The problem with doing "matching pairs" is what do when you have none left? It will make the non-matching pairs look even worse. I would install all random.

Yes. match what you can and separate the repeat so it looks more natural.

I generally try to let a 'line' flow in one direction... like low left to top right or the opposite. Depending on how I see it from entering the room. whatever pleases you.

I currently have a small guest bath with the line starting at the doorway floor and traveling left, away from the door at an angle (if you can follow that)

These are meant to be randomly installed. They are not meant to yield the appearance of a stone slab, carved out of the earth.

You are warned not to ask porcelain faux marble anything to mime Mother Nature. It will not.

Don't do it; at best it'll look contrived.

It will look tacky and low end to try to match up veining. Not to mention the installer will charge 10x what was originally estimated to deal with the headache of dealing with an engineer. Setting to any pattern like that, laid out by a homeowner, is an ultra plus labor upgrade.

It's supposed to look random. Otherwise, go buy a stone slab and use that.

A directional flow is quite different than trying to connect veining to make it look like a slab.

If you look closely, the tiler does try to match similar veins from tile to tile, but the ultimate goal is a smooth flow across the wall.

There is no right or wrong, just what is pleasing to the homeowner's eye!

Our eyes/minds are used to certain things. We can't fully focus our attention to EVERY detail so we tend to look for mis-matches. I think that is why random is better.

Is there a picture on the tile companies website showing this tile installed on a floor or wall? That might help

Thanks for the feedback. Appreciate all the replies. Going random was advised the most and it makes sense after considering all the comments above.