The checkerboard floor is a timeless and classic flooring alternative that has earmarked a resurgence in the last few years. Although the tile trend made headlines recently, it's vital to note that checkerboard floors have been a thing for centuries.
This flooring style has a rich history traceable to ancient Egypt. Additionally, the checkerboard floor decor was adored by the Romans and prevalent in American homes and diners in the 1950s.
But why is the checkerboard pattern for flooring becoming so popular? First, it has an everlasting look that fits snugly in almost any kind of interior decor. This flooring choice can appear in any room — and ranks as one of the many kitchen trends you might want to adopt. Furthermore, you can achieve its unique theme through multiple routes, ranging from vinyl flooring to special paint effects.
Although black and white checkerboard flooring has become the norm, you can expand your horizons and combine colors like brown, red, burgundy, gray, and green to give your living space a fresh and modern update.
Checkerboard flooring is chic and has become an integral interior design aspect for individuals looking to increase their home's aesthetic. In this piece, we'll examine the major types of checkered floors, how to pick the right checkerboard floor tile size, and amazing checkerboard flooring ideas.
Ready to know more? Let's dive in!
Different Checkered Floor Variations
Whether you'd like to utilize black and white checkerboard designs or adopt other colors to spruce up your home's interior design, getting a hold of the distinct checkerboard floor variations is vital. That way, you can choose alternatives that ooze versatility and suit your budget.
Notable mentions include:
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Marble Floors
Like the checkerboard flooring pattern, marble is timeless and classic. Albeit visually appealing, it's essential to validate other aspects than looks when considering checkered markings on marble floors.
Marble floors aren't immune to scratches; water can create dents on them. If you reside where it snows and rains a lot, you'll be better off considering another alternative on this list.
Another drawback regarding marble floors is cost. Since they're expensive, fitting this floor variant in an ample space could hurt your finances.
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Porcelain Floors
A great alternative to marble floors is checkered porcelain floors. Besides being hard to scratch, these floors are cheap and can quickly form a checkered pattern.
Porcelain also has a glaze that safeguards it from getting porous and scratched. Additionally, it doesn't require heavy maintenance, making it great for spaces with accent chairs and flat-panel cabinets.
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Ceramic Floors
Ceramics bear much semblance to porcelain floors, and the significant difference between both is that the former is artificial. Although ceramic isn't as tough as porcelain, they have durable makeup.
What's more?
You'll spend less on ceramic floors than you would on porcelain floors. So, consider the former if you're on a tight budget but would love your house to denote a head-turning aesthetic.
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Linoleum Floors
Linoleum floors are peel-and-stick tiles you can use to develop a checkerboard pattern seamlessly. These floors are great for those who love DIY activities.
Although linoleum floors are great for DIY installation, they won't increase your living space's value, unlike other checkered floor alternatives on this list.
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Granite Floors
These floors are alluring when they form a checkered pattern. They're slightly porous and would require a seal change annually. Despite these perceived drawbacks, they're budget-friendly and easy to maintain.
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Limestone
If you prefer black and white checkerboard tiles that scream traditional on your floors, now's the time to look towards limestone.
Although limestone floors might seem great, they wield certain drawbacks. As a natural product, limestone is porous and prone to scratches.
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Painted Wood Floors
When your wood floors aren't in tip-top condition and suitable for stains, the next best option is painting them. Going this route increases your floor's allure while concealing imperfections.
Like linoleum flooring, you can go the DIY route to paint your wooden floors in a chic, checkered pattern. This cost-effective method will allow you to actualize your design vision with relative ease.
However, if your living space experiences a lot of foot traffic, you'll need to regularly repaint your floors as previously painted areas will peel off slowly.
Apply a durable topcoat after each painting session to ensure the paint job doesn't peel easily.
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Stained Wood Floors
If you seek checkered designs on your floors without paint, stain them. Doing this gives your floor a glossy finish while maintaining its longevity.
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Painted Concrete
Concrete is a trending alternative for checkered patterns. Most individuals have concrete grounds within and around their houses. We recommend ingraining checkerboard designs on concrete-floored patios and screened pouches.
Picking the Best Tile Size for Your Living Space: What You Must Know
Before installing a checkered floor, tile size is one of the most critical considerations. Utilizing big tiles in a small space makes associated patterns invisible; conversely, using small tiles in a big room makes the room visually busy and unappealing.
If you've made a choice but can't find the right tile size, you can have the installer cut what's available to suit your space. However, this action translates into increased installation fees and a lengthier fulfillment timeline.
If this is your first time installing tiles to create checkered patterns in your home, exploring the primary tile sizes and knowing when each comes in handy is vital.
Notable tile sizes include:
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Large Tiles
If you've got a large room where you'd like to apply black and white checkerboard markings, using large tiles is your best bet. Using small or medium-sized tiles for these spaces makes them visually busy and unattractive.
Medium-sized rooms with vaulted ceilings can also utilize large tiles, as this ceiling variant makes the room appear bigger than it seems.
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Medium-Sized Tiles
Medium-sized tiles suit medium-sized rooms — it's even in the tag! Although you can install these tiles in a large room, we recommend having a laid-out plan to ensure they don't appear insignificant and distasteful. If you've got larger rooms, steer clear from medium-sized tiles altogether.
But when these tiles are used in a small or mid-sized area, they can create an attractive pattern and give the room a bold look. When searching for medium-sized tiles, choose variations with "12X12" dimensions.
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Small Tiles
Do you want to create a black and white checkered floor with small tiles? If yes, ensure they're applied in smaller spaces like the powder or laundry room. As we've established, don't use this tile size in big rooms; it makes everything in the room fade away, becoming the center of attraction.
But if that's what you want, you can use small tiles as your preferred alternative. Nonetheless, remember that as a rule of thumb, floors should complement the space and not outshine it. That way, the aesthetic furniture like modern nightstands and coffee tables remain visible.
Ideas For Checkerboard Floors: Notable Design Schemes to Transform Your Living Space
Have you found the right black and white kitchen tile type and size? That's great. However, if you'd like to elevate your home's aesthetic through checkerboard flooring, it'll be best to consider these ideas:
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Use Marble to Accomplish a Luxe Look
If you're after luxury, taking marble as your preferred tile type is advised. Besides being aesthetically pleasing, this flooring material will retain its appeal for long periods.
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Make Hallway Checkerboard Flooring Distinctive With Decorative Border Designs
The hallway is one of the best places to install checkerboard flooring. Why? It offers a great first impression to visitors. Furthermore, adding decorative designs to the floor's borders makes it more cohesive.
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Increase the Aesthetic With Vinyl
Consider vinyl if you want checkerboard designs in a room and don't have the financial willpower to purchase actual black and white kitchen tiles. Besides their budget-friendly expense, vinyl flooring stands the test of time and suits any room. With numerous designs available, you can achieve various styles via vinyl.
Parting Shot
Checkerboard flooring is timeless, durable, and appealing— little wonder they've been around for centuries!
Before you install black and white kitchen tiles to form checkered patterns, it's essential to uncover the type and size that'll suit your endeavors.
And once you've done so, incorporate the design ideas featured above to increase the aesthetic of your kitchen and other home areas you feel deserve checkerboard flooring. Godspeed!
Checkerboard flooring isn't the only route to improve aesthetics within your home. To complement these floor patterns and prevent your home from getting visually busy and unattractive, consider lucite furniture from Clear Home Design. We have high-quality and customizable solutions for multiple home areas, including the barroom, bath, kitchen, and game room. Contact us today, and we'll uncover alternatives that best suit your design preferences.