Kitchens and bathrooms are the rooms that sell houses — and the tiles are a big part of how they look and how well they last. Whether you’re building or renovating on the Sunshine Coast, it’s worth knowing the main tile materials and styles before you start comparing individual tiles.
Tiles used to be chosen mainly for practical reasons: durability, easy cleaning and water resistance. Those still matter — especially in our humid coastal climate — but the look matters just as much. Here’s a quick run-through of the most common materials and styles for bathrooms and kitchens. For a more detailed comparison of bathroom options, see our guide to the 10 best bathroom tile options for Sunshine Coast homes.
Popular tile materials
1. Porcelain
Porcelain is dense, hard-wearing and absorbs very little water, so it doesn’t need sealing and suits busy floors in bathrooms, kitchens and living areas. It comes in a huge range of colours, sizes and finishes — including stone, marble, concrete and timber looks — which makes it the most versatile choice for a whole-house renovation.
2. Ceramic
Ceramic is made from similar clays to porcelain but is less dense, so it’s usually more affordable, lighter and easier to cut. That makes it a favourite for walls and splashbacks — white brick-style and subway tiles are classic examples. Browse our ceramics, subways and feature tiles.
3. Marble
Few materials look as timeless as marble. It’s a softer, more porous stone than many people expect, though, so it can scratch, etch (lemon juice and some cleaners will dull the surface) and stain unless it’s sealed. In a bathroom, a honed finish is safer underfoot than a polished one. If you want the look without the upkeep, marble-look tiles are the low-maintenance alternative.
4. Limestone and travertine
Both have a soft, natural look that suits coastal homes, and both are porous, so they need to be well sealed for a bathroom and resealed over time. Travertine’s natural pits give it a textured, relaxed feel; limestone is smoother and more even. See our natural stone range, or our guide to natural stone vs porcelain for a coastal home.
5. Terracotta
Terracotta brings warm, earthy colour to a floor, and shaped tiles such as our Mexican Terracotta Hexagons add pattern as well. It’s porous, so it needs sealing — particularly in a kitchen or bathroom. Browse our terracotta tiles.
Popular tile styles and patterns
6. Decorated and floral tiles
Not all patterned tiles are roses and daisies — many decorated tiles have a vintage, Mediterranean feel. On a floor, a feature wall or a splashback, they give a room instant personality. For ideas on using pattern in a bathroom, see our patterned bathroom floor tile ideas.
7. Herringbone and chevron
Herringbone is traditionally a timber floor pattern, but it’s now widely used on bathroom floors, feature walls and kitchen splashbacks. You can lay it with standard rectangular or subway tiles, or use ready-made mosaic sheets such as our Micro Herringbone marble mosaics. Chevron is similar, but with the tile ends cut on an angle so they meet in a clean point.
8. Handmade looks: zellige and bejmat
Crisp white tiles with clean lines look neat, but a handmade-look tile adds life. Zellige and bejmat tiles have uneven surfaces and edges, so each one catches the light a little differently — ideal for splashbacks and shower walls.
9. Fluted tiles
Fluted tiles have a ribbed profile that adds texture and shadow to a wall — a subtle way to create a feature behind a vanity, bath or kitchen bench. Our range includes Luxa Fluted and Suna Fluted.
10. Plaster and concrete looks
Rendered-plaster, Venetian plaster and concrete-look tiles give a soft, modern finish without the upkeep of the real material. Browse our cement, plaster and terrazzo-look tiles, or read about Venetian plaster tiles in bathrooms.
See the range in Coolum Beach
From Venetian plaster looks and white brick-style ceramics to timber wood effect tiles, there are plenty of options for your next bathroom or kitchen project. Natural Tile & Bathrooms sources tiles from around the world — visit our showroom in Coolum Beach to see the range in person, or browse our tile collection online.
