Checkerboard Tile Ideas – 13 Ways to Style this Retro Design

If you’re searching for a tile pattern that’s timeless, elegant and looks good just about everywhere, the iconic checkerboard design is worth checking out.

Beloved by the ancient Egyptians and continuing to top interior design trend lists, the checkerboard pattern has played an important role in interior and exterior designs for millennia.

Made from equal-sized squares in alternating colours, symmetrical checkerboard designs have graced everything from bronze-age pottery and clothing to flags, game boards and modern-day kitchens. 

If you’d love to bring this grid-like design into your home, keep reading to find out why checkerboard tiles are such a good idea and how to get them right.

Image credit: @faegarandco

Recommended Tile: Cambridge

Checkerboard tile ideas

One of the best things about the checkerboard design is its versatility, whether you have a home that’s filled with period features or a modern abode, this pattern will fit right in. 

If you’re ready to introduce one of the most iconic tile designs of all time to your home, check out our selection of innovative dual-coloured tile ideas.

Floor to ceiling checkerboard tiles

Checkerboard tiles are often associated with floors, but this retro design works just as well on the walls. If you’re feeling bold and want your tiles to make a statement, why not go floor to ceiling? It’s a strong design move, guaranteed to add interest to your home.

Image credit: @80s_deco

Recommended Tile: Cambridge

Marble checkerboard shower tiles

We love the clever use of these glorious tumbled marble wall tiles in this seriously stylish shower room. With their muted grey and off-white tones, it’s a softer approach to the bold black and white check but equally as showstopping.

Design tip: Lay checkerboard tiles horizontally for a more modern look.

Image credit: @palmer_and_stone

Recommended Tile: Ambleside

Victorian-style path tiles

By the 1890s, tiled pathways and floors had become an essential feature of Victorian homes. The sought-after patterned tiles provided a practical and attractive way to line the entrances to homes. Easy to clean and beautiful to look at, a checkerboard tiled path is one of the best ways to make an entrance and up your home’s kerb appeal.

Image credit: @myvictorianhouselove

Recommended Tile: St Andrews

Checked fireplace tiles

If you want to bring the checkerboard design into your home but aren’t sure where to begin, a traditional fireplace can provide the perfect starting point. Whether you’re tiling a full surround or just the hearth, stone or porcelain tiles provide a heat-proof, easy-to-clean surface that’s as practical as it’s aesthetically pleasing.

Image credit: @keptlondon

Neutral splashback tiles

Add a subtle take on the checkerboard design by picking two soft, neutral colours from similar colour palettes.  The beauty of this versatile design is that it can be customised to suit your surroundings and personal style without losing any of its impact.

Image credit: @alexanderjames_shop

Large format checkerboard tiles

Large, diamond-laid square tiles can make a big difference if you want to increase the feeling of space in a hallway, narrow kitchen or bathroom.

When the tiles are laid diagonally, it helps to visually widen the space, a clever design trick in compact spaces.  High-gloss tiles are also ideal in smaller spaces, reflecting light where it’s most needed.

Image credit: @frowhome

Recommended Tile: Miscela Terrazo Grafito & Miscela Terrazo

Yellow and white checkerboard tiles

Pep up the standard checkerboard pattern by swapping the traditional black tiles for an unexpected colour.  Yellow is warm and welcoming and brings happiness and cheer into the home.  You can offset the yellow with off-white or cream tiles for a summer-inspired kitchen, bathroom or entryway.

Image credit: @aconsideredspace

Terrazzo checkerboard tiles

Combine two of the hottest tile trends for a look like no other. The beautiful speckled terrazzo texture complements the harsher black tiles, creating a unique take on the traditional checkerboard design.

Image credit: @studio.duquette

Recommended Tile: Monarch Pearl and Nero

Chessboard-inspired tabletop tiles

Up your game with this ingenious use of the checkerboard tile design. Tiling a tabletop is an excellent way to bring a dash of quirky pattern to your home, it doubles up as a handy game board too. Checkmate!

Image credit: @theladylikesalamp

Classic hallway tiles

Add a classy touch to a hallway with beautiful diamond-laid checkerboard tiles.  This look is a firm favourite in period, Victorian properties but it works equally well in contemporary design schemes.

Image credit: @_lisa_dawson_

Recommended Tile: Cambridge

Checkerboard splashback tiles

If your kitchen walls are looking a little tired, there are few better ways to liven them up than with a bold and colourful splashback.  Square tiles are available in a rainbow shade of colours and can be amongst the cheapest tile types, perfect if you’re on a budget.

Look for unexpected colour combinations to create a welcome contrast between plain floors and kitchen cabinets.

Image credit: @emma__ainscough

Quirky pink and white wall tiles

Refresh your bathroom with quirky, Barbie-inspired pink and white wall tiles.  This cute, kitsch look will transform a plain white bathroom and it’s easy on the wallet too. You can accessorise with pink trimmings or keep everything else crisp white to emphasise the feature walls.

Image credit: @kate_rose_morgan

Recommended Tile: Rio Rosa and Rio Blanco

Red and white bathroom floor tiles

Add interest to your bathroom floors with a striking red and white checkerboard floor. The bathroom is perfect for experimenting with unconventional tile colours and smaller tiles that can provide an effective non-slip floor surface.

Image credit: @poppyanddashinteriors

What is the history of checkerboard tiles?

There’s something inherently pleasing about the simplicity of repeating patterns and the grid-like checkerboard is no exception.

Checkerboard tiles are often associated with the Victorian era, but this stylish, staggered design was first discovered in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, decorating bronze-age pottery and even on Roman floors.

With the invention of coloured encaustic tiles, the Victorians popularised beautifully elaborate tile patterns, particularly on floors and pathways. Like all trends, the checkerboard pattern fell in and out of fashion over the years but saw a resurgence in the 1950s when the black and white design was often seen gracing the floors of iconic American diners. 

It’s not all black and white though, the checkerboard design can include colours from any palette, whether that’s similar subtle neutrals or complete opposites.

The classic American diner complete with checkerboard floor. Image credit: @crazygarage13

Is checkerboard tile trendy?

Checkerboard-tiled floors and walls are having a resurgence and topping tile trend lists across the board. The checkerboard is an on-trend style but also a timeless choice – a design that’s been in style for thousands of years can’t be wrong.  A time-tested style like the checkerboard is a safe bet if you’re unsure what tile pattern to go for as it’s very unlikely to date or fall out of fashion, regardless of changing trends.

Do patterned floors make a room look smaller?

Smaller tiles naturally have more grout lines and can appear busier, whereas larger tiles tend to make spaces look more open. If you’re looking for tiles to help enlarge a space visually, we advise avoiding mosaic tiles and opting for larger squares.

How the checkerboard pattern is laid can also affect how small or large a room appears. The diamond orientation is more effective for widening or lengthening spaces.

We stock a wide range of square tiles for indoor and outdoor use at Atlas Ceramics. Browse our selection yourself or call one of our helpful experts for advice.