Stiles Pool Tiles: Choose Your Perfect Pool Style

If summer was a sound, it would be water!

A splash. A ripple. The soft slap of waves against the pool’s edge. Laughter drifting across the lawn. Shouts of “Marco!” along with the crackle of the braai and the tinkle of ice in a glass.

With several glorious months of summer ahead, now is the time to start planning the pool and patio space where people will want to spend all their time. And while the colour, shape and setting of a pool might get all the attention, what’s under the water matters too.

The right pool tile doesn’t just make a pool look beautiful. It can make it easier to clean, more durable, more economical to maintain and suitable for the technical demands of being submerged outdoors. Stiles pool tiles offer a variety of options that combine style with the practical requirements of pool design.

So, before falling for a colour, a pattern or that perfect shade of Mediterranean blue, it pays to understand what makes a pool tile fit for purpose.

What makes a pool tile suitable?

A pool tile has a tough job. It’s constantly exposed to water, chemicals, changing temperatures, sunlight and plenty of bare feet. So, while a tile might look perfect on the mood board, not every tile is designed to spend its life underwater.

According to Stiles, a leading South African tile retailer, “the ideal pool tiles will have low water absorption, high chemical resistance and high durability”. Read on to find a tile that can take the plunge and keep looking stylish while it does.

Why stop at the waterline?

There’s something undeniably luxurious about a pool that is completely tiled. Tiling the entire interior creates one continuous, considered finish, giving the pool a more sophisticated, architectural feel. A tiled pool is a durable, easy-to-maintain decorative finish. Additional outdoor features, such as outdoor showers and steps, can be tiled to complement the pool.

Getting the specification right

Choosing the right tile is only part of the project. Before installation, it is advisable to speak to a Stiles consultant about the technical requirements of the specific pool. Where required, the Stiles team works with the technical departments of its adhesive and installation system partners to understand factors such as pool construction and substrate, waterproofing requirements, water treatment and chemicals, and other site-specific conditions. This allows the correct products and installation method to be specified for every application.

But does a pool tile have to be boring?

Not at all. In fact, if the entire pool is going to be tiled, why not have a little fun with it?

A punchy colour can turn it into a statement. A playful pattern can give it personality. A mix of tones can create depth and echo the movement of the water. The trick is to choose tiles that can handle the technical demands of pool life without sacrificing the fun. The Funky Tiles range, exclusive to Stiles, has several ranges of pool-suitable tiles designed to bring colour, character and a little bit of mischief to the water.

What’s the pool personality?

Easy on the Eye

For a relaxed, colourful and quietly confident pool, meet Easy.

These full-colour-body porcelain tiles make it simple to bring personality into the pool, with seven colours ranging from cool blues and fresh apple greens to soft pearl, sandy neutrals and warm terracotta. Choose between matt or gloss finishes. These pre-cut tiles consist of single large tiles with shallow score marks to resemble smaller tiles. Pre-cut tiles offer faster installation and easier alignment. Easy comes in two classic shapes: the square Easy Block and the subway-style Easy Limit.

The Classic Choice

For a pool with a classic personality, Beret brings a beautiful, old-world feel to the water. Think aqua, matcha and turquoise: shades inspired by tropical water, leafy gardens and the soft blue-green tones of a Mediterranean summer. The Beret range includes individual decorative porcelain tiles in 120 mm × 120 mm squares and small, shortbread-sized subway tiles. Beret has a more traditional, handcrafted feel, with matt and gloss options in four colours, including moss, tea, white and rose.

The Style Icon

Slender, linear and distinctly architectural, the Twiggy range brings a strong graphic quality to the pool. Its elongated format creates rhythm and movement, turning what could be a simple expanse of water into a considered design feature. The Twiggy range is available in ten vintage-inspired shades in matt and gloss finishes.

The Escape Artist

Bali is a tile for creating a ‘destination pool’. Think relaxed resort energy, tropical colour and that delicious feeling of being somewhere far away, even when only a few steps from the back door. The Bali tiles are matt, pre-cut tiles with four tiles to a panel. This range is available in four colours: white, azul, anthracite and verde.

Ready to make a splash? Visit the nearest Stiles store to explore pool tile samples in person or browse online for inspiration and start dreaming up the perfect pool.