10 Refreshing Tile Patterns You Don't Often See
Consider fish scales, hopscotch and other patterns for an atypical arrangement on your next project
tidgboutique
8 January 2019
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We’ve all seen subway tile in a brick layout or elegant floors in a herringbone pattern. But your floor tiles can be laid out in so many more patterns than the few rectangular classics we see time and time again. If you’ve got a unique design desire, try one of these uncommon layout ideas to get a look that’s beautifully true to you.
1. Hexagons: When you want to feel a little less square
Kitchens tend to be very square spaces. With plenty of rectangular cabinetry and appliances, and little to no furniture, a typical kitchen may not have any curved or angled lines at all. Using hexagon tile for the floor helps break up these stiff right angles, adding a new visual twist that gives the room lots of interest. Bonus points for having your adjacent flooring material custom cut to meet the hexagons in such a fun way as shown here.
Kitchens tend to be very square spaces. With plenty of rectangular cabinetry and appliances, and little to no furniture, a typical kitchen may not have any curved or angled lines at all. Using hexagon tile for the floor helps break up these stiff right angles, adding a new visual twist that gives the room lots of interest. Bonus points for having your adjacent flooring material custom cut to meet the hexagons in such a fun way as shown here.
In general, adding more angles to a pattern will make it feel more lively, which adds a sense of energy and fun.
This pattern looks intricate, but it’s really created with one hexagon that has a corner coloured differently to form a white triangle and blue pentagon, which is then laid in a repeating pattern to create the swirling shapes. If you want a dose of “wake-me-up” energy like this, look for an “odd” pattern with three- and five-sided shapes.
Take a look at these patterned tiles
This pattern looks intricate, but it’s really created with one hexagon that has a corner coloured differently to form a white triangle and blue pentagon, which is then laid in a repeating pattern to create the swirling shapes. If you want a dose of “wake-me-up” energy like this, look for an “odd” pattern with three- and five-sided shapes.
Take a look at these patterned tiles
2. Hexagonal circles: When you want to take a relaxing bubble bath everyday
Hexagon tiles can be high-energy and dramatic, but they can also produce very interesting optical illusions, such as these tiles that create the appearance of interlocking rings. These bubbly circles are perfect for adding fun and interest to a bathroom while also maintaining a light, peaceful air.
The way a hexagon tile breaks up the grout patterns helps the grout visually disappear, compared with a square tile with grout lines that all line up. The result is seemingly seamless, and perfectly relaxed.
Hexagon tiles can be high-energy and dramatic, but they can also produce very interesting optical illusions, such as these tiles that create the appearance of interlocking rings. These bubbly circles are perfect for adding fun and interest to a bathroom while also maintaining a light, peaceful air.
The way a hexagon tile breaks up the grout patterns helps the grout visually disappear, compared with a square tile with grout lines that all line up. The result is seemingly seamless, and perfectly relaxed.
3. Hopscotch: When you want to celebrate the new and the old
A classic “hopscotch” pattern creates the illusion of swirling angles but only uses squares in two sizes. The large squares are a bit offset from each other, which creates space for a smaller accent square, almost creating the appearance of a sprinkling of confetti. This pattern is great for transitional spaces, especially in homes with traditional elements such as attractive mouldings because it feels classic and contemporary at the same time and looks interesting without needing to be trendy.
A classic “hopscotch” pattern creates the illusion of swirling angles but only uses squares in two sizes. The large squares are a bit offset from each other, which creates space for a smaller accent square, almost creating the appearance of a sprinkling of confetti. This pattern is great for transitional spaces, especially in homes with traditional elements such as attractive mouldings because it feels classic and contemporary at the same time and looks interesting without needing to be trendy.
4. Fish Scale: When you want your space to feel like a vacation retreat
The “fish scale” pattern is practically ancient but always feels fresh and even a little exotic or nautical, depending on the materials used. It gives a sense of motion because it creates the look of semicircles that appear to be overlapping like actual fish scales, which makes it look energetic and a bit whimsical.
It can be achieved as a mosaic of tiny tiles (great for giving a shower floor extra anti-slip grip) or with tiles specifically cut into a scale shape that is designed to interlock this way.
See these fish scale tiles
The “fish scale” pattern is practically ancient but always feels fresh and even a little exotic or nautical, depending on the materials used. It gives a sense of motion because it creates the look of semicircles that appear to be overlapping like actual fish scales, which makes it look energetic and a bit whimsical.
It can be achieved as a mosaic of tiny tiles (great for giving a shower floor extra anti-slip grip) or with tiles specifically cut into a scale shape that is designed to interlock this way.
See these fish scale tiles
5. Striped: When you want a space to look long and roomy
Just like in fashion, thin stripes in interiors can be used to create long lines, which creates an optical illusion of extra length. In the case of a striped floor, the result is a space that looks extra large, especially if you have the stripes run along the longest axis of the room.
This bathroom is ample already, but with this classic black and white tile pattern it looks positively vast.
Just like in fashion, thin stripes in interiors can be used to create long lines, which creates an optical illusion of extra length. In the case of a striped floor, the result is a space that looks extra large, especially if you have the stripes run along the longest axis of the room.
