2025's Hottest Shower Tile Trends: From Timeless Classics to Bold New Designs

Ready to transform your shower into a stunning sanctuary? The latest episode of the Belk Tile Podcast takes you on a deep dive into what's trending for 2025 shower wall designs, with practical advice that balances beauty and functionality.

Subway tiles—the "little black dress of bathrooms"—continue their reign but with fresh twists. Vertical installations are making waves in smaller spaces, creating the illusion of height while maintaining that timeless appeal. Meanwhile, large-format marble tiles deliver luxury for those seeking a spa-like retreat, though marble-look porcelain offers the same aesthetic with far less maintenance headache (and fewer grout lines to scrub!).

For the design adventurous, geometric patterns are having a moment. Hexagons, Moroccan fish scales, and penny rounds add personality without overwhelming when used as accents in niches or feature walls. Textured and 3D tiles create stunning light play and dimension, though Mike and Abby don't shy away from the cleaning realities—keep that soft brush handy! The conversation gets practical with material comparisons (porcelain still reigns supreme), the epoxy versus cement grout debate, and why proper waterproofing behind those beautiful tiles is absolutely non-negotiable.

Whether you're planning a complete bathroom renovation or just dreaming of upgrading your shower space, this episode delivers the perfect blend of design inspiration and practical know-how. From material selection to maintenance tips, we've got you covered. Have a specific tile question? Reach out and we might feature your question on our next episode! Connect with us at belktile.com or find us on social media @BelkTile.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
What kind of tile can you put on the wall or shower?
Do you have to seal tile?
How much extra tile should Ibuy for my project?
What thinset is the best for mytile application?
How hard is it to maintainnatural stone?
You have questions.
We have answers.
Welcome to the Belt TilePodcast.

(00:22):
How to style the bathroom, thebackyard, the kitchen, how to
improve your home style withtiles to make your home
absolutely beautiful?
Welcome to the Belk TilePodcast.
Here's your host, Mike Belk.

Mike (00:43):
Hey everyone, welcome back to the Belk Tile Podcast.
I'm Mike Belk and, as always,I'm here with Abby.
Today we're diving into 2025'sbest shower wall tile designs.
There's a lot to cover, solet's get right into it.

Abby (00:55):
Hey, mike, I am so excited for this one.
I feel like every year we saythis is the year of the shower,
but honestly, 2025 is bringingsome really fun twists on the
classics.
And you know, I still getclients asking for subway tile
all the time.
It's like the little blackdress of bathrooms, right?

Mike (01:10):
Absolutely.
Subway tiles just never go outof style.
They're affordable, easy toclean and you can do so much
with them.
But I think what's really coolthis year is how people are
playing with the layout verticalstacks, herringbone, even
mixing in colored grout.

Abby (01:30):
It keeps things fresh without losing that timeless
vibe Totally.
I just wrapped up a project inNew Jersey tiny bathroom, maybe
five by seven.
We went with a vertical subwaytile soft sage green and a crisp
white grout.
It made the ceiling feel somuch higher the client was blown
away.
It's such a simple shift but itreally changes the whole feel
of the space.

Mike (01:45):
Yeah, vertical layouts are a game changer for small spaces
.
And speaking of luxury, largeformat marble tiles are still
huge.
No pun intended, they just makea shower feel like a spa.
But you know, not everyonewants to deal with the
maintenance or the price tag ofreal marble.

Abby (01:59):
Right, and that's where marble look porcelain comes in.
You get that gorgeous veining,but it's way easier to care for.
Plus, fewer grout lines, whichmeans less scrubbing.
I feel like that's a win foreveryone.

Mike (02:10):
Exactly, and with all the advances in porcelain printing,
sometimes you have to get rightup close to even tell it's not
real stone.
So whether you're a classicsubway tile fan or you want that
marble spa, look, there are somany ways to put a fresh spin on
the classics this year spa.

Abby (02:24):
Look, there are so many ways to put a fresh spin on the
classics this year.
So let's talk about the funstuff.
Patterns and shapes I meangeometric tiles are everywhere
right now Hexagons, chevrons,even those Moroccan fish scales.
It's like if you can dream it,you can tile it.

