How To Lay Square Tiles

Tile Giant
How-to
3 Jul 2019

We’re going to take you through a selection of tile patterns to consider when laying your square tiles and showcase our range of grey square floor tiles: Vermont.

Over the years, it’s become clear from the evolving interior trends that one shape of tile that’s definitely here to stay is square tiles. Though they can sometimes be outshone by their rectangular relatives like Metro tiles and similar, their diversity in size, patterns, colours and textures make them highly versatile and great for many applications.

We’re going to take you through a selection of tile patterns to consider when laying your square tiles and showcase one of our most popular ranges of grey square floor tiles: Vermont.

Why do we love square tiles?

Square tiles are often underrated. As homeowners, we don’t give them enough credit for their structured, grid-like patterning which often acts as the easiest canvas to work from when it comes to decorating.

The simplest of tile is the white, glossy square tile that many of us will have once had - and perhaps still do - in our bathrooms or kitchens. Like many other basic square tiles, they tend to be a part of every budget range making them a great, affordable choice by consumers. Of course, the simpler the tile, the cheaper it often is.

Yet, although we can agree that a plain square tile paired with corresponding grout creates a fresh and simple look, there are multiple ways you can bring this tile to life through clever accessorising.

Plus, interior designers have taken inspiration from this popular tile and created a selection of sister-style designs that are equally as stunning without steering too far away from their subtle yet sophisticated original.

Vermont: A go-to grey square floor tile

Our Vermont tiles are desired by many customers for their ability to give your home a designer look. Their striking, grey gloss marble effect makes them super luxurious and designed at either 600 x 600 mm or 800 x 800 mm, this large sizing offers a range of design possibilities for both walls and floors.

Not only this but you have three colour options, all of which are tones of the forever in-demand, grey. Choose from either light grey, mid grey or dark grey or better, mix and match the shades between your floors and walls to create a seamless blend within the living space.

There’s no doubt that their highly polished finished will transform your room to give it a premium appearance, perfect for elevating any room - though we feel they’re best suited to a bathroom, kitchen, conservatory or hall space.

Now we know a little more about our Vermont large format square tiles, let’s look at ways to lay the range, as well as ways to lay our other styles of square tiles.

3 ways to lay square tiles

Just like any other tile shape on the market, there are different ways you can lay a square tile to bring drama to your floor or wall space. Let’s take a look at three of the most popular patterns:

#1: Staggered brick-bond pattern

The first way we’ll look at laying your tiles is in a staggered brick-bond pattern. This formation is perfect for giving your walls some character whilst creating a super simple backdrop.

You get a slightly less structured look than what you’d achieve without staggering the tiles, though due to this, it helps to create a relaxed setting which is highly desirable for a bathroom or kitchen environment.

Important: Note that any tiles over 60cm should not be laid in 50/50 brick-bond but 70/30 brick-bond pattern.

In the above example, you can see how this pattern would look using a glossy, warm, caramel tile. The shade of this tile works to heat up the space and gives a slightly Scandinavian feel whilst sticking to the modern roots of the tile.

See below some of the different looks you can create using the staggered brick-bond pattern with various styles of square bathroom tiles.

#2: Jack-on-Jack pattern (or grid)

Moving on, the next tile pattern we’ll look at is the jack-on-jack pattern or, if referred to by its “street name”, the grid pattern. This works exceptionally well when using small white square tiles combined with a darker grout such as black or grey for it allows you to accurately capture the grid effect.

This simple design enables you to create a huge impact, especially when paired with the minimalistic decor to add to the white, basic theme. You can then combine this with black or gold hardware for a refined-feel that’s elegant and has plenty of “wow” factor.

#3: Diamond (or diagonal) pattern

The final tile pattern we’ll look at is the diamond or diagonal layout. If you have a small room that you’re looking to enhance, this design can instantly makeover your floor or wall, creating the illusion that the space is bigger or higher than it really is.

As a result, it’s not a surprise its a common addition to smaller houses in the property market, found in bathrooms, utility rooms or as a kitchen splashback. Plus, as the pattern is often overlooked by the average homeowner, if you’re to incorporate into your home, it can immediately make your space more interesting and pleasing to the eye.

Extra Reading: To discover more ways to lay your tiles, check out our guide on the Top 7 Tile Patterns You Need To Know.