Guide to laying out stoneware wood effect tiles

Choosing the right tile arrangement is the key to designing an attractive, tasteful interior that will reflect the most appropriate style in terms of practicality, aesthetics and performance.

Porcelain stoneware wood effect tiles continue to be the most popular and best known of the various tile options available, thanks to versatile sizes and design that combine accurate replication of the origin material with the easy care and durability of ceramic surfaces.

With stoneware wood effect floor tiles it’s simple to let your creativity range from immaculate, symmetrical compositions, ideal for modern, minimalist interiors, to complex, decorative patterns that evoke tradition and the beauty of vintage rooms.

In this guide we’ll be examining the most effective solutions, exploring the different options and types of layout, including herringbone, chevron, running bond, (stacked or offset), diagonal and alternate sizes.

Making the most of spaces with the different types of pattern for porcelain stoneware wood effect tiles

The laying pattern is an integral part of the outdoor and interior design project, even in the case of small rooms or areas.

Therefore, it’s fundamental to view this decision as a strategic part of the architectural design process overall.

And starting from the choice of sizes, with porcelain stoneware wooden tile effect flooring you can make spaces appear larger, with the highest degree of continuity between rooms and even between indoors and outdoors.

Taking a detailed look at this aspect, we find that:

Stoneware wood look tiles in the 20x180 cm and 20x120 cm sizes are ideal for large interiors of different kinds. In the commercial segment, they’re a very attractive choice for lounges, lobbies or convention rooms, where the flooring becomes a design detail of great visual impact.
For residential locations, these materials are excellent for open plan areas and large living-rooms.
For contexts of more compact size, the narrow, elongated shape of strip tiles of 7.5x60 cm and 7.5x45 cm can be easily fitted into areas of different dimensions, enabling experimentation with a wide variety of creative applications.
for outdoor areas like verandas, gardens, poolside zones and terraces, rectified porcelain stoneware wood effect tiles with grip finish guarantee safety and anti-slip functions, while matching the style and appearance of the indoor surfaces.

Bearing all this in mind, when it comes to the types of arrangement available for porcelain stoneware wood look tiles, we can pick out 5 most widely used types:

1. Herringbone pattern (right angle and diagonal)

An ever-popular classic, which creates vibrancy and variation even in small interiors. Tiles can be laid at right angles (90°) or diagonally (45°) in herringbone layouts.

2. Chevron herringbone

Timeless geometrical elegance: tiles in the elongated or brick size are placed at 60° to create a special recurrent elongated “V” motif.

This solution adds prestige to rooms and to interior design schemes.

3. Diagonal pattern

In this case, a 45° motif is created starting from the wall. This layout is recommended in rooms with angular layouts and where there’s a clear need for optical effects to make spaces appear larger.

4. Alternate size patterns

Since they combine different sizes, alternate size patterns impress and delight with their variety.

They provide a striking, creative overall look, especially in interior designs using wood effect floor tiles.

5. Running bond patterns

The most common laying pattern for stoneware wood effect tiles: simple, minimalist and modern. This arrangement is suitable for any space and is easy to install.

There also 2 alternatives within the running bond category:

Regular (stacked) running bond patterns

With this pattern, the tiles are arranged in parallel rows. This provides a neat, symmetrical floor with a regular pattern.

This option is particularly suitable for large rectangular “plank” porcelain stoneware wood effect tiles and is ideal for refined, vintage interior design schemes.

Irregular (offset) running bond patterns

For a more natural, characterful look, an offset or irregular layout is the best solution. It’s used in contexts that require an informal mood or a more authentic, less sophisticated character.

What’s the best laying pattern for your room?

There are no hard and fast rules about the “best” laying pattern: the choice depends a great deal on the style you want, the size of the room and the visual effect you’d like to achieve.

We’ve seen that geometrical shapes and different optical combinations can affect our perception of a space’s depth, size and aesthetic impact, directly affecting how attractive and fit for purpose it appears to be.

A well-chosen tile laying pattern is the key to designing an attractive, tasteful interior that will reflect its owners’ personality

Without a doubt, porcelain stoneware wood effect tiles are outstanding amongst the various options available, due to their versatility and adaptability to different laying patterns and different needs.

So now let’s take a look at some suggestions that consider the most common requirements: modern, country chic and small interiors and outdoor areas.

