With thousands of tile options available—different colors, sizes, finishes, patterns, and materials—choosing the right one for your bathroom, kitchen, or mudroom can feel overwhelming. Fortunately, interior designer Amanda LaRose has a strategy to make the process easier: start with the accent tile.
“Accent tile can actually be a great place to start,” says Amanda, “because you can use that as the guide to support your remaining choices.” Whether it’s a bold patterned floor tile in a mudroom or a colorful mosaic for a shower niche, accent tile often sparks a strong emotional response. People instinctively know what they like—or don’t—when it comes to a dramatic or unique tile, which makes the decision more intuitive. Once that focal point is chosen, the surrounding field tiles (those that cover more surface area) are selected to complement it in a more subtle and cohesive way.
But what if you don’t have a specific accent tile in mind? In that case, Amanda recommends starting with the overall aesthetic you’re drawn to. “This is where inspiration photos from Pinterest or design magazines are incredibly helpful,” she says. Looking at visual examples helps you and your designer zero in on patterns, textures, and palettes you gravitate toward naturally. From there, it’s all about refining your options based on the room’s size and function, construction details, and budget—ideally with the help of a showroom or tile specialist who can provide curated samples.
We are excited to share how the Gallagher Remodeling team has used tile in some of our past projects.
Primary Suite Retreat
The homeowners of this gorgeous new bathroom (pictured below) have a colorful and youthful style reflected in the strong green tile. It wasn’t a particularly expensive tile, and a striking aesthetic was achieved by installing it in a more modern pattern and by pairing it with plumbing fixtures with an exquisite and complementary finish.
See the project.
Modern Shower
This modern shower has large-format, bold tile in the homeowner’s primary suite. Each piece of the Porcelanosa textured shower tile is 18”x47” – large format tile is tricky to install but it adds huge visual impact. The shower floor is basalt, a natural stone.
See the project.
Classic Bathroom
These homeowners desired a neutral palette that was open and airy, using warm beige tones instead of gray. This clean, neutral palette is a suitable backdrop to amplify decorative features and accents the homeowners may want to add.
See the project.
Statement Tile
The entire wall of this bathroom features scalloped marble tile. A linear drain is concealed by the wood-style tile floor.
See the project.
Inspired by the Sea
This bathroom has mesmerizing tile in shades of blue and was part of a whole home renovation.
See the project.
Bold Backsplash
These homeowners chose a stunning tile in shades of blue that adds energy and interest to the wall splash, which is often a receding design element.
See the project.
Mudroom Tile
Mudroom tile should hide the dirt, but it doesn’t need to be boring. The herringbone pattern of this mudroom floor adds interest.
See the project.
Stunning Shower
This shower tile had added interest in the herringbone pattern, but this time it’s the bold shades of blue and teal that steal the show.
See the project.
We hope you’ve found some inspiration in these projects. Get in touch if you’d like to discuss your next remodeling project!