18 Creative Cloakroom Tile Ideas
Cloakrooms are high on every homeowner’s wish list and having one can add as much as 5% to the total value of your home. If you’re wondering why a downstairs loo is also known as a cloakroom, it harks back to the days when people would hang their coats in the small room nearest the entrance of the house. As sanitation improved, these small spaces were used for a more practical purpose and toilets and sinks were added.
From hideaway understairs cupboards to utility rooms, toilets can be fitted into the tiniest of spaces. Highly desirable and essential for larger families, most new-built homes feature downstairs cloakrooms as standard.
Whether you’re installing a downstairs toilet from scratch or revamping your existing cloakroom, keep reading to discover our pick of the best tiles for the job.
Image credit: @pringleandpringle
Recommended tile: Lambeth
Which tiles are best for a cloakroom?
The advantage of choosing tiles for a small room that’s hidden away from the rest of the house is that you can be as bold as you dare. If you’ve always fancied adding a touch of Victoriana to your home, cladding the walls in black or painting a rainbow with multicoloured tiles, the cloakroom is just the place to do it.
Cloakrooms are usually small so if you’re planning a DIY project, this is a great place to start.
You can opt for any type of tile in a cloakroom, we recommend hardwearing porcelain or natural stone tiles for durability but the size, colour and shape you opt for is entirely up to you!
Cloakroom tile Ideas
Whether you’re choosing tiles for the cloakroom floor, the walls or just a sink splashback, here’s our pick of the most creative tile ideas to liven up your loo:
Statement chequerboard floor tiles
One of THE most classic tile designs, the chequerboard floor pattern has been in fashion since ancient times. You can opt for traditional black and white marble tiles or add a twist with more unexpected colours.
Laying a chequerboard design diagonally can help to widen a room visually, a handy hack for a smaller space.
Image credit: @lallywalfordinteriors
Recommended tile: Damask White | Damask Black
Victorian-style floor tiles
Elegant and aesthetically pleasing, Victorian floor tiles are a beautiful solution for a smaller space. These floor tiles can be tricky to lay so if you’re doing the job yourself, a compact cloakroom is an excellent starting point.
You can stick to traditional colours or choose from modern pick and mix pastel shades. There are a range of traditional patterns to choose from or you can design your own.
Image credit: @delve.interiors
Recommended tile: Westminster
Modern cloakroom tiles
Give your downstairs toilet a refreshing makeover with chic, contemporary tiles.
Large-format stone tiles work brilliantly in small spaces, the lack of grout lines helping to create a fuss-free and seamless look.
Combine large floor tiles with smaller wall tiles. Modern tile layouts like the vertical stack, work well with small rectangular tiles.
Image credit: @homeonthegrove
Recommended tile: Emilia Aqua
Matchstick mosaic wall tiles
These simple, Japanese-style tiles are perfect for adding texture to a compact space. Also known as KitKat tiles, these porcelain tiles come attached to sheets for easy fixing. They’re a good choice if you want to create a modern, minimalist-looking cloakroom.
Image credit: @thatssogemma
Recommended tile: Cubics White
Black and white traditional tiles
If you’re finding it difficult to choose a style for your downstairs loo, traditional tiles can be a great choice. They’re elegant and timeless and will go with any home style from period to new build.
We love how traditional Victorian chequerboard floor tiles have been combined with contemporary rectangular tiles in the below bathroom to create a modern masterpiece.
Image credit: @feather_and_faff
Recommended tile: Ambleside
Pink tiles
Once reserved for the bedrooms of little girls, pink has come a long way. Ultra stylish and super versatile, there’s a pink tile for every cloakroom.
Pink goes well with most other colours and there’s a surprisingly wide range of tile styles to choose from. From metro tiles and lilypad hexagons to penny tiles and Victorian-style tiles in candy shades, pink tiles will instantly refresh a downstairs cloakroom.
Image credit: @emma.merry.styling
Recommended tile: Habana Rose
Terracotta tiles
If a rustic-style cloakroom is more your style, we recommend using terracotta floor tiles. Hardwearing and practical, these tiles will add a warm and welcoming feel wherever they are placed.
It’s fine to use terracotta tiles in areas that come into contact with water, just make sure they are adequately sealed.
Image credit: @drummonds_bathrooms
Recommended tile: Natural Terracotta
Luxury stone tiles
From rustic tumbled marble to opulent polished travertine, there’s a stone tile for every taste and every budget.
Get the luxe look in your loo with oversized polished stone or stone-effect porcelain tiles. Using large tiles is key to achieving the hotel-chic look.
