Tile layout: options and schemes

Tile is one of the most common materials used in interior decoration. This popularity and demand is due to many factors. Key among them are practicality, durability, versatility in use and affordability due to a wide price range where the buyer can focus on their financial capabilities.

To choose the most suitable tile layout option, you must first of all take into account the specifics of the room being repaired, its area, and purpose.

Before the masonry process, it is necessary to make a screed. When working in the toilet and bathroom, it is necessary to form a waterproofing layer.

When facing walls, it is necessary to dismantle the old coating and perform plastering work with reinforcement using construction mesh and beacons. The tiling process requires precision in calculations and accuracy.

There are several types of tiles. Ceramic is the most popular in many respects due to its natural origin. Essentially, ceramics are heat-treated clay.

Ceramic tiles can be classified according to their manufacturing methods.

The most popular ones are:

• Porcelain stoneware - the most durable in its class. Due to the specific production process, this material bypasses granite in strength. It is made by pressing and single firing, but the temperature and pressure are higher than in the manufacture of other materials.
• Clinker. The base of this tile is compacted. It is produced using the method of extrusion from powder mixtures under the influence of pressing and pressure. This method makes it possible to make tiles of any size and shape.
• Majolica. For production, red clay is used, it is covered with white enamel and twice more with glaze: before the drawing and after it is applied. The material goes through a double firing process. It is painted with multicolored glaze paints with tin oxide admixture.
• Cotto. It is made of red clay by extrusion. Basically, the products are not covered with glaze, since the terracotta color scheme is a distinctive feature of this type of tile. It brings an element of noble antiquity to the decor and gives the room a specific antiquity.

Ceramic tiles imitating wood and laminate are in great demand and popularity. Thanks to the unique modern production technologies, it is almost impossible to visually distinguish it from real noble wood. This material is especially relevant for the kitchen, bathroom, bathroom, where the wood flooring would not last as long as ceramic tiles.

PVC plastic tiles are distinguished by their lightness, flexibility and moisture resistance. In terms of strength, it is inferior to ceramic, but also much cheaper in price. Such material is more often used in the landscape gardening sphere, it is used to pave garden paths, the adjoining territory of country houses, dachas. It is also characterized by ease of installation.

For lovers of everything extraordinary and sophisticated, modern manufacturers are provided tiles with brass inserts... Such an interior detail will never be left unattended, it will gracefully fit into the most extraordinary design and dilute any tile monotony with its presence. The noble shine of the metal and the intricacies depicted on the product captivate with their authenticity.

Mirror tiles have been used relatively recently, but have already earned the recognition of many interior designers, master builders and ordinary people. This tile is ideal for a small room that needs to be visually expanded, for example, for a miniature bathroom. Mirror tiles with a facet, especially with correctly installed lighting, will add sophistication and sophistication to the room, thanks to the play of light and glare from the surface of the material.

Mosaic is relevant at all times, despite the painstaking and laboriousness of the process of laying it. This is not just construction, but a kind of art. Since ancient times, people have used mosaics to decorate their homes, and until now, this method of decoration does not lose its relevance. It is very convenient to use mosaic when working in rooms with elements of complex configuration, with convex and concave surfaces, places that are difficult to access when working with other finishing materials.

The range of tile sizes is presented on the modern market in the widest range - from miniature and delicate mosaics to giant floor tiles. The choice of size largely depends on the intended purpose of the surface on which the work will be performed and, of course, on the customer's taste preferences. The most common sizes are 15 by 30 cm, 30 by 30 cm, 30 by 60 cm, 40 by 40 cm, 40 by 60 cm, 50 by 50 cm, 60 by 60 cm.

For flooring, both large and medium-sized tiles are most often used, but stronger and more durable. When decorating walls, the emphasis is shifted to decorative elements, more attention is paid to the aesthetic aspect. In this area, unlimited possibilities are revealed for the creative flight of thought and fantasy.

If desired, various decorative panels can be used in the decoration., consisting of a whole composition of tiles, or lay out a real picture in small squares of mosaic, diluting the interior of a kitchen or bathroom with such a bright element.

In terms of shape, the most common are square and rectangular tiles, but the rhombus is also not deprived of the attention of consumers. The process of laying such a tile is carried out in only one way - by joining the same edges to each other. The drawing can be diversified due to the color scheme of the material.

It is not possible to do without cutting the material using such a tile. With this tile shape, you can lay out beautiful ornaments in the shape of a star or hexagon. The hexagon made of tiles of three colors looks especially impressive.

Before proceeding with the layout of the tiles, you need to calculate the amount of required building material as accurately as possible, draw up a plan and make a markup on a previously prepared and leveled surface. Be sure to take into account that different variations in tile laying will require different amounts of material per square meter.

