Create an ideabook for your next remodeling project!
Browse more than 1,000,000 photos from top designers and save your favorites
Change Up Your Tiles
6 Reasons to Give Your Tiles a 90-Degree Turn
Having trouble picking a tile for your remodel or home project? Take a good look at your samples. Now, tilt your head to the side. Like what you see? All those tiles might need is a little 90-degree rotation. Find out if a vertical installation is up your alley with a little inspiration and some reasons to go vertical from projects around Houzz.
1. Vertical lines draw the eyes up. If you've got a focal point above, consider pointing your tiles in that direction. Here, they seem to flow right up into the matching sky.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
In this kitchen, the backsplash color and cut work with the vertical alignment to draw your gaze up to that handsome hood.
| By drawing the eyes upwards you turn this fully-tiled fireplace shaft into a more dramatic gesture. |
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
2. They create the illusion of height. In rooms with low or pitched ceilings, the vertical lines will help to visually elongate the space.
Continuing the tile on the ceiling, as shown here, furthers the illusion of the wall being taller.
|
by Fiorella Design
»
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| 3. It's an easy way to add interest. Rotating the tiles 90 degrees was just the touch needed to set this kitchen apart from the pack. |
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
See what I mean? With a twist these subway tiles look totally fresh.
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| 4. Take a unique tile to the next level. Not only does it skew the classics, but it gives even more cache to a less common tile choice. |
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| Wowza in red! |
5. Unify your lines. The vertical application unifies the main tiles with the accent tiles in this shower surround.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
6. Or delineate them. The intersection of the teak shower floor slats with the tiles' lines feels graphic and grounding.
More tile ideas:
Hexagonal Tiles
Penny Tiles, Please
Mosaic Tiles in Home Decor
Next: Browse more home design photos
More tile ideas:
Hexagonal Tiles
Penny Tiles, Please
Mosaic Tiles in Home Decor
Next: Browse more home design photos
Comments
Casart Coverings Your #4 example is very inspirational. Thanks for showing new ways to use tile, just by changing the conventional direction.
2 years ago · Like
Jan J What a great post. Just love the second and the last pictures, but they all look fantastic. I have waited and waited to decide what to do w my backsplash...I think I have found the answer!
2 years ago · Like
Cre8tive Interior Designs I ran this glass tile on the vertical rather than the horizontal on a fireplace recently, love how it turned out. 
2 years ago · Like
Lily Gahagan Thanks, @casart and @jjlmnaz! @cre8tivedesigns, it looks great.
2 years ago · Like
Kristy Sheppard Interiors I ran my tile on one wall as a feature wall in the tub / shower area, it looks great! 
2 years ago · Like
staceyam Very modern look. Try www.besttile.com for tile showrooms on the East Coast for rectangular and plank tiles, and www.everythingtileandstone.com to learn more about, well, everything tile and stone.
22 months ago · Like
Ideabook updated on Feb. 13, 2011.
What are you working on?
News From Our Partners
Latest Ideabooks
People found the photos in this ideabook after searching for:
View over a million photos:
