Bathroom Floor Tile Ideas: Marble, Porcelain, Cement and More
Here on the Sweeten blog, we aim to translate insight from NYC renovators and contractors into information you can use to make better decisions about improving your home. After a look at different styles and materials of bathroom wall tiles, we’re moving on to floor tile.
While some tiles work on both the walls and the floors, floor tile has to provide grip to help with slippery post-tub steps. You can incorporate that grip by selecting bathroom floor tile materials with varied texture or by choosing small shapes installed with grout seams. You can also play with the way that tiles are installed to create different patterns with identical materials.
This week, we’ve rounded up ten dynamic and distinctive bathroom floor tiles from Sweeten renovation projects.
Straight lay patterns
Straight lay tiles are oriented in a straightforward grid with clean, simple lines. Monochromatic cubes and subway tiles tend to work best here – typically creating a more modern feel than the staggered alternative.
In Janet and Jerry’s bathroom remodel, the couple chose large-format bathroom floor tile set in a straight lay pattern to give the space a modern look. The streamlined grid keeps the bathroom flooring and tile feeling crisp and uncluttered, while the subtle grout breaks help the room read as longer and more polished.
The shower floor of Mario and Joe’s bathroom in Clinton Hill minimizes slip with striated gray porcelain floor tiles from Ann Sacks.
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Pinwheel basket-weave patterns 
Pinwheel basket-weave patterns are created with four rectangular tiles set in the shape of a square with one smaller square tile in the center that resemble the blades of a spinning pinwheel. This pattern signals vintage, old New York inspiration and typically incorporates black and white or marble variations.
Marissa in Prospect Heights went with era-appropriate black and white pinwheel basket-weave floor tiles lined with gray grout from Classic Tile & Marble Inc. to keep the floor spotless and to add more drama to her glamorous black and white color palette.
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Allison and Jovito in Brooklyn chose decorative Carrara pinwheel basket-weave marble floor tiles from Lowe’s in this vintage-styled bath.
Hexagonal honeycomb patterns
Hexagonal tiles work beautifully in a natural honeycomb set. Repeating this same particular shape draws attention to the floor and lends itself well to both modern and traditional materials.
Robyn and Alejandro in Brooklyn’s Waterfront District chose noir travertine hexagonal mosaic floor tiles from The Tile Shop for the floor and tub wall, setting up contrast with the wall’s porcelain beveled subway tiles and Carrara marble.
Megan and Ryan on the Upper East Side opted for large 4” Carrara marble hexagonal floor tiles with a soft honed finish from Nemo Tile as the base for their new bathroom.
Geometric and ornamental patterns
From geometric prints to Moroccan-inspired design, colorful tiles with individual patterns become the center of attention when that pattern is repeated across a small space! Encaustic cement tiles are the most common material used to get this multicolor effect.
Inspired by M.C. Escher’s graphic art, Celeste in Park Slope centered her bathroom renovation on iconic marble geometric-patterned floor tiles from Walker Zanger in Facet Ash.
Ben and Therese in Brooklyn Heights selected Moroccan-inspired light blue and black cement floor tiles that add fun color and striking pattern play to an otherwise stark bath.
Pepper and Marshall in Washington Heights selected graceful rose and burgundy Citrus encaustic cement floor tiles from Amethyst Artisan in Manhattan’s design district.
In a second bathroom, Pepper and Marshall in Washington Heights chose retro green and yellow McQueen hexagonal encaustic cement floor tiles from Amethyst Artisan.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, subway tile is often cheaper than hexagonal tile because it is widely produced and typically simpler to install in a straight grid. Hex tiles can cost more depending on the material and may take extra labor due to more cuts and alignment.
Yes, you can use marble as a bathroom floor tile if you choose a finish that feels more grippy underfoot and plan for proper sealing. It delivers a classic, high-end look, but it can require more upkeep than porcelain in a wet space.
Yes, you can use the same bathroom tile for shower flooring if it is rated for wet areas and provides enough traction when wet. Many people switch to smaller formats or mosaics on the shower floor because the extra grout seams can help reduce slipping.
