Great Tile Floor Patterns

The Tile Floor Pattern’s Role

The tile floor pattern is the first thing that people notice when they walk into a room. It creates a certain atmosphere through the character that the floor pattern brings. The floor pattern’s repetitive quality can bring a sense of rhythm, order and comfort to the viewer. Its visual effect can be strong and leave a long-lasting impression. In order to give yourself and others the best lingering image of the given space in your home, be sure to choose the best tile floor pattern.

Inspiration

Before setting out to choose your tile floor design, give yourself some time to think over some pattern ideas. Looking through home design magazines, architecture books as well as quilt and textile patterns may help stimulate some ideas.

Consider the Scale and Elements in Your Space

Be sure to take the scale of your room into consideration when selecting your pattern. Depending on the room’s size and what kind of effect you want to create, the tile floor pattern should vary. For instance, if your kitchen is on the smaller side, perhaps choosing a pattern with a tight focus and lighter colors may be the way to go. This type of floor pattern will give your space an expanded quality, and make your kitchen appear larger. Large tile floor patterns in solid colors may have the opposite effect.

If the space you are working with has a lot of furniture, and architectural elements, such as linings or sconces, consider plain and minimal patterns. When selecting the color palette of each room, be sure to consider the transition from one room to another. The colors and styles shouldn’t contrast too starkly.

Color Palette and Pattern Types

When selecting color palettes, take the furniture and wall paint colors into consideration. Matching these up will help you narrow down the right color palette for your tile floor pattern. In terms of color, you also have a range of styles to choose from. You can try mixing and matching colors of the same tone, and every now and then use a contrasting color to create an accent.

Often times the tiles themselves have their own grain, texture and pattern. Be sure to note this when selecting them. Tiles also come in various shapes. Besides the square, they come in half squares as well as triangles. With shapes like these, you can expand your tile floor pattern styles beyond the classic checkerboard and try out the basket weave, gingham or even herringbone. Each style creates a different mood. A way to get a good sense of what effect these tile floor patterns create, you can experiment with different styles beforehand.

Experimenting with Tile Floor Patterns

Before you actually place the tiles onto your floor permanently, you have the option of laying out your patterns in paper. After selecting the color scheme, shape, grain, and style you want in the given space, print out several sheets in color and cut them out into the desired shape. Use these printouts as sample tiles. Lay them out across your floor and see how they feel. Try out several different sample printouts before choosing one.

Linoleum and Ceramic Tiles

Linoleum is a thickly coated canvas backing mixed with linseed oil and cork. It is a commonly used material for flooring. The other commonly used tile flooring is ceramic. When deciding between these two tiles, there are always reasons for one to be considered over the other but the final decision is up to you.

Linoleum tiles are typically installed professionally, and should be installed in areas of the house that are not susceptible to water damage. Bathrooms and kitchens should be avoided. Moisture buildup can damage the material quickly and require you to reinstall the tiles frequently. The upside to linoleum tiles is the diverse range of color schemes and patterns that they come in. Linoleum tiles are also softer and warmer than ceramic, and easier to clean.

Ceramic tiles can be installed on your own with a bit of guidance. Ceramic is also durable and long lasting. These tiles do require extra effort when cleaning, especially in between grout lines, and they aren’t as warm as linoleum tiles. They can, however, be sealed to prevent staining, which might facilitate cleaning.