Tiles have long been a go-to for patio floors, but designers are now using them in far more creative – and beautiful – ways outdoors. From tiled tabletops to outdoor shower walls, the possibilities go well beyond what you'd find underfoot.
And it makes sense. The same qualities that make tiles so hardwearing and handsome inside the home – their texture, colour and permanence – translate brilliantly to outdoor spaces too.
Whether you're planning a full outdoor kitchen or simply looking for a finishing touch that elevates your garden design, these outdoor tile ideas might just convince you to think beyond the patio.
1. Create an alfresco tiled bathing nook for an outdoor soak
Tucked beneath a sheltered canopy and wrapped in inky blue metro tiles, this beautiful bathing nook is the perfect spot for winding down on a warm summer's evening.
Jamie Robb, creative director at Marlborough Tiles, describes the inspiration behind this space: "There’s something undeniably restorative about stepping outside and immersing yourself in water, surrounded by the sounds and scents of nature. Here, tiles play a subtle but important role, shaping the mood through colour and texture.
"Gentle greens soften into the landscape, blurring the line between built space and garden, while deeper blues bring a sense of calm and depth – reminiscent of a night sky just beginning to appear. The result is a space that feels both grounding and indulgent, designed not just for function but for experience."
You don't need a grand garden to pull off something similar at home. Even a sheltered corner or a simple lean-to can work brilliantly as a spot for an outdoor freestanding bath. Keep tiles dark and glossy to add depth to a smaller space, and layer in natural textures around them for relaxed and lived-in feel.
Measuring 6 x 21 cm, the elongated shape of this skinny metro brick tile creates the illusion of more space, by reducing the number of cuts needed to curve around a wall.
Jamie Robb is Managing Director and Creative Director at Marlborough Tiles, a British tile maker with over 90 years of craft heritage, specialising in handmade and hand-painted tiles for both interior and exterior spaces.
2. Add a tiled outdoor shower for a touch of everyday luxury
Once you've installed an outdoor shower, it's hard to imagine a summer without one. They're ideal for rinsing off after a dip in the swimming pool or cooling down on a hot day. Plus, when it's tiled like this one, it becomes a proper garden feature in its own right.
These rich, glossy green metro tiles work so well here because they echo the surrounding planting. For a similar look at home, keep the footprint compact and the colour confident. A small tiled platform underfoot and a tiled back panel are really all you need.
Antique brass or copper fixtures will complement earthy greens and blues beautifully, and surrounding the structure with generous planting will help it bed into the garden naturally.
3. Pair large-format tiles with sleek subway designs for a contemporary look
One of the most effective tricks in any tiler's toolkit is mixing tile sizes and formats, and this outdoor kitchen is a great example of how well it can work. Large-format floor tiles anchor the dining area, while classic white subway tiles line the kitchen walls – two very different styles that sit comfortably side by side because the palette stays consistent throughout.
The key is letting one element – such as the flooring – take the lead and keeping everything else simple around it. A neutral grout colour used consistently throughout will also help tie the different formats together and stop the overall scheme from feeling busy.
4. Add a creative tiled splashback to an outdoor kitchen
A tiled splashback is one of the best opportunities you have to inject some real personality into an outdoor kitchen. This one holds its own beautifully against the surrounding stonework and rolling landscape, the warm patterned tiles and deep blue accents adding character without ever tipping into excess.
Maria D'Arráez, director at Tile of Spain UK explains the appeal: "Just like an indoor kitchen, an outdoor splashback allows homeowners to be creative with pattern, colour and finish, whilst also helping to create a distinct cooking zone in the garden. A neutral palette remains timeless while patterned or brightly coloured tiles add visual interest without overwhelming the space."
If you're working with natural materials elsewhere, such as stone, timber and brick, a patterned splashback is a lovely way to introduce decorative detail without disrupting the overall design.
These Moroccan-inspired tiles are perfect for gracing a courtyard or adding intrigue to a kitchen splashback. With a slip rating of PTV 41, these tiles offer added safety, making them an excellent choice for areas prone to moisture.
