Top 5 Tips for Luxury Tile Design on a Budget

Dreaming of a luxurious reno, but worried about the cost? Create the space of your dreams on a real-life budget with these five smart tips.

1. Enhance the Spaces That Elevate Your Day

When approaching any design, it’s important to assess what you value so you know where to invest. If you don’t have the budget for a whole-home makeover, start with the spaces where you begin your day or the rooms where you spend the most time. You probably start your day in the kitchen or bathroom, where you make coffee or take a shower. Choosing a design that invigorates you can help you put your best foot forward each morning.

This stunning kitchen features a large-format Magma Chill Antic tile backsplash. The expressive stone-look design mimics the appearance of a single slab of marble, but at just $10.19/sq. ft., the oversized porcelain tile embodies accessible luxury. On the floor, wood-look Arbour Midlands Hickory Tavern luxury vinyl ($3.09/sq. ft.) offers the natural beauty of hardwood in an affordable, durable and easy-to-install format.

2. Invest In What You Love

Do you adore the look of real marble? Have you fallen in love with a beautiful mosaic or gorgeous pattern? If your budget doesn’t allow you to use your dream tile throughout your space, try incorporating it into your design in smaller ways. A shower niche or picture frame provides a smaller-scale application that allows your favorite tile to become the focal point.

This coastal chic bathroom features Signature Denim Gloss tile throughout, but the elevated basic is punctuated with decorative details. Shapes Elongated mosaic tile is featured in the picture frame around the showerhead and in the shower niche, while Alison Victoria French Connection Le Marais tile adds pattern to the floor. Using trim to frame the decorative elements and create an elegant transition between the tile and painted portion of the wall further enhances the design.

Explore the wealth of mix-and-match basics in a range of popular colors and styles in our Signature collection.

3. Make a Marble Match

Wondering how to update bathroom tiles on a budget? Mixing marble look tile with real marble tile can make your dollars go further without sacrificing style. The Tile Shop’s Marble Match collections feature porcelain designs that resemble some of our most popular stone collections. Here, Marble Match Siberian Pearl tile seamlessly coordinates with Siberian Pearl Barnes trim. By pairing realistic marble look porcelain tile with real marble, you can incorporate luxurious stone into your tile design while keeping your project cost-effective.

Explore the eight elegant stone designs in our Marble Match collections.

4. Choose an Affordable Alternative

Here’s a budget-friendly shower tile idea: choose an affordable alternative to your favorite tile. Compare the Cool Blue tile ($7.89/sq. ft.) in this shower to the Marrakesh Blue tile ($14.99/sq. ft.) used for the kitchen below. Both tiles feature the color variation and uneven surface texture characteristic of handmade-look tiles. The Cool Blue tile, however, comes in a 12″ x 24″ pre-scored sheet, giving the appearance of individual tiles while making installation easier. We love how this shower embraces the tile’s features, using wider grout joints between the sheets as an innovative design element.

MORE TO EXPLORE | Small Bathroom Shower Tile Ideas

5. Stay True to Your Aesthetic

Even when you’re working within a budget, you want to make sure you stay true to your preferred style. This chic industrial bathroom, designed by West Bay Homes, features Softcement Graphite tile, an affordable flooring option at just $6.79/sq. ft. The cement look complements the moody aesthetic of this bathroom perfectly.

Discover a wealth of stylish designs for every budget in our Tile Under $7 collection.

Let’s Create a Space You’ll Love!

Whether you’re looking for budget shower tile ideas or a kitchen refresh that doesn’t break the pocketbook, you’ll find tile for every budget and style at The Tile Shop. Find a local store or schedule a free design consultation to get started on your project!

NOTE: All prices are subject to change. Check tileshop.com for current pricing.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Hi! I'm Eimile, Marketing copywriter. What I love about working at The Tile Shop is getting to see all the new design trends. I especially love bright, bold colors and retro designs. When I'm not writing copy, I'm usually reading a novel or taking a walk around my Minneapolis neighborhood.

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