The Versatile Brick Tile & How To Use It

There’s something about the simplicity of a tile in the form of brick that makes it a popular choice for kitchens and bathrooms. It also lends itself to a variety of pattern formations allowing you to create different looks to your home. There’s also the latest colours and different finishes to consider too.

The brick tile’s familiarity in our buildings formations and repetitive pattern (no matter what layout you use) is reassuring to the eye too. I’ve compiled 7 ways to use this versatile tile in case you were looking for some inspiration for any up and coming projects

I thought I’d include Walls and Floor’s latest Craquelure range as I love the colour ranges as well as this particular tile’s gloss finish which brings out the subtle crackle glaze finish.

The Versatile Brick Tile & How To Use It

Vertical Block

This layout is for those of you looking to add the unexpected with a contemporary twist.

Laying your tiles vertically is a great eye catching alternative to the traditional running board, horizontal brick layout.

Creates The Illusion of Height!

This pattern is also great for creating the illusion of height as the eye is drawn upwards rather than horizontally. Perfect for areas where the ceiling height is lower than normal.

Alternatively, use the brick on its side and stack them. This layout will allow you to create the illusion of width as your eye follows the grout lines sideways again providing a contemporary look and feel to your room.

Whichever way you decide to stack them this pattern layout is great for diyer’s as it’s pretty easy and straight forward formation to follow.

Offset Vertical

Or why not offset this vertical layout and add a little bit more drama with darker grout lines. The eye is still drawn upwards but in a not so obvious way.

Double Weave

Another modern look is to use the brick tile in a double weave layout to create a more complex pattern that offers you something different entirely.

If you’re opting for the latest coloured tiles, use white contrasting grout to accentuate this fun layout.

Horizontal Brick/Running Board

There’s a timeless appeal to this layout and one that works incredibly well in all areas of your home. It adds a subtle visual widening quality to an area too as the pattern allows your eye to be drawn outwards in both ways so your eye travels along these lines.

This is the most popular choice of laying your brick tiles and it’s also your secret weapon when it comes to hiding uneven surfaces, crooked walls. Staggering the tiles helps trick the eye from any discrepancies. Your focus is on the repetitive pattern rather than individidual tiles.

3/4 Brick Layout

This 3-quarter brick layout offers you a twist on a traditional brick layout, where the rectangular tiles still overlap, but only a little.

Half and Half Brick Layout

The traditional brick half and half layout. Just like the exterior walls to your house, these brick shaped tiles overlap by 1/2 their length and is the most common way to lay the brick/metro tile.

Herringbone

I wrote a whole post on the Herringbone pattern. But in case you don’t have time to read, I’ll introduce the benefits of laying out your tiles in this wonderful subtle timeless format.

I love this pattern because of its uniformity. Its pattern repeat adds a sense of stability to a space as well as being visually pleasing. It’s easy on the eye because our brains instantly see order and a sense of balance much like symmetry achieves in our homes.

THE HERRINGBONE – SUBTLE PATTERN FOR YOUR HOMES – The Interior Editor

The Herringbone pattern adds adds a sense of uniformity and stability to your walls and/or floors. It’s also brilliant at providing a sense of width and length to a room making it feel larger than it actually is. Your vision follows the lines outwards and is particularly great for say a narrow hallway floor or room.

Block Herringbone

Keep this formation to smaller areas of your home if you’re using it on the walls as it can look busy and in larger open spaces when using smaller brick tiles. Herringbone also looks great when paired with different patterned tiles.

When tiling in a block herringbone pattern, allow yourself 10% extra for cuts and breakages.

With so many different ways to lay to create different looks to suit your own personal style and homes, the brick tile definitely gets a thumbs up from me.

Until next time, thanks for stopping by!

Maria xx