Imagine iconic structures like Turkey’s Blue Mosque without its stunning 20,000 blue ceramic tiles. Or the over 900 tiles on the ceiling of New York’s Grand Central Station comprising the breathtaking Sky Mural. Tiles are more than just functional—they're essential to architecture's artistry and history.
Today, tile remains vital in interior design, offering an array of shapes and styles that allow homeowners to inject personality into any space. From classic subway and timeless square tiles to eye-catching hexagons and elegant arabesques, Oasis’ Tile Shape and Style Guide will introduce you to the best tile shapes for various applications, helping you transform each room into a space that combines beauty with durability.
Looking to be inspired? Read on to learn more!
Types of Tile Shapes and Styles
Whether you’re debating carpet vs. tile flooring for your living room or researching the most common floor tile problems to avoid, the following features a variety of tile shapes and styles that can elevate any space in your home.
Subway
Subway is perhaps the most classic and iconic of all the different shapes of tiles. Its versatility extends to floors and counters, feature walls, and backsplashes. Like our Evermore London, this rectangular white porcelain tile is traditionally arranged in a classic running bond. But nowadays, you can find subway tiles in patterns, such as stacked, staggered, or even herringbone layouts, offering endless possibilities for personalization.
Brick
Brick tiles are thin and lightweight and designed to look like traditional bricks without the weight and cost of conventional brick construction. They can be made from porcelain, glass, and even natural stone, all featured in our floor tile buying guide. They are available in various colors, such as our Denver Brick Green Tile, and textures to suit different design styles.
Herringbone
Herringbone patterns are rectangular tile shapes most often used for floor and backsplashes. They’re named for their resemblance to the skeleton of a herring fish. These tiles are typically rectangles or parallelograms, like our Alawai Shine Herringbone White Glossy and Frosted Glass Tile.
Rectangular or Plank-Shape
Rectangular plank-shaped tiles like our Ala Timber Earth Wood Brown are versatile and suit a range of layouts, including horizontal grid, offset, staggered, herringbone, chevron, and others. In recent years, longer and wider planks have become increasingly popular as flooring options.
Large Format
Large format is a term used in the industry to describe any tile with one side longer than 15”. Also known as slab tiles, they vary in measurement and are usually made of porcelain (though Oasis does have a variety of vinyl tiles in large format). Because of their size, large format tiles like our Stream Bone Polished Porcelain Tiles are best used as floor tiles.
Small Squares
Small square tiles add charm and character to any space. They're considered “small” if they measure less than 4 inches on each side and are available in numerous styles, including hexagon, rectangular, leaf, circular, and square shapes. These highly versatile tiles are adaptable to various surfaces. Their compact format seamlessly fits into various design applications, from our Genesis Smalt Royal Blue Glossy Glass Tile to our Multicolor Green Glass Tile.
Hexagonal
Like the honeycomb patterns found in a bee’s hive, hexagon tile shapes are six-sided polygons that can add a unique and modern touch to a space. From our Natura Sandstone Matte Porcelain Tile to our Modular Garden Tivoli Square Black Elongated Hexagon Tile, this shape is available in an extensive range of shapes and materials, including ceramic, porcelain, stone, and glass.
Penny Round
Penny round are small, circular tiles similar in size and shape to pennies. They first gained popularity in the early 1900s due to their small size, white color, and easy-to-clean nature. For more than a century, they’ve symbolized hygiene and cleanliness. Though the shape of the penny tile hasn’t changed, the colors and finishes available certainly have, as evidenced by our Spheres Blueberry Blue Penny Round, Glossy Glass Tile.
Plank
Rectangular-shaped plank tiles like our Ala Timber Evening Shadow White Porcelain Tile are a trendy choice for homeowners who want the look of wood but the durability of tile.
Mosaic and Pebbles
A mosaic tile design comprises small pieces (usually no larger than 2x2) arranged to form a larger pattern like our Edna Dark Blue Glossy Iridescent Glass Tile. Mosaic styles vary from simple to intricate, but they almost always feature repeating shapes or sets of shapes, resulting in a breath-taking, unified design.
Arabesque
Arabesque tile, like our Marrakech Carrara and Thassos Stone Tile, draws inspiration from the rich heritage of Arabian architecture. The term describes the intricate patterns commonly found in Arabian art and design. With its distinctive shape and style in various colors, it’s a favorite among homeowners seeking unique ideas for their home’s entryway or inspiration for an original kitchen floor design.
Encaustic
Encaustic tiles are made of different clay colors to create intricate figures or patterns on the surface. They range from vivid and striking hues like our Florencial Pisa Bella Green Matte Porcelain Tile to subtle, neutral tones like Vincenzia Royale Vinto Brown Matte Porcelain Tile. Typically, encaustic tiles are square-shaped and available in a variety of sizes.