Modern and country chic interiors: running bond pattern looks

How do you choose between stacked and offset running bond laying for a stoneware wood effect floor?

Let’s start from modern contexts, where the running bond laying pattern gives interiors a refined, minimalist personality.

The plank tiles are laid lengthwise and straight. At this point, the choice between stacked and offset depends entirely on the required aesthetic effect.

If you love interiors where precision meets style, the regular, stacked pattern is right for you. With this layout, the tiles create a floor with an impeccably symmetrical effect, ideal for showcasing the elegance of the 20x120 cm or 20x180 cm sizes.

The illustration below shows an example with porcelain stoneware Miele colour oak wood effect tiles from the Elisir Touch collection.

If, on the other hand, you want to design a more country chic, casual interior, the irregular pattern is the best option.

In this offset layout, the large plank tiles give the floor variety and vitality, so it’s perfect for anyone seeking a design scheme that will impress at first glance.

Try it out to give your interior a unique, original personality. The following is an application for a stoneware wood effect indoor&outdoor flooring created with Fumé variant ceramic tiles from the Elisir Royal collection.

Another option for creating an imaginative, unconventional design scheme is to combine wood effect floor tiles with other types of surfaces, such as Mediterranean-style cement tiles.

Here you can see 2 ideas with a Mix&Match of these solutions, the first with the warm and neutral colours of the Terracreta collection and the second with the shades of grey and attractive contrasts of the Terra collection.

Small rooms: the herringbone pattern’s 3 identities

Which size and pattern should you choose for small rooms?

We know that ceramic tiles’ size and layout affect the way we perceive spaces. So the top priority must be to find a solution that conveys an impression of depth and makes the interior look larger.

There are 3 different types of herringbone pattern: straight, diagonal and chevron.

Each of them can be created with porcelain stoneware wood effect tiles in the 7.5x60 cm and 7.5x45 cm size, with different styles and distinctive characteristics depending on the chosen layout.

For people who like unadulterated tradition, the right angle or diagonal herringbone layout makes the room appear larger and attractively ordered.

Here again, the Elisir Touch and Elisir Royal collections, also available in 7.5x60 cm and 7.5x45 cm size are extremely effective as ideal flooring surfaces for small rooms.

The Chevron herringbone layout, on the other hand, provides a more sophisticated pattern, with a stunningly seductive, flamboyantly vintage look.

Many different effects can be achieved with this layout design, from monochrome to two-tone colour blocks, as shown below, where the golden shade of the Elisir Royal stoneware wood effect brick is combined with the limestone effect from the Arkigeo collection.

And that’s not all. Anyone wishing to be daring and deploy the full vibrancy of colour can embrace the latest contemporary design trends with the Longarine Brio collection, featured in this kitchen paired with Elisir Touch Miele.

Open-air locations: visual harmony and practical design for outdoors

With their vast range of sizes, stoneware wood effect tiles offer layout options for all architectural needs.

And when it comes to outdoor areas, their many practical advantages are also crucial:

anti-slip
resistance to foot traffic, wear, impacts and thermal shock
easy care and cleaning
durability
sustainability
simple installation
outstanding versatility

Without forgetting the importance of the layout and the need for greater care with “joint-free” solutions, the installation method chosen for outdoor paving depends mainly on the type of substrate on which the tiles will be laid.

This may be:

laying on grass
llaying on gravel or sand (also known as dry laying)
laying on screed  
laying as a raised paving

Porcelain stoneware wood effect tiles are definitely suitable in all these situations, with specific products like HiThick with the Fiemme collection.

How can I view them in person and make my purchase?

Now you’ve explored the many laying patterns and the variety of the collections available, the next step is to choose the porcelain stoneware wood effect tiles best attuned to your interior or outdoor design concept.

Marca Corona leads the way with practical, trendy surfaces that originate from an entirely Made in Italy tradition reaching back over the centuries, where quality is top priority.

Get in touch with our sales and projects team: we’ll guide you towards the solution best suited to your requirements or arrange an appointment with you to assess every option at first hand.

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How to lay out porcelain stoneware wood effect tiles. Choosing the right pattern in interior and outdoor design

There are many types of pattern you can use for stoneware wood effect tiles, but which is best for your room and why? Find out in this guide.

Making the most of spaces with the different types of pattern for porcelain stoneware wood effect tiles