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  1. Home
  2. Bathroom

10 tile patterns you need to know about

Before you measure and buy - by Diana Moore
  • 11 Jul 2018

Choosing tiles for your kitchen and bathroom is hard enough, but which pattern should you lay them with?

Depending on the shape, size and pattern of your chosen tile, there are myriad patterns you can use when you lay them to achieve a finished surface with maximum impact, or have them completely disappear from view.

If you’re looking to use a pattern other than a conventional “stretcher bond” or brick wall lay, consider it at length before you buy your tiles as this may impact the size and style you buy. A combination of more than one shape or size will yield some interesting pattern options and introducing more than one colour tile can multiply the options even further.

More complicated patterns might benefit from being laid by a professional, otherwise, there are plenty of tutorials online to show you how it’s done. Further, there are now Apps available for you to download that will take your measurements to calculate your pattern and estimate the number of tiles (and grout!) you’ll need to use.

Think outside the square with the use of traditional designs with modern colours or patterned tiles, starting with these classic tile patterns.

10 tile patterns you need to know about | Home Beautiful Magazine Australia
Marcel Aucar

1. Straight lay (grid) – simple to install yourself

2. Pinwheel (or Hopscotch) – uses 3 tile sizes: large square, small square and rectangle

https://www.bunnings.com.au/diy-advice/home-improvement/tiles/10-tile-patterns-you-need-to-know

Stretcher or Running Bond pattern

Derek Swalwell

3. Stretcher or Running Bond/Brick wall – rows of tiles offset by exactly half the width of the next row. Easy to install, economical and flexible with little wastage. Can be done with square or rectangular tiles.

4. Herringbone – rectangular tiles are laid at 45 degrees to the wall to produce a v-shaped pattern resembling wood parquet flooring.

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5. Chevron – Similar to Herringbone pattern but uses parallelogram shaped tiles.

6. Cobblestone – uses 2 tile sizes laid in a grid of 9 to resemble heritage cobblestone paving.

10 tile patterns you need to know about | Home Beautiful Magazine Australia

Basketweave with three tile sizes

Karolina Szczur on Unsplash

7. Basketweave – pairs of rectangular tiles laid at 90 degrees to one another. Simple to achieve and a step on from a basic pattern. Looks completely different when two or three colours are used.

8. Harlequin – usually uses square tiles, straight grid pattern but tiles are laid at 45 degree angle to the wall.

10 tile patterns you need to know about | Home Beautiful Magazine Australia

Grid with two colours

Cath Muscat

9. Windmill – classic pattern using a combination of rectangular brick tiles around a central square tile. Looks great with contrasting colours. Often supplied ready-made onto mesh.

10. Tessellation – uses more than one shape to create a three-dimensional pattern.

10 tile patterns you need to know about | Home Beautiful Magazine Australia

Grid pattern with dark grout to accentuate bath and light grout to blend on walls

Derek Swalwell

All of these patterns will look different when used with coloured tiles – any number of combinations are possible and it’s fun to have a play around on an app or design software if you’re looking to step away from a basic pattern to get an idea how it will look. 

A plain pattern will be straightforward when working out how many tiles you will need to cover your wall or floor space, but take your room measurements into the shop and enlist the help of your supplier to double-check your measurements and calculations before you finalise your order.

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Diana Moore
Diana Moore
Content expert, florist and interior decorator Diana Moore has been passionate about helping others make the perfect home ever since she moved into her own. From styling her local bar to feel like your best friend’s lounge room, to randomly restyling people’s bookshelves, Diana is a firm believer in making the best of what you have in front of you.

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