The type and size of tile you choose will affect your overall design and how you work. You an use larger tiles to cover an area more quickly, but you may find it more difficult to lay large tiles on uneven surfaces. In such cases, small tiles may be easier to use and be more forgiving. Consider whether to tile the whole room, just up to a border, or a specific area, like a splashback. Because of the grid pattern formed by tiles you need to spend time finding the best starting point in order to achieve a balanced overall effect and avoid thin slivers of tile.

Design Options

Tiles are usually applied to a regular grid pattern, but you can use other designs, for example, staggered or diamond patterns, or a combination of the two. For complicated designs, drawing a scale diagram will help you to plan your approach.

Tiling Patterns

The majority of ceramic tiles are square-shaped, and the most common design is to apply them in a grid pattern. However, tiles can be laid in a brickbond pattern or in a more elaborate design. Beware of using complicated arrangements in small spaces as the effect can be overpowering.

Choosing the Right Tiles

Size, shape, and colour are as important as the material from which the tile is made. The standard square sizes are shown above. When possible, buy tiles of one colour with the same batch number. Shuffle tiles of the same colour from different boxes, so that any slight colour variation will not show once the tiles are applied to the surface.