María Dolores Arraez is the head of tile of Spain at the Spanish Embassy's Commercial Office in London. She is responsible for the promotion of the Spanish ceramic tile industry in the UK and supports the Tile of Spain members in their export strategies to the UK.
5. Use tiles on a tabletop for a stylish alfresco dining space
As budget patio ideas go, a tiled tabletop punches well above its weight. It looks considered and crafted, but is far simpler to achieve than it appears. This tablescape is a lovely example. The soft, patterned tiles sit so naturally against the warm stone wall behind that the whole thing feels effortlessly designed.
Jamie Robb, creative director at Marlborough Tiles, describes the appeal: "A handcrafted tabletop becomes a focal point for shared meals, its pattern catching the shifting light throughout the day. Soft greens and layered tones echo the surrounding landscape, allowing the space to feel rooted in its setting."
These statement pieces work just as well on a smaller scale too. A tiled bistro table for two can be every bit as impactful as a full dining table, and is a much simpler project to take on. Look for tiles with a handmade, slightly tactile quality, as they tend to feel far more alive outdoors than flatter, more uniform finishes.
6. Make tiles the centrepiece of a relaxed garden gathering
Who says outdoor entertaining has to mean a formal dining table? This laid-back setup – complete with a tiled coffee table and sideboard for drinks and grazing boards – is the kind of scene that makes a summer evening feel extra special.
These glossy teal tiles by Marlborough Tiles tie the two pieces together beautifully, giving the whole arrangement a cohesion that stops it feeling too makeshift.
Maria D'Arráez explains why tiles work so well in this kind of setting: "An outdoor kitchen island is a great opportunity to be adventurous with colour, texture and design. Tiles help to soften a space and make it feel more inviting."
It's a surprisingly achievable look too. A basic wooden workbench or potting table tiled on the top and front becomes an instant garden bar, and a low wooden coffee table treated to the same finish pulls the whole thing together.
Recreate the look in your own garden
This handy nine-piece tiling starter kit contains all the basic essential tools required to cut, fix and grout ceramic tiles.
Sold in boxes of 40, these classic square tiles come in variegated tones designed to be used together for a traditional grid layout.
7. Add a striking tiled fireplace to your outdoor scheme
An outdoor fireplace is already a pretty compelling addition to a garden, but when it's clad in decorative tiles like these, it becomes something else entirely. These textured tiles in a warm terracotta tone create a surface that's almost sculptural, giving the fireplace a real sense of presence even when it isn't lit.
What makes this work so well is the commitment to it. The tiles run all the way to the top of the chimney breast, turning what could have been a simple garden fireplace into a focal point for the whole space. Harriet Goodacre from Topps Tiles makes a strong case for thinking vertically when it comes to outdoor tiles.
"It instantly makes the space feel more considered and curated," Harriet explains. "Vertical tiling can also work surprisingly well in smaller gardens as it helps draw the eye around the space, creating key focal points that don't take up any extra room."
If you're planning something similar at home, don't be tempted to tile just the surround and leave the rest plain. Taking the tiles higher gives the whole structure the weight and drama it deserves.
With more than 15 years working across home and lifestyle brands – including over a decade at Topps Tiles – Harriet is a specialist in tile design, covering everything from layouts and colour pairings to the latest interiors trends. Her focus is always on practical, stylish solutions for real homes.
8. Add a pop of colour to a greenhouse with bright floor tiles
According to Harriet Goodacre, tiles can do a lot of work in unexpected outdoor spaces: "Rather than sticking purely to large patio areas, consider using your outdoor floor tiles in unexpected ways – even smaller touches can have a big impact and completely change the feel of a space."
A garden room or greenhouse is a perfect candidate. Take this gorgeous space designed by Baked Tiles. The floor doesn't need to be too vibrant to make an impact. The choice of pattern is delicate and the colours muted, but the effect is still striking.
If you're planning something similar, look for encaustic-style or cement-effect tiles with a traditional repeat pattern, and consider running a contrasting border around the edge as this one does.
Perfect for creating eye-catching layouts, these tiles can be used to craft intricate patterns with borders and corners, or you can opt for a more gothic-inspired design by using the borders en masse.
