Hexagon Tiles - Buying Guide

Abbas Youssefi
Abbas Youssefi
5th June 2017
After a fresh update? Then put hexagon tiles at the top of your list - nature’s favourite shape is the go-to choice when it comes to super-stylish design. With its angular lines and six-sided chic, the classic silhouette always strikes the perfect balance between show-stopping looks and easy-going elegance. And if you’re looking to play with pattern then you’re in good company; hexagon tiles are currently having a moment. They’ve got an inherently alluring quality that’s perfect for contemporary homes; chic yet comforting, familiar yet mysterious. We might be biased, but we think our collection is the best around. There’s something for everyone, from patchwork patterns to monochrome designs and plain colours that are anything but flat. But with so many options, picking the hottest hex for your home can be a little tough. We've put together this buying guide to help demystify the process and make it easier to discover your geometric groove.

What Style Should I Pick?

There’s a host of things to think about when you’re choosing which hex is best. But in our humble opinion, the first question to consider is the look you’re going for - after all, your choice of tiles will go a long way when it comes to the overall feel of your space. Luckily, we’ve got a range of designs to suit, whatever your style.

Victorian

Lay our Victorian Unglazed Black and White hexagons together and you’ll have a quintessentially British floor in time for high tea. This monochromatic look has been popular for generations so it’s a great choice if you’re looking for a floor to stand the test of time.

Moroccan

Haggling be gone - hexagon tiles are the perfect way to give your home a Moorish touch without sweltering in the souk. Our Seville Persian Blue range encapsulates all that we love about Moroccan design and the exotic motif will give your space a relaxed, carefree appeal.

Patchwork

When it comes to personality, it’s hard to beat patchwork prints, especially when they come in the shape of hexagon tiles. Case in point - Moroccan Mix. The lavish prints and bold colours aren’t for the faint-hearted, but they can’t be beaten on the eye-catching style front. Perfect for look-at-me walls and floors.

Mosaics

Looking for design-classic status? We’ll direct your attention to our Micro Hex mosaics. These three mosaics are almost exactly the same as original turn-of-the-century designs, except they’re made from modern porcelain. The clean, no-nonsense finish is just the trick for that stripped-back, utilitarian appeal so beloved by hipster cafes and trendy bars.

Simplicity

Colour not your thing and not potty over plain? Then embrace the trend for monochrome, but do it with hexagons to add an extra dimension. By their hexagonal natural, tiles such as our Mono Mid Grey will add extra oomph to your rooms, especially if you use a contrasting grout to jazz up the joints.

Cement

The trend for polished concrete is dominating the style waves and taking over interiors in the way that jeans rule our wardrobes. So why not combine your sentiment for cement with some serious hex appeal? Our Memory Cement hexagons are just the trick for that freshly-poured feel - they’ll give your room that of-the-moment, industrial aesthetic.

Marble

Looking to give your home a glamour boost? Keep your eyes peeled for our latest marble effect hexagon tiles. Based on opulent Bianco Carrara stone, these tiles put the marble into marvel. They’re undeniably gorgeous and will strike the right notes in any space - not too subtle, not too busy. Mention 3D?

What Are Hexagon Tiles Made From?

Most of our hexagon tiles are made from porcelain, which is really durable and easy to care for. Porcelain tiles are pretty much waterproof, so they’re ideal for wet areas such as bathrooms and porches where spills and splashes are part of daily life. They’re also very hard wearing, so can be used on any floor throughout your home. That said, we do have some ceramic and natural stone hexagons that combine the best of both worlds. For example, our Seville collection is inspired by rustic Moorish design, and true to part features a authentic ceramic base with a glazed decorative surface. However, they are far harder-wearing than handmade tiles so are perfect for use in most spaces. In addition, our Fairmont mosaics are handmade with carved chips of natural marble. They’re a perennially popular choice for bathrooms, as they combine a practical finish with a sense of nature that aides well-being. However, being a natural material they do require sealing from time to time, to maintain their luxe appeal.

Where Can I Use Hexagon Tiles?

There’s a growing trend to use tiles in pretty much any room, and it’s no different with hexagons. Most of our hexagons are made from porcelain (more on that shortly) and they can be used safely on almost any wall or floor inside your home - porcelain is a tough material that’s durable, non-porous and really easy to live with. Popular areas to use hexagons include:

Bathroom

Like your bathroom fresh and modern? Whites and grey can sometimes be a little too cold and clinical, so break the mould with some hexagon tiles. They’ll provide added texture to cut through the clean lines, giving a soft simplicity to your space.

Wetroom

Here in the UK, we’re finally starting to cotton on to continental-style wetrooms. Naturally, you’ll want tiles underfoot that provide texture - step forward, Micro Hex mosaics. They’re non-porous, so ideal for wetrooms and their dinky size will conceal the fall in the wet room tray below, so there’s no ugly ‘envelope’ cuts.

