Welcome to our gallery of tile shapes including interior design ideas for flooring, kitchen backsplash and bathroom showers.
Tile shapes are important because they will change which patterns you can and cannot use based on the shape of the tile and you own personal preferences. Some of the most common shapes are listed below, but keep in mind if there is a custom organic or geometric shape that you wish to have, there are custom options at a premium price. Visit our page about tile patterns and layouts for more details on ways to get the exact design you desire.
Square Tiles
Square tiles are simply that, a shape with four equal sides and angles. In this case that simplicity it a good thing because it allows for monumental amounts of complex features and customization to enhance the tile and make it uniquely its own.
Sizes will greatly vary with square tiles. Some of the common sizes will range from 12” by 12”, 18” by 18” and even a larger 24” by 24” pieces. They can even more uniquely be oversized or shrunken. 4” by 4” and 6” by 6” tiles are also commonly used when seeking accents, borders, or other decorative inlays.
Mosaics are also used with the square tiles, these being even smaller than the decorative pieces ranging from 1” by 1” to 2” by 2”. To make the mounting and styling simpler these pieces are often mounted with a mesh backing for easier installation. In addition to the vast array of size that are available, the same goes for the materials that can be used.
Tiles can come in anything form ceramic, porcelain, glass to marble. There are differences between ceramic and porcelain tile such as durability and cost which can impact your buying decision. Choosing a material is where it may be tricky, and things may need to be a custom order due the in stock options only being certain combinations of sizes, colors and materials.
Rectangular Tiles
The rectangular tiles will follow suit very similarly to the previously mentioned square tiles. The shape is pretty simple therefore will allow for a variety of sizes, colors and materials. Some of the most popular sizes will be the 3” by 6” which are typically referred to as subway tiles and the 12” by 24” commonly referred to as the field tile.
In addition to those there will be options such as the plank, which is typically 6” by 24”, a longer variation of the subway tile at 6” by 12”, and there is also different mosaic styles available as the square ones were, on a mesh to make for an easier installation. When it comes to rectangle tiles, there are multiple subcategories telling a little more detail about each particular size and layout of the tile.
Subway Tile
As mentioned, this subway tile is in the rectangle family and will have widths of anywhere from 1” to 4” and the length in 4”, 6”, 8” and 12”. These will give a variety of different looks while still reigning true to the subway tile itself. Due to the shape these are often used on walls versus instead of flooring, and make great backsplashes in kitchens or bathrooms and can be put in many different patterns.
Mosaic Tile
Penny Tile
The penny tile will be easily to identify by its name since it takes the appearance of what its named after, a penny. These tiles will be small circles about the size of your loose change. This style is gaining popularity, starting in just neutral black and white combinations now opening up to large range of colors as well as finishes and materials.
The downside to using a circle tile instead of an edged piece is that it will require more mortar. This can be used as an upside though, if you take in the added slip resistance and the look that will be added with more mortar. Selecting the proper color mortar will be an extremely important part in situations such as this. Due to the size, these are often placed on a mesh back or other sheet, similar to mosaic pieces, to make for an easy install.
Octagon Tile
The octagon tiles are a timeless classic option with eight sides. The pattern most often used is a color octagon with contrasting colored squares/diamonds on the corners. This is commonly referred to as the “octagon dot” because the octagons were usually white while the squares/diamonds were black, resembling dots. This can be used as bathroom floor tiles, or backsplashes for a classic look or even bringing a popular, modern flair to it. These tiles can be found in a range of colors, sizes, shapes and materials to fit any style.
Hexagon Tile
Large Hexagon Tiles
Elongated Hexagon
Rhomboid Tile
Triangle Tile
Diamond Tile
Diamonds are a great shape to use for tiles. These shapes will allow for great mosaics and are often chosen as a more advance version to a square mosaic or tile pattern. The most common shaped diamonds will be one that can easily be stacked next to each other. This will make for the design to cover any amount of space. While creating a diamond shape out of a square tile can be done, diamond tiles in particular will have a different, unique shape than a square turned on its side. Diamond tiles are most commonly used in bathrooms and as backsplashes and can come in a variety of materials and finishes.
Pentagon Tiles
Specialty Tiles
There are groups of specialty tiles that includes variations of curves to create shapes. These allow for some outside the box thinking to make a custom look that will stun. These pieces will often become the focal points of the bathroom or kitchen. It is also common to pair these with some of the more basic designs to not overwhelm a space with too much ornamentation and special qualities. Some of those shapes are as follows.
Arabesque
Arabesque tiles have gained some popularity adding beauty and art back into the modern minimalist world. These tiles are more ornate and offers multiple different variation. The arabesque tiles can come as mosaic tiles and beveled tiles. Mosaic arabesque tiles will come in sheets and will be polished in on of many materials or color options. The beveled edge option will give some texture and dimension to the desired location without having to do anything too extreme!
Ogee Tile
Also known as the fish scale tile or ogee drop the ogee tile will be most often used in bathrooms and as backsplashes. The shape has and “s- like” curve that resembles a fish scale (hence the nickname). The pieces can be place in a variety of patterns, each creating a new look. The scale looking tiles can be place side by side to create rows.
Picket Tile
The picket tile is another shape of tile that can add to the uniqueness of a design. It is a six sided shape that appears as two equal trapezoids were placed together. This shape can add for quite a bit of creativity. They can be paired with diamond pieces for makes a pattern with mixes shapes or can be used all on its own. The nice thing about the picket is that it has a flat bottom and even sides to make laying out a pattern pretty easy.
Lantern Shaped Tile
As the name suggests the lantern shaped tile strongly resembles a lantern. This shape is commonly confused with the arabesque due to its similarities in shapes. These tiles will also have most of the same options and qualities the arabesque has including the options for beveled and mosaic tiles as well as the variety of materials and colors.
Wave Tile
Layout placement is usually taken into consideration before deciding to use the wave piece and they are often used in more creative spaces versus something that needs functionality. Like most of the rest of the tiles mentioned, wave tiles are available in a wide variety of materials, colors, finishes, sizes and shapes.
For help creating a design and visualizing different elements such as tile, there are a variety of software programs that can help. There is room specific bathroom remodel software as well as kitchen design software for seeing floor, wall or backsplash tile in a 3 dimensional view.