Part 30: 5 tiling tricks to transform hotel interiors

Technology is leading the way in a new wave of tile innovation, say tiles experts Tiles Direct. Here are their 5 tiling tips for transforming hotel interiors by using tiles in contemporary and classic ways

Hotels represent an escape – a destination more beautiful and more luxurious than their own home. This concept is communicated well in the bedroom, but the bathroom is often forgotten – either the victim of a budget spent mostly on the bedroom, or a symptom of lax design.

The reality is that the bathroom can, with a little work, come into its own and beautifully complement the overall aesthetic of your hotel. Here are the impactful ways hotels can take their interior design to new and opulent heights.

Incorporate technology

A waterproof bathroom TV set allows for a dose of much-craved away-from-home luxury. The best way to excite your guest with this technology is to incorporate it into a black quartz tile wall. The monochrome means the TV picture appears seemingly from nowhere after the machine is switched on. Combine this with other high-tech accessories, such as a touch-screen temperature control shower, to further develop a stylish and state-of-the-art bathroom experience.

Take cues from your surroundings

A large number of hotel bathrooms are windowless. While this is an effective way to reduce corridor noise for your guests and save space, it can lead to some pretty bland and forgettable designs.

Treating the bathroom as an anonymous space divorced from its surroundings can mean uninspiring interior. The strategic use of bathroom wall or floor tiles can succeed in making your hotel’s bathrooms unique and enabling them to elegantly complement their outside surroundings.

For example, a beachside hotel could benefit from a lot of colour and patterning in the bathroom, while smooth, white metro tiles would be a perfect fit for an urban boutique hotel. Small considerations like these make hotels more all-encompassing getaways that epitomise their locations.

Go beyond the bathroom

Tiles create an airy, Mediterranean feel, and are easier to clean than carpet. Sturdy, durable tiles will stand the test of time. Be careful, though, as busy, multi-coloured patterns aren’t the best choice for a room focused on relaxation. Try subtle pastel shades and simple patterns in a band across the floor, with most floor space being given to plain, white floor tiles.

Dabble with darker tones

Darker tones are a timeless choice and add a luxury edge to your bathroom. T he reality is that any dark colour can work, from regal purples to luxurious dark reds – and these shades come into their own when paired with white bathroom fittings, with a few white tiles interspersed to draw the colour out even further. If you have a window, frame it with tiles in darker tones to highlight the entrance of natural light.

Get all eyes on focal points

Boutique hotels need to let their key features do the talking – be it a statement piece of artwork or a bespoke sculpture. The room itself should highlight these unique features, and an effective way to do this is to create a focal point in the room, primarily through the use of lighting. However, in a smaller room, you’ll need something to reflect the light and create the illusion of extra space. A small gathering of wall tiles framing bespoke artwork or decor can achieve that. Rare, distinctive and unusual items can tell the story of hotels and reflect passions, so having a room design that incorporates this sense of character is crucial.

Tiles Direct say their customers ‘own their own designs for less’, see what they do by visiting their website 

Fun fact: I’m usually the person friends rely on to organise trips, schedules, and group plans.

Workhighlights: Successfully coordinating events from planning through to delivery and seeing everything come together on the day.

Fun fact: xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Work highlights: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Fun fact: People tell Sienna she gives off Bridget Jones vibes, and she loves to bake, always making sure there are shortbreads floating around the office

Work highlights: Sienna joined Forum Events & Media Group while studying Communications and Media, starting in the sales team where she managed and helped launch the first the PA Life Leading Venues of London SHOWCASE, where she built relationships with luxury venues across the capital. Drawn to the stories behind these spaces, she naturally transitioned into the editorial team, creating social media and editorial content. Upon graduating in June 2026, she is excited to be joining as Assistant Editor for Hotel Designs and SPACE.

Fun fact: When not working, Jess can usually be found tending to her kitchen garden in the Sussex countryside or foraging for herbs in the nearby woods. A keen grower, she recently studied a RHS Level 2 Diploma in the Principles of Horticulture during her spare time.

Work highlights: Jess joined SPACE magazine in 2022 and has since progressed from Assistant Editor to Editor. During this time, she has worked across many aspects of the publication – from shaping editorial strategy and overseeing operations to contributing to art direction and representing the brand on stage at industry events including Surface Design Show and WOW!house.

Alongside her role at SPACE, Jess has built a creative career spanning the arts, culture, design and travel sectors. Prior to joining the magazine, she spent more than a decade in the commercial art industry, in artist liaison, gallery management, and curating collections for the hospitality sector across hotels and cruise ships. During this time, she also worked on freelance projects as a writer, photographer, and creative content producer.
 
Jess studied photojournalism at London College of Communication and the Danish School of Media and Journalism and holds a first-class BA (Hons) in Culture, Criticism and Curation from Central Saint Martins.

Fun fact: Katy has spent years perfecting all kinds of accents and loves a good impersonation!

Work highlights: Katy has been with Hotel Designs since the beginning, way back in 2015 when Forum Events & Media Group acquired the brand.

During this time, she has fostered many meaningful relationships with clients from across the hospitality spectrum, as well as playing a pivotal role in the launch of The Brit List Awards, Hotel Designs MEET UPs, client-led roundtables and panel talks, brand and website redesigns, HD Wellness Sets, DESIGN POD podcast, Hotel Designs LIVE panel talk series, Accessible Design Talks and more. Katy is always on the lookout for the next opportunity to help grow the Hotel Designs brand even further.
 
Most recently Katy has stepped in to the role of Publisher atSPACE magazine, the printed bi-monthly publication focused on hotel design, architecture, and development.
Together these platforms offer a comprehensive 360-degree service encompassing digital media, print publishing, and live events – providing unparalleled value to advertisers, partners, and readers alike.