Choosing Timeless Tile: Materials, Patterns & What to Avoid

A bright, elegant kitchen interior with white shaker-style cabinets, light wood floors, and a stone tile hallway leading to a framed artwork on the wall.

When it comes to creating a timeless home, some of the most important decisions are the ones that are hardest—and most expensive—to change.

Tile is definitely one of them.

The good news? I think choosing timeless tile can actually be pretty simple. I follow three basic rules:

  1. Keep it simple.

  2. Keep it natural.

  3. Avoid trendy or overly busy patterns.

Start With Materials That Have Already Stood the Test of Time

When choosing tile, I almost always gravitate toward natural materials that have been used in homes for generations. Some of my favorites are

marble, limestone, terracotta, slate, and brick.
Set of six beige tiles on a white background

And, of course, marble will always be at the top of my list.My husband jokes that if I could cover our ceilings in marble, I probably would.
He's not wrong.
In our own home, we have terracotta, slate, brick, and lots—and I mean lots—of marble. I desperately wanted tumbled limestone flooring in our sunroom, but unfortunately, it simply wasn't in the budget.
What I love is that these were materials we selected years before construction even began. Nearly a decade later, I still love them and would choose them again.


That, to me, is the definition of timeless.

Lets Talk patterns...

Keep Patterns Classic

Timeless certainly doesn't have to mean boring.

If you want pattern, look to designs that have been used for generations rather than whatever suddenly seems to be everywhere.

Some of my favorites include:

  • Checkerboard
  • Octagon and dot
  • Basketweave
  • Herringbone

They're interesting enough to give a room character without immediately telling you what year the room was designed.

Tile images from Zia tile, Cle tile, & Castelli Marble

Timeless design isn’t about what’s popular today—it’s about what you’ll still love tomorrow.
𝐏𝐚𝐲 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞
𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐙𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞?
One of my biggest tips when choosing patterned tile is to consider the size of the room. A 6" x 6" checkerboard floor could be absolutely beautiful in a small mudroom or powder room. Put that same small-scale checkerboard across a huge sunroom, however, and the floor can quickly become the busiest thing in the space. Generally, I like smaller patterns in smaller rooms and larger, quieter patterns in larger spaces. Sometimes a beautiful large-format natural stone tile is all a big room needs.
Another detail I love? Tumbled edges. A tumbled marble or limestone instantly gives a room a softer, older, more collected feeling. Natural stone isn't supposed to be perfectly uniform. There will be variation in color, veining, texture, and edges—and that's exactly what makes it beautiful. Over time, natural materials develop even more character. I would much rather have something that develops a beautiful patina than something that looks absolutely perfect forever. A home is meant to be lived in.
I also love Zellige tile. Yes, Zellige is everywhere right now. But there's an important distinction between something that is currently popular and something that is actually a trend. Traditional Zellige has been made for centuries. Its handmade surface, irregular edges, and subtle tonal variations add texture and movement without relying on a busy printed pattern. We used white Zellige in our kitchen pantry, and I absolutely love it. For me, it's the perfect example of what I look for in a timeless material: rooted in history, beautifully imperfect, and interesting without trying too hard.
A bright, elegant hallway with white walls, arched black-framed windows, a checkered marble floor, a hanging pendant light, and a wooden console table with a mirror and ceramic vases.

Tiles I would Approach Carefully

Highly patterned Moroccan-inspired cement tiles can be gorgeous in the right setting. If you have an incredible Moroccan-inspired home, absolutely go for it.But that's probably not most of us.I would also be cautious with very busy mosaics and distinctive patterns that are suddenly appearing everywhere.Even the expensive tile you're drooling over today can timestamp a room surprisingly quickly.Personally, I also tend to pass on many standard ceramic tiles. They can absolutely be beautiful, but I usually prefer the texture, depth, variation, and imperfections found in natural and handmade materials.

When I'm unsure about a tile, I come back to those original three rules:

Is it simple? Is it natural? Does it have a history beyond the current trend cycle?

If the answer is yes, chances are I'm going to love it for a very long time.

Until next week, feel free to reach out with any questions along the way. I’m always happy to help you create a home you’ll love for years to come.

-Natalie 🤍

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