The metro tile fast became the go-to for easy, stylish kitchens and bathrooms. It may be the favourite sibling, but recently we’ve spied an uprising of tiles of a subtly different kind making their way into bathrooms. Behold the square tile. Ok, so it’s not a huge departure from the brick shaped metro, but a slight tweak in proportions will give your space a point of difference to all those metro-clad bathrooms out there. So think outside of the rectangle and be inspired by our selection of the best square-tiled bathrooms. It’s hip to be square.
Pale mint green tiles give a fresh, slightly vintage tinge to a bathroom (in a good way.) Just a small splashback area is all it takes to give a boring bathroom a pretty edge.
Photo: Courtesy of My Scandinavian Home.
The tiles may be square, but the arrangement in this Antipodean bathroom follow the same brick overlap as their rectangular metro siblings. Grey grout and luxe brass fittings put a polish on the finished look. It's amazing what you can do with a plain white tile.
Photo: Courtesy of The Design Files.
Another way to make a plain square tile more interesting is to clash it with other types of tile. Patterned, tiny hexagonal mosaics, cement…the list goes on. Be brave with contrasting the tiles right next to each other – it pays to be bold.
Photo: Courtesy of Elizabeth Roberts.
Putty pink square tiles could end up looking like something from a 1970s home for the elderly, but team them with black grout, sleek black fixtures and crisp architectural lines and you’ve got a winning bathroom combo.
Photo: Courtesy of Design Milk.
Another slight variation on the square theme, the Moroccan Zellige tile is a trend all of its own. With a rustic texture and a glossy glaze, it’ll transport you to a sunny riad in an instant. Because of its high gloss finish, it reflects loads of light around a space too, so it’s even better for small bathrooms.
Photo: Courtesy of DPAGES
White on white – you can’t go wrong. This monochrome bathroom keeps it simple with plain tiles and white grout so all the subtle details can come forward, such as the marble top and designer lighting.
Photo: Courtesy of Hancock + Kulcsar.
Of course, if you’re not quite ready to give up your trusty metro just yet, try mixing it up between the two. Create a pattern with square and rectangular white tiles for a less obvious look.
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