tile edge trim: do you really need it?

what is trim?

trim refers to long, thin strips of tile which cover the edges of a tile installation, acting as a border and insuring that no tile edge is left exposed. 

while some installers believe this is the only way to finish an installation, we’re here to highlight no-trim options that can save you a lot of time (and money) while looking great.

at clé, we have held to the international model of no trim, and we encourage our clients to do the same. however, we don’t expect you to come along on this journey without a bit of explanation as to exactly why tile trim is unnecessary.

tile & trim history

countries throughout the world have a long history of tile making. but, it’s not just about the creation of the tile itself. many of these countries consider the craft of tile installation every bit as artistic as the craft of tile making. both require a balance of technical skill and artistic devotion. craftspeople skilled in both tile making and installation have maintained this practice today.

by contrast, tile trim is a much newer, american invention born out of a perceived “ease of installation” (which, as you’ll discover, isn’t really the case). to be fair, the american history of tile use is very young and mostly limited to bathrooms, kitchens, floors, and backsplashes. we are, admittedly, a little behind compared to places like morocco, turkey, and spain, where tile craftsmanship originated and flourished.

if you’ve decided to design your space using tile, it’s important to understand how these tiles were traditionally designed and installed. this will allow your tile to truly shine, and will prevent you from spending unnecessary time and money on your project.

is an edging strip necessary?

instead of asking yourself how to tile trim, the question you might need to ask is whether it’s essential to trim at all. tile edge trim isn’t always necessary, especially when you’re working with materials that are meant to showcase their natural character. many artisan and stone tiles are intentionally crafted with organic edges, slight variations, or dimensional surfaces that look more authentic when left unframed.

rather than forcing a manufactured border around something handmade, skipping trim allows the tile to meet the adjacent surface in a way that feels softer, more architectural, and truer to the material itself. with the right installation and a clean, intentional finish, a trim-free edge can look elevated, modern, and seamlessly integrated into the space.

design-wise, foregoing trim also opens up greater flexibility. without the visual interruption of a metal or ceramic border, the eye reads the tiled surface as one continuous plane, which can make walls appear larger and give the design a more curated, bespoke feel.

this approach works especially well in contemporary, minimalist, or rustic spaces where simplicity or organic irregularity is part of the aesthetic. by letting the tile speak for itself—without a frame—you create a quieter, more thoughtful design that feels timeless rather than accessorized.

if, even after considering all this, trim is still a requirement for you, consider an alternative to trim such as surface bullnose and corner trim.

3 tile edge trim myths

although we know a tile edge trim finish isn’t essential and can even detract from your design, some common myths about its necessity persist.

tile trim myth #1: voila!

one misconception is that tile trim completes the design. we’d argue that trim takes away from the design. tile actually looks best when surfaces meet seamlessly and in a monolithic fashion. it produces more of a custom finish than a manufactured one.

still not sure? all you have to do is look to those countries who have been doing this for a lot longer than the u.s. a lot. the rest of the world utilizes far more tiles than the u.s. per capita, all without the use of tile trim. surely they’ve been doing something right.

tile trim myth #2: trim is cost-friendly

we’ve seen many (too many) design instances where tiles only covered a portion of the wall, backsplash, or mantel (aka: “short-sheeting”). this choice is constructed to be less about design and more about cost-savings.

but, that is a misconception brought on by perception—the perception that covering an entire surface with tile is more expensive than finishing with trim. not so. trim is actually quite expensive and could push your budget to its limits (if not completely over the edge).

tile trim myth #3: all tile has accompanying trim

like we said, we are young. most tiles are made outside of the u.s., which means they don’t come with trim. are you going to mar your beautiful tile design by resorting to broadly manufactured trim options at the big-box hardware store? there are a number of options for tiling without trim (see examples and illustrations in our trim guide).

a (tiny) exception to the rule

in some of our tile collections, we do offer a trim option—primarily because they are a tile with a distinctive “american-made” aesthetic.

our factory-produced subway tiles and artisan crafted glazed thin brick tiles are two collections that include trim. this exception to our rule is limited, however, so be fair warned. instead of a full-range of trim, we have a very minimal offering—just enough to satisfy those clients who are pro-trim.

we also offer some guidance on specific use cases, such as tile window trim ideas, where trim may be preferred but the tile of choice actually looks better without trim or contains its own finished look qualities.

but, our preferred stance (and we stand by it) is to recommend tiling without trim, based on the historic traditions and aesthetic presentations that we honor in tilemaking.