How to Design Kitchen Tile Floors

Measure your kitchen carefully.

Adding tile to the floor of your kitchen is a big undertaking. The first step in any kitchen remodel is careful planning. The planning stage begins by designing your floors in exactly the pattern that you would like. Once you start laying tile, it is very difficult to go back and start over. Many geographic and detailed design patterns take exact planning to make sure that the design is centered and straight. You may need to draw and redraw your plans multiple times before you get the look that you like.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Sample tiles
• Tape measure
• Graph paper
• Pencil
• Colored pencils

1. Pick up sample tiles from a tile retailer. Bring home a variety of sizes, colors and styles. Move the tiles around the room to look at them in different lighting. Observe the tiles throughout the day and from different angles. What you loved in the store, under fluorescent lights, may look very different under natural light next to your cabinets and walls. Choose a tile.

2. Measure your kitchen with a tape measure. Draw the exact dimensions of your kitchen on graph paper. Include all appliances, cabinets and islands.

3. Draw in the tile pattern. Pay careful attention to the dimensions of each tile. Include the grout lines in your drawing. When working with a mosaic or other designs and patterns, make sure that the design is centered in the room. Avoid placing all of the cut tiles on one side of the room. Try to use as many whole tiles as possible.

4. Color-code your drawing. It is difficult to determine if the pattern is even and properly centered when everything is drawn in the same color. A color-coded sketch will also help you keep things straight when you start setting the tiles.

5. Find the center of the kitchen. This is where you will want to center your tiles. Find the center of the design. Begin tiling from this point, using the detailed sketch as a guide.

Tips & Warnings

• Once you have drawn the kitchen dimensions, take your graph paper to a copy center. Have six to eight copies made of your drawing before you begin adding the tiles. It will be easier to start over with a fresh sheet than to erase your drawings.

References

• FloorsTransformed: Ceramic Tile Pattern Sheet
• FlooringGuide.com: Planning Your Job