This bathroom is ample already, but with this classic black and white tile pattern it looks positively vast.
6. Bands: When you want a space to look less like a tunnel
The difference between “stripes” and “bands” is a little subjective. Stripes are usually long and thin, while bands are wide and short, and they have different effects.
This bathroom space is already wide and thin, but having the tiles laid in different bands – playing against the length and enhancing the width instead – helps it appear a little less tunnel-shaped and a little more balanced.
It also adds some drama to the floor, without being as busy as a thinner stripe, which is perfect for a small space where too much pattern could be overload.
The difference between “stripes” and “bands” is a little subjective. Stripes are usually long and thin, while bands are wide and short, and they have different effects.
This bathroom space is already wide and thin, but having the tiles laid in different bands – playing against the length and enhancing the width instead – helps it appear a little less tunnel-shaped and a little more balanced.
It also adds some drama to the floor, without being as busy as a thinner stripe, which is perfect for a small space where too much pattern could be overload.
7. Inset stripes: When you’re already the perfect shape
Got a space that doesn’t need to be any longer or wider? Congratulations! Why not celebrate it with this breezy pattern that sees thin stripes set between a simple brick layout?
One of the best aspects of this pattern is that it can let you use a coveted mosaic tile in a luxe material, but in a small dose mixed between more budget-friendly plain tiles, so you can splurge a little and save a little at the same time.
Check out these statement-making mosaic tiles
Got a space that doesn’t need to be any longer or wider? Congratulations! Why not celebrate it with this breezy pattern that sees thin stripes set between a simple brick layout?
One of the best aspects of this pattern is that it can let you use a coveted mosaic tile in a luxe material, but in a small dose mixed between more budget-friendly plain tiles, so you can splurge a little and save a little at the same time.
Check out these statement-making mosaic tiles
8. Bordered: When you want an area rug the family can’t ruin
Sure, a classic patterned area rug can make a foyer look beautiful, but can you keep it from getting stained, worn and shredded? If you know the busy traffic isn’t going to be carpet-friendly, consider creating a similar look in tile, with a dramatic pattern set in a border of plain tiles.
Using a plain border that approximately matches the wall and trim colour is smart if you have a few walls or nooks in odd shapes. You can border out the edges, leaving a rectangle in the center, which is all the eye will see from then on.
Sure, a classic patterned area rug can make a foyer look beautiful, but can you keep it from getting stained, worn and shredded? If you know the busy traffic isn’t going to be carpet-friendly, consider creating a similar look in tile, with a dramatic pattern set in a border of plain tiles.
Using a plain border that approximately matches the wall and trim colour is smart if you have a few walls or nooks in odd shapes. You can border out the edges, leaving a rectangle in the center, which is all the eye will see from then on.
9. Penny Florets: When you want to add charm without adding to the budget
Charming laundry rooms seem so special probably because we don’t see them that often. The place where we do laundry usually isn’t somewhere we want to spend much time, or frankly, much of our budget. But that doesn’t mean it has to be completely ho-hum.
Try using small hexagon or circular penny tiles in two colours, using the accent colour to create simple florets. It doesn’t add much to your material costs or to the labour, meaning you can have some visual flair in a low-budget room and save the splurge for somewhere else.
Charming laundry rooms seem so special probably because we don’t see them that often. The place where we do laundry usually isn’t somewhere we want to spend much time, or frankly, much of our budget. But that doesn’t mean it has to be completely ho-hum.
Try using small hexagon or circular penny tiles in two colours, using the accent colour to create simple florets. It doesn’t add much to your material costs or to the labour, meaning you can have some visual flair in a low-budget room and save the splurge for somewhere else.
10. Oversized: When you don’t want to see the pattern at all
If your tile pattern looks like one solid surface, is it even a tile pattern at all? The look of endless slabs of beautiful stone is highly coveted, but you don’t have to have a big budget to get that seamless look.
By using the largest tiles that make sense with your budget (24 by 36 inches is a good size to start pricing) laid tightly together with a thin, colour-matched grout, you can create the illusion of a solid swath of stone.
Read more:
Tile Guide: Where to Use Which Tile Type
Tell us:
Have you laid out tiles in an interesting pattern? Share images in the Comments below.
If your tile pattern looks like one solid surface, is it even a tile pattern at all? The look of endless slabs of beautiful stone is highly coveted, but you don’t have to have a big budget to get that seamless look.
By using the largest tiles that make sense with your budget (24 by 36 inches is a good size to start pricing) laid tightly together with a thin, colour-matched grout, you can create the illusion of a solid swath of stone.
Read more:
Tile Guide: Where to Use Which Tile Type
Tell us:
Have you laid out tiles in an interesting pattern? Share images in the Comments below.
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Fun ideas for the forever home--we should do what we love! We are going with large Pratt and Larson fieldstone and adding tile carpets at two entry points—small versions similar to #8—inset into the fieldstone in our forever log home. I figure if we ever get tired of looking at them, we can always put a “real” rug over them! I will update with a pic when it all gets in.