For nearly two decades, 12x24 rectangular tile was everywhere—bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, even commercial spaces. At first, it felt sleek and modern, a step up from the smaller square tiles of the early 2000s. But over time, something happened: it became the default choice, slapped onto every new build and remodel until it lost all personality. What once felt fresh and upscale now reads as cold, institutional, and painfully overdone. Walk into a hospital, an airport, or a generic office lobby, and chances are, you’ll see the same 12x24tile you’d find in a builder-grade bathroom. Not exactly the warm, inviting aesthetic homeowners are after.
Design is shifting toward more character-driven materials, and 12x24 tile just doesn’t cut it anymore. Instead, people are embracing handmade, textured tiles, classic checkerboard floors, terrazzo, and even large-format porcelain slabs for a seamless, high-end look. It’s the same cycle we’ve seen with outdated Tuscan-style travertine and speckled granite countertops—what was once trendy gets overused, tired, and eventually replaced. The takeaway? If you want your space to feel current (and not like a 2012 builder special), it’s time to ditch the 12x24 and embrace tile with texture, personality, and warmth. I always hated rectangle tile and applaud the retirement!
PHOTOS: Two homes built in 2014 and 2017, right in the peak of the rectangle tile craze, feature fireplace surrounds and bathroom floors covered in—yep—good old institutional rectangle tile. Phew! My tile contractor is going to have a good laugh when she reads this—she knows just how much I loath this finish!