Consider the following layout options:

• Herringbone. For this layout option, a narrow rectangular tile is used.The name of the layout speaks for itself - flat tiles are laid in relation to each other at right angles. Begin work from the middle of the room, marking an even, straight line in the center across the entire working area. The process should begin from this line, it will be a guideline for all subsequent styling. There is an option for laying with a herringbone with an attachment or, as it is also called, with a trailer.

• Artistic masonry, otherwise called "carpet". It gives a wide scope for the imagination of the master, design variations can be very diverse and intricate. In this technique, usually three or more shades of the same color range or different colors are used. The marking of the coverage is carried out according to a previously drawn up scheme repeating the selected pattern. With artistic masonry, it becomes possible to alternate and combine various layout options with each other. For example, corner tiles can be monochromatic and square, and the center of the composition can be an ornate and intricate ornament of modular tiles or mosaics.

• Stacked brickwork. The basic principle in this layout is that the middle of each subsequent tile coincides with the extreme seam of the adjacent tile. Deck laying is carried out according to approximately the same rules, with the difference that the tiles are not laid at half the size of the adjacent one, but at a distance of no more than a third of it. Often, when finishing in a run, the "hog" tile is used. It is rectangular in shape, with beveled facets, which creates a textured volumetric effect. In shape, such a tile is similar to a brick, which allows you to imitate brickwork.

• Diagonally. According to experts, this method of laying out is one of the most difficult, therefore it is advised to purchase at least 15% of the tiles from the previously calculated amount of consumables in reserve. The reason is that when laying in this way, it is impossible to do without trimming the tiles for the sides. This layout is characterized by the fact that it can visually increase the area of ​​the room, expand it.

• Classic, traditional - the most common laying of tiles. This method is the simplest and fastest. Most often, square tiles are used for such masonry. For this type of masonry, one important rule applies, which is also suitable for other types of cladding and ensures the key to success in such a laborious, but very important process of construction and finishing work - this is the maximum observance of accuracy.

• The better prepared and leveled the surface before laying, the longer the tiles will last.
• It is important to apply tile adhesive not only to the floor, but also directly to the tile before fixing it to the surface. According to experts, this increases the process of material exploitation by at least 4 times.
• The smaller the room, the lighter the shades of the tiles are advised to choose by experts. Light colors visually enlarge the room, make it more spacious.
• It is not recommended to use oversized tiles when decorating small spaces. It will look cumbersome and will only emphasize the lack of free space.
• The smaller the masonry elements are in size, the more noticeable the defects and unevenness of the coating. And, conversely, the larger the slab, the less striking are the inaccuracies and minor errors made by the master during the work.
• To prevent the joints from darkening after grouting, it is recommended to use mixtures containing epoxy resin.
• Experts recommend purchasing material with a margin of at least 10-15% of the total calculated amount, taking into account possible rejects or pruning during work.

A well-chosen combination of colors, textures and shapes can ennoble any room, give it originality and a kind of uniqueness. When choosing a material for decorating bathrooms, light blue, green, beige, pink and purple tones remain the favorite colors. For a long time, the leading positions have been divided by marine and plant themes.

Tiles with a pattern in the Empire style will add extraordinary chic, sophistication and aristocracy to any bathroom, especially when combined with a pleasant warm color of golden ocher.

Contrasting color combinations also look very impressive. For example, a combination of black and white tiles with a glossy finish and a contrasting pattern.

The mosaic panel in the bathroom attracts attention, and the master's jewelry work cannot but amaze with its subtlety and grace.

Kitchen finishes feature a wide variety of layouts and tile colors. The main thing is to choose a design to your liking so that your stay in the room is comfortable. The topic of food and drinks will always come in handy here.

When laying out an apron, a "hog" tile is often used. And lovers of a creative approach will love such a bright addition to the interior of the kitchen as a flower mosaic panel.

The living room is the heart of the home. With the help of tiles, you can add a twist to this room, which always attracts the most attention, where most often all family members and guests gather together. An excellent design solution is the layout of the floor tiles in the form of a carpet. The patterns are skillfully intertwined with each other, creating a unique holistic picture, the canvas of which is the floor of the living room.

Of particular importance is the tile in the corridor, because this room is the hallmark of any house or apartment. Having come to visit each other, people, first of all, find themselves here, and each owner wants the most pleasant first impression of a visit. It is also important to take into account the fact that this part of the living space has a large load in the form of exposure to shoes, dirt, dust and everything else.

The variety of colors and textures of tiles presented on the modern building materials market amazes the imagination, which makes the real embodiment of any, even the most daring interior design idea.

See the next video for more on this.