Black And White Tile Ideas For Every Bathroom

A Farmhouse Refresh

When starting with a blank slate, it helps to have a strong aesthetic endgame in mind, as Maison de Pax blogger Rachel Paxton did for the attic bath in her family’s 1984 ranch outside Austin, TX. “I knew I wanted a mix of black and white, with wood for the rustic charm that just feels right in this little farmhouse,” says Rachel. Carving out space for the necessities—a sink and a toilet—as well as some luxuries—a claw-foot tub and a large shower—was a challenge with a ceiling that slopes to a low of 5½ feet. Using white subway tile on the walls and white penny rounds underfoot keeps the windowless space light and bright. Frameless-glass shower panels preserve the open feeling, with the tub nestled in a cozy alcove. “I couldn’t be more pleased,” Rachel says of the result. “It feels classic and modern, retro and rustic, all at the same time.”

What they did

Finishing a huge attic space included building this 88-square-foot shared bath. Following the pitch of the roof, walls were framed to tap the usable ceiling height, which ranges from 51/2 to 8 feet high.

Modern Medley

From a design perspective, using wood in an otherwise all black-and-white color scheme can create some warmth—so say the pros at Chicago’s Chi Renovation & Design, who created the sleek update on these pages. Reimagining a 15-year-old builder-grade bath to suit the homeowner’s needs, the design team used rift-sawn white oak cabinetry to complement two sizes of hex-shaped black tile on the floors and to-the-ceiling swaths of elongated white subway tile on the walls. Matte-black fixtures and hardware add a subtle industrial feel, while globe-style sconces soften all the linear shapes. The result: a timeless update that will feel right for years to come.

What they did

Before the renovation, the bath had a double vanity with a tub on one side and a cramped corner shower on the other. Scrapping the tub—which the homeowner had no use for—opened up new possibilities in the 60-square-foot space.

Airy and Bright

Few new homeowners love everything about the house they move into, even if it’s their dream home. For Erin Wheeler, the primary bath, awash in a late-1980s sea of brown granite, was the big disappointment. The Sunny Circle Studio blogger envisioned a classic-yet-modern makeover that would suit her traditional-style home in Raleigh, NC. While the reno kept all the fixture locations the same, removing a built-in tub and a pair of ceiling soffits really helped open up the 201-square-foot space. Rather than cover all the walls in gleaming white tile, Erin clad the sink wall with white shiplap to add some not-so-hard, clean-lined texture. “I love how everything feels bright and clean, but also warm and organic, thanks to the brass fixtures and hardware,” Erin says. “It’s a very nice place to be on a daily basis.”

What they did

Clearing out ceiling soffits and a step-up tub platform opened up the roughly 200-square-foot bath. White tile created a clean, bright background for touches of black and brass, which add contrast.