Thai-style bathroom tile ideas – 11 ways to transform your bathroom into an exotic sanctuary

Famous for its breathtakingly beautiful beaches, sensational food and bustling cities, tropical Thailand is a must-visit destination.

Thai culture is rich and varied, influenced by neighbouring Myanmar, Cambodia, India and the surrounding South Asian countries. Thai art and architecture are heavily influenced by Buddhism and Thailand is home to some of the most beautiful buildings in the world.

Thai abodes range from traditional raised wooden houses to sleek, modern city apartments and relaxed beachfront dwellings. Interior design styles vary tremendously from rustic and traditional to polished and modern, with natural elements an important part of the sought-after Thai style.

Thai inspiration includes beautifully natural interiors, wood is a very popular and apt choice and is available in highly realistic porcelain planks of all shades and sizes.

Image credit: @trusolbathware

Recommended Tile: Naturae Wood Effect Willow

What is Thai interior style?

Influenced by nature and inspired by tradition, Thai design is a mixture of bright colours, intricate patterns and earthier, natural aspects.

Thailand’s key traditional colours are green, red, yellow, black and white, and you’ll often find these taking centre stage in both traditional and modern Thai interiors. Patterns influenced by religion and other countries play an important role in Thai designs, for example, Buddhist and Hindu Indian art.

Natural materials like wood, bamboo and stone are commonly used in Thai homes, particularly in bathrooms, creating a calming, neutral space in which to refresh and relax.

Keep reading to discover our pick of the most beautiful and unusual Thai style bathroom tiles.

Thai style bathroom tile ideas

From traditional colonial style and bright colours to natural neutrals and more minimal, streamlined bathrooms, keep scrolling for our top Thai-style bathroom tile ideas and inspiration.

Shaped tiles

Whether you prefer a traditional twist or like to fuse old and new styles, intricately shaped tiles can make a striking addition to a Thai-inspired bathroom.

Look for fan, lozenge, scallop and leaf-shaped tiles to add interest to bathroom walls, bath panels, splashbacks and windowsills.

Shaped tiles are admired in Thai inspired bathrooms and there are vast amounts of shapes, sizes, patterns and colours to chose from to create your own unique space. 

Image credit: @blinkdesigngroup

Recommended Tile: Elements Lava Mosaic

Wood effect tiles

Thai interiors often feature wooden walls, floors and even ceilings. Natural, sustainable materials like wood and bamboo are really effective for keeping tropical homes cool and are used widely throughout Thailand.

Look for realistic wood-effect porcelain tiles to clad your bathroom walls and floors for a more practical but no less attractive alternative.

Keep your Thai inspired bathroom cool using highly effective wood effect porcelain tiles, very desired in this part of the world.

Image credit: @casa.kece

Recommended Tile: Forest of Dean Teak

Stone floor tiles

Be inspired by sleek and chic modern Thai bathrooms and fit natural or stone-effect porcelain tiles. Perfect for creating a neutral backdrop, stone tiles are amongst the most elegant tiles that you can choose for a bathroom. They’re classic and timeless and you can combine them with bright colours and bold artwork or keep it simple.

Natural stone effect tiles are a widely accepted as part of Thai inspired style and are available in numerous colours, sizes and effects.

Image credit: @phulaybayreserve

Recommended Tile: DD Ivory 

Large format tiles

No matter how large or small your bathroom, fitting large format floor tiles will enhance the feeling of space and create a seamless, clean-looking zone.

Combine light-coloured floor tiles with darker wooden furniture and accessories to nail the exotic Thai look.

Large format tiles look stylishly splendid on the floor and can easily be combined with darker tiles to bring your room to life.

Image credit: @chinmoylad

Recommended Tile: Ecostone Bianco 

Patterned tiles

Pattern is an important feature in traditional Thai interiors but you can introduce it to modern settings by combining plain contemporary tiles with boldly patterned ones. Because Thai style has been influenced by the art of so many other countries, especially India, China and Cambodia, you can choose from a vast range of colours and patterns.

Patterns are a well established part of Thai inspired elegance, the choices are endless so go wild and get creative with your ideas.

