What Are The Most Popular Tiling Patterns

Get the low down on the different ways you can lay down tiles to add design flair to your project.

Looking for a way to make your exterior surfaces look and feel like new without a complete renovation? Tired of the same old designs in your master bathroom? Considering versatile swimming pool tiling options that can look great while standing up to all of the foot traffic in your home?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, tiling can be the answer.

This is a great way to add visual interest to a space without the need for a major renovation. Update your kitchen with a new backsplash and inject new life and a bit of colour into the space. Change the shower surround in your bathroom for a spa-like finish without the spa-like costs.

Not convinced?…

Here’s everything you ned to know about the most popular tiling patterns (and how to choose them).

Why go with tile in the first place

Whether you’re considering an upgrade for your walls, floors, or both, tile is a versatile option that can address nearly any design aesthetic out there. That’s because tiles themselves come in so many different materials, colourways, shapes, sizes, and textures.

There are also benefits beyond designer look and feel. Tiles are easy to clean no matter what they’re made out of, making them a great choice for high-traffic areas in the home as well as places like kitchens and bathrooms where cleanliness is paramount.

In fact, many are designed for use in wet or damp areas like shower surrounds, so you don’t have to worry about water seeping into (or out of) where it doesn’t belong. And the tiles themselves can just be wiped clean with water and/or a mild cleaning solution to keep them looking as good as new.

Because of the materials they’re made of – usually ceramic, glass, or stone – tiles are also highly durable when it comes to use. They’re going to be long lasting especially when installed by an expert professional with the right tools, grouts, and adhesives.

Looking to save money on your next home upgrade project? Check out our Official Sydney Tiling Price Guide

The most popular tiling patterns

Another reason tiles are so versatile is that their design capabilities extend beyond just the colours, finishes, or patterns on the tiles themselves. Tiles can be laid in a number of different patterns to meet different design requirements for a space and double the visual interest of the tiles.

Before starting on your pattern perusal, it’s important for you to have in mind the type of tile that you’d like to work with. Not all patterns work for all tile shapes, and some patterns can be lost in the sauce when you look at them on a larger scale such as flooring.

With that, let’s take a look at the most popular tiling patterns you can choose from for your project.

1. Offset brick

Great for rectangular tiles, offset brick is a tried-and-true traditional technique. To start, a row of tiles is laid end to end horizontally. The second row above or below it is then offset by 50 percent, so that the center of each tile lines up with the joints of the tiles on the other row. The end result resembles customary brickwork. This style is also sometimes called running bond. For added visual interest, consider a one-third or one-quarter offset instead of a 50 percent.

2. Vertical brick

For a more unique take on the offset brick style, turn the entire approach 90 degrees and go for a vertical look. Great for making walls look bigger or taller than they really are and adding dimension to space.

3. Straight or stacked

For something more simple for your Sydney property, you can consider a straight or stack bond design. This is where all of the joints line up between the rows so that the tiles are in neat columns as well. Think of it as the opposite of the bricked version. Straight tile patterning can work for both horizontal and vertical applications as well. This style also allows for the least amount of tile cutting and measuring since the tiler can establish a starting row and work out from there.

4. Herringbone

This is another traditional and popular tiling pattern that can add a lot of visual interest to a space. The tiles are placed in an L-shape at 90-degree angles from each other to create a wave-like pattern. Some tilers will also use different ratios to create more intricate designs that appear more like a zigzag of tiles. Especially when putting tiles on walls, consider a diagonal herringbone, where the pattern is started out at a 45-degree angle, giving even more dimension to the layout.

5. Basketweave

Tiles can also be laid out to mimic a woven pattern. Known as both basketweave and cross hatching, you can create a grid-like pattern by laying tiles in the same direction in pairs and then alternating the directions horizontally and vertically. For a more modern design, consider using three or four tiles per pairing to make the pattern more elaborate without too much extra work on the part of the tiler.

How to choose the right tiler for the job

As you can see, there’s more to laying tile than just adhesive, grout, and placement. This is an intricate art that requires a lot of precision, measuring, cutting, and double-checking to make sure that patterns are carried out uniformly across a space.

To that end, it’s important to hire a professional Sydney tiler that has many years of experience working with tiling patterns of all shapes and sizes. Be sure to ask to see a portfolio of past projects and ask them for their input on what designs or patterns might work best for your space.

In addition to experience, you’ll want to make sure that any professional you work with is licensed and insured for the work at hand. This will protect everyone involved in the job as well as your home and materials in the unlikely event that there is an issue.

Don’t be shy about asking for references either (you can check out our testimonials here). You can take to the internet and look up social proofs to see what other people have thought of their experience with the particular tiler. Calling up references is also a great way to learn what the process is like to work with the tiler, including how timely and on budget they tended to be.

Choose NHK Tiling for your next project

Tiling is an artform that requires a lot of skill and patience.

That’s why we offer only the best professionals who have over 24 years of experience. No project is too big or too small for our team – from kitchens to bathrooms to outdoor entertaining spaces.

Homeowners across Sydney have turned to NHK Tiling for home improvements that put their needs first regardless of the project scope.

For tiling that’s on time and on budget, turn to our experts. We’ve worked with all of the different patterns and types of tiles available on the market today and are ready to give you a custom free quote for your project. Just call us on 0402 462 570 or request a quote online today!