Tile Countertop Layout Ideas

• The use of contrasting tiles creates a pattern in the layout.Red, White, and Blue Tile Wall image by steverts from Fotolia.com
  
  Ceramic is a durable choice for a countertop. With the variety of finishes, colors and sizes, the layout ideas are endless. Before deciding on a tile layout, contractors will draw it to scale to plan for grout spacing and determine which layout works best with the countertop style and tile.
  
  

Diagonals

• To create a diagonal design on a countertop, the tiles are turned so the points face up. This layout works well when the back splash is tiled in a straight line to offset the diagonal tiles. The straight tiles against the diagonals, along with varied colors, enhance the design. John P. Bridge, author of “Tile Your World,” suggests beginning the diagonal tile on the ‘L’ of the countertop and working in both directions to get the design straight. This design does take more work than others because of the amount of cutting required for fitting the tile to the space.
  
  

Decorative

• The use of decorative tile pieces in a countertop works to break up a simple brick or square design and adds personality to the space. Tiles can be hand painted to match a room or the tile color of the countertop, but this can be expensive. Sculpted, textured or mosaic-type tiles are also available. An article in “Old-House Journal” warns that decorative tile is often delicate and may not withstand the abuse a countertop often gets. They suggest using these special tiles in the back splash, where they can add a personal touch without getting cracked or chipped with everyday use.
  
  

Contrast

• Depending on the room, the home and the personality of the owner, a plain white countertop may not cut it. With the variety of colors available in ceramic tiles, a little contrast in layout goes a long way. For a simple two-tone design, a checkerboard layout is easy to create by substituting every other tile in a row with a contrasting color. The following rows do the same, but without matching the tiles below or above. For more extravagant layouts, tiles of different shapes, colors or textures are used to create mosaics or striped borders around the perimeter of the countertop or around an inset appliance or sink. The authors of "Ceramic Tile Settings" note that when pursuing a layout with different types of tile, you should consider the sizes and thicknesses of the tiles and how well they integrate with the other tiles in the layout.