11 Cool Ways to Work With Chevron Tiles
Bring a subtle sense of sophistication into your home with one of the world's oldest patterns laid out in tiles
The herringbone pattern is one of my favourite tile layouts, and it can easily be achieved with the vast array of rectangular tiles on the market. It gives a room an understated but beautiful elegance and, once the first tiles are laid, is no more difficult to fit than a more traditional design. If I were doing a renovation, I’d include this somewhere without a doubt.
2. Zone an open-plan room
This floor showcases two trends – the tile pattern itself, and the cool combination of wood-effect ceramic with white.
The homeowner has used the different tiles to highlight zones, with the dining area featuring white tiles and the living area laid with wood-effect ones. The different tiles gradually merge with each other for a stylish effect. This idea works best in a relatively large space, so you can see the design well.
Many tile companies make this possible by producing the same size tile in different colours and designs. Don’t forget the tiles must be the same thickness as well as size for it to work well.
Create zones in open-plan spaces
This floor showcases two trends – the tile pattern itself, and the cool combination of wood-effect ceramic with white.
The homeowner has used the different tiles to highlight zones, with the dining area featuring white tiles and the living area laid with wood-effect ones. The different tiles gradually merge with each other for a stylish effect. This idea works best in a relatively large space, so you can see the design well.
Many tile companies make this possible by producing the same size tile in different colours and designs. Don’t forget the tiles must be the same thickness as well as size for it to work well.
Create zones in open-plan spaces
3. Echo benchtops with the floor
The floor here is the same shade as the wooden benchtops, which gives a sense of cohesion to the kitchen.
If your budget doesn’t stretch to solid wood, you could opt for wood plank vinyl flooring instead. It’s easy to adhere to the floor, looks similar to solid wood, and has the added benefit of being waterproof and incredibly durable.
Alternatively, go for wood-effect ceramic tiles. Ensure the floor beneath is completely flat in order for small tiles to be laid successfully.
The floor here is the same shade as the wooden benchtops, which gives a sense of cohesion to the kitchen.
If your budget doesn’t stretch to solid wood, you could opt for wood plank vinyl flooring instead. It’s easy to adhere to the floor, looks similar to solid wood, and has the added benefit of being waterproof and incredibly durable.
Alternatively, go for wood-effect ceramic tiles. Ensure the floor beneath is completely flat in order for small tiles to be laid successfully.
4. Use pattern to lead the eye
Use the herringbone design to act as an arrow that guides you down a corridor. It will make the space look larger and more inviting.
Here, the two types of flooring look amazing together, but you may not feel brave enough to go for both. If not, simply lay the herringbone throughout.
Hallways are often forgotten, but this shows what you can do with some thought. The homeowners have kept the rest of the scheme white so the floor makes an immediate impact.
Use the herringbone design to act as an arrow that guides you down a corridor. It will make the space look larger and more inviting.
Here, the two types of flooring look amazing together, but you may not feel brave enough to go for both. If not, simply lay the herringbone throughout.
Hallways are often forgotten, but this shows what you can do with some thought. The homeowners have kept the rest of the scheme white so the floor makes an immediate impact.
5. Go bold with a monochrome zigzag
Use boldly contrasting tiles on one wall for eye-catching drama. You could induce a headache if you use this idea across a whole room, but in a shower enclosure or as a hob splashback, it looks amazing.
Use grout to introduce a third colour that doesn’t match either tile, so it doesn’t blend in too much. The grey here acts as a neat outline to each tile. Keep towels and accessories plain and simple to avoid overwhelming the space.
Use boldly contrasting tiles on one wall for eye-catching drama. You could induce a headache if you use this idea across a whole room, but in a shower enclosure or as a hob splashback, it looks amazing.
Use grout to introduce a third colour that doesn’t match either tile, so it doesn’t blend in too much. The grey here acts as a neat outline to each tile. Keep towels and accessories plain and simple to avoid overwhelming the space.
6. Turn it sideways
Normally, chevron tiles are laid in a W formation, but here they’re pointing sideways. This can help to add visual width to a space. Contrasting grout around pale-coloured tiles acts as a neat outline for a tailored look, so it’s really important the spacing is accurate. Take your time if you’re laying it yourself, or ask a professional to do it for you.
This style is light and airy, so choose white accessories, or opt for glass or wood for a calm and relaxed finish.
