How to Visualize the Size of Your Tile
Choose the right tile size for your space.
Choosing the right tile is not always an easy task, which is why it is frustrating to discover that it doesn't look the way you had anticipated after installation. For this reason, it is imperative that you understand just how much the different tile sizes and shapes can affect the aesthetic of your room. Use this guide to learn how to choose the best tiles for your space. For additional information on purchasing tiles, read our guide: What to Know Before Buying Tile Online.
The Effects of Tile Size
Did you know that tile size accounts for 15% of returns, 13% of product Q&A, and 10% of negative (1 - 3 star) reviews? More often than not, this is due to a difficulty in visualizing the look of the complete tiling pattern which can often look larger or smaller than expected. Although it is possible to calculate the precise number of boxes needed for your tiling project using the square footage calculator, it is not as easy to understand what the tile layout pattern will look like once installed. Here are some ways to make a more informed decision when buying tiles.
Tile Sizes
It is important to understand the different tile sizes and how they can influence the feel of your space. This can help you make an informed decision on what will work best for your needs.
Large:Large tiles (anything bigger than 15 inches) can help to make a small room appear more expansive. This is due to the fact that they have fewer grout lines to break visual flow, giving a more streamlined appearance and creating the illusion of space. Using a grout in a similar color to the tile can help enhance this effect. It's worthwhile noting that using a tile larger than 18 inches in a particularly small room is not a good idea as they will overpower the space.
Tip!
Don't choose a wall tile size that is larger than your floor tile as this will upset the balance and proportions of the room.
Small:Small tiles contract a space and make it feel more compact. They can also help the flow of a limited floor plan such as a bathroom, by creating a boarder around larger tiles to make a cozier space. Due to the fact that smaller tiles require less cuts during installation, they can also help to create a more streamlined appearance.
Mosaic: Small mosaic tiles (usually 2" x 2" or less) work to make the space flow and create a harmonized feel, even though they have more grout lines. These grout lines also add texture to floors while create a carpet-like aesthetic. Mosaic tiles can also easily be installed around plumbing fixtures, requiring less cuts and thus maintaining that visual flow.
Rectangular: If you cross-lay rectangular or plank tiles, or lay them horizontally on the floor of an elongated rectangular room, the room will appear wider and more spacious. For an extra-large room, try to add a border of contrasting rectangular tiles to help define the space.
Patterns: Repeating tiling patterns can make a space look smaller, so be careful where you place them. You can use simply patterned tiles with minimally contrasting accents prevent the room from looking too small. Any light-colored tiles can help expand the perceived size of a room.
For more information on floor tiles, read our guide: Types of Floor Tiles You Need to Know Before You Remodel.
How Tile Shape Influences Your Space
When creating your personalized space, you will want to consider the overall aesthetic and feel of the tiles you select. To keep from being overwhelmed by the sheer volume of tile shapes, here is a breakdown of how each one can affect the appearance of the location they are installed in.
Mosaic Tiles
Mosaic tiles come in a broad ranges of shapes, colors, and styles that all work to create a statement look. Using small mosaic tiles as a mural can create a focal point that immediately draws the eye, while adding depth and dimension to the space – especially if you want to showcase a feature such as a backsplash or fireplace. These tiling patterns can also be used to introduce movement and texture between oversized tile to break up the large expanses. Use mosaic tiles on bathroom, kitchen, and shower walls, and even on floors where you want to create a customized look. Mosaic tiles of the same color across a room can help to make the space feel larger because they create an uninterrupted flow for your eyes to follow.
Penny/round tiles are circular in shape, adding texture in the place of pattern. These versatile small tiles are good for bathrooms, kitchens, shower floors, laundries, and backsplashes. Tiling just one wall in penny tiles makes for a great accent, particularly if you use bold colors. Using a single light color and grout to fully cover a bathroom or shower will create a more luxe feeling with a clean and minimalist look. Alternatively, using a broad range of colors and tiling patterns will introduce a more busy and maximalist feel to your space, especially if paired with a contrasting grout to make the design stand out, so be sure this is what you are looking for.
The understated aesthetic of square tiles has a timeless appeal that is versatile enough to suit almost any room or style. Large square tiles make a room seem larger, as they create a smooth floor surface. Mid-sized square tiles are ideal for forming the traditional black and white checkerboard style. A small square tile will give a small space a nice and unified look. Due to the fact that they have no orientation, square tiles can easily be paired with other tiles sizes and shapes. Additionally, arranging them diagonally can help to make the space look more roomy.