Feature Walls

When you want the wow-factor, nothing says look-at-me as much as patterned hexagon tiles. Get your guests swooning over your feature walls by decking them out in our new Delft hexagons.

Kitchens

When it comes to luxury kitchens, you can’t beat a bit of marble. Unless, of course, you opt for our new Allmarble hexagon tiles for your new splashback. They’re what happens when you combine timeless elegance with geometric style - utter gorgeousness, basically.

Floors

Floors in need of a little pick-me-up? For a look that’s elegant and timeless yet still packs a style punch, look no further than hexagon tiles. Their tactile shape presents a classic feel that’s interesting enough to keep your floors looking fresh.

Walls

Our homes are all about personality and character, so why not add a healthy dose to your walls with our hexagon tiles? More exciting than metros and more functional than marble, they’ll give your room what the industry calls ‘subtle sophistication’.

What Sizes Do Hexagon Tiles Come In?

There’s been a seismic shift in tiles towards ever-larger beasts, but when it comes to hexagon tiles it’s best to play it small. One of the joys of hexagons is the delightful honeycomb pattern they form when laid and personally, we think smaller tiles bring this to life. Unless you’ve got a very large floor area, it’s easy to lose the intricate appeal with larger hexagon tiles.

Extra Small

In general, the smallest hexagon tiles you’ll find will be mosaics such as Microxhex Mix. Although they’re tough little things, they’re great for adding a light touch, especially in a bijou space such as your ensuite. You can make a little can go a long way by treating just the focal point of your room -such as the floor - and choosing plain tiles for the rest of the space.

Small

Moving up a notch, our Seville and Victorian hexagons fit perfectly into your palm. Excuse the pun, but this is a handy size for most spaces - not too big for that kitchen back splash, nor too mill for your hallway floor.

Medium

At the larger end of the scale you’ll find our Moroccan Mix tiles. A relative whopper at 28.5 x 33 cm, their size is almost secondary to their eye-catching design. The bold hit of immersive pattern will be the first thing you notice, so don’t be afraid to use these tiles where you want to make an impact - small porches, skinny feature walls or large, open expanses.

How Should I Lay Hexagon Tiles?

On the face of it, there’s only one way to fit hexagon tiles - the classic honeycomb layout, right? To a degree, that’s correct. It’s not as if you can lay hexagons in a herringbone or on an angle, after all. In any case, you probably won’t want to as the characteristic pattern just looks so tasty. But if you do find yourself wanting to add a little extra personality, why not check our these additional touches?

Mix and Match

Hexagon tiles lend themselves to the mix-and match approach, a look that suits both large and small spaces alike. We’re not sure why exactly, so we’ll let the results do the talking - contrasting shades just seem to define the individual tiles to perfection. Keep these organised by following a pattern with three tones, or create your own patchwork by going all-out random.

Tessellated Transitions

If you’ve got an open plan floor, there’s a high chance that your tiles will come up against another covering. Normally, where one floor type meets another you’d use a transition strip to hide the joint, which can look quite bulky and tacked-on. However, if you’re using hexagons why not take advantage of their unique shape and cut your other floor to match the honeycomb shape? It’s a stylish, eye-catching way to accentuate the different surfaces, rather than trying to cover it up. We don't have scientific proof, but this style works particularly well with hardwood floors and wood effect tiles.

Jazz Up The Joints

Grout joints are so much more than grout joints, especially when it comes to hexagon tiles. Play to the six-sided shape by choosing a contrasting grout colour to highlight the honeycomb effect. It's a time-honoured way to add detail and interest without going OTT.

Colour Block

For instant smile-inducing style, hit the colour block option. A favourite of the fashion world, it’s a great look to pull off in your own home, especially on walls. The basic idea is to pair two blocks of colour to create an interesting feature - the more contrast, the better. Hexagon tiles lend themselves perfectly to this look as they’ll bring a punchy edge by their very nature.

Installation

Dab hand at DIY? Whilst we always advise getting a professional in, hexagon tiles are far from the trickiest choice if you’re looking to tile yourself. First, the positives. Hexagons tend to be smaller, so you won’t need to invest in a large-format tile saw. You’ll still need a decent cutter or angle grinder but if you don’t have these they’re easy to rent from your local hire store. Our hexagon mosaics are attached to meshes, so they’re really easy to cut or run round obstacles. As with all tiling, preparation is half the battle so spend time planning the layout, “measure twice, cut once” and take it slow for a stress-free project. There’s something particularly satisfying about tiling with hexagons - that’s from someone who’s been there, done that and got the t-shirt!