this tile created in glass, stone, porcelain and ceramic and comes in a huge variety of colours, sizes and textures.
One of the reasons for its enduring popularity is that there’s a lot we can do with this one simple tile. The classic pattern is to stagger the tiles in a brick pattern. For a more contemporary space I’ll sometimes stack them in a bond pattern.
Once you’ve decided on the layout you can have fun with the grout although this is where it can become dated so beware. The most popular options for grout are either to use the same colour as the tile or to use a contrasting black or charcoal grout alongside a white tile.
The limestone tile in the image above shows how much fun we can have with this tile. The designer has incorporated square tiles alongside the subway tile to give it a classic, timeless feeling.
2/ Natural Stone
SOURCE: Tea With Ruby
Tiles in marble, limestone or terrazzo will never go out of style. These are the materials we consider to be the most classic and timeless. The issue is that they can be hard to keep clean but now thanks to all the advancement in tile technology we can get the look using porcelain tiles instead of the real deal.
We’re seeing a lot of oversized marble-look porcelain being used in showers and bathroom flooring right now. In the past this would not have been possible because of cost but the realistic marble-look porcelain tiles make this easy to install and very affordable.
I expect that this look will go out of style because it’s super popular at the moment but it will never be considered dated. It’s a classic look and those are truly never out of style.
3/ Terra Cotta
SOURCE: Laurel Beebe Barrack
These tiles are having a moment right now but that doesn’t make them trendy. Rather, they’re a classic that keeps popping in for a moment in the spotlight. This tile is great for both indoor and outdoors depending on where you live and the climate.
Terra cotta tiles have a strong red/orange colour but don’t let that dissuade you because it’s a colour that’s actually quite easy to incorporate into your design palette. It works really well with a number of neutrals and colours.
If you love a rustic vibe this will work for you. It also works really well with a modern farmhouse style because it can give it the timeless feel that’s so important to getting that look right.
4/ Hexagon Tile
Also known as honeycomb, this is a classic that will always look great. The original was black and white but we have much more colour selection now. I would suggest that if you want to keep your tile for a really long time it’s safest to opt for either black and white or another classic colour combination. I would avoid any colour combos that are too trendy and will really date your room.
This tile adds a tremendous amount of visual interest because of the geometric shape. One of the easiest ways to elevate this simple little tile is to add a contrasting border but even on its own, it’s a winner.
5/ Penny Tile
SOURCE: DigsDigs
Just like the hexagon tile, this is a classic that will never be out of style. We’ve seen them used for decades in bathrooms on the floor because they have so much grout and that can act as a preventative measure against slipping on wet surfaces.
They look great in the classic white and black or just white but there’s a lot of more modern versions available on the market currently so you can have some fun if that’s your style.
6/ Zellige Tile
SOURCE: Remodelista
You’ve likely seen this tile as it’s one of the most popular styles today. But like with so many other classics it’s been around for a long time. In fact, this beautiful tile has been around for over 1000 years so if that doesn’t say classic I don’t know what does.
These tiles originate from Morocco and were created by hand including a hand glazing.The beauty of this tile comes from the hand made nature of it. No two tiles are alike and that’s what gives this simple tile its texture, movement and interest.
This is a beautiful choice for a backsplash because the gloss makes it easy to keep clean while the difference in tile makes it beautiful and interesting to look at. This is a great option if you want to select a high quality tile that you won’t replace soon. Find out more about what’s trending in kitchens right now in this post.
Tile Patterns That Won’t Date
1/ Checkerboard
SOURCE: The Lifestyled Co.
Black and white checkerboard pattern is as classic and timeless as you can get. Use it on your floor, backsplash or in a shower. You can have fun with a variety of sizes depending on where you’re applying it.
Go for a gloss finish for a more classic look while a matte finish will look more current. For a more elegant look you can create this pattern using marble or marble-like tiles.
2/ Brick Pattern
SOURCE: Rachel Parcell
This is also commonly referred to as running bond pattern. As I mentioned above, the classic brick pattern has been used with subway tile for more than 100 years. We’ve seen various sizes of subway tile but for the most classic look stick with the standard 3”x6” option.
3/ Herringbone
SOURCE: Lindsay Hill Interiors
This is a classic that uses a simple tile like a subway tile but adds a ton of visual interest through the strong geometric pattern layout. It’s been used for decades on floors but we’re now seeing it used as a backsplash and for shower walls.
You can keep it timeless by using a stone tile like carrara marble or you can opt for any of the porcelain coloured tiles that are available for a modern twist.
4/ Chevron
SOURCE: Joinery and Design
This is a similar pattern to the herringbone but in this application the tile is cut at a 45 degree angle and fits together like a puzzle. It’s just as classic as the herringbone but will obviously require a bit more work from your tiler to get the angle correct.
Chevron went through an explosion in popularity about 10 years ago so you may think it’s a dated look but that’s not correct. This is a classic pattern that’s been used for over 200 years. It will never be out of style.
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