Patterned Tiles (Encaustic Tiles)

How to choose patterned tiles

What are encaustic look tiles?

Traditional encaustic tiles are cement tiles with the pattern set into the body. The tiles here are porcelain printed with the same bold geometric and floral designs, so they are denser and easier to look after than real cement tiles. Every patterned tile in this collection has a matt finish and a listed slip rating, which makes comparing them for floors and walls straightforward.

Where should the pattern go?

Let one surface carry the pattern: a bathroom floor, an entry or a laundry floor, with plain walls and fittings around it. Our patterned floor tiles collection shows the options for floors, and patterned tiles also work as a feature wall or splashback. Plain white, grey or black tiles pick up a colour from the pattern and keep the room balanced.

Which size and slip rating?

Most tiles are square, with 200 x 200 mm and 115 x 115 mm the most common sizes and 150 x 150 mm and 300 x 300 mm also available. Smaller tiles mean more grout lines and a busier surface. Slip ratings are listed as P2 or P3, so compare the rating on each product with where it will be laid, and confirm it with your installer for wet areas such as a bathroom floor.

How do I choose the colours?

Blue, green and mixed multi-colour patterns are the largest groups here, with black, white, grey and beige options for calmer rooms. Strong colour works best in small spaces and a single area, while softer tones suit larger floors. Order up to 5 tile samples online for $15 delivery (see tile samples) and lay them in the room. For ideas, read ways to use patterned tiles.

Patterned tile specifications at a glance

Patterned tile FAQs