Spanish Tiles — An Australian Buying Guide
02 September 2026 · Tile Touch
Spanish tiles are a mainstay of Australian bathrooms, kitchens and living areas because the range is so broad. You can find plain gloss subways, encaustic-look patterns, handmade zellige squares and large-format porcelain, all from Spanish makers. This guide runs through the main types, the sizes to expect and where each one tends to suit, so you can shortlist with less guesswork.
Are Spanish tiles a good choice?
For most homes, yes. Spanish porcelain and ceramic cover almost every room in the house, from splashbacks to floors, and the styles range from quiet neutrals to bold pattern. The right pick depends on the room, the finish and the size, which is what the sections below cover.
Porcelain or ceramic?
Porcelain is the denser, harder-wearing option and is the usual choice for floors and wet areas. Most of the Spanish porcelain we stock is designed for walls and floors, in sizes from a slim subway up to large-format sheets.
Ceramic tends to be used on walls and splashbacks. Among the Spanish ceramics, the Gatsby Tin Pattern in white (200 x 200 mm) has a pressed pattern that reads like old pressed-metal panels, while the Rimtou Burgundy is a 132 x 132 mm matt ceramic with a deep colour. The Merryville Pink Rose is a handmade ceramic subway at 75 x 300 mm with a gloss finish, so it carries the slight variation you get from handmade tiles.
Subways and small formats
Subway tiles remain the safe, easy choice for kitchen splashbacks and bathroom walls. The Aaron Spanish Porcelain Subway comes in beige with a gloss finish at 60 x 300 mm and carries a P2 slip rating. The Merryville Pink Rose subway (75 x 300 mm) is a softer, warmer alternative if you want a bit of colour rather than a straight neutral.
If you like a small square instead of a brick shape, the Scala porcelain in grey is 200 x 200 mm, and the Rimtou Burgundy is 132 x 132 mm. Smaller tiles give you more grout lines, which can help with grip on a floor and suit smaller rooms where a big tile would feel out of scale.
Zellige and handmade looks
Zellige is a handmade tile with a slightly uneven surface and edges, so each piece catches the light a little differently. The Albert Silver Zellige is a 100 x 100 mm handmade square from Spain. Because handmade tiles vary tile to tile, they suit people who want texture and movement on a wall rather than a flat, uniform finish. Order a sample first so you know what the variation looks like in your own light.
Pattern and encaustic looks
If you want pattern without the upkeep of real encaustic cement tiles, porcelain does the job. The Hamilton Phoenix Decor is a white encaustic-look Spanish porcelain at 200 x 200 mm, so you get the patterned floor look in an easier-care material. The Bohemian porcelain comes in a blend at 595.5 x 595.5 mm, a larger square that works across a floor. The Gatsby Tin Pattern in white gives a decorative wall option in ceramic.
Large-format and textured porcelain
Large tiles suit open floors and feature walls, with fewer grout lines across the space. The Chromatic in grey is a matt porcelain at 333 x 1000 mm, a long rectangle that works on walls and floors. The Tornares Zumaia range has a 3D rectangle surface in a matt finish and comes in two sizes: white at 600 x 600 mm and graphite at 600 x 1200 mm. The texture adds shadow and depth, which reads well on a feature wall.
For a smaller textured tile with some shine, the Yuki Bevelled Sparkle in dark is a 50 x 150 mm porcelain with a gloss finish. The bevel and sparkle give a bit of sparkle on a splashback or feature wall.
Matching the tile to the room
Bathrooms
For bathroom walls, subways like the Aaron beige or the Merryville pink are straightforward to lay and clean. The Albert Silver Zellige adds handmade texture if you want the wall to have more character. For a bathroom floor, check the tile is suited to floor use and look at slip rating; the Aaron subway, for example, is rated P2.
Kitchens
Splashbacks are where gloss and pattern earn their keep. A gloss subway such as the Aaron reflects light behind a bench, while the Gatsby Tin Pattern or Yuki Bevelled Sparkle give a more decorative splashback.
Living areas and floors
Larger porcelain suits open floors. The Bohemian blend at nearly 600 mm square, the Chromatic long rectangle and the Tornares Zumaia sizes all give you a bigger tile with fewer joins.
Sizes at a glance
- Subway: Aaron 60 x 300 mm, Merryville 75 x 300 mm
- Small square: Albert Zellige 100 x 100 mm, Rimtou 132 x 132 mm, Scala and Gatsby and Hamilton Phoenix 200 x 200 mm
- Slim brick: Yuki 50 x 150 mm
- Large format: Bohemian 595.5 x 595.5 mm, Tornares Zumaia 600 x 600 mm and 600 x 1200 mm, Chromatic 333 x 1000 mm
Order a sample first
Colour and finish can look different in a showroom versus your own room. We offer samples and have a Sydney showroom in Waterloo if you want to see and hold the tiles, and we ship Australia-wide.
Frequently asked questions
Are Spanish tiles porcelain or ceramic?
Both. Spanish makers produce porcelain and ceramic ranges. In our range the Aaron, Hamilton Phoenix, Bohemian, Scala, Chromatic, Yuki and Tornares Zumaia are porcelain, while the Gatsby, Rimtou and Merryville are ceramic and the Albert Silver is zellige.
Can Spanish tiles be used on floors?
Many can, especially the porcelain ranges. Always check the tile is suited to floor use and look at the slip rating for wet or outdoor areas. The Aaron subway, for instance, carries a P2 rating.
What is a zellige tile?
Zellige is a handmade tile with a slightly irregular surface and edges, so each piece varies. The Albert Silver Zellige is a 100 x 100 mm handmade square from Spain. Because of the variation, it is best to view a sample before ordering.
What size Spanish tile should I choose?
It depends on the room and the look. Smaller squares and subways suit splashbacks and compact bathrooms, while large-format porcelain like the Tornares Zumaia 600 x 1200 mm suits open floors and feature walls with fewer grout lines.
Can I get a sample before I buy?
Yes. Samples are available, and you can visit our Waterloo showroom in Sydney to see the tiles in person. We ship orders Australia-wide.