Tile Ideas for a Backyard Tiki Bar

Featured Image: Borgo Caldo 24×24 2CM R11 Anti-Slip Finish Porcelain Paver, Trav Sand 12×24 Outdoor Porcelain Wall Tile, and Azul Platino Granite Countertop and Tabletop from Arizona Tile

Summertime is fast approaching, so you may be dreaming of the time you can spend relaxing in the sun, gathering with friends, and lounging by a pool. But wouldn’t an outdoor tiki bar make these moments even better? Whether at home or your business, the addition of a backyard tiki bar can be a relaxing and fun addition to nearly any outdoor space.

Selecting design materials plays a large role in mastering a backyard oasis, and, with the correct selections, you will enjoy the ambiance of this space for years and years. There are certainly tile and slab options for outdoor spaces that are better than others, so read on to learn about some of our amazing products to cultivate the best backyard tiki bar ideas!

Backyard Oasis

While we are generally focusing on backyard tiki bar ideas, areas around the entire patio are important, like flooring and exterior cladding. All of these areas need quality materials that can withstand outdoor elements and potential high-traffic use.

Image: Futura Beige Large-format 24×24 2CM R11 Anti-Slip Finish Porcelain Paver from Arizona Tile

An outdoor bar area can function as a versatile space that enhances socializing and relaxation: playing games with the kids, enjoying a meal with your partner, reading a book, or hosting a party. If you’re going to put time and money into designing a backyard bar, you want it to last for a long time. So, to begin, let’s talk about what design elements a tiki bar generally entails.

Image: Reside Beige USA 24×48 Large-Format Porcelain Outdoor Floor Tile with R11 Anti-Slip Finish from Arizona Tile

The tiki theme became popular in the United States in the early-mid 20^th century with influences from Polynesian, Hawaiian, and Caribbean cultures. While the history in each culture goes far deeper than the tropical motif, the bright colored décor, rattan, flowers, grasses, tiki torches, etc. are common components to this theme. When thinking about how to incorporate tile and slab into this design, neutrality and earthy tones are a safe bet and can be highlighted with great décor.

The Bar Design Itself

Porcelain is an excellent choice to feature around the bar. It’s incredibly durable, a breeze to maintain, and comes in a wide selection. Porcelain tile or porcelain slab can be used to essentially “wrap” the bar wall to maintain consistency and appeal. Tile vs. slab will be your choice—they’re both just as durable and visually appealing, but using a porcelain slab vs porcelain tile will eliminate grout lines in the final design. Porcelain is a non-porous surface, so it does not need to be sealed and easily wipes clean with a damp cloth and a pH-balanced cleaner when needed—so easy!

One common feature of a tropical-themed tiki bar is sand. Having a sandy beach in your backyard is probably not practical, but there are ways to mimic such a look with porcelain. DT-Travertino White Matte and DT-Travertino Honey Matte Della Terra® Porcelain Slabs are technologically advanced, innovative surfaces, and both resemble a sandy beach. DT-Travertino White Matte is a neutral tone of light, creamy white and taupe, while DT-Travertino Honey Matte displays an overall neutral medium tone with blends of beige, tan, and grey. The only choice you have to make is whether you want white “sand” like the Caribbean or beige “sand” like the Pacific coast. These porcelain slabs are part of our Outer Limits^® brand for outdoor living and are frost-proof and unaffected by UV exposure.

Image: DT-Travertino Honey Matte Porcelain Slab Outdoor Bar Countertop, DT-Travertino White Porcelain Slab Outdoor Bar Island Surround, & Invictus Pearl Vein Cut 24×48 R11 Anti-Slip Finish Large-Format Outdoor Floor Tile from Arizona Tile

Della Terra® Porcelain Slabs can also be used as your bar countertop—that’s how durable they are!  But if you’re leaning toward natural stone, granite is a timeless and incredibly strong option. Just keep in mind that not all granites are created equal when it comes to outdoor use. Factors like resin content or mineral composition can affect long-term performance in the elements. That’s why we recommend choosing from our Outer Limits collection—natural stones, including select granites like Carbon Grey Satin, that are approved for exterior environments. Carbon Grey Satin features a deep, rich grey tone and consistent grain, and it’s built to handle full sun and high-traffic areas with confidence.

Decorate Your Outdoor Tiki Bar Walls

Exterior cladding is something you don’t want to overlook. This is the outer layer of material that goes on exterior walls to protect them from the elements. This layer may be vinyl siding or fiber cement, for instance. However, to retain consistency, consider changing this material from what’s on the rest of your home or business to emphasize your tiki oasis. Porcelain slabs and porcelain tile are a great choice to keep that consistency. To continue a beachy, tiki theme, the Trav series is a great porcelain product that emulates travertine. Trav differs from the porcelain slabs mentioned above because this is actually porcelain tile and it is installed piece by piece with grout lines separating each tile. Trav comes in a 12”x24” size, adding an expansive look to a space.

Image: Glam Beige Matte 2-1/4×9-1/2 Glazed Porcelain Outdoor Wall Tile, Carbon Grey Satin Granite Outdoor Wall Cap, & Invictus Beige Vein Cut 24×48 R11 Anti-Slip Finish Large-Format Outdoor Porcelain Floor Tile from Arizona Tile

If you’re looking for differences in your cladding materials, be it color or texture, Glam porcelain tile is a great option. Available in seven neutral, earthy colors, any of which would easily add an accented look to your backyard tiki bar. Glam comes in a glazed or matte finish and has a slight rippling texture and organic variation, giving it a very natural look.

Tiki Bar Flooring Tile

Selecting the best outdoor flooring for your needs is essential because it isn’t only about aesthetics, but safety, too. Outdoor spaces are prone to dampness—around a pool, after rain, morning dew, humidity, etc.—which could create a slip hazard. This is where our R11 Anti-Slip Finish can provide peace of mind. This unique finish creates a gripping texture on the tile surface to help reduce the risk of slips and falls, all without altering its appearance. Tile with R11 Anti-Slip Finish is a great option for both residential and commercial—and for a cohesive look, each style is also available in a standard finish option perfect for indoor spaces, allowing for a seamless transition from inside to out. . Here are some great outdoor tile choices, all with the R11 Anti-Slip Finish to increase the functionality, practicality, and aesthetics of your backyard tiki bar:

• Reside USA – Inspired by rich textures, this series has a clean look and offers a simplistic, modern appeal. In Ash, Beige, Black, and Brown, these neutral colors will accentuate and not derail from your tiki-themed bar.
• Pietra Italia – Created to emulate natural limestone, this series provides a clean, natural stone look to any environment. Available in four colors—Beige, Black, Grey, and White—there are many ways to integrate this tile into your design, plus there are two stacked tile options to carry the same tile onto your bar walls and exterior cladding.

Image: Pietra Italia Beige 24×48 Large-Format Indoor Tile & 24×48 R11 Anti-Slip Finish Outdoor Patio Tile from Arizona Tile

• Invictus Vein Cut – Different in appearance from the other selections, this series resembles vein-cut travertine, so it presents more visual texture and definition. In four light and bright colors—Beige, Ivory, Pearl, and White—this series adds a pleasant aesthetic to a space.

Tiki Bar Design Ideas

Having fun with design will definitely be part of your backyard tiki bar planning, especially when decorating to fit the theme. After you select the best tile or slab for the bar, cladding, and floor, you’re one step closer to enjoying your new outdoor addition.

For a better visual of our products, try our Just Imagine Tile and Slab Visualizer. To gain the best sense of a product’s look and feel together, stop by an Arizona Tile showroom or slab yard. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to send us a message!