The $3 Tile That Channels Parisian Charm in Your Kitchens and Baths

Renovating a bathroom? Tiling a small entryway? You want something that’s both affordable and classic. Ideally, the design material you choose won’t look dated five years from now. Instead, it’d be versatile, hearty, and able to bridge multiple styles, depending on your vision.

Well, I’m happy to report that one pre-war finish checks off every requirement on this list. And while its history runs deep, it feels just as relevant today as it did over 120 years ago. This storied design element also happens to be one of the most budget-friendly options on the market: penny tile. 

A perennial favorite of designers, small rounded tiles, aka penny tiles, have maintained consistent popularity since first hitting the design scene around the turn of the 20th century. These inexpensive tiles can be used in simple, monochromatic applications or turned into ornate mosaic designs. They feel right at home in a tiny New York City apartment bathroom or a bustling restaurant bar, and they tend to be fairly sturdy and long-lasting underfoot.

Often punctuated with darker grout in a way that feels both nostalgic and timeless (and practical for hiding dirt), pennies are often paired with reliable and equally inexpensive subway tiles. Typically, they’re exactly what comes to mind when you think “charming pre-war apartment.” 

To get a little more insight into why these little circles are such design heroes, Jenna Morrow, owner and principal designer of Morrow Design Studio, shared her experience with penny tiles and why she believes they’ll never go out of style. 

Morrow says penny tile feels nostalgic for most homeowners, whether it’s because it’s something they saw in their own homes when they were growing up or they recognize from places they’ve traveled and stayed. From hotels with Art Deco-style lobbies to retro bathrooms that haven’t been touched in half a century, penny tile has traversed the decades. It’s the backdrop of generations of design memories.

Penny tile is petite, but it can be used to create high contrast in a space — particularly if it’s paired with a splash of big, bold color. “I remember vividly seeing black and white penny tile on bathroom floors while the bathroom walls were a bold color, so the flooring pairs well with almost any shade,” says Morrow.

Whether you lean into the black and white monochromatic look (which is dramatic in its own right!) or contrast penny tile with vintage-inspired color, you’re making a design statement.  

You can’t argue with tile that’s been around for over a century — particularly when it’s sometimes impossible to tell whether you’re looking at original tile in an early 20th-century building or something that was installed much later. This style has barely changed over the past 100 years, and its quality means it’s often still standing strong.

“Penny tile’s durability is one feature that makes it classic,” Morrow says. “You’ll see it in modern bathrooms, but you’ll also find it in buildings that are more than 100 years old, and the tile is still standing the test of time.” 

She adds, “This speaks to how well it ages; it looks good years after its installation.” The same is true of newer penny tile, too. Maybe it’s because the smaller pieces aren’t as susceptible to cracking the way larger tiles are.  

Today, penny tile is typically sold in easy-to-install sheets, which makes it accessible for bathrooms of all sizes. “Its versatility makes the penny tile classic,” explains Morrow. “Not only does it work well with many design styles, but its scale accommodates small and large spaces from a modest powder room to a spacious primary bathroom.”

Morrow suggests using penny tile paired with larger 12 x 24 tiles on a bathroom shower wall if you’re going for a more modern look. Or you can re-create a period-appropriate look by adding a two-tone application to a powder room floor with a main solid color base and a second solid color border. 

On a kitchen backsplash or bathroom wall, pennies can look totally contemporary, thanks to their graphic impact and opposition to more traditional subway tile. But they pair well with subway tile walls when used underfoot, again, for a more traditional look. You can even pop pennies out of a sheet and replace them with another color to create a mosaic pattern. Some pennies come pre-sold in patterns. 

Ultimately, the size of this tile is key to its stylistic versatility. “Penny tile is a classic but fun way to add dimension to a bathroom floor or kitchen backsplash without overwhelming the room,” says Morrow.

So if you’re renovating, give this humble material another look. Your wallet will thank you.