13 Stylish Bathrooms Designed with Encaustic Cement Tile

Bathrooms and cement tiles are a match made in heaven, and today, this post will showcase 13 installations for inspiration. I selected each bathroom to show the versatility of these cement tiles in design. You will see traditional patterns, contemporary designs, and subtle, pattern-free installations that can work with your inspiration and your home's style. Don't miss the design tips and technical information that will help you with your design journey—the table of contents links to each section and bathroom for easy reference.

Table of Contents

• Cement Tiles Provide Timeless Looks in Black, White, and Gray
  • Bathroom #1
  • Bathroom #2
  • Bathroom #3
• Cement Tile Provides Colorful Choices for Bathroom Floors
  • Bathroom #4
  • Bathroom #5
  • Bathroom #6
  • Bathroom #7
  • Bathroom #8
  • Bathroom #9
  • Bathroom #10
• Consider Hexagon Formats for a Unique Look
  • Bathroom #11
  • Bathroom #12
  • Bathroom #13
• Tips for Using Encaustic Cement Tile in Showers and Bathrooms
• Slip Resistance of Cement Tiles in Bathrooms and Showers
• Preventing Efflorescence with Cement Tiles in Wet Areas
• Bonus Bath
• Cement Tiles Provide a Punch with Panache in the Bathroom

Cement tiles continue to be a design trend. It comes as no surprise that everyone loves encaustic cement tile. With so many patterns, colors, and design choices, you can find a tile that captures your style. While cement tile might be hip and trendy, their versatility ensures a look that lasts for years. Here are 13 bathrooms designed with cement tile that feel right at home. 

Cement Tiles Provide Timeless Looks in Black, White, and Gray

Shades of gray or classic black and white remain top color choices for cement tile patterns. Black, white, and gray have broad appeal, allowing bold accents of color to accentuate one's personality. The gray tones in cement tiles provide the right amount of contrast when paired with the natural variation of stone. The colors also pair flawlessly with black and white glazed ceramics. 

The images below demonstrate how cement tiles enhance the bathroom's unique design. Random Hexagons in grayscale are used for a contemporary bath, emphasizing clean lines and an organic feel. A traditional, European-inspired pattern in black and white creates a sophisticated backsplash for a powder room. A designer for a commercial project chose a pattern of interlocking circles for the guest bathrooms and shower floors at the Wythe Hotel in Brooklyn, New York.

Bathroom #1

Random Hexagons in black, white, and gray accent the bathroom wall, and plain black hexagon tiles on the floor create a contemporary and organic look. The random blend of gray, black, and white hexagons on the wall provides a more natural, organic feel that works well with the clean lines of the vanity and sink to make an intriguing contemporary design. Mission 8" Hexagon Cement Tiles are available in over sixty colors and are generally made to order, but a few colors are stocked for quick shipping.

Random Hexagons in black, white, and gray accent the bathroom wall. Plain black hexagon tiles on the floor create a contemporary and organic look.

The traditional Roseton pattern in classic black and white makes a stunning powder room backsplash

The guest bathrooms and shower at the Wythe Hotel in Brooklyn, New York, are bedecked with patterned cement tile

Cement Tile Provides Colorful Choices for Bathroom Floors

You've found Nirvana with cement tile if you love color and patterns. These bathroom designs use calm and bold colors in cool and warm palettes to provide a vibrant, Bohemian feel or an updated look for a traditional bathroom. You'll love how choosing simple or complex patterns with customized colorways creates a design that is all about you! Remember that plain cement tile can create a stunning, subtle, and sophisticated look because of the color variation in each cement tile.

Bathroom #4

This bathroom is an excellent example of how subtle color variations in cement tile create a stunning, sophisticated design. The light green Vert Clair cement tiles are used on two accent walls. The color is both organic and natural, calm and inviting. 8"x8" cement tiles were used in this bathroom. However, other square and rectangular formats are available.

Plain cement tiles in various square and rectangular formats offer a subtle, sophisticated design because of their inherent color variation.

Bathroom #5

This luxurious, spa-like bath pairs natural stone with a contemporary pattern in tranquil, dark blues and grays. The tile accent wall acts as a waterfall that spills or is carried over to the floor. The large, over-sized tub is the cataract's plunge pool. The design uses our Mission Modern Weave B 8"x8" cement tile to create the metaphor.

Create a Luxurious Spa-like Bathroom with Cement Tiles

Bathroom #6

The owners of this residential bathroom embraced patterns and the tranquil colors of blue for the walls and floors of the shower and vanity, adding interest and style. Avente's Mission Madrid Azul Cement Tile is a quarter-design pattern in the gray-blue colors of Clam, Peacock, and Blue. The colors do not have high contrast and help mute the pattern, making it less busy. It is a great choice for the pattern addict or for a pool shower where you want to make a statement or have some fun with the design.

