11 tiles for your 2019 home upgrades

Go deep

Don’t be afraid of the dark. This year, deep hues are in vogue — and walls are no exception. The teal colour of these Herringbone Lagoon tiles combines the best of blues and greens. And the hue pairs beautifully with both warm metals and cooler ones. The reflective quality of these high-contrast glass tiles means they change tone in tandem with the light in the room.

Herringbone Lagoon (clear), price upon request, akdo.com.

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Gentle retro

Pink has never been more wistful. Try it as a neutral, not a hue, for a look that’s soft and airy-fresh. Inspired by mid-century modern architecture, these Radius tiles, designed by Barbara Barry for Ann Sacks, serve up a combination of angles that’s intriguing, not trendy. The tiles are modular, so they can be configured to create a variety of different patterns. 

Barbara Barry Radius Field Tile, Hourglass and Wedge in blush gloss, starting at $29.95 USD per square foot, annsacks.com.

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Subway drama

No two of these hand-pressed tiles are the same, yet each offers up an urbane combination of shimmer and texture. Made from baked clay, and called Easton Mesa, this tile ensures a dramatic focal point. Try it as a wet bar backsplash, or entryway accent wall. When you define a space with distinctive tile, it serves as both artistry and space. Combine the rugged tile with warm natural materials, such as wood, as shown here. Or, go industrial, adding in utilitarian metals or bright red accents.

Easton Mesa Silver Handmade Subway Tile, $21.60 USD per square foot, tilebar.com.

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Mustard goes mod

Youthful and unapologetic, golden yellow makes a splash in the bathroom. Paired with cool whites and greys, it’s all about breaking the rules. Fun as they are crisp, these cement tiles, called Vegas, are designed to look as if they’re laid on the diagonal even though they’re laid flat, imparting a pin-wheel playfulness to their geometry.

Vegas 914 A in mustard, $8.80 USD per tile, granadatile.com.

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Artisanal, almost

Called Futura, the soft graphics of these tiles conjure the laid-back beauty of hand-painted ceramics. The tiles are part of a larger collection that features fashionable opaque pastels. The pattern combines soft curves and colour with a bold hit of black rectangles. The baseboard border, linear and almost commercial, elevates the look to a design statement.

Futura, Porcelain Drop Tile in blue, $12.99 USD per square foot, missionstonetile.com.

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Light your fire

Tile fireplace surrounds are the thing right now, and paired with contrasting grout, even the simplest of tiles make a glowing statement. Called Zenith, these rectangular tiles are laid in a diagonal rhythm that offsets the clean lines of this room. A patterned face on any fireplace doubles as a feature wall and is a wonderful way to bring in pattern, texture and interest.

Zenith in white with black, $14.49 USD per square foot, cletile.com.

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Old world, indoors and out

They look worn from centuries of wear, but these tiles are brand new. Manufactured to look faded and aged, the budget-friendly tiles are also hard-working. Since they’re frost-resistant, they can be used in many outdoor climates to create a timeless terrace. In a kitchen or entryway, their matte finish and blue variants impart a sense of depth and history to even the youngest of homes.

Klinker Alcazar Helios in blue, $11.63 USD per tile, homedepot.com.

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Updated classic

White tiled backsplashes are a classic. Take yours to a new level with these semi-reflective fire-baked tiles have a lock-and-chain design that pairs linear interest with vertical lift. The glaze is over 50% recycled materials, and the finish is glossy—like a perfect meringue.  

Chaine Homme in white wash, $50 USD per square foot, fireclaytile.com.

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Watercolor meditation

These hand-painted tiles are a splurge. They’re also artistic expression at its purest. Creator Deborah Osborn dips, strokes, stains, and washes each tile with authentic pigments, including indigo pigments and gold verdigris. Called Watermark, each tile is one-of-a-kind. And for that reason, anywhere they go becomes a one-of-a-kind design statement. Combine them in endless ways. The look is dreamy and serene.

Watermark in indigo, $39.00 USD per tile, cletile.com

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Almost art deco

For a clean look with a masculine vibe, stack tiles in three tones to the ceiling. The visual swagger of these large-scale subway tiles is the result of utterly gleaming glaze and undulated surfaces. The room’s bold look is enhanced by its stone and leather accents and a monolith sink. Colour changes in the subway tile are balanced with the over-sized tile selected for the floor.

Manhattan in black gloss and white, $7.20 USD per square foot, artistictile.com.

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Beaming bright

A stretch of vibrant tiles in goldenrod yellow serves as a happy place inside this desert home. This dimensional tile called Diamond, by Heath Ceramics, reaches ceiling-height and suggests the arid blaze beyond the windows. The tile is over-scale and glossy and bold — a perfect counterpoint to the rough-hewn concrete surround and dark hearth. This same tile, laid horizontally, could accentuate width, if you like.

Dimensional Diamond in bright yellow, $78.00 USD per square foot, heathceramics.com.

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