• Ceramic tile comes in four main forms: glazed ceramic, porcelain, quarry and terra-cotta. Glazed ceramic tiles are coated in hard, glassy glazes that you can tint with any color. It’s often used in mosaic patterns and easily showcases regional decorative styles. Porcelain ceramic tile is fired at higher temperatures than all other ceramic, making it more durable and resistant to scratches and breakage. Quarry ceramic tile is simply made of unglazed ceramic and has the look of stone. Terra-cotta ceramic tile is also unglazed and thus retains the color of the clay. It’s very porous, so make sure to seal it.

Mosaic

• One of the most traditional mosaic floor designs is the checkerboard look, achieved by laying two colors in an alternating pattern across the floor. White tile partnered with another pale color tile is a refreshing twist on the classic black and white pattern. Glazed or porcelain ceramic works best in mosaic design, because the glaze provides any color possibility. Tiles also come in a myriad of geometric shapes, so conceivably, you can lay floor tile in the same pattern as a quilt or oriental rug pattern, for example. A professional tile artist can reproduce or create an original geometric pattern or even set a painting-like picture onto the floor by shaping each individual tile. Mosaic design also includes randomly placed color tiles, as if the colors are scattered as they’re laid, punctuated by a surprise element, like a few individual hand-painted tiles.

Shape

• Design by shape works well with all ceramic tile types, but is especially effecting with terra-cotta or quarry tiles. Since these tiles are unsealed, they come in the color of the clay they’re made from. Several shades are available, including red, yellow, gray and orange. These tiles are manufactured in a variety of shapes, and you can lay them into practically any pattern. Squares, rectangles, hexagons, triangles, all of various sizes are used. Putting small tiles of one shape together to create a different large shape is a very effective design strategy. One such idea is to lay four interlocking rectangles into the shape of a square, and place a small square in the middle. On a staircase, interlocking tile triangles on the face of the stair in a dark color with a light-colored grout can really emphasize the design.

Single Tone

• Porcelain, the most durable of all ceramic tiles, is used more often in flooring than any other tile. It’s often sold in large pieces, which makes it a good option for single-tone floors. Large white porcelain tiles with white or gray grout is a very clean single-tone look. You can also manufacture porcelain to look like marble for those who want that expensive look at a ceramic price. Smaller, rectangular porcelain tiles of a single striking color—like electric blue—running lengthwise down a hallway is an unexpected way to use color. The shape and direction of the tile also leads the eye through the space.