You’re probably familiar with all the classic tile forms like subway, square-shaped tiles or even the hexagonal ones. But what about the other types, the ones that are a bit more odd and more rarely used, like fish scale tiles?

The fact they’re not as popular and as common as the other types makes them quite interesting. As you can easily guess, they were named this way because of their shape and the resemblance of the pattern with the scales found on fish. So how would you introduce such tiles into your home decor? We can answer this question with a few inspiring examples of beautiful homes that actually have these.

You can basically use fish scale tiles like you would any other type. In the kitchen, you can have a tiled backsplash which will look that much more interesting if the tiles also have an interesting color or form an eye-catching pattern. Of course, their form alone is enough to make the backsplash stand out and you can highlight it with grout in a color different from that of the tiles. You can see here two types of designs, one which combines several different colors of tiles and one which sticks with a monochromatic look. They both feature fish scale tiles from Mercury Mosaics.

Fish scale tiles can also look gorgeous in the bathroom and not just because fish live in water and this is the room usually associated with it. The quirky pattern can definitely spruce up a simple-looking bathroom or make a small bathroom feel cozy and welcoming.

If you want you can have your entire bathroom decorated with fish scale tiles. It would be a unified and interesting look but since you’ll be using these tiles on every wall, you should pick a color that’s easy on the eyes. A light shade of blue would work well, being a color that’s soothing, calming and also quite bright and cozy, known to offer a sense of safety and comfort. Blue is also a nice suit for the bathroom because of its connection to the clear sky and the water. If you’re curious to find out more about this particular bathroom, check out Fireclaytile.

Why limit yourself to the walls when it comes to fish scale tiles when you can also have them cover the floor? Let’s say you’d like to add these tiles to your bathroom decor but you don’t want to mess with your beautiful walls. You can have a tiled floor instead. This way you’ll be putting the spotlight on the floor which doesn’t usually happen, making your bathroom stand out in an unusual and stylish way. Perhaps the redesign of this home featured on Homepolish can serve as inspiration.

Here’s another wonderful source of inspiration, a pool house remodel by Acorn Garden Houses. What’s we’re particularly interested in is this gorgeous fish scale backsplash. The color chosen is a lovely shade of green which looks different depending on how the light touches it. It becomes bright in the sunlight and darker in the shade and it’s a nice match for the light wood used for the furniture.

We already mentioned this and we’ll say it again: blue is a beautiful color and a great option for the bathroom. Darker shades of blue are particularly gorgeous, having this dramatic impact. They look exquisite when combined with white as well as with other colors, including brown, bright orange or even black. Check out this sophisticated bathroom and how beautiful it look with the small fish scale tiles on the walls and the monochromatic decor. You can find out more about it on NYTimes.

It’s fun to mix and match, especially when you’re working with tiles. If you plan on having a fish scale backsplash in your kitchen, you can use several different colors of tiles arranged either in a repetitive pattern or randomly. Combine several shades of the same color or stick with the classic black and white. Studio Duggan definitely got it right when designing this modern kitchen.

Obviously, simplicity can also be an option. For example, if you want your kitchen to be bright and open, you should use neutral colors and avoid too many patterns. Still, that doesn’t mean you can’t have a fish scale backsplash. Even if it’s white it will still stand out and look beautiful. You can see that right here, in the kitchen designed by Hart Builders.

If white isn’t your color, then find one that is, even if might be unusual for the space you have in mind. Green, for instance can be a very refreshing color and you can use it on the tiled backsplash in combination with white cabinetry. If you prefer something lighter, consider blue or turquoise in a pastel shade. You can find these examples and more like them on Housebeautiful.

When you’re decorating your home, whatever you do, don’t be afraid to be unique and to showcase your style and personality. If you feel like putting fish scale tiles on the floor right next to some wooden boards, then go for it. The result might turn out to be charming, special and exactly how you imagined it. If you’re having second thoughts about it, have a look at this New York home from Theblogdeco.