While some appear to resemble waves, or have a wood-grain patterns, and others feature a subtle concrete effect. The natural or nature-inspired patterns in tile such as veining, flecks, and grain contribute to a room's visual stimulation and movement. With either of these options, you can create the idea of separation, and form well-defined areas, which are especially important in an open-concept structure. Alternatively, you can use the same tile in a different direction, such as by turning a square kitchen tile diagonally, for an adjoining living space. To use different types of tile floors in adjoining rooms, go with distinctly different shapes, such as wide wood-look planks to offset glazed porcelain squares. In a kitchen, for instance, counter a vibrant mosaic backsplash by wrapping the island in simple white marble or granite that matches the countertops. Keep in mind that if you incorporate a busy design into a room, you should keep the rest of the space simple. Therefore, by opting for a square tile floor, you allow for a dynamic complementary design, such as a herringbone or basket weave pattern on an accent wall or backsplash. The humble, basic square often takes a back seat to other competing tile shapes in the same space. Using rectangular tile on floors can make small rooms appear larger than they really are, and when you continue the tile up the wall vertically, it can make the ceiling appear higher as well.

Squares and rectangles are the most common floor tile shapes, but there are lots of linear and plank products that offer long, short, wide, and narrow dimensions on the market too.

Conversely, using large-format tile or slab products can create a fluid effect that plays into a minimalist or ultramodern setting. For example, although a large floor area can handle supersized tiles, mosaic or small square tiles are most likely the best choice for a kitchen backsplash. But even in a small room, using the largest tile that is still appropriate for the application means fewer grout lines, and results in fewer visual interruptions.Īs for other tiled surfaces in the room, use a mix of small or midsize tiles to create visual interest and add scale to the room. A floor's tile size affects the overall design of a room, and the larger the space, the larger the floor's format.

Different tiles in adjoining rooms