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Herringbone, checkerboard and mosaic layouts: pros and cons
Herringbone, checkerboard and mosaic layouts bring different rhythms to a tiled room. The choice affects how the surface meets doorways, cabinetry, corners and changes in level, as well as the colour you see. Start with the room proportions and the tile product, then consider the pattern. This guide explores the design decisions behind each option with EM Tile examples from Vaughan, Mississauga, Etobicoke and Downtown Toronto. Use the photographs to choose the details you like, and send your room dimensions with the selected tile information. The following sections cover orientation, borders, grout and practical questions to discuss before buying tile.
Discuss your project ↗Herringbone creates a directional arrangement
Herringbone creates a directional rhythm by arranging rectangular pieces in a repeated angled pattern. Its effect changes with the tile proportions and the direction in which the layout is read. Think about the main view into the room and how the pattern meets cabinetry, a window or an exposed wall edge. The herringbone laundry in Vaughan includes a full-height tiled wall behind cabinetry and shelves, as well as a floor example. These views show ways to bring a strong pattern into a working room. For your own space, send the tile dimensions and a sketch of the surfaces so the pattern can be considered with the actual boundaries.
Checkerboard makes contrast part of the layout
Checkerboard uses alternating tiles to make a regular grid a prominent part of the design. The contrast can be bold or more subtle, depending on the colours and surfaces selected. EM Tile’s Mississauga checkerboard layout and Etobicoke checkerboard foyer offer two examples of this approach. The Mississauga images show elongated floor areas during installation; the Etobicoke foyer brings the grid towards a staircase. Compare how the pattern reads at narrow boundaries and in the wider entrance. For your room, show each doorway and change in direction on the plan. This helps you discuss the position of the grid before treating a colour choice as the complete design.
Mosaic changes the scale of the joints
Mosaic can create a small-scale field, a graphic feature or a contrast with larger surrounding tiles. The numbered mosaic floor in Downtown Toronto has a dark “416” motif within a white field. The white hex mosaic floor in Mississauga shows another way to use repeated small pieces. Compare the shape, grout colour and boundary around the mosaic when choosing an approach for your home. Sheets and individual pieces also need to be considered with the selected product’s intended use. Send the supplier information and the location where you want the mosaic installed, such as a floor, backsplash or shower area. The mosaic and pattern tile installation page explains the related service.
Compare the pattern at the scale of the whole room
A small sample can look different when repeated over an entire surface. Use a room photograph or simple drawing to consider where the pattern starts, which direction it takes and how it appears from the doorway. Identify the main view rather than assuming the centre of the measured room is always the only useful reference. A wall interrupted by cabinetry may need a different visual discussion from an open foyer floor. If the layout continues into another space, include that boundary too. These are design questions you can prepare before installation; they do not prescribe a particular alignment for every property. The final layout should be considered using the room and tile that will actually be installed.
Look at borders, corners and the pieces at the edges
Patterns need to be planned at the room’s edges as well as across its centre. A doorway, border, corner or narrow return can change how the repeated pieces fit. Mark those boundaries on a drawing and include the tile size before ordering. Herringbone, checkerboard and mosaics each have their own layout decisions, so the quantity discussion should follow the pattern you have chosen. EM Tile can advise on tile quantities and suitable formats before purchase. If you change the tile or add another surface, share the revised information. Keeping the pattern drawing with the order helps you connect the visible design with the pieces needed for the installation.
Grout can emphasise or soften the effect
The joints are part of what you see, particularly in a mosaic or an angled arrangement. A contrasting grout can make the geometry more apparent, while a closer colour relationship can make the tile field feel more continuous. Compare the preference with the actual tile selection instead of relying on a filtered reference picture. Remember that the wall or floor will sit next to other colours and materials in your room. EM Tile supplies grout as an installation material, but the desired appearance still needs to be discussed. Identifying the effect you want is more useful than assuming that the grout choice is determined automatically by the pattern’s name or by what another portfolio photograph appears to show.
Combine patterns deliberately across different surfaces
A patterned wall can be paired with a simpler floor, or the floor can be the feature while other tiled surfaces stay visually quieter. There is no obligation to repeat one pattern throughout a room just because the same installer is working on several surfaces. Explain which surface should attract attention and which should support the overall arrangement. If a niche, backsplash or adjoining room introduces another format, include it in the same selection discussion. The kitchen and laundry backsplash installation service page can help you scope a wall feature, while floor tile installation covers the floor enquiry. For wet areas, the bathroom scope and waterproofing requirements need their own review alongside the visual layout choice.
Match the pattern and product to the room
Choose the actual tile product with its intended location in mind. A bathroom floor, shower base, kitchen wall and heated floor have different assembly considerations, even when a similar pattern appeals to you. Ask the supplier for product information, dimensions, thickness and intended applications, and send those details with the project enquiry. The material can also affect care requirements, so include the finish and any guidance provided with it. For a patterned shower, mark the drain, entrance and niche alongside the tile layout. For a laundry or kitchen, show cabinetry and appliances. This gives the pattern discussion a practical connection to the room you are renovating.
Choose with a shortlist and a clear project description
Send wide photographs of the room, close views of corners and transitions, measurements, tile specifications and a sketch of the pattern you prefer. Include the portfolio examples that show the details you like, such as a herringbone wall, alternating floor grid or numbered mosaic. Tell us which surfaces will change and which fixtures will remain. You choose and purchase the tile; EM Tile supplies installation materials and can advise on quantities and suitable formats beforehand. Patterned tile installation timing depends on the size and scope, with the final timeline confirmed after project review. Follow the mosaic and pattern tile installation page to discuss a free estimate for your own room. Every installation comes with our Lifetime Workmanship Warranty for as long as the original client owns the home — see the full terms in our FAQ.
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