Trends and manufacturers

Retro bathroom and patchwork floor tiles: how to do it modernly

A retro bathroom today does not mean a return to brown tiles. It works when there is only one patterned surface – most often the floor with patchwork floor tiles – and everything else is simple: white or light wall tiles, a solid colour wall, and one standout piece, such as a freestanding bath. Patchwork is a floor tile with various patterns in one series, inspired by cement tiles. Today it is produced as gres, making it durable even on the bathroom floor.

Prepared by: the TGB Kúpeľne team, bathroom showroom in Senec since 1991updated 8. 11. 20266 min read

Illustrative image: Bathroom with grey-white patchwork floor tiles, white metro wall tiles, and a retro freestanding bathtub

Retro bathrooms are making a comeback – but differently than we remember from prefab blocks of flats. Today it's about selecting one or two elements from the past that combine with modern comfort: patterned floor tiles like those from old townhouses, white brick-shaped wall tiles, freestanding bath, tap with cross handles. The result can be beautiful or excessive. In the article, you will find how to use patchwork floor tiles so that the bathroom feels modern and doesn't become boring after a year.

What is patchwork floor tiles

Patchwork is a floor tile that alternates multiple patterns – such as flowers, stars, geometric ornaments, and stripes – and is laid randomly. It is inspired by handmade cement tiles that were once used in hallways and kitchens. Today's patchwork floor tiles are mostly glazed gres or printed ceramics. Patterns are either mixed in one box or sold as separate decors, from which you can create your mix.

Typical formats for patterned floor tiles are small squares around 15 × 15 to 20 × 20 cm and hexagons; some series also have patchwork in the format of 30 × 60 cm. You can find patterns from manufacturers in the style of Patterns and Decors.

Rule of one surface

The most common mistake in a retro bathroom is that the pattern is everywhere. Patchwork on the floor, on the walls, with colourful listels and a patterned curtain – and the bathroom feels cluttered. These combinations work:

• Patchwork on the floor + white walls – a classic. White metro wall tiles or large white tiles, the floor is the "carpet" of the bathroom.
• Patchwork on one wall + solid colour floor – wall behind the sink or in the shower, other walls and floor calm.
• Patchwork in a niche or on the installation wall of the WC – the smallest area, the least risk of pattern fatigue.
• Patchwork in the WC – a small WC can handle a more pronounced pattern than a bathroom where you spend longer periods.

Colours: how to match the pattern with the rest of the bathroom

• Take one colour from the pattern and use it on the wall, furniture or accessories. If the pattern has blue, let the cabinet or towels be blue too.
• Grey-black-white – easiest to combine and can handle modern furniture shapes.
• Blue, green, terracotta – give the bathroom a Mediterranean character. They pair well with white, wood, and brass or black.
• Grout joint – for patchwork floor tiles light grey or in the colour of the base of the pattern. White grout on the floor will darken over time.

We describe the colours of wall tiles and their combinations in the article Wall tile colours for the bathroom.

Retro fittings in a modern bathroom

Retro close-coupled toilets are offered, for example, by the Kerasan Retro series with both rear and bottom waste. We explain how to determine what waste you need in the article Close-coupled toilet with rear or bottom waste. We discuss freestanding baths and clawfoot tubs in the article Freestanding Bath.

Retro look, modern comfort

• Level-access shower with a drain with patchwork floor tiles outside the shower and solid colour tiles inside the shower – the pattern does not interrupt the fall and drainage.
• Wall-hung toilet – if you don't want to struggle with cleaning around the bowl, a retro impression can also be made with tiles and fittings.
• Underfloor heating – ceramic on the floor is then pleasant even barefoot. See Underfloor heating in the bathroom.
• Hidden storage spaces – a niche or cabinet in the installation wall keeps the order that a retro bathroom needs to avoid feeling cluttered.

Laying patchwork floor tiles

1. Dry lay the tiles – when mixing patterns, decide which tiles should not be next to each other (two identical patterns next to each other look like a mistake).
2. Start from the centre or from the door – depending on where the pattern is most visible. Cut tiles should be at the walls and under furniture.
3. Maintain the grout joint – for small formats, it is usually 2 to 3 mm, for handmade-looking tiles according to the manufacturer.
4. Slip resistance – for the bathroom floor, choose tiles with a class of at least R10 or for barefoot A or B according to the technical sheet. Details in the article Tile Parameters.
5. Reserve – when dealing with patterns, account for a larger cut, around 15 to 20%. You can find the calculation in the article How much tile to buy.

How to avoid a cluttered retro bathroom

• No more than two patterns – for example, patchwork on the floor and a simple relief or metro on the wall.
• One metal – fittings, handles and lights in one colour (chrome, black or brass).
• Beware of brown and beige – retro in warm brown tones quickly reminds of old bathrooms. Fresher are grey, blue and green shades with white.
• Fewer accessories – patterned floor tiles are quite striking on their own. Use solid colour towels and curtains.
• Modern lighting – complement the retro light above the mirror with quality main lighting to avoid a dark bathroom.

You can try out how your bathroom would look with your chosen wall tiles and floor tiles in the 3D bathroom planner. Find inspiration in the gallery of wall and floor tiles and in the trends article Trendy 2026. Retro bathtubs are offered by vkupelni.sk in the Retro bathtubs category, and floor tiles in the Floor tiles category.

Sources: TGB Kúpeľne's own experiences with bathroom design, e-shop vkupelni.sk – categories Retro Baths and Floor Tiles (November 2026), Kerasan Retro – close-coupled toilet with rear and bottom waste, our articles How Much Wall Tiles to Buy (reserve for patterns 15 to 20 %) and Floor Tiles Parameters (slip resistance).

Terms in the dictionary: Patchwork · Gres (porcelain stoneware tiles) · Installation wall · Overflow · Close-coupled toilet · Heated towel rail