9. Go bold with your choice of pathway tile
Front path ideas don't get much more charming than this. The soft blue and grey patterned tiles draw the eye all the way to the front door, turning what could have been a purely functional strip of garden into an inviting feature that really enhances this property's kerb appeal.
The bordered edge is what really elevates it. Without it, the same tiles would read as a simple tiled path. With it, the whole scheme feels much more intentional. If you're planning something similar, take your time choosing the border tile, as it does a lot of the heavy lifting.
10. Zone an outdoor wellness space with colourful tiles
Zoning a garden doesn't have to involve heavy screens or purpose-built dividers. A change in tile colour or finish can do the job just as effectively, and often look better in the process.
Here, rough terracotta underfoot and glossy teal zellige on the walls create two very distinct surfaces that pull the bathing space away from the rest of the garden without any physical barrier at all.
Maria D'Arráez, director of Tile of Spain UK, explains the thinking behind this technique: "Tiles can be used to frame seating areas or help with zoning. A tiled feature wall can completely transform a corner of a garden, adding depth whilst also acting as an interesting decorative element."
11. Inject vibrancy into every step of your patio
Garden steps are one of those features that tend to get finished in the most practical material to hand, which is a shame because they're one of the best opportunities in the garden to do something really interesting with tiles.
"Installing decorative tiled details around seating areas, outdoor bars or even on the vertical face of garden steps can instantly add personality without overwhelming the space," explains Harriet Goodacre.
If you love this look, a monochrome encaustic pattern is a great starting point. It's graphic enough to make an impact but versatile enough to work with almost any garden style.
And if the steps lead directly into the house, Jamie Robb of Marlborough Tiles suggests considering continuing the same tile inside too – "letting the outdoors spill in creates a sense of openness and flow that makes both spaces feel larger and more connected."
12. Use a tiled feature wall to add interest to a small patio
A tiled feature wall is one of the best things you can do with a small patio, and this compact courtyard garden is a case in point. A floor-to-ceiling run of deep cobalt zellige tiles gives the back wall a real presence, the glossy surface catching the light and bouncing it back into the space in a way that makes it feel far bigger than it is.
The trick is to keep everything else simple and let the wall do the work. A tiled bench in a similar colour, as seen here, is a lovely finishing touch that echoes the feature wall without tipping the space into too much.
With their irregular edges, glaze variations and lifelike crazing, these tiles have all the charm of handmade original zellige tiles. However they’re actually fired in modern kilns which means they’re really durable and easy to live with.
Selecting the right materials for your outdoor tiling project
Before falling for a tile, it's worth making sure it's built for the outdoors. Oli Webb, director of Cullifords, points to two materials worth knowing about: "Natural stone, such as granite, limestone and marble, provides a timeless and organic aesthetic, adding depth and character to any setting. Meanwhile, ceramic stone offers a sleek, modern alternative with the added benefits of low maintenance, water resistance and exceptional durability."
Porcelain is another firm favourite and can be a great way to make outdoor surfaces or patios look expensive. It's hardwearing, unfazed by the British weather and handles everything from summer heat to winter frost without complaint.
Whatever material you settle on, slip resistance is not something to gloss over. As Harriet Goodacre, interiors and tiling expert at Topps Tiles, explains: "Slip resistance is measured using different standards, including R ratings and PTV (Pendulum Test Value). Ideally you want an outdoor tile that's rated R11 and above or 36 PTV and above. It's no good having a tile that looks fantastic but becomes slippery in the rain and a safety risk."
“I’d also think carefully about colour choice," Harriet adds. "Whilst pale tiles look great, they’ll naturally show more dirt. Darker shades often don’t show marks up in the same way meaning they require less regular cleaning.”
Oliver Webb is Director and joint Managing Director of Cullifords, one of the UK's leading wholesale stone suppliers, specialising in fine quality marble, granite, quartzite and natural stone.
If you're planning to DIY any of these outdoor tile projects, it's worth swotting up on drilling into tiles before you tackle any vertical surfaces.
And whatever the project, don't underestimate the importance of tile spacers – consistent grout lines make a significant difference to the finished result, particularly outdoors where any unevenness tends to show more than it would inside.
