Tile Patterns That Help Define a Room—Without Taking It Over

Whether in a kitchen or bathroom, the right tile pattern can help define a room's look without being overwhelming. Whether you’re drawn to timeless subway tile or the natural beauty of stone tile, even a single tile choice can subtly transform how a room feels.

One of the biggest benefits of tile is that you have a bevy of options to choose from with a huge range of sizes, colors, and materials. These options make it possible to find a design style that both creates visual interest and preserves balance.

In this post, I'll highlight some examples of how you can utilize subtle variation in tilework to enhance your home's aesthetic. I hope these examples provide inspiration for you to find the best tile pattern to suit your layout and your stylistic preferences.

Non-Traditional Shapes for Designer Tile Patterns

Non-traditional shapes can be used to achieve designer tile patterns that add visual appeal to a kitchen or bathroom. Geometric patterns can provide a modern feel to a room with uniquely shaped tiles or complex mosaics.

In this kitchen remodel, we opted for a complex layout of specialty tiles as the backsplash behind the stove. These tiles offer a sense of distinction and elegance without being over-the-top. The off-white color adds a touch of extra contrast while maintaining subtlety.

White-on-White Backsplash Tile Pattern

In this North Elm kitchen remodel, we used white tiles to create a sleek, high-gloss look for the kitchen backsplash. With matching white grout, the tiles appear to have no grout lines, giving the wall a bright, uniform color with a moderate amount of texture.

This kitchen shows how rectangular tiles arranged in a grid create a clean, organized look that's beneficial for modern interiors that emphasize order. At the same time, a staggered tile layout mimics a brick wall, providing a classic look that adds subtle visual movement. In this home, that movement effect is enhanced by the zigzag pattern above the range, which creates just a bit of contrast while maintaining the cohesive look.

Accent Tile With a Herringbone Pattern

In this  Preston remodel, we utilized two distinct elements of tile design — color and layout — to make a compelling accent wall in the open-concept kitchen.

The pale turquoise tile for the backsplash adds vibrancy to the space without feeling gaudy, and it helps draw out the brightness of the white cabinets. At the same time, the tile has an alternating pattern with a herringbone layout only behind the range and horizontal tile everywhere else.

A herringbone or geometric backsplash can serve as a focal point in a kitchen, particularly behind the stove. It creates the illusion of movement, texture, and flow, making it an extremely popular choice among homeowners.

Depending on your space and personal preferences, herringbone can be executed with rectangular tiles for a classic look or with longer planks for a modern style.

White Brick-Style Tile

In this open kitchen, white horizontal tile forms the backsplash behind the kitchen cabinets. This classic design emphasizes a sense of simplicity without feeling boring. The running bond pattern offsets tiles, creating a timeless look that is less rigid and slightly informal compared to a straight lay pattern.

For this remodel, the white tile serves as a backdrop that complements other design elements, like the blue paint on the island, the black window panes and faucet hardware, and the stainless steel appliances.

Honeycomb Floor Tile

Patterned floor tiles can add personality and conceal dirt in high-traffic areas, including by using a basketweave for a traditional look or a simple hexagon for a modern aesthetic.

In this bathroom remodel, we used hexagonal tiles to create an intricate mosaic pattern that gives the bathroom its own unique design and personality. Rather than a basic pattern, this type of honeycomb layout shows creativity and dynamism without causing the bathroom to feel too busy or crowded.

This example demonstrates how you can install a visually appealing tile floor even if you have limited total space to work with.

Large-Format Hexagonal Tiles

Large-format tiles create a seamless, expansive look, making rooms feel larger and working well in minimalistic designs. In this remodel, we chose hexagonal tiles instead of square tiles for a more compelling effect.

Hexagonal tiles are versatile and come in many styles, making them a popular choice for bathrooms due to their ease of maintenance. Pairing the hexagonal shape with the large-format size generates a more modern and spacious feel in this high-end bathroom.

This tile pattern also demonstrates how the thickness and color of grout joints can significantly impact tile design. Using white grout in this bathroom highlights the shape of the hexagonal tiles and provides a pop of brightness against the black floor.

Finding the Right Tile Design for Your Remodel

A home remodeling project is the perfect opportunity to change the aesthetic of a space in your home, allowing you to express your own individual sense of style. When designing your new kitchen or bathroom, you have nearly unlimited possibilities for selecting a tile pattern that complements the rest of the upgraded fixtures, finishes, and furniture.

While it's natural to want impressive tilework that can add a unique twist to your room, it's easy for things to fall out of balance. That's why we work carefully with our clients to find the right mix of layers, colors, and materials, so that, in the end, everything comes together and feels both attractive and cohesive.

At Hogan Design & Construction, we have the expertise and experience to execute custom remodeling projects to the highest standards. We've been serving the greater Chicago and southern Wisconsin region for 25 years and offer tailored design-build solutions for all shapes and sizes of remodeling projects.

We invite you to explore our portfolio of past projects, learn about our team, and contact us today to schedule a consultation about your remodeling plans.