Bathroom tile trends are changing in Orange County. Home buyers are looking past the refined and polished looks that have been growing in recent years. Instead, they are moving toward warmer, modern, coastal designs. Texture, warmth, and patina are the overarching themes for 2026.

Orange County tile styles draw from modern, coastal, and Mediterranean influences. The shift in trends is affecting everything from tile layouts to color palettes. Calm, welcoming bathrooms are in demand and renovation activity is increasing across the region.

Whether you want to renovate one small bathroom or reimagine a large primary suite, it pays to stay up to date with trends.

In this guide we cover the twelve biggest bathroom tile trends, supporting trends, and a quick overview of how to choose the right tile design for your bathroom.

The Biggest Bathroom Tile Trends for 2026 in Orange County

Let’s dive into the top trends sweeping into Orange County for 2026.

1. Hand-Painted & Artisanal Tiles

Hand-painted and artisanal tiles add warmth, character, personality, and visual interest to bathroom spaces. More homeowners are choosing pieces that highlight the detailed, unexpected beauty only a skilled maker can create. The goal is less symmetry and order but more lived-in charm.

There is a lot of diversity in this growing trend, but the most common designs appearing in Orange County remodels are Delft-style motifs, scattered layouts, and custom illustrations. Each of these options adds a subtle sense of storytelling and creates a focal point without overpowering the room.

In 2025, many artisanal tiles are being offered with a focus on smaller scale, personality, and sustainability. Many work with a minimum percentage of recycled materials. The tiles are smaller, replacing the typically large and bold mass-produced cement tiles. The feeling is more refined.

2. Earthy Tones: Sage, Olive & Terracotta

When it comes to color, the natural, earthy look is what many OC homeowners are looking for. Many updated bathroom palettes include tones of sage, olive, or terracotta. 

Sage and olive are more common choices for coastal homes, while light green onyx is emerging as a luxury statement. In some homes, terracotta and rose-beige help warm up more modern spaces.

Creamy, natural tiles add a sense of relaxation and comfort. Adding warmth and color continues to lead 2026 design choices. Many options feature pebbled or textured surfaces for added character. The result is a bathroom that appears more welcoming and signals thoughtful design to buyers.

3. Zellige & Handmade-Look Tile

Modern coastal homes and farmhouses often use traditional Moroccan Zellige tile. Zellige tiles are hand-crafted, painted, and glazed with centuries-old techniques that create a relaxed, natural shine. 

Zellige tiles are part of the broader move toward handmade or handmade-appearing tiles in Orange County. They consistently pair well with modern coastal homes. Spanish OC homes and farmhouses are other places where Zellige fits in well, adding a subtle and relaxed luxury for showers and accent walls.

4. Textured Tile Surfaces

Orange County bathroom tiles are becoming more textured, with more tactile surfaces and finishes. Some designers are turning to alternative textured tiles over marble for the depth and softness they add.

We often recommend installing tiles with fluted limestone, ribbed ceramics, and stone ridges. Each offers some mix of softness, depth, and luxury. Textured surfaces in general offer a classy, timeless character. 

5. Large-Format Tiles for a Seamless Look

For larger bathrooms, large-format tiles add continuity and seamlessness. They offer a cleaner and more modern look compared to the textured, earthy tiles. This style works well for Orange County homes aiming for a calm, spa-like feel without visible pattern breaks.

Large-format, white or light-colored tiles add expanse, making rooms feel bigger. Many options, like oversized beige, add a more formal touch to a large and modern home. They are ideal for expanding visual space in Orange County bathrooms of any size.

6. Tile Drenching (Monochromatic Tile Rooms)

Tile drenching follows the same logic of creating continuity in bathroom spaces. It’s another choice homeowners can use to add a spa vibe, which fits into a broader luxury coastal feeling. Tile drenching in terracotta, beige, greens, or pale blue works especially well with large-format tiles and helps the room feel more open.

At the same time, both large-format tiling and tile drenching add durability to your bathroom. They often rely on proven patterns that make the room more cohesive and interesting. 

7. Marble & Marble-Look Tiles

Marble isn’t going anywhere, but the ways Orange County homeowners use it are trending in a more specific direction: scale. 

All-over marble and ultra-luxe veining are increasingly popular ways to make a statement. Natural marble is cut from stone, so no two pieces are exactly the same. This makes natural marble a strong choice for Orange County homeowners who want a hotel-like appearance.

At the same time, more affordable marble look-alikes, such as cost-effective porcelain, are rising in popularity. Robust marble look-alikes offer a high-end look that supports long-term appeal and look amazing at a lower cost.

8. Checkerboard & Chequerboard Patterns

The traditional checkerboard tiles are coming back to Orange County, but with a modern twist. More modern checkerboard patterns go beyond black and white, incorporating muted colors, natural stones, and softer geometric variations.

Many Orange County renovations still include black-and-white or stone checkerboard floors. These options add vintage, Parisian, or midcentury flair to your bathroom. This is one reason checkerboard has become a leading choice in historic OC home remodels, especially where homeowners want a timeless but updated look.

9. Geometric Shapes (Picket, Curved, Hex, and More)

Many Orange County bathroom renovations include geometric shapes in the tiles. This interest in geometric layouts is expected to continue through 2026.

