Adding Texture in Bathroom Design

Louisville Tile | Bethe Motlow

Texture is both tactile and visual. Layering elements in bath design can offer big impact to this small and often unassuming space. In recent years, the tile industry has seen an uptick in textural introductions from subtle woven cloth-like offerings to those that mimic nature through visual reproductions of wood and stone. Tile affords the user a textural context on which to build an exquisite design. Sophisticated, bold linear patterns or monochromatic fluted tile offer rhythmic texture through repetition. Petite floral prints in vintage sizing evoke the nostalgia of yesteryear. Weather-worn metal looks portend surface depth, while high-fired iridescent subway shapes engage the experiencer in visual light play. No matter the design direction, combine patterns that inspire you – accessorizing with lush towels, artistic rocks, metallurgic found objects, and baskets that weave a story. Let imagination be your guide!

Stone Source, Inc. | Anna Baker

Layers of materials and textures are what make a design in a bathroom feel warm and inviting. There are exciting new ceramic tile designs that incorporate texture and dimension for walls. Use reeded limestone on walls and antiqued finishes on floors to soften the edges of hard materials. Polished porcelains can add an elevated texture to floors and walls. We work with a custom mosaic company to create one-of-a-kind marble mosaics for texture and pattern. If you choose the same material in a variety of shapes, like marble tiles, mosaics, and slabs, you can add texture without making a small space feel busy. There are infinite possibilities when using all these materials in combination.

The Tile Store  | Jessica Hurst

Textured tile can make a big difference in a bathroom and there are so many options in porcelain, stone, and cement. Zellige tile is a popular option. This tile gives a very organic feel and allows light to bounce off in a way that you could never get with perfectly smooth tiles. Porcelain offers 3D graphic patterns that are ideal for an accent shower wall or to add dimension to a vanity wall. These tiles push the limits of traditional tile to give you visual interest and make an ideal accompaniment to wet areas thanks to their nonporous qualities. A honed or leathered stone vanity top gives the typical polished surfaces a softer feel and pairs well with the more natural textured tiles. Textured tile and tops are design trends that excite our senses while taking a room’s style to another dimension!

Chattanooga Granite & Marble  |  Kelley Carrin

I love mixing organic textures with contemporary polished tiles. Sliced pebble shower floors, large format porcelain honed tile for the bathroom floor, and polished, easy to clean shower wall tile in a simple brick pattern makes a timeless design choice. Working in the stone countertop field for over 10 years, I have found that choosing your countertops first makes it so much easier to coordinate all of the other elements, building from the colors in the stone. I come from the “less is more” philosophy. Adding multiple textures can get tricky, so keeping that in mind, working with a designer can help you stay on track.

Ferguson | Jada Nelson

Bathroom design can be so much more than a smart arrangement of plumbing fixtures. Combining textures can turn a functional space into a personal oasis. Create a free-spirited aesthetic using modern boho-style lighting that brings the natural elements indoors. Take things up a notch using faucets with knurling accents for that extra enhanced detail. Incorporate matte finishes like a black honed toilet or a custom gold finish on a non-porous composite soaking tub. The choices are virtually endless when choosing a lavatory sink. Vessel and undermount styles can be made from concrete, natural stone, glass, hammered metals, and much more. Forget about white porcelain and let your imagination run wild to transform your basic bath into a luxurious retreat!