Image credit: @hillhouseinteriors
Recommended tile: Keope Anthracite
Fishscale tiles
With their sea-inspired design, scallop, mermaid or fishscale tiles are a fitting addition to a cloakroom or bathroom.
These striking tiles may look modern, but the scallop pattern is seen in ancient Islamic designs and has been used for centuries.
On-trend fish-scale tiles are available in a wide range of colours, sizes and materials; from iridescent and gold glass to shell, stone, porcelain and metal.
Image credit: @emilycocointeriors
Recommended tile: Waxman soul matt
Stripey tiles
Convert your cloakroom into a stylish sanctuary with quirky striped wall tiles. An easy-to-create and visually striking design, vertical stripes will make a room appear taller, while horizontal stripes will help to widen a small room.
Image credit: @barlowandbarlow
Recommended tiles: Emilia Blanco | Emilia sky
Vintage style tiles
Create a retro-themed cloakroom with refined period-style tiles. Rectangular metro tiles are extremely versatile, you can lay them in a variety of patterns and edge them with moulded border tiles for a chic finishing touch.
Combine vintage-looking wall tiles with Victorian-style floor tiles for the perfect partnership.
Image credit: @timesproperty
Recommended tile: Dorset Smooth Honey
Floral tiles
Patterned tiles can work wonders in small spaces, adding interest and character. Experiment with delicate florals, patchwork prints and different colours to create a downstairs cloakroom with a difference.
Image credit: @originalstyleuk
Recommended tile: Provenza Deco
Contemporary stone effect tiles
Downstairs toilets can be the perfect place to experiment with pattern and colour, but they also look incredible when styled simply and neutrally.
Opting for the same tiles on the floor and walls creates a calm, fluid and ultra-modern feel. Large-format tiles will help a small room feel larger and they’re perfect for getting a chic, elegant look that works well in all styles of home.
Image credit: @ankers_lodge
Recommended tile: Elements Titanium
Onyx effect tiles
If you’re feeling decadent, gorgeous onyx-effect porcelain tiles are a dreamy addition to a cloakroom. Infused with interesting textures and dazzling colours, these unusual tiles can completely transform your home’s smallest room.
Image credit: @foxinteriorddesign
Recommended tile: Onyx Blue
Multicoloured tiles
Whatever your style, there’s no denying that clever use of colour can bring a cloakroom to life. Make the most of a small space by creating a spectacular feature tile wall. Choose a few different colours for maximum impact.
Keeping the floor tiles and other walls neutral will help maximise the effect of a multicoloured wall and stop it from overpowering a small room.
Image credit: @ace.interiordesigner
Recommended tiles: Emilia Navy
Hexagonal tiles
One of this year’s hottest tile trends, hex tiles are a brilliant choice for a cloakroom splashback. Their shape makes them ideal for tiling less-than-perfect spaces and, there’s no need to fiddle around with tile edging strips or borders.
Image credit: @emmalouisehomedesign
Recommended tile: Waxman Hexagon Unglazed White
Mirror tiles
Glam up a tired cloakroom with glitzy Art-Deco-inspired mirror tiles. Using reflective surfaces like mirrored glass is one of the oldest tricks for enhancing the feeling of space.
Choose from a range of tile shapes and distressed finishes for the ultimate chic cloakroom style.
Image credit: @ceramicaetc
Recommended tile: Original style Glassworks
Creative tiles
Small on space but big on style, that’s how we like our cloakrooms and this clever, multicoloured, herringbone metro tile pattern is styled to perfection.
Pick a few of your favourite colours or different shades of your preferred hue and combine them with neutral tiles to showstopping effect.
Image credit: @summer_house_interiors1
Recommended tile: Habana Green
Cloakroom tile tips
If you’re inspired to revamp your bathroom or fit a brand-new cloakroom, there’s a lot to consider before settling on the final tiles:
- Do grab some tile samples. Tiles can look very different in situ and it’s especially important to try before you buy when picking patterns or bold colours.
- Do get inspiration from magazines, social media and friend’s homes. There is such a huge choice of tiles and it can be overwhelming to choose the right ones. Check out our article on Downstairs Toilet Tile Ideas too.
- Don’t worry too much about tile trends, what’s hot now might not be next year. Go for a tile you love and it will always be in style.
- Do think outside the box and try something completely different! Those gold fish-scale tiles might just be the perfect addition to your home.
Atlas Ceramics stocks a vast range of wall and floor tiles. From traditional Victorian mosaics to contemporary large-format stone tiles, browse our selection yourself or call one of our experts for advice.