I’m sure you have noticed all of the renewed enthusiasm for checkered floors along with whimsical patterned tiles everywhere in designland. While it’s a classic look, there are seasons when an influencer, film, or cultural shift sends a timeless look trending. When is the look a timeless one? How do designers incorporate them? Whether you are seeking tile inspiration ideas, painted hardwood floor inspo, or options for beautiful patterns, I hope you’ll peek at more ideas on my Pinterest (pretty please do follow my boards!). Things over there are mighty competitive, and your support makes a difference. Checkered Floor Beauty & Patterned Tiles brings inspiration with geometric loveliness.
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Checkered Floor Beauty & Patterned Tile to Inspire
Checkered Tiles, Painted Floors & Whimsical Inspiration
There sure aint just one way to get the look!
As you can see from this gallery, if you love the look of a checkered floor, you have plenty of choices.
Whether your style is loose, country, and whimsical like Lucinda Chambers or a bit preppy and classic a la Bria Hammel:
A two-tone pattern for ceramic tile, stone tile, painted hardwood, and beyond…can play a starring role in your design.
Psst. Don’t you love this putty color on the walls and how lovely it looks with Railings on the cabinetry?
Cheerful Checked Floors
There’s something so cheerful about this pattern, don’t you think?
Bonus points when the cheery pattern is graced with a cheery sunny color:
I have been seeing lots of laundry and mud rooms with checkered floors and entries.
And it makes so much sense!
What a welcome with a smile!
Whenever I see a painted checkered pattern on hardwood floors, I am always tempted to try this at home!
Would you have the guts to go for it?
Or the patience to do it yourself?
Wondrous Outdoor Spaces
This is definitely my all-time favorite patio decked out with Belgian stone tile:
Kitchens With Checks
Isn’t it incredible how the look can be whimsical in plenty of settings…
and downright elegant in others?
And notice the scale of the stone tiles in the kitchen above compared to that of this next elegant bespoke kitchen:
Warm Flooring Tile Colors
The sky’s the limit as far as color options. What do you think about this terracotta color on the floor with blue wall tile?
Here’s another warm tile combination in a beautiful porch space that feels so cozy:
The check pattern certainly doesn’t feel whimsical in this ai rendering:
But even in elegant settings, checks just EXUDE WONDER!
They can feel rather unexpected in otherwise formal rooms.
Or they can ground a space with timeworn age and history:
Playful Patterns & Whimsical Tile Ideas
Bathrooms, laundry rooms, and mud rooms seem to be prime places for tile that feels fun and a bit more daring.
The colorful whimsical tile above? It was handpainted by the creative homeowner! As we consider whimsy beyond checks, here are a few inspiring examples.
In this bath in our son’s condo, we removed vinyl sheet flooring and added these fun encaustic look tiles.
Encaustic (cement) tiles require a different installation process since they are much heavier and different to work with from porcelain or ceramic.
If you’re a DIYer, sometimes because of the tricky installation, an encaustic look is more realistic.
The advantage of getting creative is there is typically a cost savings.
But should your heart be set on cement tiles, there’s no shortage of gorgeous examples.
This tile above is still a favorite! And I always think of this mud room when I think of checkered tiles:
Right? What a beautiful place for light grey tile! Bria Hammel’s utility spaces are always my favorite!
Patterned Encaustic Tiles
Encaustic tiles appeal since they are known to be durable.
For a deeper dive into the topic, see this article from HGTV.
Encaustic Tile Production
Seeing how they are made is eye opening.
Encaustic Tile Lookalikes
If you love the look of cement and are looking for patterned tiles, check out these alternatives. They may be mass produced, but there are lovely low priced options.
Faux Cement Stenciled Tiles
Some folks skip demo altogether and paint a tile look over vinyl or even existing tile. While this probably isn’t a permanent flooring solution, it can be 1.0 until you’re ready for 2.0.
If your floor is hideous and you like DIY, how fun to try out the effect of cement tiles without the mess and expense. Just a few hours and a quality stencil may help you achieve the look!
What may be savvy about stenciling the floor is that even though encaustic tiles have been around since the 1850s, they continue to trend. If the look falls from favor, one could paint over the stenciled wall, floor, or patio.
Here is my favorite stencil which mimics the look of real cement tiles.
Charcoal grey paint to get this effect: RIGHT HERE.
Find more checkered floor inspiration in THIS STORY.
Stencils To Get a Cement Tile Look?
p.s. Find more inspiration for laundry rooms and mud rooms RIGHT HERE.
Peace to you right where you are.
-michele
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We are moving in 6 weeks to a new home with a master bath badly in need of remodeling. My husband told me the other night he wants to do a checker board charcoal and white marble floor. Complete turn around from my clay Saltillo tile vision but I’m all for it.
Author
How cool! My husband also is a big fan of checks for the floor, and we almost painted the tiles in the kitchen to experiment before we ripped them out during renovation. Keep us posted with updates about the move and the decisions. xox