The Unexpected Tile Layout Replacing Checkerboard in 2027

Three images of rooms with gingham tiles — (Image credit: Jennifer Hunter Design / Deorling Studio & Sarah Griggs Photography / Côte de Folk)

Checkerboard tiles may be one of the most enduring layouts you can choose, but there's a less expected pattern taking the reins. From bathrooms and kitchens to hallways and fireplaces, gingham tiles are about to be the biggest trend worth investing in.

Bringing an extra tone into the design, this emerging tile layout reimagines a classic fabric as a large-scale feature, adding interest and charm in abundance. The beauty of this design trend is its versatility, adapting stylishly to various rooms and uses.

So, whether you're giving a bathroom new life or adding unexpected style to a cozier room, here's how designers are bringing gingham tiles into their spaces, and why this elevated layout is predicted to transcend trends.

A kids' bathroom with pale pink walls, and green and white gingham floor tiles — 'I love a combination of green, white, and pink – it feels fresh and playful,' says Jessica. 'You also can’t go wrong with classic indigo and white or red and white for a more traditional look.'

Checkerboard tiles have become incredibly popular, adding a playful pattern to spaces of every style. A kitchen backsplash, shower walls, fireplaces, and even entryway floors thrive with this pattern, whether it's classic black and white or something more tonal.

But with any popular feature, fatigue can set in when it's overused. Perhaps you've already used it in one room, and require something a bit different elsewhere. Or maybe you don't want the tile layouts everyone else is using, and prefer something more unique. Whatever the reason, gingham tiles are becoming one of the chicest alternatives.

'There’s something wonderfully nostalgic about gingham, with its lovely associations of picnic blankets, country kitchens and those slightly mismatched interiors that feel as though they’ve been collected over time. It’s a pattern that has always had a certain charm, but translate it into tiles, and suddenly it feels fresh, playful and completely at home in a modern interior,' says Grazzie Wilson, Head of Creative at Ca' Pietra.

A warm bathroom with green and white gingham tiles on the lower half of the wall behind a freestanding bath clad in soft olive — 'We love that it brings a little bit of old-fashioned character into a space without making everything feel terribly traditional, and there's something rather cheerful about those familiar checks that makes a room feel instantly more welcoming,' says Grazzie.

'Gingham is such a timeless, nostalgic pattern. It makes me think of summer picnics and cozy cottages with a fire burning. There’s something wonderfully familiar and comforting about it, and it feels at home throughout the seasons,' adds Jessica Horton of Deorling Studio. 'They bring a playful charm and a touch of whimsy. Translating a pattern we usually associate with fabric into tiles feels unexpected, while retaining that lovely sense of nostalgia.'

Because tiles are often used in more functional spaces, whether it's the main kitchen or adjacent pantry, a bathroom or laundry room, choosing a design that feels reminiscent of fabric instantly softens the space without compromising the practical requirements the tiles provide.

'They bring pattern, rhythm and joy,' says Sophie Rowell of Côte de Folk. 'It gives a room a strong visual anchor and can make any space feel considered and characterful. I think there's something unexpected, yet familiar about a gingham tile; it’s playful and youthful but still grown up enough to work in a sophisticated scheme.'

A small white kitchen with gingham floor tiles — 'I love the combination we used here: a warm brown, a creamy tone, and then a shade that sat somewhere between the two. It has enough contrast to make the gingham pattern sing, but because the colors are all tonal, it doesn’t feel too busy,' Sophie explains.

There's an art to getting a gingham tile layout right. Of course, square tiles will always work best, but how you lay them and the color combinations you choose will instantly dictate whether it looks chic and elevated or confused and messy. And your color palette is the perfect place to start.

'The key is choosing the right combination of tiles so you get the right “overlap” tone where the two colors meet. You want enough contrast between the tiles to create the gingham effect, but not so much that the pattern feels too graphic. You want to make sure the pattern feels like a textile rather than just a checkerboard,' explains interior designer Jennifer Hunter.

It's trickier to get right than a simpler checkerboard, so planning is key. 'Samples are your friend,' Sophie adds. 'Get your samples into the space and experiment before making a final decision. Even a subtle change in tone can make quite a difference, so play around until you find the right balance for you.'

A modern bathroom with marble wall tiles, a wooden vanity, and black and white gingham floor tiles — 'I love the way a gingham tile layout brings the feeling of a textile into a space,' says Jennifer. 'Especially in a country home, the pattern feels a little nostalgic – almost like a classic gingham fabric translated onto the floor or walls.'

Gingham tiles work beautifully throughout your home's design, but each room calls for a slightly different approach, whether it's scale or application. 'This really depends on the scale of the tile. A smaller-scale gingham works beautifully in smaller spaces, like a bathroom or powder room,' Jennifer explains.

'For larger-scale tiles, I love using the layout in an entry or mudroom, where you have more room for the pattern to breathe. The scale of the tile can completely change the feeling of the look, so it’s important to consider both the size of the space and the overall effect you want to create.'

'I’d let the gingham be the main pattern in the room, giving it space to shine rather than pairing it with another large-scale print. Keep the surrounding finishes relatively simple, bringing in texture and complementary colors to create balance,' Jessica suggests. 'I love it in a bathroom or as a statement floor or in an entrance hall. It’s also particularly charming in a kitchen pantry, where that nostalgic feel works beautifully.'

A small dining room with white walls, blue door frames, a round wooden table, blue chairs and gingham floor tiles — 'Gingham has a lovely mix of nostalgia and freshness,' Sophie adds. 'It really does all the hard work for you in a room, leaving the rest of the room to be much more pared back and unfussy.'

Checkerboard layouts aren't going anywhere – they are inherently timeless. But gingham tiles bring the same enduring style with a playful twist, tapping into the more unique, personality-filled ethos that so many of us want in our homes. It's a design feature you can have fun with – a bath nook covered in this charming pattern adds an unexpected detail, while a confident backsplash brings depth and interest to a neutral space.

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