What Is The Most Popular Tile shape?
The square remains the most popular of all tile shapes and the easiest to install. Their sizes vary and include 2”, 3”, 3”, 6”, 8”, 12”, 16”, 18”, and 24” squares, with the last one currently being the most popular size. This shape and style of tile has and never will go out of fashion. Because larger square tiles create fewer joints, they give walls, floors, and backsplashes a continuous look.
Best Tile Shapes for Different Applications
Floor
There are many ways to use tile flooring in your kitchen. Large square tiles, such as our Modern Statuario White Polished Porcelain Tile, are perfect for this space thanks to their durability and water resistance. If you’re deciding between ceramic and porcelain flooring, remember that the latter is the best choice for high-traffic areas. It resists stains and typically doesn’t chip or crack often. Additionally, selecting the right tile size for your floor can enhance durability and aesthetic appeal, especially in homes with pets and children where durability is key.
Wall
Wall tiles offer a world of design inspiration, with options that go far beyond a “one-size-fits-all” approach. Textured finishes like our Dawn Grey Pebbles Glossy Glass Tile add depth to intricate mosaics like our Turquoise Blue Glossy Glass Tile.
Typical square, rectangular, and hexagonal shapes are ideal for many traditional and contemporary design styles. While square tiles provide a timeless and classic look, hexagons add a modern twist with geometric flair. Rectangular tiles, particularly subway tiles, are preferred thanks to their ability to create clean lines and adaptability in various patterns, including herringbone, brickwork, and vertical stacks.
Backsplash
When designing a kitchen, the backsplash is a critical feature that impacts the overall aesthetic. A well-chosen backsplash ties all the design elements together. Smaller decorative hexagon-shaped tiles, such as our Decko Neo Wright Blue, can add tremendous visual appeal while protecting your walls from splashes and stains. Our more neutral rectangular Victorian Icon Balmoral White Glossy Glass Tile is an excellent addition to an all-white kitchen.
Best Tile Shapes per Space
Living Room
The living room is often overlooked when considering laying tiles on the floor. But Oasis is trying to change that perception. If you’re looking for an inviting, easy-to-maintain space or debating installing hardwood vs. tile, then floor tile in the living room is your best choice. The shape of the tile on this room’s floor can instantly bring playfulness and individuality to your living room.
The square remains the most popular living room floor tile trend of all shapes. This style can complement various designs, such as our subtle Kirova Blanco White Porcelain Tile.
Basic porcelain tile, such as our Even White Polished Porcelain Tile that mimics marble but doesn’t stain as easily and isn’t as heavy, would be a great addition.
Suppose the rectangle and square tiles feel too conventional, and you want to make a statement. Large hexagon tiles like our Aquaterra White Hex Terrazzo and Shell Polished Tile can bring a unique look to your floors by adding personality and sophistication.
Kitchen
Tiles are the most practical covering for kitchen floors and backsplashes. But practical doesn’t mean boring. The most popular kitchen floor tiles being installed are in standard shapes like rectangles, squares, and plank, but the variety of different designs is anything but standard. From our Riche Lafayette Belle Marche Matte Porcelain Tile to our bold Princeton Glaze Nero Night Black Glossy and Matte Hexagon Porcelain Tile, showcase the endless array of styles and colors available, offering creative ways to bring personality and elegance to your kitchen.
Bathroom
Of all the bathroom trends for 2025, shape and style are at the forefront of that list. Choose a bold floor pattern like our Mayan Garden Belize Harbor Blue Hexagon Recycled Matter Glass Tile, and leave the bathroom sink, counters, shower, or bath a neutral cream or white.
Conversely, choose penny round tiles in a rich color for your bathroom, such as our Greenwich Lafayette Blue Penny Round Recycled Glossy Glass Tile. These shapes of tiles are extremely popular for bathrooms because they offer a non-slip surface due to their grout lines. They’re also a fantastic tile style for heated floors, often featured in bathrooms.
How to Choose the Best Tile Shape For You
Tiles can elevate spaces, adding personalized layers of charm and beauty, much like the artistry in iconic structures worldwide. Just as the Blue Mosque or Grand Central Station would lose some of their allure without their distinctive tile designs, our homes, too, can become more beautiful and functional with the right tile choices.
By selecting shapes and styles that suit your aesthetic and meet the practical needs of each room, you create a cohesive and unique look.
At Oasis, we’re here to guide you through the endless possibilities. From helping you select the best material for floor tiles to translating the latest bathroom tile trends for your space, we’re here to help. Order your tile sample from Oasis today.
