10 Ways to Use Hexagonal Tiles
Less rigid than squares, more versatile than circles, hexagonal tiles offer the chance to add interest to any room
From softening hard lines to pepping up a minimal scheme, large hexagonal tiles are a brilliant way to add pattern and personality to your home. Their honeycomb shape offers the chance to create interesting formations, and they can be used in numerous ways, as these 10 ideas illustrate.
2. Tone to zone
This is a similar idea, but with tiles merging into wooden floorboards. Here, the ceramic tiles delineate a desk area that functions as both a dressing table and somewhere to rest a laptop, but this idea could also work with an office desk to help you carve out a study zone in a bigger room.
Combining the two surfaces in this bedroom was a tricky job. Each floorboard had to be cut exactly and the heights evened out, but the end result looks fantastic, and the hexagonal shape allows for a pleasingly fluid edge.
The designers have chosen white for a neutral look in keeping with the room’s palette, but have used embossed tiles to add subtle pattern.
This is a similar idea, but with tiles merging into wooden floorboards. Here, the ceramic tiles delineate a desk area that functions as both a dressing table and somewhere to rest a laptop, but this idea could also work with an office desk to help you carve out a study zone in a bigger room.
Combining the two surfaces in this bedroom was a tricky job. Each floorboard had to be cut exactly and the heights evened out, but the end result looks fantastic, and the hexagonal shape allows for a pleasingly fluid edge.
The designers have chosen white for a neutral look in keeping with the room’s palette, but have used embossed tiles to add subtle pattern.
3. Add a graphic touch
This monochrome kitchen has the simplest of surfaces – except for that wall of graphic hexagons.
The subtle design adds pattern in a sophisticated way that works in harmony with the palette, as well as forming an easy-to-clean backsplash. The designers have left the tops of the hexagons intact, rather than squaring them off, again ushering in a softer finish.
Browse more contemporary kitchen designs
This monochrome kitchen has the simplest of surfaces – except for that wall of graphic hexagons.
The subtle design adds pattern in a sophisticated way that works in harmony with the palette, as well as forming an easy-to-clean backsplash. The designers have left the tops of the hexagons intact, rather than squaring them off, again ushering in a softer finish.
Browse more contemporary kitchen designs
4. Be unexpected
This kitchen is a masterclass in warming up a sleek design in a grown-up way. The pale pink hexagonal tiles on the back of the island both zone the breakfast bar and introduce warmth and character into the scheme – and using them here rather than in the more obvious backsplash position adds a design twist.
The tiles aren’t shouty, but they feel more fun than plain tiles or a painted surface might. The designers have nodded to the pink colour in the copper fittings and sofa textiles for a cohesive look.
This kitchen is a masterclass in warming up a sleek design in a grown-up way. The pale pink hexagonal tiles on the back of the island both zone the breakfast bar and introduce warmth and character into the scheme – and using them here rather than in the more obvious backsplash position adds a design twist.
The tiles aren’t shouty, but they feel more fun than plain tiles or a painted surface might. The designers have nodded to the pink colour in the copper fittings and sofa textiles for a cohesive look.
5. Update country style
If you like a hint of country but in a modern way, tiles such as these might appeal. The colours have echoes of Delft designs, but the shape makes them feel contemporary.
You could achieve a similar modern rustic effect by choosing a pretty floral design in the same shape.
Looking for a design professional to help renovate the kitchen of your dreams?
If you like a hint of country but in a modern way, tiles such as these might appeal. The colours have echoes of Delft designs, but the shape makes them feel contemporary.
You could achieve a similar modern rustic effect by choosing a pretty floral design in the same shape.
Looking for a design professional to help renovate the kitchen of your dreams?
6. Pep up patchwork
Give the established trend for patchwork-patterned tiles a reboot with hexagonal versions. This half-wall adds interest to a plain powder room.
The six-sided shape of the tiles could make this mix-and-match look feel a bit too busy, so sticking with a monochrome colour scheme, as the designers have done here, is a good way to keep it on the calm side of decorative.
Give the established trend for patchwork-patterned tiles a reboot with hexagonal versions. This half-wall adds interest to a plain powder room.
The six-sided shape of the tiles could make this mix-and-match look feel a bit too busy, so sticking with a monochrome colour scheme, as the designers have done here, is a good way to keep it on the calm side of decorative.
7. Make the grad(ation)
Hexagonal tiles are a fun way to add a little ombré to a space. This selection, moving from charcoal through mid and pale greys to almost white at the top, draws attention away from the narrowness of the room. It also gives a sense of the space opening out higher up.
The designers have mixed up the colours a little in the middle for a contemporary pixellated feel.
Hexagonal tiles are a fun way to add a little ombré to a space. This selection, moving from charcoal through mid and pale greys to almost white at the top, draws attention away from the narrowness of the room. It also gives a sense of the space opening out higher up.
The designers have mixed up the colours a little in the middle for a contemporary pixellated feel.
8. Enjoy a box set
If you’re a fan of 3D-style geometrics, hexagonal tiles are your friends. This boxy monochrome design adds real punch to this shower.
If this is too full-on for you, try choosing paler pastel shades, or consider mingling a few boxy tiles in with plain hexagonals.
9 Ways Hexagon Tiles are Spiffing up Rooms
If you’re a fan of 3D-style geometrics, hexagonal tiles are your friends. This boxy monochrome design adds real punch to this shower.
If this is too full-on for you, try choosing paler pastel shades, or consider mingling a few boxy tiles in with plain hexagonals.
9 Ways Hexagon Tiles are Spiffing up Rooms
9. Get a headboard
There’s no need to confine hexagonal tiles to the kitchen and bathroom – the owners of this home have used them for a different take on a headboard. The hexagons create a pleasing cloud shape around the bed; you could push this idea and make the shape even more amorphous.
As this is a relatively small area, you could choose beautiful tiles that might strain the pocket on a whole wall, or find a home for a small batch of vintage ones.
Tiles should be easier to keep clean than an upholstered headboard, but be sure to layer up pillows and cushions so you have something soft to lean against.
There’s no need to confine hexagonal tiles to the kitchen and bathroom – the owners of this home have used them for a different take on a headboard. The hexagons create a pleasing cloud shape around the bed; you could push this idea and make the shape even more amorphous.
As this is a relatively small area, you could choose beautiful tiles that might strain the pocket on a whole wall, or find a home for a small batch of vintage ones.
Tiles should be easier to keep clean than an upholstered headboard, but be sure to layer up pillows and cushions so you have something soft to lean against.
10. Try a gentler take on geometrics
Hexagonal tiles are associated with angular shapes, but they also have a softer side, as these tiles prove. This curvy design in pale blue adds gentle pattern to the white space.
Also look out for designs that create florals when the tiles are fitted together.
Tell us
Are you tempted to use hexagonal tiles in your home or have you done so already? Share your thoughts in the Comments below, like and bookmark this story, save your favourite images, and join the conversation.
Hexagonal tiles are associated with angular shapes, but they also have a softer side, as these tiles prove. This curvy design in pale blue adds gentle pattern to the white space.
Also look out for designs that create florals when the tiles are fitted together.
Tell us
Are you tempted to use hexagonal tiles in your home or have you done so already? Share your thoughts in the Comments below, like and bookmark this story, save your favourite images, and join the conversation.
If you have an open-plan kitchen/dining/living room, it can help to subtly zone each area. Creating a tiled ‘rug’ under the table is one way to give the dining space its own identity.
Here, plain white hexagons segue into patterned ones that link with the colour of the cabinetry. The six-sided tiles form a softer edge than linear ones would, for a more relaxed feel.