Mike (02:36):
Yeah, and I think people are getting braver with their
choices.
I had a customer in Columbuswho used penny round mosaics in
a shower niche.
It brought in this vintagecharm but because it was just in
the niche it didn't overwhelmthe space.
Plus, penny rounds are actuallypretty easy to keep clean in
those small areas.

Abby (02:52):
That's such a good point.
I always tell clients if you'renervous about going bold, use
those statement tiles as accents, like do a feature wall or just
the back of a niche.
That way you get thepersonality without it taking
over the whole room.

Mike (03:05):
And don't forget about texture.
3d tiles are really making asplash, literally and
figuratively.
You get that play of light andshadow which adds so much depth.
But I mean you do have to beready for a little extra
cleaning in those grooves.

Abby (03:17):
Yeah, I always warn people textured tiles are stunning,
but you might need a soft brushfor those nooks and crannies.
Still, if you want your showerto feel like an art installation
, it's worth it.
And herringbone layouts arestill going strong too.
Even with simple white tiles,that pattern just elevates
everything.

Mike (03:35):
For sure.
And hexagons can't forget those.
They're modern but not tootrendy, and you can do so much
with color blocking or even justa single color for a subtle
look.
Moroccan fish scales too, ifyou want something playful or
coastal, Just you know, maybedon't do the whole shower in
them unless you really love thelook.

Abby (03:52):
Exactly, it's all about balance.
Use those bold shapes andpatterns to create a focal point
and keep the rest of the spacea little more subdued.
That way, your shower feelsspecial, but not overwhelming.

Mike (04:03):
All right, so we've talked about the fun design stuff, but
let's get real.
Materials and maintenancematter just as much.
Porcelain is still the king forshower walls.
It's durable, low maintenanceand you can get it in just about
any look, from marble to woodgrain.

Abby (04:16):
Yeah, and glass tiles are gorgeous, especially for adding
light and color, but they doshow water spots.
I always tell people, if you gowith glass, keep a squeegee
handy.
Natural stone is beautiful, butit needs regular sealing at
least once a year, sometimesmore if your water's hard.

Mike (04:31):
And textured tiles, like we mentioned, need a little
extra attention.
A soft brush and a pH neutralcleaner go a long way but
honestly, if you keep up withweekly cleaning, most tiles will
look great for years.

Abby (04:41):
Okay, mike, I get this question all the time.
What's your take on grout epoxy?

Mike (04:49):
Yeah, that's a big one.
Epoxy grout is super waterresistant and doesn't stain, so
it's great for showers, but it'sa little trickier to install.
Sealed cement grout is moretraditional and easier to work
with, but you have to keep upwith resealing.
I usually say, if you're doinga DIY project, go with cement
and just stay on top of themaintenance.
If you're hiring a pro, epoxyis worth considering.

Abby (05:15):
And grout color makes such a difference too.
Contrasting grout can reallymake a pattern pop, but lighter
grout gives you that seamless,spa-like look.
Just remember lighter groutwill show dirt faster, so be
ready for a little more cleaning.

Mike (05:25):
And don't skip the waterproofing step.
I know we've said it before,but a good membrane system
behind your tile isnon-negotiable.
It protects your investment andkeeps mold at bay.
It's not the glamorous part,but it's what makes all those
beautiful tiles last.

Abby (05:38):
Absolutely and honestly.
A little maintenance goes along way Weekly wipe downs, ph
neutral cleaners and keeping aneye on your grout and sealant.
It's not glamorous, but itkeeps your shower looking brand
new.

Mike (05:50):
All right, I think that's a wrap for today.
We covered a lot timelessclassics, bold new trends and
the nitty gritty of keeping yourshower looking great.
Abby, always a pleasure talkingtile with you.

Abby (06:00):
Same here, mike, and thanks to everyone for tuning in
.
If you have questions or wantus to cover a specific topic,
let us know.
We'll be back soon with moreTile Talk.
Take care, mike.

Mike (06:10):
Take care Abby, See you next time, everyone.

Speaker 1 (06:13):
You've been listening to the Belk Tile Podcast.
When it comes to creating abeautiful home using tile, this
is the podcast for products,design ideas and tips.
We hope you got some useful,practical information from this
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The website is wwwbelktilecom.

(06:36):
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