The most common of the emerging geometric styles depends on the type of home or remodel. Picket tiles offer modern textures and suit both updated and newly built homes. Curved tiles help soften modern remodels, adding a graceful shape that feels calm and elevated.

Many more artistic homes use geometric floral patterns in bathrooms. The possibilities with geometric tile patterns are endless. 

Our teams have an eye for the tiles that fit the best and offer the best value for your home. We are always happy to discuss your bathroom remodeling options, so you get the results you want.

If you are exploring geometric tile layouts, thoughtful material and pattern choices can support both visual appeal and increase long-term value.

10. Herringbone & Striped Tile Patterns

Herringbone and striped tiles both add visual interest and offer a clear alternative to more conventional tile shapes. 

Herringbone patterns emphasize a gentle sense of movement in a modern bathroom. Whites and creamier shades of beige are common in Orange County. White grout lines remain a popular choice and help highlight the directional pattern. The result is a visually appealing alternative to typical symmetrical square or rectangular tiles.

Striped tile patterns are less common, but they can still work well when paired with a balanced color scheme. They are also great choices for standalone walls, contrasting with solid colors on the other walls. They can be particularly impactful in smaller bathrooms, making them feel larger.

11. Japandi Minimalism

The simplicity of Japandi design will be trending in Orange County into 2026 and likely beyond. The beauty, functionality, and ease of cleaning make it a great option for many modern homes.

Typical minimalistic Japandi renovations include warm woods and muted colors. The focus is on naturalism, with natural wood and stone surfaces, zellige, and stacked tile layouts. The results fit in well with most modern OC homes.

12. Metallic and High-Gloss Tiles

A metallic finish offers an unmistakably modern bathroom appearance. It’s a common feature of new condos and some houses, matching well with Japandi and other minimalist or modern approaches.

High-gloss tiles are often part of the same design philosophy. The reflective surfaces add brightness in low-light bathrooms, allowing dimmer, gentler, and classier lighting.

Supporting Trends Enhancing Tile Design

These are the trends in how Orange County homeowners approach bathroom tile design.

Spa-Forward Layouts

Why go to the spa when you can make your own bathroom feel like one? A bathroom may not have all the spa amenities, but more Orange County homeowners want the aesthetic and feeling of relaxation.

To create a home spa feeling, linear drains, level-threshold showers, and floating vanities are being added to more bathrooms. Remodels are more often based on tile-forward designs that blend seamlessly with fixtures.

There isn’t just one way to make a home bathroom look like it belongs in a spa. But this supporting trend is present in more and more homes.

Smart Water & Energy Tech That Integrates with Tile

Sustainability is growing in importance to consumers and homeowners everywhere, but especially in California. Smart water and energy technologies are increasingly common and are increasingly integrated with tile.

A modern smart home bathroom remodeling can include digital thermostatic valves, leak-detection sensors, and underfloor heating right below the tiles. These additions save water and electricity while appealing to the growing number of eco-conscious homebuyers.

Mixing Patterns, Colors & Textures

Many Orange County remodels don’t stick with rigid bathroom tile designs. Increasingly, many go for combinations like:

•  Zellige + marble
• Matte + high-gloss pairings
• Soft geometrics + earthy tones

A professional can help you mix and match the perfect tile layout to increase your bathroom’s aesthetic and value. Reach out to discuss the best possible renovations for your bathroom or other parts of your home based on your goals.

Matching or Statement Grout

Many Orange County homeowners prefer cleaner lines and strong visual contrasts. The right grout colors can blend in completely, which is the safer option. But many people opt for contrasting, bold tile patterns.

Choosing the Right 2026 Tile Trend for Your OC Home

Let’s break down how to choose the trending tile styles that are best for your home’s comfort and value.

Based on Home Style

Many of the 2026 Orange County bathroom tile trends are specific to certain house designs:

• Modern
• Spanish
• Midcentury
• Coastal contemporary

Some people have unconventional preferences, and that’s often fine. But a bathroom remodeling that fits your home’s aesthetic is more likely to pay off. Choosing materials that align with your home’s overall style supports both personal comfort and long-term appeal.

Based on Bathroom Size

Some trends serve to expand visual space. Others just add depth to compact rooms. In other cases, using texture selectively is better, especially for unconventional bathroom layouts.

Consider the relationships between your bathroom’s size, layout, and tile styles. Think about how each material affects the room’s sense of size, warmth, and depth.

Based on Remodel Budget

Lastly, even the hottest trends in bathroom tiles come with wide price ranges. In some cases, you can get a similar effect at a lower cost. For example:

• High-end splurges (marble, hand-painted tiles)
• Mid-range upgrades (Zellige, fluted tile)
• Budget-friendly options (porcelain, marble-look tile)

Conclusion

The 2026 bathroom tile trends in Orange County all point toward a balance between texture, warmth, and personality. Homeowners want authenticity and calming aesthetics, with designs that highlight natural variation, handcrafted details, and thoughtful use of color.

Across Orange County, the direction of bathroom design leans toward coastal serenity and artisanal touches. Whether it is earthy tones, handmade tile, or large-format surfaces, each trend supports a cleaner, more welcoming bathroom environment.

As local homeowners invest in bathroom remodels, tile has become the focal point of modern design. The right combination of material, pattern, and scale can improve the look of your home while supporting both comfort and long-term value.