Ceramic

• Ceramic tile designs can be colorful or conservative.great image of a ceramic tiled wall image by Oleg Verbitsky from Fotolia.com
  
  Ceramic tiles come in every color of the rainbow and all of the hues in-between as well. A plain white subway tile works well in many different decor design schemes, from the traditional to the modern. Creating a custom mural with these tiles in another option for those with distinctive tastes. You can do a checkerboard pattern, solid accent color or install ones that have painted designs on them.
  
  

Metal

• Look into different options in the texture and appearance of metal tiles for your fireplace.texture of metal image by Liu xiang from Fotolia.com
  
  Metal tiles hold up well to heat, just like ceramic ones do. Choosing silver ones adds to an industrial feeling room, while copper-toned metal tiles can dress up a fireplace in an old-world-themed space. Options for patinas include using chemicals or heat before they are sealed to create patterns and abstract designs. For an elegant feel, customize them with engravings such as rosebuds, ivy or scroll-work around the sides.
  
  

Stone

• Stone tiles can be made in the shape of traditional squares as well as other shapes, such as sleek rectangles.fence from the grave stone tiles. big picture. image by Sergey Sukhorukov from Fotolia.com
  
  Marble and granite are just two of the stone options for tiling fireplaces. Just like in nature, no two pieces of natural stone materials are exactly alike. This adds to the visual interest of the design. Mixing them up, such as a marble tile surround with a granite-tiled hearth, can bring out even more tones in the materials. Other stone ideas include using limestone or slate.
  
  

Glass

• Have custom glass tiles made to match any design theme that you love.Background made of glass tiles with red hearts image by Dmitry Rukhlenko from Fotolia.com
  
  Glass tiles also come in many color options. For example, create the look of a solid sheet of water using clear blues and greens. Brighten up a space creating a tile design out of warm tones, such as reds, oranges and yellows. Using clearer glass tiles will give a room a modern edge. Mixing them with ceramic tiles, such as using the glass ones as corner accents, can add to the visual interest of the design.
  
  

Mosaic Designs

• Stone tiles can also be broken up to create one-of-kind mural touches on your fireplace surround.mosaic image by Alexandra Thompson from Fotolia.com
  
  Creating a mosaic design offers you the opportunity for more color, pattern and texture when tiling your fireplace. Break up the ceramic tiles and fill in an already drawn outline on your fireplace to create a picture. Building a lively pattern using multiple colors gives a whimsical feeling to your hearth. Using recycled glass tiles for a mosaic fireplace adds a touch of eco-friendly green design in the room.
  
  

Vintage Tiles

• Using a reproduction large tile as the focal point on your fireplace is always an option.egyptian tile image by Karin Lau from Fotolia.com
  
  Building your fireplace tile design around vintage tiles gives an air of authenticity to an older home. For example, finding two tiles that display goddesses to put on either side of your fireplace and then filling the rest of the surface in with white ceramic creates an interesting focal point. You may just find the perfect inspiration for tiling your fireplace by looking through salvage yards, antique shops, thrift stores and swap meets.