You’ve seen countless homes with a simple tiled kitchen backsplash, a tiled bathroom floor or even a tiled fireplace surround. But now? Homeowners are thinking a bit more outside of the box. They’re embracing unexpected tile applications, and the latest example is tile drenching.
The concept is simple: Cover or “drench” a room (or most of the room) in tile for a dramatic effect. You can pick the same tile or a few different tiles with similar colors or patterns. Imagine a bathroom with floor-to-ceiling tile or a kitchen backsplash that extends all the way to the ceiling.
“Drenching a space in tile creates architectural coherence in a way that feels both effortless and grand,” says designer Erin Williamson of Erin Williamson Design. “From an aesthetic perspective, simplifying materials unifies a space and lends a sense of permanence because it presents a single, definitive point of view.”
Why Is It Popular Now?
So why is this specific design trend all the rage now? For one, it’s about practicality. It removes the frustration that comes along with choosing multiple materials. “Repeating the same tile greatly reduces the number of choices needed when designing a space – it’s almost impossible to make a mistake since every choice coordinates with itself,” says Williamson.
Plus, any room can benefit from the eye-catching look, according to designer Aimee Meisgeier of AM Interior Design. “Tile drenching works in both large and small areas,” she says.
It’s also in line with similar buzzy design trends, including color and pattern drenching, Meisgeier adds. “It provides the same opulent and stylish look that the latter two trends achieve in a space, both which have proven to be so well liked in recent years,” she says. “It was only a matter of time before tile drenching followed suit as well!”
How to Nail the Trend
Here, pros share some tips to keep in mind when putting the tile drenching trend to the test in your own space.
- Choose your tiles wisely. “The key is selecting a tile with tonal variation or texture, like a hand-glazed or embossed finish, to avoid a flat effect,” says Courtney. Meisgeier agrees, sharing that if she’s using multiple tiles in a space, she picks the dominant one first: “I start to conceptualize a tile drenching design by finding a tile that I know I want to use as the main focal point in the space,” she says. “Once that has been determined, I look for other tiles that have complementary colors to achieve balance.”
- Don’t overlook durability. “Because it’s being permanently installed on multiple surfaces, it’s critical to ensure your chosen material is rated for use on all of them. For example, a significant amount of wall tile can’t be used on floors. Likewise steam showers, outdoor spaces and materials that transition to countertops, all require special consideration,” says Williamson. “If you’re designing a bathroom or kitchen, steer clear of porous or highly textured stones that can be hard to clean or absorb moisture. Beautiful design should always live hand in hand with how a space is actually used,” says Britany Simon of Britany Simon Design.
- Pick the right space. “The tile drenching approach works best in contained spaces like powder rooms, showers and bath niches, where you can lean into bold design without overwhelming the space,”says Amy Courtney of Amy Courtney Design.
- Think floor-to-ceiling. “Using a decorative tile floor to ceiling is one of my favorite ways to make a small space feel more intentional and visually cohesive. It draws the eye upward, creating the illusion of height while also adding that extra layer of design detail that makes the space feel thoughtfully styled and complete,” says Simon.
- Highlight a room’s quirks. “Unusually shaped rooms with low sloped ceilings or dormers are a great opportunity to transform an awkward space into something special,” says Williamson. “It seems counterintuitive, but a lack of contrast between materials can actually create the perception of a larger space by blurring the edges and contours of the room.”
- Aim for a “jewel box” treatment. “If you’ve ever worried about going too dark or fanciful in a highly visible space, a small enclosed room is the perfect place to go bold and create an immersive jewel box moment. After all, who doesn’t love opening a door to a grand and unexpected surprise?” says Williamson.
Monique Valeris is the home design director for Good Housekeeping, where she oversees the brand’s home decorating coverage across print and digital. Prior to joining GH in 2020, she was the digital editor at Elle Decor. In her current role, she explores everything from design trends and home tours to lifestyle product recommendations, including writing her monthly column, “What’s in My Cart.”
