Introduction

The tile options available to today’s homeowner strain the imagination. It’s not just that there are more sizes, shapes, finishes, and formats than ever before. But there are also so many intriguing new tile materials available. You can pick a tried-and-true, cost-effective standard such as solid-colored ceramic tile, or go for its more sophisticated cousin porcelain tile, and choose from a vast number of faux surface finishes. Lean toward sleek in a backsplash or bathroom floor with glass mosaics, go stunning with large-format white marble, or opt for an unusual look with dynamic new metal tiles. If it’s too hard to pick just one, mix and match for even more design options.

One of the many wonderful things about that explosion of possibilities is that DIY installation techniques have not radically changed. In fact, installing your own tile remains a homeowner favorite because the skills you need are so easy to develop and the tools so basic. The process is straightforward, requires more attention to detail than particular skill, and moves along quickly in just about any case. Tiling a surface, any surface, is as close to instantaneous gratification as you’ll find in home improvement. A new tiled wall, counter, or floor can easily transform the look of any room in the house.

Don’t know where to begin? You’ve come to the right place. Start with the in-depth discussions covering tile, materials, and techniques here. Check out the galleries in The Complete Guide to Tile for interesting and beautiful ideas that you can adopt in your own home or use as points of departure on your own tile design journey. Then start planning your next glorious home design adventure.

The projects in the pages that follow cover just about everything you can do with tile. They also show you how to properly prepare underlying surfaces and handle the tiles themselves so that all your effort results in a tiled work of art that lasts a good long time. The instructions provided are detailed, and the photos make everything even clearer. You can follow any project along from start to finish or, once you’ve built up essential basic skills such as mortaring or grouting, you can design and install your own custom-tiled work of art.

Gallery of Tile Projects

Rethink wood floors with faux-wood porcelain tiles. Easy to clean, durable, and available in styles from pine plank to pickled oak, these porcelain tiles are ideal for any room in the house. No sanding or refinishing needed!

Tile special bathroom features for ease of use and a uniform look. The soap niche in this shower is a handy place for bottles of shampoo and other necessities, and running the tile into the niche creates a unified design that is pleasing to the eye.

Add intense visual interest with a graphically busy glass tile floor. The material is crafted into an amazing diversity of patterns and colors, presenting unrivaled options for an eye-grabbing—and mind-bending—floor such as this one.

Fake it with vinyl. This limestone floor isn’t really stone at all. Convincing as the appearance may be, it’s actually lower-cost, easier-to-install, warm-underfoot vinyl. You’ll find a range of faux-surface looks in vinyl tile flooring.

Create vibrant wall designs with new tile patterns. You can incorporate figural tiles as centerpieces in a field of tiles, or use abstract tiles such as these that work together to form a scintillating full-surface look.

Turn a functional niche into a decorative element by tiling it differently than the surrounding wall surface. Here, mosaic glass tiles set the handy alcove apart from the larger tiles on the wall. The contrast adds visual interest.

Add warmth and a soft feel underfoot with alluringly rich cork tiles. This eco-friendly material can be finished in a range of tones from natural, to bright, to subtle.

Make it magnificent with the addition of large-format marble tiles. White marble, such as the floor and wall tiles in this modern bathroom, screams luxury.

Stones cut to resemble river rocks make an unusual bathroom floor. The stones, which are attached to a mesh backing, are remarkably easy to install. Coordinating grout blends the tiles; contrasting grout would emphasize the individual stones.

Add a rustic, earthy flair indoors with authentic terra cotta tile. Random variations in color and texture set true terra cotta tiles apart from faux versions, and the tile is durable and cool underfoot—the perfect choice for a small room in warmer parts of the country.

Fool the eye for greater durability in a traditional floor style. This gorgeous wood floor won’t ever need refinishing because it’s not wood. Porcelain “planks” are designed with the look of wood but the hardiness of true tile. The combination is a long-lasting, beautiful option for rooms where wood floors are the norm.

Bring elegance outdoors with stone tiles laid in a diamond pattern. The color and pattern variations make for a stunning surface underfoot, and the diamond pattern creates tons of visual interest in a sun-drenched location.

Mix and match to create a vibrant look that doesn’t completely overwhelm a room. The simple and classic white subway tile here moderates the visual effect of a busy mosaic backsplash. The combination is alluring, with large, clean fields where the eye rests between areas boasting a dynamic sprinkling of blues.

Make it modern with mirrored tile. The mirrored, large-format, beveled-edge mosaic tiles in this bathroom bring a dose of glitz and glamour. The tiles sparkle in contrast to the matte, stone-finish, porcelain floor tiles. The mix-and-match strategy ensures that the mirrored tiles don’t overwhelm the bathroom.

Exploit the many tile formats and materials available today. This wall is evidence of the potential in combining wildly different tile on the same surface. Solid-colored porcelain tile is combined with unusual reclaimed teak mosaic tile. The combination is fascinating and vibrant.

Stay timeless with classic tiles in classic shades. White tile never goes out of style, nor does ceramic subway tile in the bathroom. Uniform shapes and lighter shades—especially white—provide a background for more daring textures and colors in the room. Here, clean white surfaces serve as the stage for a mottled Tuscan-yellow wall.

Magnify mosaics’ visual power by using this small-format tile in isolated spots. It is especially effective as a backsplash, where it becomes a focal point that draws attention in any kitchen. If you’re using mosaic in this way, choose a multicolored version that will deliver the most bang for your tile buck.