Hexagonal tiles comprise six-sided shapes that work to balance repeatability with geometric complexity by fitting into a cohesive tiling pattern. They range from large to penny-size, making them good for backsplashes, bathrooms, living areas, and even outdoors. Hexagonal tiles can make a room appear larger and more spacious, while adding additional depth and dimension. It is also possible to mix them with diamond-shaped tiles for a more unique tiling pattern.
Octagonal tiles offer a timeless and classic Victorian look that works well on bathroom floors and as backsplashes. Although they don't fit together as snugly as hexagonal tiles do, they offer their own aesthetic that can be altered and enhanced when placed with varying sizes and colors. Additionally, interspacing octagonal and square tiles can help to make a room feel smaller and more cozy. To learn more about backsplash tiles, read our guide: Your Guide to Choosing the Best Backsplash Tile.
Diamond-shaped tiles also offer a geometric tiling pattern that is ideal for creating mosaics. Their cut makes them easy to stack alongside one another and craft an almost endless array of unique design options. They are often used as kitchen backsplashes, on bathroom floors, or as statement shower walls. The way you lay diamond tiles affects the perceived size of a room. For example, a traditional diamond tiling pattern produces the feeling of a larger space compared to what a checkerboard tiling pattern would. Using a single color diamond tile can also give a modern and more minimalist look.
Fish scale tiles are popular thanks to their unique "s-like" shape that flows in all directions. They can be placed in a variety of tile layout patterns including side-by-side, fanned to create a circle, or even connected by their flat ends. These visually pleasing tiles are often used in bathrooms and as backsplashes to create a focal point. Placing white fish scale tiles on the floor can make the space appear larger thanks to the flow that their bent shape produces. Fish scale tiles are best paired with a more understated tile, such as subway tile, for a more balanced appearance.
Basket weave tiles comprise rectangular and square tiles that are installed in a tiling pattern that mimics the texture of a basket. They are often used in kitchens and as accents to create a dramatic visual. Thanks to their versatility, basket weave tiles can also be used on a small floors to draw attention to their interesting design whilst adding character and depth to the room.
Tip!
When you're planning your tile layout pattern, you will benefit from doing a "dry lay" with your tiles to ensure you are happy with the way it looks. Read our guide How to Install Tile: Laying Tiles on the Floor & Wall for more guidance.
Arabesque Tile
Arabesque tile comes from Middle Eastern design, which helps adds an exotic feeling to your interior. Their intricate lines work well on a feature wall, backsplash, or fireplace surround – especially when used to combat the aesthetic coldness that can be created by an excess of straight lines. Due to their visual movement, you would do well to pair these tiles with more simple patterns to keep from overwhelming the space. Whether you choose to play with scale using multiple sizes or keep them confined to one small space, the curvy lines of arabesque tiles help to make a room feel warm and welcoming.
The classic herringbone tiling pattern is great for any wall or floor – large or small. This striking tile layout pattern is achieved by placing rectangular tiles of varying length cut at 90 degree angles in a zig-zag tiling pattern that looks staggered – producing an eye-catching, asymmetrical effect. It is possible to achieve different versions of this dynamic arrangement, allowing the tip of the design (which creates arrows) to point in different directions – thus helping to make the space feel larger than what it is. The chevron tiling pattern is extremely similar to the zig-zagged herringbone, except the tiles are cut at matching 45 degree angles that come to a point and create a "v" tiling pattern. Both tiles are great for elevating simple spaces and work to create the illusion that the area is larger than it is.
Brick tiles, just like regular bricks, are long and rectangular in shape. They are laid in straight lines with each row shifted in order to create an offset tiling pattern. The most common offset is a 50/50 ratio which creates a strong, traditional look. Using a varied offset (40/60, 30/70, and so on) will help create a softer look. An irregular offset laid vertically on a wall can create an organic waterfall-like effect that adds visual height to the room.
Tip!
If you are installing brick tiles in a varied offset pattern, try to use your cut pieces and scraps to start the next row to prevent waste and to further randomize your tile layout pattern.
Subway tiles are another traditional go-to that are a mainstay thanks to their versatility and simplicity. These classic and minimalist tiles come in a wide variety of sizes and are most frequently used on kitchen walls, bathroom backsplashes, and floors. It is possible to create different patterns by stacking them to get consistent grout lines, alternating them for the classic look, or placing them in a herringbone pattern for an elegant aesthetic. Large subway tiles open the space and increase the visual size of a room, while smaller ones make the room feel more cozy. Placing them vertically will maker the space feel as though it has a higher ceiling, while using dark contrasting grout will add an extra dimension to the space.
With careful consideration and a deeper understanding of the popular tile shapes and sizes and how to use them – now you will be able to buy the right tile to create the room of your dreams.
