Tiles for Curved Walls and Curved Surfaces
Curved walls add something special to a room. Tiling them might seem complicated, but it's actually pretty easy once you know what you're doing. This article will walk you through the main things to think about when tiling a curved surface. We'll cover tile sizes, types that work well on curves and installation tips. We'll also show you some real examples of curved tiled walls from our Instagram.
Can you tile a curved wall?
Absolutely. It’s slightly more complicated than tiling a flat surface, but worth it. The key is in the right tiles and techniques.
Your space will tell you what your tile options are. Smaller and narrower tiles work on most curved surfaces because they conform more easily. Anything wider than around 50mm will only work on more gentle curves.
Curved bathroom and kitchen wall tiles
Curved tile walls look great anywhere in the home, but tiled curved walls are most often found in the bathroom and kitchen. Let's look at some tile options that work well in these spaces.
1. Kit kats
Kit Kat tiles are rectangular mosaic tiles around the size of a finger. They’re slim enough to curve around most surfaces easily.
Brunswick Kit Kat Mosaic Tiles
Our Brunswick Kit Kat Tiles are ideal for curved walls because they’re compact (22x145mm). Their small size allows them to follow curves smoothly without leaving large gaps. These mosaic tiles come in 296x300mm sheets and work best laid vertically on curved walls. These tiles are available in gloss and matte white.
Coogee Kit Kat Mosaic Tiles
Coogee kit kats are slightly smaller than Brunswick kit kats, at 12x92mm. Their small size means they work well on any curved surface — even tight curves like pillars. Like Brunswick kit kats, they come on 284x295mm sheets, making them easy to install vertically on curved surfaces.
Coogee kit kats come in many colours — antique white, antique forest green, sage green, antique green, antique pink and antique blue.
2. Penny rounds
Penny rounds are small round mosaic tiles around the size of a five cent coin. Their small size makes it easy to work around curved surfaces.
Broadwater Penny Round Mosaic Tiles
Our Broadwater penny rounds are 19mm in diameter. They come on 320x290mm mesh-backed sheets to make them easier to install. Our white penny rounds are available in matte or gloss. Grey, pink, cobalt blue, black, dark blue and green come in gloss.
3. Subways
Subways are larger rectangular tiles that look great on curved walls when installed vertically. We carry subway tiles in a few sizes that suit different curved surfaces.
Narrow subways
Narrow subway tiles are a good match for most curved surfaces. They're less than 50mm wide, so they can bend around curves and still look smooth.
- Our Albert Park Subway Tile is 45x235mm and comes in a perfect vanilla shade in a matte or gloss finish that’s neither too stark nor warm.
- The Newport Mini Subway Tile is 50x200mm and comes in two finishes and eight colour options: white, sage green, sky blue, jade green, ocean blue, baby pink, duck egg blue and grey.
- Noosa Zellige Subway Tiles are slightly shorter at 50x150mm, with a handmade, rustic look. Our zellige tiles are available in taupe, white and beige gloss.
Wide subways
Wide subways are any subways with more than 50mm width. You can still get great results with wider subway tiles if your curved surface isn’t too dramatic.
- Our Thirroul Subway Tile is 75x300mm and textured. It comes in terracotta, bone, travertine and white matte.
- Our signature Newport Subway Tile is also 75x300mm with an organic surface. Like the mini version, it comes in white, sage green, sky blue, jade green, ocean blue, baby pink and duck egg blue in matte or gloss, depending on the colour.
- The Riverton Subway Tile is 65x265mm and has a more classic look. It comes in nude or white in matte or gloss.
- Our Rose Bay Carrara Look Subway Tile is 75x300mm with beautiful Carrara marbling in a matte finish.
- The Northbridge Terracotta Look Subway Tile is 62x186mm and, as the name suggests, has the same warm, matte look of terracotta.
Tips for tiling a curved wall
Tiling a curved wall isn’t too different to regular tiling. They just need some extra care to make sure they look their best. Here’s what we recommend:
- Testing: Take a few samples to your space and make sure your tile is mostly flush with the wall.
- Preparation: Smooth out your surface carefully before you start — any imperfections will stand out on a curved surface.
- Work gradually: If possible, start tiling from the flattest part of the wall, gradually working your way around the curve.
- Grouting: Work in small sections. Use a flexible float and press it firmly into the joints. Take another look to make sure there are no wedge-shaped gaps in the grout.
Remember, tiling a curved wall takes time — don't rush the process. If you're not confident in your skills, hire a professional.
Curved wall tiles at TileCloud
Ready to tile your curved shower, wall, island or range? Our team can suggest the best tiles for your space and tell you how many you'll need. Get in touch for a free design consult, and we'll help you make your space look exactly how you want it to.
Layla Sawyer
Layla is a creative at heart, with an Advanced Diploma in Interior Design and being the Senior Marketing and Ecommerce Coordinator here at TileCloud she has a passion for staying up to date with the latest trends within the industry. Known for going down a rabbit hole on Pinterest and being a sucker for a good mood board to kick off any project.