Choosing bathroom tiles might seem simple, but it’s one of the biggest areas where homeowners make mistakes—especially when it comes to neutrals. Everyone loves neutral tiles because they feel safe and timeless. But neutrals are surprisingly complex and tricky to work with if you don’t understand undertones, testing, and pairing.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how to choose your bathroom tiles so you can confidently renovate or build a new home without making costly errors.

Why Neutral Tiles Are So Tricky

Neutral tiles aren’t just “beige” or “gray.” They carry undertones like pink, violet, or green that can completely change how they look once installed. Pairing the wrong undertone with your stone, cabinetry, or floor can make a space feel off—even if the colors look perfect in the showroom.

For example, a beige tile with a pink undertone will work beautifully with crisp white cabinetry and stone. But mix it with a gray-violet floor, and the colors can clash. Knowing the undertone is the key to making a space feel cohesive.

Step 1: Understand Tile Variations

Most tiles come in multiple shades—light, midtone, and dark. Sometimes, a single tile can even carry multiple undertones. For instance, a tile may be mostly beige with a pink undertone but also have a subtle violet undertone. Always test the tile up close and in natural light to see which undertone dominates.

Step 2: Test Your Tiles Together

Take your samples—wall tiles, floor tiles, and even splashbacks—and test them in the same space. Don’t rely on showroom displays, as they’re often just arranged to sell products, not to show complementary colors. Look for tiles that share the same undertone or choose a white that complements the dominant undertone.

• Beige with pink undertone → pairs beautifully with crisp whites

• Gray with violet undertone → pairs with cool whites

• Gray with green undertone → can work with warm wood tones or light neutrals

Step 3: Match With Stone and Cabinetry

Once you know the undertone of your tiles, match your stone and cabinetry. This step is essential to avoid a mismatch between surfaces:

• Beige/pink tiles → crisp white stone or cabinets for contrast

• Gray/violet tiles → gray or white stones, or painted cabinets in the same undertone

• Gray/green tiles → warm wood cabinets or light stones to complement the undertone

The goal is to let your tiles shine while all other surfaces enhance the overall harmony.

Step 4: Avoid Common Mistakes

• Don’t rely on showroom pairings—always test samples together.

• Don’t refer to tiles as just “warm” or “cool” neutrals—identify their specific undertone.

• Don’t guess how a white will work—test whites with your tiles to create the perfect contrast.

By following this method, you can avoid expensive mistakes and create a bathroom that feels balanced, warm, and professionally designed.

Final Tip

If you want to make the process even easier, I provide curated samples and the exact whites that pair with these neutrals in my online course. You’ll learn step-by-step how to select tiles, stone, and cabinetry, so you never make a mistake again—whether you’re renovating or building a new home. Feel free to check out my online course inside the course you also get my full support. Link

Choosing tiles doesn’t have to be stressful. Understand the undertones, test your samples, and you’ll end up with a beautiful, cohesive bathroom every time.