25 Black-and-White Bistro Tile Accessories We Love

One of the reasons I love visiting Europe is the tile. It’s everywhere in design, from bright blue azulejo walls in Portugal to cold terracotta floors in Italy to the iconic black-and-white tile in French bistros. The tile, which features tiny hexagons, squares or circles (AKA penny tile), covered everything from the floors to the walls for many Parisian cafes and restaurants in the late 19th century and early 20th century. At its height, the style spread to other businesses such as pharmacies and apothecaries, but once more bold ideas such as art nouveau and art deco came along, this simple tiling fell out of fashion. However, in the last couple of years, we’ve noticed a resurgence in the classic tile, especially for renovated flooring. These tiny tiles are super versatile. You can create flower patterns, borders, alternating patterns and even spell out words. But flooring isn’t the only way to get the black-and-white bistro tile look at home. We’ve spotted several home decor brands and Etsy makers dabbling in this Old World style and selling black-and-white tile-inspired accessories, from rug runners to coffee mugs. Take a look at our favorite bistro tile decor, and transform your space without actual tiling.

KITCHENWARE

Hat tip to Anthropologie for making it possible to have a bistro kitchen without any bistro tile. The retailer introduced a small line of tile-inspired kitchenware in 2019, and it's exploded to include all kinds of unique pieces such as chargers, bowls and mugs. These wares really create a sense of place and that Old World vibe without any reno, so it's perfect for decorating rentals. I'm obsessed with these salt and pepper shakers. And these monogram initial mugs make a great gift. Beyond Anthropologie, Society6 has a bistro tile-inspired serving tray in both black and white, and I honestly can't decide which one I like more.

ART + WALL DECOR

Another easy way to add black-and-white tile without actually adding tile is wall art. Etsy has some great bistro tile-inspired prints and instant downloads to shop, such as this coffee sign that would be super cute in a breakfast nook or this French sign for an entryway. Etsy shop Reverie Made by Ashley even creates customizable prints with specific words or monograms over the tile design. Of course, you don't have to overhaul your entire wall. This little letterpress card from Wild Ink Press would make a great swap on an existing gallery art wall to freshen it for spring and summer.

BATHROOM

On the heels of the kitchen bistro tile collection came Anthropologie's bathroom collection, and I like it even more. These pieces instantly transform a bathroom into a Victorian washroom. It's a perfect tweak if you don't have the budget to tile or live in a rental and want to add more character to a modern or ho-hum bathroom. I even think the vanity accessories would be super cute bridal gifts, as the phrase "joie de vivre" means the enjoyment and happiness of life.

MATS + RUGS

The easiest hack for getting the flooring look you want is to fake it with rugs. There are several black-and-white bistro tile-inspired mats, area rugs and runners that you can buy online, from vinyl accent rugs at Target to this ultra-cushioned kitchen mat from WallPops! It's a game-changer for standing at the sink and doing dishes. I'm also obsessed with this doormat from Letterfolk. It comes with rubber tiles so you can create your own art and lettering.