Using various laying patterns can often improve your tiling project and give a room a whole new feel, including the appearance of a larger space. Here, we demonstrate the various laying patterns that are available to you and how they can improve your tile project.
50 : 50 Brickbond
The 50:50 brick bond, the most conventional tile laying pattern, is appropriate for tiles smaller than 30 by 30 centimeters and is evocative of its Victorian past. This is where tile joints, which can be made with brick, square, or rectangular tiles, are precisely centered to the tile above. Both vertical and horizontal tile laying are possible (stepladder vs. traditional brick bond). We advise adding 10% extra to your tile installation project in case of breaks and cuts when using the brick bond pattern.
70 : 30 Brickbond
You can create the illusion of a wider room by using a staggered brick bond (typically 70:30) to give it a modern feel. While it can be applied to any size tile, it is primarily used to larger than 30 by 60 cm tiles in order to hide any inherent bowing that may occur after the tile is laid. Similar to a 50:50 brick bond mosaic, this pattern works both vertically and horizontally for square and rectangular tiles.
Herringbone pattern
A room’s visual proportions can be changed with the help of a herringbone pattern. When placed horizontally on a wall or floor, it will help to enlarge the area by attracting the eye across. On the other hand, vertical laying gives the impression of height by drawing the eye upward. A more contemporary, graphic effect can be produced by using a block herringbone, which has a more geometric feel. A double block herringbone can be used to emphasize this even more.
Because a herringbone pattern requires cuts, it is advised to use an extra 15% of tiles to compensate for any breakages or cuts.
Linear
Tile “stacks” give a room a graphic, contemporary feel, especially when the edges of the tiles are highlighted with a grout color that contrasts with the surrounding tile color. But when combined with larger tiles and matching grout, it can also give the illusion of a seamless surface, making a room appear larger. An additional option is to flip a linear square and make a classic diamond pattern; this looks especially good in smaller spaces because it creates the impression of greater width, much like a herringbone pattern does.
Basket weave
The basket weave transforms even the most basic tiles into a playful pattern, emulating the idea of finger parquet from the early 1900s. The ideal tile for this look is one with a rectified edge, which allows you to use grout that is 1 mm wide. The ratio of width to length determines how many tiles you can use in your design because the size of your vertical stack should match that of your horizontal stack.
