mudroom tile ideas: inspiring designs you’ll love

over the years, the mudroom has evolved into something that’s more of a concept than a dedicated room: it’s a gathering space, a resting point, an intermission between indoor and outdoor acts — a place to bring a little outside in, and relax the boundary between indoors and out.

here are inspiring mudroom tile ideas to keep in mind when building your perfect mudroom, along with key practical considerations.

inspiring mudroom tile ideas

classic patterns and textures

certain mudroom tiles are classics for a reason. terracotta tile — available a sunset of color options ranging from dusty pink to burnished orange and deep red — evokes a distinctly mediterranean mood with its earthen texture. plus, its shade is a type of neutral that even the color shy can get behind.

slate and tumbled travertine are other timeless choices, both donning neutral hues that play well with glossy white subway tile, honed marble, and zellige alike.

modern geometric designs

on the more modern side of things, you might consider incorporating a geometric design into your space. cement tile offers many eye-catching ways to achieve this, with patterns featuring squares, rectangles, triangles, hexagons, diamonds, and more. stripes and zig zags lend a similar clean lined effect.

prefer to let the grout do the talking? go with a hexagon tile, be it cement, marble, travertine, terracotta, or zellige. or, have rectangular installed in a creative pattern such as herringbone or basketweave.

nature-inspired tiles

although commonly seen as a place to cleanse ourselves of natural elements, the mudroom is also a great space to reincorporate nature into the home. terracotta tile, made with nothing but clay, water, and fire, brings an earthy and elemental vibe to your mudroom floor — almost like walking on earth itself, minus the mess. terrazzo, on the other hand, is earthy yet modern, with natural variegation in creamy brown and beige tones.

another way to bring a little of the outdoors indoors: opting for a cement tile with a nature-inspired motif. the fern tile in our erica tanov collection is a lovely example.

add personality and flair

whether your mudroom is an entryway to the home or a private, “behind the scenes” family area, there are plenty of ways to add personality and flair.

for a graphic, colorful material that works well in both indoor and outdoor spaces, cement should be your go-to. with cement, the sky’s the limit. it’s up to you how you want to customize your space, whether you’re into geometric patterns, western vibes, or want to try something completely new like granny squares.

mix textures, colors, and patterns

don’t be afraid to mix different colors, textures, and patterns. in fact, we recommend it. slate subway tile on the floor with glossy ceramic tile on the walls? go for it. jewel toned tile laid in a herringbone pattern with contrasting grout? the mudroom is your canvas.

practical considerations for mudroom tile floors

what kind of mudroom do you have?

this should be the first question you ask yourself when designing a mudroom. in some homes, the mudroom is the initial space you enter after stepping through the front door. in others, the mudroom appears near the garage or patio, towards the back of the house.

considering your mudroom’s location, think about the impression or vibe you want to evoke with your floor tile. if your mudroom is at the front of your house, use it to preview the rest of your home, using colors and textures that reflect the overall mood of the home and show what’s to come.

if your mudroom is a little more tucked away, such as one that doubles as a laundry room, you can use this opportunity to get creative — and maybe take a step outside of your comfort zone.

how will your mudroom be used?

imagine how your mudroom will be used. like a traditional japanese genkan (a small tiled entryway directly inside the front door used for removing and storing shoes) a mudroom can be small and fulfill a simple need.

if organization is your main priority, think about your needs and requirements for storage. even in this case, there are lots of ways to play with design. open shelving with a patterned backsplash is a great way to add oomph without compromising on storage space.

looking at the floor specifically, consider how much foot traffic and weather the mudroom will see. a busy mudroom exposed to heavy rain and snow would benefit from a slip resistant slate or terracotta floor (treated for water resistance, of course). if your mudroom won’t serve as direct entryway from the outdoors, you have more leeway to weigh aesthetic preferences with slip resistance.

don’t overlook water resistance, maintenance, and durability

mudroom floors should be water resistant and easy to clean, and not highly sensitive to scratches and high foot traffic. if you’re dealing with snow and ice, make sure to select materials rated for freeze/thaw use.

as a general rule, stick to materials traditionally used for both indoor and outdoor spaces. for the floor, try to find something slip resistant. think: tile with natural variation in texture, like our belgian reproduction terracotta hexes or foundry flats brick.

tiles made from some terracottas, stone, and high-quality cement (make sure it’s sealed) hold up best against water, mud, and sand — the same natural elements used to create them.

stone is also an ideal choice, with slate tile offering the most slip resistant and moisture resistant surface. slate subway planks come in a variety of sizes and also show the stone’s natural variegation, so no surface looks exactly the same.

frequently asked questions

what is the best tile for a mudroom?

ultimately, this is up to you and your style. with the above considerations for durability and slip resistance in mind, look for a tile that fits into your aesthetic goals for the space. in love with a tile that isn’t suitable for floors? consider making it your wall tile, as you can generally use a broader range of tile on walls.

a few of our favorite mudroom tiles include slate planks, belgian reproduction terracotta, forage terrazzo stone, cement granny squares, and new california brick.

what is the best flooring to put in a mudroom?

again, there is no one “best” flooring for the mudroom. the ideal mudroom floor tile has enough texture to provide slip resistance, and this could be natural stone, terrazzo, terracotta, or cement. it’s also water resistant, often made possible with a waterproofing penetrating sealer.

if you’re going with stone, terracotta, or cement, good news: these tile materials, when treated properly, hold up especially well to dirty shoes, water, sand, and dirt.

is porcelain tile good for a mudroom?

porcelain is exceptionally durable, and due to its nonporous nature, it withstands frequent water exposure as well. unglazed tiles offer increased slip resistance on floors thanks to their nature texture. if you’re considering glazed porcelain for the floor, opt for a smaller tile such as penny rounds, which will give you more grouting for traction.

what is the best stone tile for a mudroom?

on floors, we most often see slate. unlike marble and limestone that are honed to create a smooth surface, slate is split along the grain to yield a cleft texture. this gives it a naturally slip resistant and tactile matte surface that many appreciate in high-traffic areas. another great option: pantry pavers, tumbled travertine tiles that mimic the look of antique terracotta.

if you’ll be tiling the walls, you should know that nearly any type of stone is a feasible option.