Trends come and go, but some types of tile retain their style, no matter how many years have gone by. If you’d like to invest in tile that will look just as fashionable as ever regardless of the passage of time, this blog post is for you.
Characteristics of Classic Tile That Never Loses Its Style
Whether you’re interested in installing new tile flooring, a backsplash, a shower surround, or an accent wall, there are several factors that can increase your tile’s staying power when it comes to looking stylish.
When choosing tile for your next home renovation project, try to check at least one, if not several, of the following boxes:
- Neutral shades, like black, white, beige, tan, and gray
- Classic patterns and designs, like black and white checkerboard and herringbone
- Natural stone or porcelain and ceramic lookalikes
- Hexagon-shaped and other geometric tiles
- Traditional shapes and sizes, such as subway tile and penny round tile
- Wood-look tile, since hardwood floors are always in style
Selecting tile with these classic elements ensures that it won’t look dated, even as time passes. Plus, when you choose classic tile, rather than tile that comes in bright colors or striking patterns, you leave room for the rest of your interior design choices, such as paint colors and decor pieces (which are usually easier and cheaper to replace), to shift with the trends.
Below, discover some of our top picks for classic tile, many of which fall under several of the categories listed above.
Marble and Natural Stone Tile of All Kinds
You really can’t go wrong with classic natural stone tile, which has been used in interior design for thousands of years. Plus, natural stone automatically comes in neutral shades that can easily be paired with nearly any color scheme. Here are a few of our favorites.
Our Nero Marquina 24x24 Marble Tile comes from Marquina, Basque Country in northern Spain. Its gorgeous black color with white veining looks beautiful in any space.
This Crema Marfil 12x12 Field Tile is a type of limestone that also hails from Spain and features a creamy beige shade with soft yellow, white, cinnamon, and goldish-beige veining.
White tile is always a safe choice for interior design, and our Bianco Dolomite 12x12 Field Tile, which comes from Turkey, contains a low-contrast blend of arctic white and pale gray for a little bit of visual intrigue.
With its smooth, rich color, you might love Cappuccino 12x12 Marble Tile just as much as your morning coffee.
Herringbone Tile
We’re huge fans of herringbone tile, and we’re not the only ones–it’s been widely used for flooring for almost 500 years! You can check out our Tile Type Spotlight on herringbone here to learn everything you need to know about incorporating this tile style into your interior design.
Natural stone herringbone mosaics in varying sizes are perfect for backsplashes and other small tile projects.
Carrara White Bardiglio 1x4 Herringbone Mosaic
This Simple Antique White Skinny Herringbone Ceramic Mosaic features a mini herringbone pattern that’s timeless and visually appealing.
Black and White Checkerboard Tile
This pattern is thought to have been around since 1500 BC, and it became especially popular during the Renaissance. Since then, it’s been a mainstay of interior design, and it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon!
Pair these two Marrakech tiles together for a classic checkerboard pattern, or choose black and white marble tiles for a more upscale aesthetic.
Hexagon Tile
While hexagon tile hasn’t been popular for quite as long as some of the other tile types discussed in this article, it first gained prominence in the 1920s and has been an interior design favorite ever since.
Hexagon tiles come in all sorts of sizes, materials, and colors, bringing plenty of personality to your interior design.
Subway Tile
Since the late 1800s, subway tile has been a go-to style, although there are now tons of variations that differ from the original three-inch by six-inch white tiles.
If you love glitz and glamour, then our Calacatta Gold 3x6 Marble Tile is amazing for creating a luxury aesthetic.
The Zellige collection contains elongated subway tiles in a variety of neutral shades. Mix things up by installing them vertically rather than horizontally or stacking them rather than staggering them.
Penny Round Tile
Since the early 1900s, penny round tiles have frequently been used in bathrooms and other spaces. The standard size of penny round tiles is ¾” in diameter (the same size as a penny!), but today, you’ll find plenty of variety in size, which can allow for added creativity.
It’s hard to get more classic than our Simple Black and White Penny Round Ceramic Mosaic Tile, with its distinctive, traditional design.
Wood-Look Tile
While hardwood flooring may go as far back as the early 1600s, its popularity amped up as the Industrial Revolution took hold. While wood-look porcelain tile is a much newer development, it can almost perfectly replicate the look of beautiful hardwood at a much lower price point. Below, find a few of our favorites from the Fresno and Forever collections.
Find Tile That Will Last the Test of Time at Tilezz.com!
At Tilezz.com, we have a wide tile selection that can satisfy any and all style preferences. Plus, we make it simple to shop for tile online thanks to our fast delivery, insured shipments, and easy returns. You can scroll through our product line here, or visit our blog for interior design inspiration, DIY installation instructions, and more.