White spaces are a classic design style and one that’s back in vogue thanks to the growing popularity of the minimalist trend. White rooms, paint, and tile look spacious and airy making it a good choice for practically any room in the home. It pairs really well with light, pastel colors like yellow or lilac, and also with dark contrasting shades like black or navy blue.
Here’s how and where you can use white tile in your home without overwhelming other design choices.
Where to use white tile
The kitchen and bathroom are two places where homeowners commonly use tiles. Naturally, these are your best options when it comes to using white tile. But subway tiles in a brick pattern is not the only way you can use white.
The bathroom
White subway tiles are quite the rage in bathroom design. A white bathroom looks clean, airy, and much bigger than it actually is. No wonder white tiles are popular for bathrooms! Square or rectangular tiles are not your only choice of white tile though. Mixing patterns, shapes, and even different shades of the same color can open up a whole new world of possibilities.
One way to use multiple shapes or patterns is to distinguish between different areas within the same room. For example, you can use white rectangle tiles of different lengths to separate the vanity and shower area. The entire room looks cohesive, yet allows you to visually demarcate spaces.
Another option when using white tile is to use 2 different shades throughout the bathroom. For instance, you could use a bright white tile for the walls and an ivory white or light grey tiles as a border. This allows you to mimic the look of baseboard and/or molding without the expense.
The Kitchen
Kitchens offer a much bigger canvas for white tiles. There are several places you can use tiles here – for a backsplash, on the floor, or on the walls. Some people may not like white tiles in the kitchen as it can quickly look grimy or dull. But the important thing to remember is that tile is much easier to clean than paint or other materials. You can use white tiles to your heart’s content without worrying about maintenance.
You can use white tiles in interesting ways in the kitchen. For instance, you can mix and match the subway and penny tiles to create beautiful patterns on the wall. You can also create a focus wall by installing white tiles from the floor to the ceiling. This is an especially good option if you have a large window framing the kitchen or a fireplace that you would like to showcase.
You can also match white tiles with other colors to create interesting patterns for your backsplash. One way to dress up plain white tiles is to use a strong grout color. There’s no reason you should stick plain old white or grey grout. A white tile can easily stand out with a bright blue or dark green grout color for a distinctive look.
Different ways to use white tiles
Even within the bathroom and kitchen, you can use white tiles in creative ways. It’s easy to go overboard when it comes to shapes, colors, or textures but many people play it safe by sticking to just one shape or color.
A good rule of thumb is to vary one aspect while keeping another the same for unity. So you might want to use different tile shapes but keep the color constant or use the same square tiles in different colors in the kitchen.
Tiles come in many textures and materials. From ceramic to porcelain, there’s no end to beautiful tiles. Marble tiles are good choices in the kitchen as they add texture. Glass tiles are trendy as they can reflect light, adding to the elegance of a room. Tired or bored with rectangles everywhere? Now you try out triangles, circles (penny tiles), hexagons, or even octagons if you like.
Think out of the box when it comes to patterns as well. You don’t have to stick with straight lines. Diagonal or irregular edges can look quite interesting or alternate diagonal tiles for a herringbone pattern on the walls. Try alternating between white and black tiles or any other dark color for a minimal yet modern style.
You can also use white tiles to frame and delineate specific architectural features like fireplaces, windows, artwork, or mirrors. Draw attention to your favorite painting with thin white tiles or showcase a rustic fireplace with white penny tiles. Some people might think white is a safe choice or even boring but you can create magic by using it with different colors, shapes, and textures.
