Choosing The Right Tile Pattern For Your Space

Tiles are the perfect inclusion for so many areas of your home. Choosing the right tile pattern for your space allows you to have some fun and show off your style.

The range of tiles themselves are endless. We could talk about these all day. Fortunately, during the selections process, a visit to our local Beaumont Tiles is included so you have every tile option available to you.

We have compiled the most common tile patterns along with lots of inspiration, as seen in our customer’s homes and our display home.

1. Square
2. Stack
3. Brick
4. Staggered
5. Herringbone
6. Other Creative Ways to Tile

1. Square

As the name suggests, this pattern is perfect for all the square tile options – big and small. This is also our most popular and versatile choice. Tiles are laid in straight lines, on top of each other, to form a grid with the grout lines following each other.

: Ensuite with Square Pattern Tiles – Dutton, South Australia

: Main Bathroom with Square Pattern Tiles – Murray Bridge, South Australia

Hot tip: grout colour can transform your look even further. A contrasting colour will emphasise the lines and tile design. A complimentary colour will give a subtle effect. We have all the Ardex grout options for you to choose from when you select your tiles. Think of it like an aesthetically pleasing grout rainbow.

2. Stack

In a very similar style to the square pattern, tiles are stacked on top of each other. For this arrangement, tiles are a rectangle of some form. This means they can be stacked in either vertical or horizontal orientation. This variation still creates grout lines that follow each other, the number of lines depending on the tile size.

: Kitchen with Vertical Stack Pattern Tiles – Middle Beach, South Australia

: Main Bathroom with Horizontal Stack Pattern Tiles – Murray Bridge, South Australia

: Laundry with Vertical Stack Pattern Tiles – Middle Beach, South Australia

Hot tip: vertical stacking emphasises the height of the wall to make it seem taller. In contrast, horizontal stacking highlights the width of the wall. Choose your orientation based on what you want to accentuate in the space – height or width. Both create a modern and clean finish.

3. Brick

Unsurprisingly, these tiles are laid out in a brick pattern, exactly as you would picture it. Each tile offsets half a tile length from the row above or below. This option is perfect for both square and rectangular tiles of all sizes. Brick layering is a traditional way of laying subway tiles to create a cohesive and brickwork look.

: Laundry with Brick Pattern Tiles – Murray Bridge, South Australia

: Ensuite with Brick Pattern Tiles – Karoonda, South Australia

: Ensuite Shower with Brick Pattern Tiles – Mount Barker, South Australia

4. Staggered

Commonly also known as 1/3 offset, the staggered pattern is a variant of the brick look. Instead of the half a tile length offset, this pattern offsets the tile above and below by one third of its length. We don’t see this pattern often, however, it is a fun take on the traditional brick pattern.

Laundry with Staggered Pattern Tiles – Kanmantoo, South Australia

Hot tip: start with the tile pattern for your floor and then work your wall tile around this decision. Floor tiles are typically a larger tile and therefore the choice is usually simpler.

5. Herringbone

We think this is the most eye-catching tile pattern. It allows your eye to be drawn through the space, no mater how simple or elaborate your tile choice is. Placing large or small tiles in a zig-zag pattern creates a timeless herringbone look.

Classic Herringbone is the standard way to herringbone your space. Tiles on a 45-degree angle that can run either horizontal, vertically or diagonally on your wall or floors. If that description has blown your mind, here are some examples.

: Ensuite with Classic Herringbone Pattern Tiles – Mount Barker, South Australia

: Ensuite with Classic Herringbone Pattern Tiles – Murray Bridge, South Australia

By doubling up two tiles side by side, you have created a Double Herringbone pattern. This creates more depth within the space and overall, a more stylistic room. This pattern is on display in our Bridgehampton Display Home in Mount Barker.

Ensuite with Double Herringbone pattern for Choosing the Right Tile Pattern for your Space

Ensuite with Double Herringbone Pattern Tiles – Mount Barker, South Australia

Hot tip: select one show stopping tile in your bathroom and let it shine. Keep the other tile/s neutral. If you have lots of show stopping favourites on your wish list, use a different option in each wet area – ensuite, main bathroom, powder room, kitchen and laundry.

6. Other Creative Ways to Tile

If you would like to take the task of choosing the right tile pattern for your space to an even more detailed level, here are some other fun and creative ways to tile:

Step Ladder – similar to herringbone, the step ladder pattern moves up your wall, or across the floor, with a systematic combination of horizontally and vertically laid rectangular tiles.
45-Degree Brick Bond – take your brick bond pattern and turn it 45-degrees. This can work for rectangle tiles and square tiles.
Vertical Brick Bond – a twist between brick and stack.
Basket weave – this is a simple variation on the stack pattern. It pairs two rectangle tiles to make a square. The next pair of tiles are laid at 90 degrees to the first and so on. This gives the impression that the tiles weave over and under each other, like a basket.
Chevron – closely related to herringbone, this pattern requires a lot of cuts and precision. If you love the chevron look, mosaic sheets are perfect and create less waste (and cost).
Mixed sizes and shapes – this pattern has become more popular recently and works great with smaller tiles. Select the same tiles in two to four (two or three is ideal) different shapes and sizes and let our tiler have some fun.