When planning a renovation, most people obsess over choosing the perfect color or material for their ceramic or porcelain tiles. But they often overlook the most crucial design element: the installation pattern.
Choosing the right tile layout patterns is the secret weapon of interior designers. The way you arrange your tiles can trick the eye into seeing a larger room, add dynamic movement to a stagnant space, or turn affordable, standard tiles into a high-end architectural feature.
Whether you are designing a sprawling kitchen floor or looking for clever small bathroom tile ideas, the layout changes everything.
Below, we explore the top five essential patterns—as visualized in the kitchen concept above—that will help you transform any room in your home.
1. The Herringbone Pattern
The Look: The Herringbone pattern is elegance personified. Rectangular tiles are set at 45-degree angles to create a zigzag pattern that resembles the bones of a herring fish. Unlike Chevron (see below), the ends of the tiles are cut straight, not at an angle.
Why We Love It: This pattern immediately adds a sense of luxury and history. Because the "arrows" of the pattern draw the eye upward and outward, Herringbone is fantastic for making narrow hallways feel wider or low ceilings feel higher. It provides immense visual interest without needing loud colors.
Best For:
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Full-wall kitchen backsplashes.
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Entryway floors to create a "grand entrance" feel.
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Bathroom shower walls for a high-end spa aesthetic.
2. The Basketweave Pattern
The Look: A traditional favorite, the Basketweave pattern uses rectangular tiles arranged in pairs, alternating between horizontal and vertical squares. It often incorporates a smaller, darker accent tile in the "gaps" to emphasize the woven effect.
Why We Love It: It adds incredible texture and a cozy, vintage charm to a room. The intricate interlocking design makes the floor feel solid and grounded. It is a timeless choice that works exceptionally well in historic homes or farmhouse-style renovations.
Best For:
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Small powder room floors.
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A "rug" effect in the center of a larger bathroom floor.
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Spaces where you want a classic, durable aesthetic.
3. Subway (Running Bond/Brick)
The Look: The Running Bond is the most common, classic, and easiest pattern to install. It’s the standard "brick wall" look, where the center of each tile is aligned with the grout lines of the tiles above and below it. When used with rectangular tiles, it’s universally known as the Subway tile layout.
Why We Love It: It is clean, simple, and undeniably timeless. You cannot go wrong with a running bond. It provides a sturdy, orderly look that lets other elements in the room (like expensive cabinetry or bold hardware) take center stage. To modernize this classic, try stacking the tiles vertically instead of horizontally to emphasize height.
Best For:
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Kitchen backsplashes (the quintessential choice).
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Tub surrounds and large shower enclosures.
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DIYers looking for a forgiving installation process.
4. The Hexagon (Honeycomb)
The Look: Moving away from rectangles, the Hexagon pattern uses six-sided tiles fitted together like a honeycomb.
Why We Love It: Hexagons are inherently playful yet sophisticated. They are currently a massive trend in modern floor tile designs. Because they don't have long, straight grout lines, they make a floor look seamless and expansive. You can easily mix different colored hexagons to create custom borders or flower patterns within the floor.
Best For:
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Small bathroom floors (the shape distracts from tight boundaries).
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Playrooms or laundry rooms needing a fun energy shift.
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Transitioning from a tiled kitchen floor into a hardwood living area (an "organic edge" transition).
5. The Chevron Pattern
The Look: Often confused with Herringbone, the Chevron pattern also creates a zigzag. However, the key difference is that Chevron tiles are cut at an angle on the ends so they meet perfectly at a sharp "V" point, creating continuous zigzag stripes.
Why We Love It: Chevron is Herringbone's sharper, more modern cousin. It is high-energy, dynamic, and incredibly stylish. The sharp arrows create strong directional movement, instantly drawing the eye toward a focal point in the room, like a fireplace or a beautiful range hood.
Best For:
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Feature walls in a living room or dining room.
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A dramatic kitchen backsplash that acts as art.
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Any space where you want a bold, contemporary statement.
Ready to Transform Your Home?
The pattern you choose is just as important as the tile itself. Whether you want the timeless safety of Subway or the sharp drama of Chevron, the right layout will elevate your renovation.
Browse our full collection of ceramic and porcelain tiles to find the perfect match for your next project.