Bathroom Tile Trends We're Seeing in Minneapolis Homes (2026)

Twin Cities bathroom remodels are trending warmer, larger, and more textural in 2026 than they did even two years ago. Here's what we're actually installing in Minneapolis-area bathrooms this year — separated into trends we expect to age well and ones we think will date faster.

1. Large-Format Tile Floors (12"×24" and 24"×48")

Large-format tile is now the default request from most Twin Cities homeowners — and for good reason. Fewer grout lines mean a cleaner look, easier maintenance, and a more spacious feel in small bathrooms. We're installing 12"×24" porcelain on almost every full hall bath, and stepping up to 24"×48" for primary suites with floor space to spare.

Best brands locally: Daltile, MSI, Crossville. Expect $5–$15/sq ft for material plus $12–$20/sq ft for install on standard porcelain.

2. Zellige & Handmade-Look Tile

Zellige — the variable, glazed Moroccan tile — has moved from a designer favorite to mainstream in Twin Cities bathrooms. The irregular surface catches light beautifully and adds warmth that machine-perfect subway tile can't match. We're installing real zellige in primary bathroom showers and tub surrounds; the budget alternative is the "handmade-look" ceramic line from Daltile or Bedrosians, which mimics the texture at a third of the cost.

Real zellige: $25–$50/sq ft material; install is slow (50–100% slower than standard subway). Handmade-look ceramics: $6–$15/sq ft.

3. Warm Neutrals Have Replaced Cool Greys

The cool grey + white kitchen-and-bath palette that dominated 2018–2023 is on its way out. In 2026, Twin Cities homeowners are choosing:

• Bone, cream, off-white tile (instead of pure white)
• Warm taupe and putty paint colors
• Brushed brass, satin brass, and aged bronze fixtures
• Walnut and white oak vanities (instead of painted grey)

Pure cool greys, polished chrome, and stark white can still look great — they just don't feel current. If you're building a bathroom you'll keep for 10+ years, lean warm.

4. Fluted & Textured Feature Walls

Fluted tile (vertical ridges) and textured 3D tile have become the feature-wall material of choice. We're installing them as full accent walls behind the vanity or as the tub-surround focal point. Done right, they create dimension without overwhelming the space — the trick is keeping them to one wall and pairing with calm tile elsewhere.

5. Curbless & Wet-Room Showers

The fastest-growing primary-bath trend in Edina, Minnetonka, and Wayzata: curbless (zero-entry) tile showers, sometimes combined with a freestanding tub in the same waterproofed wet-room. Done right, these are stunning and aging-in-place friendly. Done wrong, they leak water all over the bathroom floor.

We waterproof every curbless shower with Schluter-Kerdi sheet membrane and a linear drain at the back wall to keep the wet zone contained. Expect $25,000–$55,000+ for a quality curbless primary bath.

6. Niche Detailing (Lit, Tiled, Stone-Slab Backed)

Shower niches went from afterthought to architectural feature. The 2026 standards we're building:

• Single tall niche (24–36" high) instead of two square ones
• Slab-stone back (a matching countertop offcut as the niche back) instead of tile
• Integrated LED puck or strip lighting (clean, no visible fixture)
• Built-in shelf at the right height for shampoo bottles (not 6 feet up)

7. Penny Round & Mosaic Shower Floors

Small mosaic tile (penny round, 1" hexagon, 2"×2") is coming back for shower floors. Beyond looking good, the extra grout lines provide better traction underfoot than larger tiles — especially important on curbless showers.

Trends We're NOT Recommending

• All-black bathrooms. Stunning in magazines, hard to live with in low-natural-light Minnesota bathrooms.
• Patterned cement tile floors. They photograph beautifully but date hard — the floor commits more than any other surface.
• Polished marble shower floors. Slippery, stain-prone, high-maintenance. Use marble on walls if you love it; pick a different floor.

What This Looks Like in a Real Budget

For a full Twin Cities hall bath following 2026 trends — large-format tile floor, handmade-look subway in the shower, brushed brass fixtures, a fluted feature wall, walnut single vanity — budget $35,000–$50,000 for a quality build. For the full pricing breakdown see our Minneapolis bathroom remodel cost guide.

Planning a bathroom remodel? See our bathroom service page for our process or request a free in-home quote.