If you’re thinking about using wood effect tiles in your home then give yourself a pat on the back – not only do they look great, they’re so easy to live with you’ll wonder how you ever coped without them.
There’s plenty of fantastic styles and surfaces on offer and one of the things we love about a new project is the chance to get down and dirty with samples and swatches. But when you’re picking your perfect plank, it’s also important to think about the laying pattern. After all, the way a tile is laid hugely affects the look and style of your space.
Although most of us lay wood tiles with the classic staggered joints, there are a few other popular patterns that might suit your taste. To help you figure it out, we’ll take you through some of our favourites below. If you need some more inspiration, Houzz and Pinterest would be our first ports of call.
Herringbone
Herringbones seem to be everywhere at the movement – they’re covering everything from throws and curtains to Pinterest and floors. And lets admit it, is there anything as classy as a herringbone floor? They’re the type of flooring that dreams – and antique Parisian apartments – are made of. Get the look with our slender herringbone range or use larger planks for a modern approach.
Great For – Adding a classic touch to hallways and smaller rooms
Crosshatch
An unusual way to lay timber tiles is using a crosshatch layout, where set of parallel planks are laid at right angles to each other. It’s certainly very eye-catching, but we’d recommend dry-laying a couple of square metres first to make sure you completely convinced – after all, once the tiles are laid they won’t be coming up!
We think smaller tiles work best with this layout, such as Cornish Wood. Each tile is split into four 45 cm long planks, handily separated by a scored grout joint to help speed up installation.
Great For – Creating feature floors that just scream ‘wow’
Random Planks – In One Size
The most popular way to lay wood effect tiles is with a staggered joint, and with good reason. You’re guaranteed to create a timeless and natural atmosphere – after all, its how oak floors have been laid for centuries – and almost every wood tile can be laid this way. Ask your tiler to lay the joints at random and make sure he doesn’t overlap each tile by more than a third, to ensure a smooth, flat finish.
Great For – The classic way to lay any wood tile, in any room
Random Planks – In Two Or More Sizes
We’ll let the picture do the talking here – all we’ll say is that for a truly authentic finish, you really can’t beat staggering two or more plank sizes together at random. Take a look at our Orchard range for a little inspiration.
Great For – Larger floor areas, where you can really appreciate the mix of sizes
Repeating Joint
When we think of wood floors we usually think of a random bond. So if you’re after something a little different, why not lay your tiles with the same joint? It will give your floor a modern touch, especially if you use contemporary grey tones. Please remember not to overlap plank tiles by more than a third of their length to ensure a consistent, flat finish.
Great For – A contemporary finish in modern living areas
Why not take at our gorgeous wood effect tiles here? We’ve got a great range with designs to suit almost every taste. Order samples from the comfort of your own home and we’ll have them sent to you in a jiffy.