Tile trends: Retro blue tiling

With colour-drenching and rich tones continuing to be a trend going into 2024, another popular style when it comes to tiling is the retro look. As with other areas of interior design, the retro or vintage trend is one which seems to be here to stay for a while. Indeed, when times are uncertain, we often turn to the past, where familiarity creates comfort and enhances our mood, so choosing to go retro in our homes makes a lot of sense.

In this blog, we’ll subsequently be looking at the retro blue tile trend, which looks set to be making waves in 2024. Blue can sometimes be associated with a colder look, but we’re here to dispel a few myths about this compelling colour. With this in mind, be sure to read to the end to find out how you can use blue in your home to create an exquisite interior …

Blue is a calming colour which works well in bathrooms and evokes a sense of relaxation.

Create a calming ambience with gentle hues of blue

Known as a calming colour, blue is a versatile tone which is ideal for bathrooms and those spaces in your home where you want to create a more relaxing ambience. Paired with the right décor, you can therefore use this colour palette to create a tranquil interior which inspires and soothes – and there are lots of interesting ways in which you can introduce the shade to your home.

From brighter, bolder blues, to lighter shades and those with added texture and patterning, there are many variations to inspire. You can also mix and match these with other colours for contrast or use different hues within the blue colour palette to create a more cohesive look.

If you want to add some vintage charm to your home, then retro blue is ideal – and if you want to modernise the look, then that can be done as well.

The Essenza Blue Shiny Metro Tile will uplift your bathroom.

For example, the Essenza Blue Shiny Metro Tile has the classic metro/subway style which gives them a timeless aesthetic, while the bold blue tone is bright and refreshing. With a crackle-effect design which gives added texture via the fine etchings in the background of the tiles, these will rejuvenate your bathroom and add instant visual interest.

The gloss finish also makes them easy to clean, while you can use them on both walls and floors, so they’re very versatile. Ideal for creating a feature area around a vanity unit or for making a statement wall, the Essenza Blue Tiles can be laid in a brick or chevron-style format as well as in a straight pattern, either horizontally or vertically.

Another gloss tile which will bring the calming hues of blue to your bathroom is the Cool Blue Brick Effect Wall Tile, which has smaller tile sizes, in contrast to the metro tile style of the Essenza.

These small square-shaped tiles feature an undulating blue tone which has the appearance of water, while the gloss finish further adds to this aesthetic and delivers a sleek texture. The overall look is one which has depth and visual interest and is perfect for feature walls or splash-backs, with that soothing ripple-effect aesthetic.

The Cool Blue Brick-effect Wall Tiles feature various blue tones and have a small-format square shape.

Perfect for creating a feature wall in your bathroom, the Cool Blue Brick-effect Wall Tiles evoke the colours of the ocean.

If you prefer something with more detail, however, then you can get the retro blue look with the patterned design of the Montmartre Ceil Fleurs Decor Rectified Tile in Blue Ceramic. Featuring a leaf design, this tile definitely delivers on the vintage look, while the matt finish and large-format size gives it a modern twist.

With rectified edges, this gives the tiles a more precise finish which means cleaner lines when laid and less grouting required. As a result, the look is more seamless and the effect more visually arresting when the tiles are placed on the wall.

Again, you can create a feature wall with this tile for a dramatic focal point in your room – whether it’s the bathroom or otherwise – or go for bold and use it on multiple walls for a nature-inspired look which incorporates that calming blue trend.

While blue is not the only shade in these tiles, it forms the base to the design, incorporating various blue tones which are then complemented by more neutral browns, whites and greys. These help to make the blue stand out, highlighting it as the feature colour in the design without being overpowering.

Another patterned blue ceramic tile with retro vibes is the Mijas Celeste Pattern Tile which has a pale blue base with white lined squares on top, interspersed with a white petal-shaped design. Suitable for both walls and floors, this is a pretty square tile in a smaller size, with a matt finish which will create an airy, spacious vibe within your room.

The Mijas Celeste Pattern Tile has a light-blue background with white detailing.

Bring the benefits of blue into your bathroom

Every colour has an effect on our mood and blue has been proven to induce a sense of calm and relaxation, with research showing the positive mood-boosting effects it has on us.

Introducing it into your home is therefore a great way to instill a sense of tranquility and is a particularly great idea if you want to create a spa-like vibe in your bathroom. Paired with white, blue can subsequently inspire a sense of wellbeing and peacefulness – while picking more retro styles can add that comforting, reassuring feeling.

Choose blue to create an environment which inspires:

• Calm
• Relaxation
• A sense of stability
• Peacefulness
• Serenity
• Loyalty
• Reduction in stress

Whether you go for darker or lighter tones, blue is proven to have a soothing effect on our mood.

With blue shown to reduce our blood pressure and heartrate, it’s a natural mood-enhancer and helps to reduce our stress levels. Indeed, recent studies have suggested that blue spaces, such as the sea and lakes, are actually more beneficial to our mental wellbeing than green spaces.

As a colour which neutralises our melatonin levels, blue is therefore great for bathrooms as it acts as a refresher to our senses in the mornings, when our melatonin levels are lower, giving us a boost. Meanwhile, at nighttime, when our melatonin levels are much higher and we’re trying to wind down, blue acts as a soother and relaxer, helping to calm and prepare us for sleep.

So, if you want to enhance your mood as well as adding a pop of colour to your home, then blue is an inspired tone for bathrooms, bedrooms and other interiors.

Marble-effect blue tiling

The Atlantida Blue Polished Rectified Tile has a marble-effect design and large-format size.

For a more statement look which exudes a sense of opulence, the marble-effect design of the Atlantida Blue Polished Rectified Tile in Blue Porcelain is perfect for creating a luxury vibe without the hefty price tag.

These large-format gloss tiles feature a darker blue base with swirls of amber and white giving it that popular marble aesthetic, adding texture and depth to the design. Requiring minimal grouting and with rectified edges, this gives the tiles a more precise and cohesive look which helps to create a seamless aesthetic.

The Atlantida Blue Polished Rectified Tile has a darker blue base with amber and white threaded throughout.

Browse our blue tiles online

Whether you like a patterned, pale or more vibrant look, there are lots of ways to bring blue into your bathroom and other interiors within your home. At Tileshack, we have a wide range of tiles in an array of colours, with different designs, shapes and finishes available, so there’s something to suit every preference.

If you need any help with choosing your tiles, then our friendly team is always on hand to help and to recommend colour pairings if you need any inspiration.

If you’d like some advice on choosing blue or any other tiles for your bathroom, just drop into one of our showrooms and chat to our team. Alternatively, email us at info@bathshack.com, call (028) 9077 0188, or use our online chat.