Trim tiles, once a hallmark of Victorian and Edwardian interiors, are experiencing a resurgence in popularity, bringing renewed period character to contemporary tiled spaces. These narrow, often moulded edging pieces were originally designed to provide crisp finishes and frame decorative tile motifs in public and private buildings, from Victorian pubs to Underground stations.

According to tile historian Hans van Lemmen, tiles became widely favored in the Victorian era for their fireproof, waterproof, hygienic, and decorative qualities, while trim tiles served to define and accentuate intricate designs. The art deco period further elevated trims to decorative features that added contrast and relief to more restrained tiling schemes.

After a decline over the past two decades, British tile company Bert & May is among those leading the revival of trims. Founder Lee Thornley highlights a recent surge in demand: whereas only 6 percent of the company’s glazed tile orders included trims in 2025, that figure has risen to 42 percent in the last three months. Similarly, trim sales at manufacturer Balineum have grown by nearly 80 percent over the past year. Thornley attributes this trend to a broader interest in traditional design aesthetics, noting that UK clients often seek to replicate the character of Victorian or Georgian homes, even in new builds.

This revival is evident internationally. Avery Cox Design in Dallas incorporated dark green half-round trims in a Georgian-inspired bathroom to articulate architectural features such as mirrors and window casings. The designer emphasized how trims contribute a sense of history and craftsmanship, making the space feel established rather than newly constructed.

In the UK, British tile brand Fired Earth partnered with interior designer Nina Campbell last June to launch The Finishing Touches, a ceramic trim collection available in colors like eucalyptus, taupe, jet, and ivory. The range includes dados, quarter rounds, rope trims, and jewel-like corner pieces, priced between £5 and £23.33 per item or linear metre. Campbell encourages experimentation with trims to create shifts in pattern and mood, while Fired Earth’s head of brand and product, Carly Allison, highlights how simple changes in tile layout or trim color can transform a space.

Interior designer Carina Harford uses trims to resolve challenging joinery, as seen in a North London project where a burgundy pencil trim softens the transition between half- and full-height tiling in a bathroom. She notes that trims offer a cost-effective method to elevate tile installations from purely functional to thoughtfully designed.

Designers are also exploring unconventional uses of trim tiles. George Townsin of Studio George incorporated knobbly red trim tiles into a striped kitchen splashback at a Notting Hill Venetian cookery school, drawing inspiration from the colors and texture of Venice’s canal mooring posts. Meanwhile, Paris-based designer Marie Bonnard employed a checkered band of contrasting tiles to frame a splashback and floor in a kitchen, underscoring the importance of considering trims early in the design process.

To support this growing interest, Balineum founder Sarah Watson recently published a guide to help customers plan trim applications in various contexts such as niches and basins. The company is preparing to introduce a Georgian-style trim collection next year, developed in collaboration with neoclassical architect George Saumarez Smith. Watson envisions trims evolving beyond finishing details to become integral design elements that impart structure, individuality, and a sense of permanence to tiled spaces.