Mission Madrid Azul Creates a Bold Statement when used on Walls and Floors

Bathroom #7

Cement tiles are flexible and work well with just about any style of architecture. This residential bathroom floor uses a traditional Moroccan cement tile pattern updated with blue and white colors. The pattern is our Mission Nasrid in a custom colorway. The updated tile provides a clean, modern look that works well with the bathroom design.

The design team at Lauren Rubin Architecture worked with the homeowner to create the updated look for this bathroom. Lauren Rubin Architecture, based in New York City, New York, is an architecture and design firm specializing in clean modernism with a warm design aesthetic.

Cement tile creates a clean look that works well with this traditional New York City, New York bathroom. Using cement tile, the designer could add subtle patterns and colors to the bathroom. Additionally, the designer maintained a clean, traditional look that complements the glazed white ceramic tile and fixtures.

A Moroccan pattern is updated using only two colors to provide interest for this traditional New York City Bathroom

Bathroom #8

The gracious master bath of this Caribbean island vacation retreat maintains a contemporary open feel by using floating vanities and cement tile rug in two colors. Cement tiles continue to be flexible, current, and modern. The shape and two-tone color palette of the traditional field (Mission Isabella) and border (Mission Alcala) pattern create a classic cement tile rug with a contemporary vibe. The tile rug works nicely in the large rectangular master bath, emphasizing clean lines. Cement tiles are also used in the enclosed shower area.

A gracious master bath maintains a contemporary feel with floating vanities and a cement tile rug.

Bathroom #9

A traditional pattern in a complementary green and brown colorway creates a bathroom with style and interest tailored to your color choices and design. The ability to customize colors gives cement tiles a leg up on glazed tiles. A simple white bathroom has style and character when cement tile flooring is used!

Patterned cement tile colors can be customized to create a unique, tailored look

Bathroom #10

Designer Celia Reiss of Manhattan, NY-based Celia Reiss Interiors recently combined her love of cement tile with her design talent when she incorporated the two into her bathroom. 

The 8"x8" cement floor tiles used in this project are the traditional Mission Artemesia in a custom updated and contemporary colorway of light turquoise and brown. 

Notice how the floor tile wraps up to surround the base of the bath. The tiles carry the pattern on vertical and horizontal surfaces, creating a sophisticated look. Bending the pattern to a different plane doesn't provide a hard edge and makes smaller spaces seem larger. The bath tile is in perfect balance with the floor tile. The antiqued wood vanity with a marble top makes a rich but comfortable space.

New York Designer Ceila Reiss chose our Mission Artemesia Pattern in a custom colorway on the floor and tub surround base

Bathroom #11

This sumptuous, decadent bathroom with a walk-in shower is full of color, pattern, and warmth. The patterned field tile is used wall-to-wall in the bath, but the walk-in shower adds a border to the pattern in a field of warm Tibetan gold. A teacher in Southern California designed this bathroom, and the design choices are top-notch.

Warm colors for this cement tile rug make for a stunning walk-in shower

A traditional pattern with color provides an exotic Bohemian feel for this master bath

Consider Hexagon Formats for a Unique Look

For something unique, different, and almost always fun, consider an alternate format or shape: the sexy, six-sided polygon or hexagon tiles. Remember Bathroom #1? It used random hexagons in gray, black, and white for a contemporary feel. We have over sixty colors of plain hexagon tiles. Additionally, there are patterned hexagon tiles; any pattern can be customized if you have time. Finally, don't forget our inset brass star hexagon cement tiles.

Bathroom #12

Glam it up! Brass stars on white hexagon cement tile create a glitzy bath. Brass fixtures and random brass stars in three sizes create a bathroom with Hollywood glam. The 8" Brass Star Hexagon format has three styles: a small, medium, or large brass star is inset on the surface of the white hexagon tile. The small, medium, and large Brass Star Hexagon tiles create a glamorous, star-studded look that will make your bath a real show-stopper. Our featured bathroom uses the plain white hexagon blended with the white brass star hexagons using random-sized brass stars. Oh! La! La!

Brass Fixtures and Brass Stars on White Hexagons Create a Bath with Hollywood Glam

White Hexagon Cement Tiles with Brass Stars Sparkle on the Bath Walls

Bathroom #13

One of our most popular hexagon patterns, the Bakery Hexagon, is also a top bathroom choice. Navy is the top-selling colorway for bathrooms, followed by other blues. Our customers can't be wrong, with so many designers and homeowners choosing this pattern. 

