Floor and wall tiles are versatile and give you limitless choices when it comes to sizes, shapes, colors, finishes, and styles. But the success of your next tiling project depends on only on choosing the right color and style – you should also consider how to lay your tiles. There are tons of layout options for tiles, and by using an interesting tile pattern, you can elevate your design and enhance the look and feel of any space.
There are many exciting tile patterns from the most popular and classic to some that are more special and each of them offers something truly different. So before you start planning your kitchen or bath renovation, you need to know the basics – tile layout patterns that can transform your room from simple to stunning. Here we’ll help you understand different types of floor tile patterns and wall tile patterns that can enhance your room’s décor.
Square-Set or Grid Tile Pattern
It is the most common and the easiest of square tile patterns. To get the traditional look, the square tiles are laid in straight lines, so the grout lines end up like a grid. Rectangular tiles also look modern and clean in this arrangement. Grid pattern makes a good choice for rooms where you don’t want the tiles to distract from other design features. But unfortunately, this classic tile pattern can look boring or sterile when used with plain, neutral tiles. If you want to make this layout eye-catching, you can use contrasting grout to highlight the pattern, or alternate tile colors to create a further layer of pattern.
Diagonal Pattern
The diagonal pattern is not a specific tile pattern but a layout technique. It is similar to the grid pattern, except the tiles are laid on a 45-degree angle, turning square tiles into diamonds. You can use a diagonal pattern with a border as a feature in a kitchen backsplash. A diagonal pattern on the floor can make a small room look bigger and can hide flaws if your walls are not perfectly square. This layout is also ideal for bathrooms.
Running Bond/Brick Tile Pattern
The brick pattern is similar in style to how brick is laid. It can be done with either square or rectangular tiles – you need to lay them in rows and shift each row to create an offset pattern. It’s a clean and classic layout for subway tiles that can create an industrial vibe in your space. This pattern is popular for backsplashes and bathroom areas, and it’s also a simple and attractive option for your floors. The brick pattern is becoming more popular for indoor tile floors because it's great at hiding imperfections like crooked walls – offset grout lines make it difficult for the eye to focus on minor flaws.
Herringbone Pattern
It’s a popular but more complex design style that has been heavily used in Europe for a hundred years due to its elegant and intricate look. Named for its resemblance to the skeleton of the herring, this iconic layout is achieved by laying large or small rectangular tiles in a zigzag pattern. Usually, the herringbone tile pattern is laid on the floor length-ways along the longest wall in the room to maximize the effect. Herringbone pattern works in both contemporary and traditional settings and offers an elegant way to expand a small room visually. It is at its best with neutral colors in a small bathroom or narrow hallway. Herringbone pattern will look great on backsplashes, especially if you use a contrasting grout color to highlight the unique design.
Chevron Pattern
The chevron tile pattern is similar to the herringbone pattern but forms a zigzag design by combining rectangular tiles with angled ends. Basically, a chevron tile pattern is made of rows of parallelogram tiles. It’s a popular layout for the floors because of its amazing ability to make any room look instantly classy. Some rectangular tiles come with a chevron design printed on them for easier installation. If you can’t find that shape in the tile you like, then you can cut rectangular tiles to fit the pattern. Chevron pattern installation is quite simple, and you only need one tile size and type. But for a more dramatic look, you can alternate tiles with different colors for each V shape to create a striped zigzag.
Basket Weave Tile Pattern
Basket weave pattern looks similar to the stitching on a woven basket and appears to weave the tiles over and under each other. In its purest form, two brick-shaped tiles are set horizontally against two brick-shaped tiles set vertically. The pattern looks complicated but it’s simply a trick of an eye and is rather easy to install. Basket weave tile pattern was extremely popular in the early 1900s and is often used to create classic chic feel. It looks spectacular when used with natural stone materials like marble and onyx and works best in smaller spaces. There are many mosaic basket-weave tiles available for easy installation.
Windmill Pattern or Pinwheel (Hopscotch) Pattern
It’s one of the loveliest tile patterns because it’s a real classic. Windmill tile pattern could be just what you are looking for if you are planning an upgrade in a vintage style. To create the windmill pattern, four rectangular tiles are arranged around a square tile in the center. You can use a square tile and grout in a contrasting color to the rectangular tiles to make this pattern stand out. The pattern can look busy on the floor but is good for a shower or as a border.
In this layout, a small square tile is surrounded by much larger square tiles to create an effect of a spinning pinwheel. It is possible to replace the single small square tile with four mosaic tiles to achieve the best effect with tiles of contrasting colors. This layout is a popular floor tile pattern, especially with ceramic tile or in small bathrooms.
Versailles (French) Pattern
Traditional, elegant, and timeless, this tile pattern uses a combination of square and rectangular tiles to create a puzzle-like repeating design that is perfectly balanced and pleasing to the eye. You will need tiles that were specifically designed with the Versailles pattern in mind, or it won’t work. It’s one of the most difficult floor tile patterns to create and requires planning for the best result.
Now you know the most common tile pattern names. But the patterns you can create with tile are nearly endless – you can combine tiles of different sizes and shapes and play with the color of the tile and the grout in a new and interesting way to create a lot of unique floor tile layout patterns. Because of the added level of intricacy, these tile floor patterns are often most effective in larger spaces like outdoors or living rooms. That said, tile patterns with mixed sizes, shapes, and colors can also make great features if you get the proportions right. Using multiple tile floor patterns, you can bring a truly artistic touch to any space. When you are planning your tile layout, a good idea is to “dry lay” your tiles before sticking them down. In this way, you can ensure you are absolutely happy with the results.
