Stunning bathtub surround ideas for Kiwi homes

Written by

14 March 2023

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6 min read

An area of the bathroom that deserves more attention is the tub surround — a tiled area that protects the walls around the bathtub from moisture and everyday wear and tear. While tiles are a great practical remedy to this problem, they also provide an excellent opportunity to be creative and stylish. It’s a chance to impart your personality into your bathroom in a way that is seldom realised to its full potential. It’s also something you can have a lot of fun doing.

The best bathtub surround ideas are bold, creative and exciting. They add a bit of visual detailing that is unique and surprising. They convey your interests and passions, as the homeowner, to make it a more personal space. They increase the design credentials of your home, adding value in more ways the one. And, as these examples show, they can be the finishing touch to a bathroom, elevating it from ordinary to memorable.

A nice mosaic accent wall makes the perfect option for a bathtub surround in Fitzherbert Avenue.

1. Put a twist on the classic subway tile

The subway tile has a classic look that many people love but their popularity means their look has become a little familiar and commonplace in recent times. If you love subway tile but want a more unique interpretation, try a different configuration. Twist the typical layout and go vertical instead of horizontal. You'll still have the simple, clean look of subway tile, but one that will stand out from the rest.

Exquisite use of vertical subway tiles from the Mcintyre Road Project.

2. Flow over the edge of the bathtub

When tiling your tub surround, take it one step further and extend the tile over the edge of your bath. This will turn your basic bathtub tile design into an eye-catching feature. Try this idea with simple white square tiles or get creative with shapes and colours.

Beautiful tile details flowing seamlessly over the edge of the bath in this bathroom in Sandringham.

3. From the floor to the ceiling and more

If you liked the previous idea, try taking it a step further by adding tiles throughout the whole space. We're talking about the walls, the floor, and anywhere else possible. Many people love the look and cohesiveness of one type of ceramic tile throughout an entire bathroom. It creates a flow throughout the space and brings all the elements in the room together.

Mosaic tile bathroom styling from floor to walls and bathtub surrounds create an eye-catching aesthetic.

4. Experiment with shapes

There are a few go-to tile shapes that are often used in bathroom designs, such as square and rectangular tiles. But don't be afraid to experiment with shapes, like hexagonal, when choosing tiles for your bathroom.

You don't have to go too far out of your comfort zone to create a unique look. Try a variation on a classic shape to create a beautiful, timeless space.

Elongated hexagons define the space around this tub in this inner city townhouse.

5. Create the illusion of texture

If your current bathroom design is falling flat, try adding some texture to liven things up. But how do you do that in a bathroom? Aside from towels and a bathmat, there aren't a lot of opportunities to introduce new textures. Well, as you may have guessed, tiles can help you create the illusion of texture. Geometric tiles with depth and texture will add visual interest, making for a stunning modern bathroom.

This master ensuite in Wiri personifies texture and depth with its use of textured bathtub surround tiles.

6. Use trendy colours

Bold colours will continue to be on-trend into 2025, especially strong blues, greens, and pinks. Green is a popular colour for kitchen tiles right now, so why not incorporate it into your bathroom too? A dark green tub surround feels sophisticated and inviting when paired with warm wood tones and clean white walls.

Green is the trendy tile colour of choice flowing from the bathtub and beyond in this Eastbourne residence.

7. Get imaginative with graphic tiles

If you want a tub surround idea that really makes a statement, it’s hard to beat the stylish use of graphic tiles. Most of the time, individual tiles aren't very exciting, but that's not the case when you go graphic. This is your chance to get creative.

You can use tiles with the same graphic pattern or you can have a different pattern on each tile. You can go with a neutral colour scheme or go crazy with colour. You can go with larger tiles or small ones. The only limit is your imagination.

Stunning graphic tiles can mesmerise the eyes in the right hands.

8. Embrace organic beauty with natural stone

Ceramics, porcelain, and glass are some common materials that tile is made from. These types of tiles are great for bathrooms because they're inexpensive and easy to clean. But if you're looking for something a little more unique and luxurious, consider using natural stone tile.

Natural stone tiles, like marble, travertine or granite, will add a sense of organic beauty to your bathroom. The veining and natural imperfections in the surface material of each tile will make your space truly unique.

Related article: The Travertine Buyer's Guide

Natural stone at its dynamic best in this Pemberley home.

9. Make your bathtub niche a focal point

Bathtub and shower niches are popular features in bathrooms, but they often blend into the background. If you have a bathtub niche, take the opportunity to make it stand out.

It's easy to make your bathtub niche a focal point in your bathroom. Instead of using the same tile as the rest of the tub surround, choose a bold-coloured tile or an interesting shape. You may even want to try a mosaic tile design for something personal. To make it stand out even more, use a neutral tile throughout the rest of the bathroom.

The bathroom niche steals the show with superb lighting and tiling in this guest bathroom in Karaka.

10. Use grout to make your tiles stand out

So far we've only talked about tiles, but there is another important tile idea and component to explore — the grout. Grout fills in the small spaces between tiles and helps keep moisture out of your walls. It's known for its practical use, but you can incorporate it into your design scheme.

There are different types of grout and it also comes in many different colours. If you choose a contrasting colour, you can accentuate the shape of your tiles and make them stand out.

Clever use of tiles and grouting in both colour and direction.

11. Mix and match colours

Some bathroom designs will have a simple, neutral colour scheme, but don't be afraid to mix things up. Choose three or more colours to mix and match throughout the space.

Many homeowners avoid using colour because they think it will look too bold, but a colourful space can still be understated and elegant. Try using colour to dress up subway tile. You can also use colour to create zones within your bathroom.

Extremely well balanced mixing and matching of colours in this Adelaide Road bathroom.

Some fantastic bathtub tile surround ideas

We hope you were inspired by these ideas for your bathtub tile surround but don't feel like you have to stick to those on this list. You can find inspiration everywhere, taking cues from other areas of your home, your passions or nature itself. Let your imagination and creativity run wild and you’ll find that you discover something completely new that is unique and meaningful to you.

Discover an exquisite range of high-quality tiles for your bathroom on ArchiPro

(This article was updated on 29 November 2024)