Bakery Navy Hexagon Floor Tiles Provide Interest

The Bold Navy Color and Starburst Pattern are the Star of this Bath

Tips for Using Encaustic Cement Tile in Showers and Bathrooms

These colorful, timeless tiles are more popular than ever and can be used anywhere. The most common question is, "Can I use them in my shower or bath?" The answer is definitely "Yes!" Cement tiles can also be used in wet areas such as the bathroom floor, shower floor, shower wall, steam room, or sauna. However, these tiles must be sealed with a penetrating or impregnating sealer after installation because they are porous. You may also want to seal them with a penetrating sealer before installing them to avoid staining problems during installation and make clean-up easier after grouting. Remember, cement or concrete tiles (as they are more accurately called) are not glazed or fired, like the ubiquitous ceramic or porcelain tile.

While encaustic tiles may be a top trend at the moment, they have been around since the late 1800s. They are still hand-made and manufactured using the same process. However, it is vital to distinguish encaustic cement tile from encaustic tile. Encaustic tiles have been around since the Middle Ages and are made using two or more different colors of clay in the body of the tile. Cement tiles or encaustic cement tiles are made by pouring pigmented concrete into a mold, and then each tile is hydraulically pressed. Encaustic or clay encaustic tiles are fired and freeze-thaw resistant; encaustic cement tiles are not.

Slip Resistance of Cement Tiles in Bathrooms and Showers

When wet, cement tiles can become slippery. Cement tiles have been used on the floors of both commercial and residential bathrooms and showers without problems. The tiles perform well in wet applications. However, to improve slip resistance, consider these recommendations when using cement tiles in wet areas, especially for commercial applications:

1. Consider using raw or unpolished tiles from the manufacturer
2. After grouting, the installer should minimize buffing or polishing the tiles in the final installation stage. The more you buff or polish the tile, the smoother it becomes.
3. Always seal with a penetrating sealer and avoid top-coat sealers on wet floor applications. Top-coat sealers may make the tile less resistant to slips.

Slip Resistance Testing and Standards of Cement Tile

Our cement tiles are tested to meet slip resistance requirements. However, this standard has been changed. Before 2014, floor slip resistance testing was done according to a specific testing standard (ASTM method C 1028). The test measures the tile's coefficient of friction or resistance to slip accidents in wet and dry conditions. In the USA, architects and designers generally required a wet static coefficient of friction to be 0.60 or higher. Unpolished or raw cement tiles typically have an average coefficient of friction (wet) between 0.80 - 0.90. Polished tiles have an average coefficient of friction (wet) between 0.65 - 0.75.

Preventing Efflorescence with Cement Tiles in Wet Areas

Moisture passing through cement tiles can activate the minerals in the cement. As the water evaporates, the salts are left behind on the tiles' surface, leaving a white, powdery substance called efflorescence. To prevent efflorescence in wet areas, it is vital to seal the tiles thoroughly and ensure an adequate moisture barrier is part of the substrate design.

Avoid Colored Grout

Avoid using high-contrast grout with cement tiles. The rule of thumb is that if you choose colored grout, make sure that the grout color is the lightest in the pattern. Otherwise, the pigments in the grout can stain the tile. I recommend using Natural Gray grout or unpigmented gray grout. The grout color isn't essential when using pattern tiles. You want to emphasize the pattern on the tile, not the grout lines. When using black and white tiles, NEVER use black grout. It will stain the white tile and can't be removed.

Bonus Bathroom

You are ready to start your bathroom project if you are still reading. Thanks for sticking with me; you deserve a bonus! So here it is, the Bonus Bathroom (or Bathroom #14). This tiny bathroom is for the pattern addict and is a reasonably complex installation using borders you don't see too often. The border frames the vertical walls and floor. It illustrates that a pattern can be on every wall and the floor of a small bathroom, and the design works exceptionally well!

This incredibly complex design for the pattern addict a field and border tile on the floor and walls

Cement Tiles Provide a Punch with Panache in the Bathroom

Regardless of your tastes or your home's architectural style, cement tile can work to create a bathroom design you'll love! These patterned and plain bathroom floor tiles are a great accent to maintain a clean, contemporary look. In addition, they effortlessly provide an array of patterns and colors to create a design rich in detail found in traditional designs. One thing is sure: cement tile always delivers eye-dropping beauty with the right amount of panache.

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Editor's Note: Originally published on March 29, 2016, today's update includes fresh images, new installations, content changes for readability or clarification, and improved navigation.