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Interior designers interviewed by Livingetc describe rising demand for mosaic tiles, especially for bathroom floors and shower enclosures. The small-format tiles are also appearing in kitchen splashbacks and bespoke decorative designs, though the trend evidence cited is based on designer accounts and a search figure without a stated comparison baseline.
Interior designers are using mosaic tiles more often in bathrooms, shower enclosures and kitchen splashbacks, according to a Livingetc report that draws on interviews with designers and a tile company founder. The reported shift gives homeowners an alternative to the large-format and Zellige tiles that have featured prominently in recent bathroom schemes, while allowing for small-scale patterns and varied finishes.
Damla Turgut, founder of tile company Otto Tiles, told Livingetc the business had seen a real increase in demand over the previous 18 months, particularly for bathroom floors and shower enclosures. She said the company had struggled to keep up with demand. The report did not provide sales figures or specify how the change was measured, so the statement reflects the company’s experience rather than a market-wide sales tally.
The projects described show mosaics being used for more than conventional shower walls. Designer Martin Masse said his team uses them extensively in showers and has also applied them to kitchen splashbacks. Their smaller pieces can be arranged into intricate patterns, decorative borders and larger images, including murals and floral floor designs. Artist Amy Exton, featured in the report, uses the format to create detailed designs intended to function as artwork within a room.
Designers cited a range of finishes and palettes: contrasting dark tiles with bright grout, metallic surfaces, and combinations of colors that make patterns stand out. Daphne Meeus said mosaics can bring warmth and a handcrafted quality that she finds less common in large-format tiles. Susannah Holmberg used them in a Utah desert house, where she said the material worked with the project’s warm wood and natural materials.
Small Tiles Offer More Design Detail
The reported return of mosaics matters to homeowners planning renovations because the format can make a practical surface more decorative without requiring a separate artwork or a large change to a room’s layout. Small pieces allow for detailed patterns and color combinations, while the same tile type can be used across floors, shower enclosures and splashbacks. That flexibility gives designers more ways to connect different parts of a home through a shared material.
The appeal described by the designers also reflects a preference for finishes that feel individual and tactile. Holmberg told Livingetc that people are seeking materials that feel natural or hand-cut rather than sterile and mass-produced. Meeus similarly contrasted mosaic’s warmth with the cooler effect she associates with some large tiles. These are designers’ observations, not evidence that every homeowner shares the preference or that one tile style is replacing another.
For readers, the practical takeaway is that mosaic is not limited to a traditional, all-over look. It can be used as a focused feature—such as a patterned shower floor or a splashback—alongside simpler surfaces. The report does not give pricing, installation guidance or durability comparisons, so homeowners would need to weigh those factors with a supplier or installer before choosing a material.
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From Ancient Craft to Modern Bathrooms
Mosaic is an old decorative technique: the Livingetc report says its origins date to the third millennium BCE. The article frames the current attention not as the style’s first appearance, but as a renewed period of interest in a material that has remained available over centuries. Its small components have long allowed makers to form patterns and images, and contemporary designers are adapting that capacity to residential interiors.
In recent years, Livingetc says, mosaics were less prominent in bathroom projects than Zellige and similar styles. The publication suggests that familiarity with handmade tiles has helped make textured and varied finishes more appealing to a broader audience. Turgut told the outlet that people have become more accustomed to differences in color, texture and finish in handmade tiles. Mosaic offers those variations while also enabling more intricate layouts than a single large tile.
The report also cited more than 9,900 Google searches in the previous month for “mosaic tiles.” It did not state the search-data source, geographic scope or comparison period, so that figure should be read as a raw search observation, not proof of a particular growth rate or market share. The clearest evidence in the article is the experience reported by the interviewed designers and Otto Tiles.
“We’ve seen a real increase in demand for mosaics over the past 18 months, particularly for bathroom floors and shower enclosures.”
— Damla Turgut, founder of Otto Tiles
How Broad Is the Demand Shift?
The Livingetc report does not establish how widespread the renewed interest is across the tile market. It includes a company founder’s account of demand over 18 months, but gives no sales totals, customer survey, or comparison with other tile styles. The Google search count lacks a stated baseline, location and methodology, so it cannot show how quickly interest has changed or whether searches have led to purchases.
It is also unclear whether mosaics are gaining lasting ground or serving as a design accent within projects that still use larger tiles elsewhere. The report provides examples and expert opinions, but no figures on installation costs, maintenance, longevity or the share of bathroom renovations using mosaics. Those considerations will vary by material, layout and project.
Watch for Sales and Project Data
The next useful indicators would be further sales or demand data from tile suppliers and evidence from designers about whether mosaics are appearing in a wider range of projects. Until that information is available, the development is best described as increased interest reported by designers and one tile company, rather than a quantified industry-wide reversal. Homeowners considering the style can compare samples and discuss suitable applications, installation and upkeep with a qualified tile professional.
Key Questions
Where are designers using mosaic tiles?
Designers interviewed by Livingetc cited bathroom floors, shower enclosures and kitchen splashbacks. Mosaics are also being used for decorative patterns and image-based floor designs.
Why are mosaics attracting renewed interest?
The designers pointed to their handcrafted appearance, varied finishes and capacity for detailed patterns. Some also described them as a warmer-looking alternative to certain large-format tiles.
Are mosaic tiles replacing Zellige or large-format tiles?
The report does not show that mosaics are replacing either style. It describes renewed interest and examples of mosaic use, but provides no market-share or sales comparison between tile types.
Is there evidence that mosaic tile demand is increasing?
Otto Tiles founder Damla Turgut told Livingetc that her company had seen increased demand over the previous 18 months, especially for bathroom floors and shower enclosures. The article gives no broader sales data, so the scale of the trend remains unclear.
Source: livingetc.com
