Decorating
Decorating: Get to Know These 10 Different Tile Patterns
There’s more to tiling than just picking the colour – the right pattern can create drama, soften edges and even make a room feel bigger
After weeks of research, you’ve finally chosen the perfect tiles for your walls or floor. But colour, material and size aside, you will also need to decide how the tiles should be laid out. There’s a multitude of tile patterns that will roll off the tongues of interior designers, but do you know your hexagon from your herringbone? Or the difference between checkerboard and corridor? Rather than just laying tiles in a standard square grid, choosing one of these options can make a huge difference to how your room looks, enhancing the sense of space, adding character and making simple schemes sing.
Here’s an introduction to just some of the many layouts you can choose from, and an insight into why they work so well.
Here’s an introduction to just some of the many layouts you can choose from, and an insight into why they work so well.
Go modern retro with offset tiling
The offset tile pattern is a tried-and-tested favourite. Ceramic (or sometimes glass) rectangular – or metro – tiles are laid in a neat brickwork fashion, reminiscent of the London Underground, and bringing an urban-chic edge that works in both contemporary and period rooms.
Metro tiles come in a huge range of colours, but you can’t go wrong with traditional white, as seen on the wall of this characterful London kitchen. (Love the paving stone-style floor tiles, too, laid in a contrasting large grid formation.)
Browse more ways with classic metro tiles
The offset tile pattern is a tried-and-tested favourite. Ceramic (or sometimes glass) rectangular – or metro – tiles are laid in a neat brickwork fashion, reminiscent of the London Underground, and bringing an urban-chic edge that works in both contemporary and period rooms.
Metro tiles come in a huge range of colours, but you can’t go wrong with traditional white, as seen on the wall of this characterful London kitchen. (Love the paving stone-style floor tiles, too, laid in a contrasting large grid formation.)
Browse more ways with classic metro tiles
Try out corridor style
Give the classic brickwork-style tile layout an extra twist with a ‘corridor’ configuration. It’s made up of rows of standard rectangular tiles sandwiched between a layer of smaller tiles in the same design. It’s more usually laid vertically, but here the horizontal lines help to visually widen the small room.
The result is busier and more intricate than a brickwork style, so it works well in a palette of soft, muted hues against plain fixtures and fittings.
Give the classic brickwork-style tile layout an extra twist with a ‘corridor’ configuration. It’s made up of rows of standard rectangular tiles sandwiched between a layer of smaller tiles in the same design. It’s more usually laid vertically, but here the horizontal lines help to visually widen the small room.
The result is busier and more intricate than a brickwork style, so it works well in a palette of soft, muted hues against plain fixtures and fittings.
Choose a diagonal grid
Floors can sometimes get forgotten amid flamboyant wallpaper and colourful paintwork, but there’s no reason why all three can’t work together to really pack a punch.
Here, the classic diagonal grid layout – where identically sized tiles are lined up at an angle – brings another design dimension to this cloakroom. The designer has also used two different tile colours to create a diamond effect within the grid.
Floors can sometimes get forgotten amid flamboyant wallpaper and colourful paintwork, but there’s no reason why all three can’t work together to really pack a punch.
Here, the classic diagonal grid layout – where identically sized tiles are lined up at an angle – brings another design dimension to this cloakroom. The designer has also used two different tile colours to create a diamond effect within the grid.
Fake randomness with the Versailles effect
Tumbled flagstones in creamy hues work well in a variety of sizes in this Versailles layout. What at first glance appears like a totally random pattern is actually, on closer inspection, a well-thought-out floor.
You’ll definitely want to call in the professionals for this one, particularly as cutting real stone is a craft in itself, but the result is full of rustic character.
Tumbled flagstones in creamy hues work well in a variety of sizes in this Versailles layout. What at first glance appears like a totally random pattern is actually, on closer inspection, a well-thought-out floor.
You’ll definitely want to call in the professionals for this one, particularly as cutting real stone is a craft in itself, but the result is full of rustic character.
Be traditional with checkerboard
Black and white checkerboard tiles are a classic flooring choice for hallways, particularly in period homes. Here, it looks crisp and tailored with an inlaid black strip and contrasting grid-pattern border.