Normally, chevron tiles are laid in a W formation, but here they’re pointing sideways. This can help to add visual width to a space. Contrasting grout around pale-coloured tiles acts as a neat outline for a tailored look, so it’s really important the spacing is accurate. Take your time if you’re laying it yourself, or ask a professional to do it for you.
This style is light and airy, so choose white accessories, or opt for glass or wood for a calm and relaxed finish.
7. Add texture to bright white
A white kitchen is the perfect companion to a fabulous floor, as the two elements don’t fight each other. These units are sleek and glossy, while the textured wooden floor makes a lovely contrast.
The idea would work well with either light or dark wood, and by adding other natural elements, such as bare brick or metal, you can enhance the look further.
A white kitchen is the perfect companion to a fabulous floor, as the two elements don’t fight each other. These units are sleek and glossy, while the textured wooden floor makes a lovely contrast.
The idea would work well with either light or dark wood, and by adding other natural elements, such as bare brick or metal, you can enhance the look further.
8. Make a big impact in a small space
Tiling doesn’t need to be on a large scale to have impact, as this mosaic version of the marble chevron pattern illustrates. It would work well on a kitchen splashback or in a cloakroom. Don’t forget to grout it with a darker colour that will act as an outline to each individual tile.
Mosaics come on a mesh sheet of about 30-centimetre square, so they cover an area quickly. However, cutting individual mosaic tiles can be tricky, so this is not the best project for a beginner.
Browse tile and stone specialists
Tiling doesn’t need to be on a large scale to have impact, as this mosaic version of the marble chevron pattern illustrates. It would work well on a kitchen splashback or in a cloakroom. Don’t forget to grout it with a darker colour that will act as an outline to each individual tile.
Mosaics come on a mesh sheet of about 30-centimetre square, so they cover an area quickly. However, cutting individual mosaic tiles can be tricky, so this is not the best project for a beginner.
Browse tile and stone specialists
9. Let the floor take centre stage
In a small bathroom, it can be tempting to keep everything plain, but this room does the opposite. The floor makes a fabulous bold statement that lifts this compact room from meh to memorable.
A completely white room against the patterned floor might have looked too stark, so the dark-sided basin unit and woven baskets help to balance out the space.
In a small bathroom, it can be tempting to keep everything plain, but this room does the opposite. The floor makes a fabulous bold statement that lifts this compact room from meh to memorable.
A completely white room against the patterned floor might have looked too stark, so the dark-sided basin unit and woven baskets help to balance out the space.
10. Create height in a small space
Many of us have compact bathrooms we’d like to maximise. Consider adding a contrasting chevron layout to a wall. By tiling all the way to the top, the arrowed design moves the eye upwards and makes the space appear taller. The dark tiles also draw your attention away from the walls on either side, so you don’t feel as if you’re in a corridor.
The return of tiled splashbacks
Many of us have compact bathrooms we’d like to maximise. Consider adding a contrasting chevron layout to a wall. By tiling all the way to the top, the arrowed design moves the eye upwards and makes the space appear taller. The dark tiles also draw your attention away from the walls on either side, so you don’t feel as if you’re in a corridor.
The return of tiled splashbacks
11. Embrace colour and pattern
Chevrons in a modern colour combination of chartreuse and white make this simple bathroom look stylish. You have to commit to the design, because it isn’t for the faint-hearted, but by using it on the walls, floor and bath panel, you can add heaps of character.
Although these tiles look complicated to lay, they’re actually diagonal stripes on a square tile – a very easy way to get an intricate pattern.
TELL US
Have you used a chevron pattern in your home? Share your photos and ideas in the Comments below.
Chevrons in a modern colour combination of chartreuse and white make this simple bathroom look stylish. You have to commit to the design, because it isn’t for the faint-hearted, but by using it on the walls, floor and bath panel, you can add heaps of character.
Although these tiles look complicated to lay, they’re actually diagonal stripes on a square tile – a very easy way to get an intricate pattern.
TELL US
Have you used a chevron pattern in your home? Share your photos and ideas in the Comments below.
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Use a chevron pattern layout to add quiet interest to a space without needing to introduce a contrasting colour.
Here, the chevron marble tiles complement the room’s pale, airy colour scheme. The matching white tones of the walls and floor create a seamless look, but the pattern gives the floor an additional visual element. The grey bath brings out the lovely grey veining in the marble for extra depth.