Image credit: @bansainairesort_aonang

Recommended Tile: Damask Series Decor 5

Marble tiles

Cool and elegant, marble can be used in traditional and modern Thai-style bathrooms and, if you love the glitz and glamour of a hotel-style bathroom, marble tiles are one of the best options. Opt for large format marble tiles for a sleek, fuss-free look and combine them with plenty of greenery and wooden accessories.

Magnificent marble is available in both traditional and modern styles. The beauty and inspiration of marble is second to none and offers dramatic effect in any bathroom.

Image credit: @shltr

Recommended Tile: Cosmic Black

Rustic looking tiles

Unless you live in the tropics, an outdoor bathroom may not be on the cards, but clever use of tiles can help you to bring the outside in. Look for real stone or stone-effect porcelain tiles; slate and flagstone effect tiles are excellent options. You can combine these with wood effect, splitface and delicate nature-inspired tiles.

Stone, wood and splitface tiles are ideal to create a Thai inspired bathroom as they reflect the beauty of nature throughout Thailand.

Image credit: @the.wanderlust.lab

Recommended Tile: Blue Nile

Sleek tiles

Thai style bathrooms can be rustic and rich in natural materials or sleek and sophisticated. There’s a wide range of smooth porcelain tiles to choose from if you want to create a chic, seamless-looking bathroom.

Tiles in neutral shades like grey, ivory, black and white are great options. Look for stone and concrete effect textures for an ultra-modern-looking Thai style bathroom.

Neutral shades and natural textures are perfectly positioned for Thai style designs and help to bring the outside in to any bathroom.

Image credit: @chinmoylad

Recommended Tile: Moon Grey 

Colonial style tiles

Although Thailand is the only Southeastern Asian country not to have been colonised by Europeans, this distinctive architectural style can be found in many Thai buildings and homes so it’s only natural that it has influenced bathroom styling too.

Versatile metro tiles are perfect for achieving this look. Pair them with smart patterned floor tiles for an elegant bathroom.

For a graceful yet diverse effect metro tiles can’t be beaten, available in numerous colours, they can very elegantly be matched with patterns, style and colours galore.

Image credit: @studioplp

Recommended Tile: Emilia Ask 

Dark tiles

If you love dramatic, intense-looking bathrooms, consider going over to the dark side. Although dark tiles won’t make a bathroom feel spacious, they will make it cosy and luxurious.

If your bathroom has little to no natural light, don’t be put off using black tiles, you can use black tiles for a single wall, in a shower area or on the floor.

Add a touch of sophistication and luxury to your bathroom using dark tiles, go with bold black as a feature wall or simply a splashback or add to your floor combined with white, the options are endless.

Image credit: @___nish_

Recommended Tile: Rio Nero 

Fish scale tiles

Mermaid, scallop, fan or fishtail, whatever you call these magnificent tiles, they’re perfect for transforming bathrooms. In Thailand, the roofs of traditional buildings are often clad with beautifully decorative scallop tiles and these ocean-inspired tiles are ideal for bathrooms.

Fish scale tiles can be placed with the pointy end up or down or you can arrange them in other beautiful patterns.

Scallop or fish scale tiles offer alluring style and a refined finish to any bathroom. Ideally suited to your Thai inspired bathroom as they are popularly used on roof tops in Thailand.

Image credit: @a.k.nackfordesign

Recommended Tile: Mermaid Olive 

How to create a Thai-style bathroom with tiles

Use colour carefully

 Thai interiors can be bold and bright, refreshingly neutral or a combination of both. We suggest using a base tile colour, for example, white or cream, and adding areas of colour for interest; for example a shower area, border tiles on the floor or a shimmering splashback.

 Choose natural materials

 Get an authentic Thai look by introducing natural materials into your bathroom. You can opt for real stone or stone-effect porcelain tiles (which look as good as the real thing), wood-effect porcelain tiles are an excellent choice too.

Add interest with patterned tiles

 Thai style is heavily influenced by its neighbouring countries so you’ll be able to pick from a range of tile patterns and colours. Look for tiles that have natural motifs like leaves, flowers and bamboo or stick to bold, repeating patterns in strong colours.

Get the Thai look in your bathroom with Atlas Ceramics’ impressive range of porcelain and natural stone tiles. Browse our selection yourself or call one of our experts for advice.