The monochrome scheme is ideal for bathrooms and cloakrooms, too, adding instant character to the smallest rooms in the house.
Discover what else can pep up a tired hallway
Black and white checkerboard tiles are a classic flooring choice for hallways, particularly in period homes. Here, it looks crisp and tailored with an inlaid black strip and contrasting grid-pattern border.
The monochrome scheme is ideal for bathrooms and cloakrooms, too, adding instant character to the smallest rooms in the house.
Discover what else can pep up a tired hallway
Create sleek lines with a horizontal grid
A clever trick designers use to make small rooms feel bigger is to lay larger tiles, like these substantial, blocky rectangles, in a no-nonsense, horizontal grid pattern. It creates a sleek effect, with fewer grout lines helping the scheme look less fussy.
This is a modern tile layout that works well with angular fittings and storage to enhance the streamlined, spacious feel, but also acts as a pleasing counterpoint to curved edges, as in this enticing London bathroom.
A clever trick designers use to make small rooms feel bigger is to lay larger tiles, like these substantial, blocky rectangles, in a no-nonsense, horizontal grid pattern. It creates a sleek effect, with fewer grout lines helping the scheme look less fussy.
This is a modern tile layout that works well with angular fittings and storage to enhance the streamlined, spacious feel, but also acts as a pleasing counterpoint to curved edges, as in this enticing London bathroom.
Turn your grid around
Lay an offset grid on its side, using pencil-slim tiles laid vertically, and you’ll magically make the room look taller. It’s a high-impact look that’s best focused on a single spot – here it helps to define the shower area. Use it on every wall and you risk geometric overload and giving yourself eye strain!
Lay an offset grid on its side, using pencil-slim tiles laid vertically, and you’ll magically make the room look taller. It’s a high-impact look that’s best focused on a single spot – here it helps to define the shower area. Use it on every wall and you risk geometric overload and giving yourself eye strain!
Mix things up
This vast, walk-in shower demonstrates how different tile layouts can work well together in a small space – and add interest without the need for bold colour or busy pattern.
The large-scale wall tiles in a neutral mushroom tone are laid in a foolproof offset pattern, but they’re highlighted with a corner strip of slim tiles in a watery aqua.
This organic look is finished off with a floor of pebble tiles that not only fit in with the natural vibe, but offer a textural massage underfoot.
This vast, walk-in shower demonstrates how different tile layouts can work well together in a small space – and add interest without the need for bold colour or busy pattern.
The large-scale wall tiles in a neutral mushroom tone are laid in a foolproof offset pattern, but they’re highlighted with a corner strip of slim tiles in a watery aqua.
This organic look is finished off with a floor of pebble tiles that not only fit in with the natural vibe, but offer a textural massage underfoot.
Home in on a honeycomb design
Hexagonal tiles are an interesting shape all by themselves, but hex mosaics in particular are ideal for creating pleasing designs in contrasting colours.
In this kitchen, single black hexagonal tiles form a spot pattern on a white floor, but you could also try three black tiles in a clover shape, or six black mosaics around a white one to make a flower. A border formed of three or four rows of the darker tiles or, as here, square mosaics, makes a smart finishing touch.
TELL US…
Have you had success with different tile layouts? Share your images and ideas in the Comments below.
Hexagonal tiles are an interesting shape all by themselves, but hex mosaics in particular are ideal for creating pleasing designs in contrasting colours.
In this kitchen, single black hexagonal tiles form a spot pattern on a white floor, but you could also try three black tiles in a clover shape, or six black mosaics around a white one to make a flower. A border formed of three or four rows of the darker tiles or, as here, square mosaics, makes a smart finishing touch.
TELL US…
Have you had success with different tile layouts? Share your images and ideas in the Comments below.
Herringbone patterns are traditionally seen on wooden parquet flooring, but this skinny slice of bathroom wall makes a real impact, as the unexpected pattern adds interest to an otherwise simple space. Cleverly, the pattern actually extends up from the floor to draw the eye along the length of the room.
This is a single herringbone pattern, but there are other variations to try, from double to diagonal.