Tile laying patterns: from straight lay to herringbone

The laying pattern changes both the look of the bathroom and the amount of tile. Below are 12 patterns, each laid out by ATELIER 3D on the same 3.0 × 2.0 m floor with a 400 × 400 mm box in the corner. Light tiles are full, darker ones are cut, the white corner is the box.

Straight lay

Joint to joint, the simplest and quickest. Works with any format. Overage 5 %.

Offset 1/2

Each row shifted by half a tile, like brickwork. With long tiles, manufacturers advise an offset of no more than a third: the bowed middle shows as lippage. Overage 5 %.

Offset 1/3

Shifted by a third of the length. A safe choice for 600×200 and longer, the rows are less obvious. Overage 5 %.

Offset 1/4

Shifted by a quarter, good for narrow wood-look tiles. A calm look without a staircase repeat. Overage 5 %.

Vertical stack

Narrow tiles upright, joint to joint. Makes the ceiling look higher, popular for shower walls. Overage 5 %.

Checkerboard

Two colours alternating. The colours should alternate the same way at both walls. Overage 5 %.

Diagonal

Any pattern at 45°. Beautiful on floors, but there is a cut at every wall, so the overage is 10 %.

Herringbone

Rectangles at 90° to each other. Needs narrow tiles, usually 3–6 times longer than wide, set out exactly on the axes. Overage 10 %.

Basket weave

Pairs of tiles turned every other time, like wickerwork. Many cuts at the walls, overage 10 %.

Hopscotch

A large square with a small one inset. A classic for hallway and bathroom floors. Overage 5 %.

Versailles

Four sizes in a repeating module, like old stone. Overage 10 %.

Hexagon

Hexagons. A cut at every wall, but uneven edges do not show. Overage 5 %.

How to choose

• Small bathroom. Straight or offset in a large format: fewer joints, the room looks bigger.
• Long narrow room. Tiles laid long side across make it look wider; herringbone along it makes it look longer.
• Uneven walls. Diagonal and hexagon hide walls that are not parallel; straight lay shows it.
• Budget. The more complex the pattern, the more cuts and the longer the tiler works.

The overage here is added on top of the layout, not the area. See how much extra tile to buy.