The Calming Tile Color Trend That's Replacing The All-White Look

Looking back at interior color trends over the past couple of decades, light, fresh, and airy shades have dominated the airwaves. We've seen every iteration of bright white on white (with perhaps a hint of silvery cool gray) that could possibly be dreamed up. It started as a welcome change of pace from the overbearing Tuscan-style golden beiges and tans so prevalent in the 1990s and early 2000s. But these once-novel white shades quickly turned sterile when mass popularity made them painfully ubiquitous. To say we all anticipated (more like begged for) a shift toward shades with more depth and warmth is an understatement. And here we are, seeing people embracing tones with more nuance, sophistication, and interest than their bland counterparts.

So when it comes to making decisions for more permanent features like tile, the goal is to choose something with staying power that also makes your heart sing. As an interior designer, I've noticed that today's homeowners are making their new preferences abundantly clear and are saying farewell to boring kitchen and bathroom tile. Many are leaving basic white subway tile behind and opting for soothing yet inspiring tile tones with nature-based nuance. But just because we're moving away from cool whites doesn't mean the tile trend has ditched neutrals altogether, nor has the pendulum swung back to oversaturated 90s tans. Instead, we are finding ourselves in a calming yet chic middle ground. New tile trends are showcasing outdoor-inspired neutrals with warmer undertones and dynamic earth tone colors.

Based on this design movement toward warmth and depth, I think it should come as no surprise that homeowners are choosing tile in timeless organic neutrals and earthy shades inspired by nature. So what does this mean exactly? Are we headed back to rooms decked out in that muddy, tan faux-travertine? Thankfully, no. (Though no complaints from me about less-saturated large-format natural Travertine.) But we also aren't stuck with the pure white-on-white color scheme, a design trend that's now dating bathrooms and kitchens. The tiles taking today's design scene by storm are the perfect happy medium. They maintain the cleanliness of white, but soften it with warmth, elegance, and soothing earth-inspired neutrals. 

From creamier whites to oatmeal, bone, greige, clay, and other peaceful, natural tones, today's neutral tiles are a richer take on sterile white tile. In addition, many are digging the imperfection and variation that's inherent in handmade tiles, such as the ever-popular zellige. Tiles designed with a variety of tones in the same color family bring a layered complexity while still maintaining the tranquility of a nature-based neutral. But don't be fooled. The appeal of soothing earth tone tiles doesn't stop at neutrals, nor does it even halt at soft, light shades. If the color has strong ties to nature, it's fair game for today's hottest tile picks.

I have always felt that by introducing color that feels connected to the outdoors, you create a dynamic, visually exciting feast for the eyes. This doesn't overstimulate the senses thanks to the grounding indoor-outdoor harmony. From light and subtle to deep and moody, most of these organic hues hover in the low to medium saturation range. By sticking to those crucial but not limiting guidelines, the color palettes tile companies have grown to offer are pretty staggering — and just plain pretty!

Greens have taken the world by storm over the past decade, and tile is certainly not immune. Perhaps one of the most prevalent colors in nature, thanks to trees, grass, and other foliage, green's indoor-outdoor association is strong. So from soft grayed-out sages to deep forest, green tiles feel calming, earthy, and stunning in any room. Similarly, a return to earthy brown shades has taken place over the past couple of years, though not in quite the same saturated manner it did in the past. Today's interiors are showcasing tile tones from nuanced mushroom and taupes to mid-tone chocolate and coffee shades, all deeply connected to nature. Similarly, blue evokes images of water and sky, making tiles in shades from soft sky to moody midnight all effortlessly perfect. Add terracotta, dusty soft blush, and desaturated mustard to the mix, and you get a beautiful palette of earth-inspired hues perfect for your next tile project.