Wall Tile Patterns

If you’ll be using wall tiles in your in bathrooms, kitchen, laundry and other utility spaces, a great looking wall tile pattern can really enhance the look of the room.  You can find lots of pattern inspiration in the tile patterns gallery. 

This page deals with some important points about how you install your wall tiles like the impact that the direction you choose to hang the design can have on the overall look, and how to deal with edges when the tile design finishes part way up the wall, or goes around a corner.

Choosing the direction to lay your floor tiles

Tiling patterns can be used to accentuate features in your home.  Your tiling pattern can manipulate the visual appearance of a space, making it appear taller or wider.  Let's take a look at the impact of tile direction on walls.

wall tile patterns - vertical tilingWall tiles installed with an emphasis on the vertical make the room appear taller

Obviously there would be joins between tiles but most wall tiling patterns will have an emphasis in one direction or other.  The aim of these images is to demonstrate the effects of the directional emphasis.

Wall tile patterns - horizontal tilingTiles installed with a horizontal emphasis make the room appear wider
wall tile patterns - neutral directionWall tile patterns installed in a neutral direction

Dealing with Corners and Edges

When you’re planning out your wall tile pattern, it’s worth giving thought to how to deal with any corners and edges.

Corners

There are two ways to deal with corners.

  1. Use a special corner tile.  A nice idea to consider is using a different color on the corner tiles. 
  2. Use a corner strip.  These are strips that come in a variety of colors and shapes that are installed along the edge of the tile.  

Edges

First of all, have a think about whether or not the edge would benefit from looking ‘finished off’.  If the edge is above eye level, there’s probably no need to deal with it.

There are several ways to deal with edges.

  1. Use a special header tile.  Many tile ranges have special tiles especially for edges. 
  2. Use an edging strip.  These are the same strips that can be used to deal with corners.
  3. Another thing to consider for an edge is to have the drywall recessed to the thickness of the tiles so that in effect there is no edge.
  4. A shelf installed directly above the edge of the tiling also provides a neat edge.
  5. A wall mounted mirror panel installed above the edge is another solution.

Schluter does some great products for both corners and edges.

Using a mirror to reflect wall tile patterns

One of the decisions that you’ll find yourself making for your bathroom tiling is which walls to tile.  One thing worth remembering is that a wall mounted mirror panel can be used in place of tiling, may cost less and if installed near a tiled surface, the look of the tile will be reflected.

More Tile Patterns for you...

You might find these other pages on tile patterns useful.

Tile Patterns Gallery

Go to floor tile patterns

Floor Tile Patterns

Wall Tile Patterns