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What Do Checkered Floors Mean?

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In Interior Design

Checkerboard flooring is a style that has been around for centuries. The epitome of elegance, sophistication timeless design. For interiors, checkerboard has a dense history for use in both commercial and residential spaces. Their grid-pattern floor design adds intrigue and dimension to any space and are a perfectly versatile base, ideal for pairing with any colour, pattern in any room.

 

Historical & Cultural Meaning

The checkerboard pattern has been around for so long it’s difficult to track its origin. Commonly used on garments with cultural, fashionable, architectural and political affiliations. Proof of the check pattern can be traced back thousands of years. Earliest discovered checkered classic tiled floors were found in Ancient Egyptian tombs and Greek Temples. Checkerboard became a popular feature across England in churches, cathedrals and houses following the 16^th century Reformation. Renaissance palaces featured checkerboard tiles, the celebration of the classic arts represented in the tiles’ harmony and symmetry.

By the 19^th century these tiles were taken into homes, becoming a trademark for Victorian styles. The 20^th century saw the 1920 art deco style with checkerboard reappearing in style, the 1950s associated with the retro home décor style found in American diners. Checkerboard flooring has evolved into a staple across the years, now featuring in both vintage and modern aesthetics.

 

 

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Are Checkerboard Tiles trendy in 2025?

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Of course. Checkerboard tiles are still on-trend in 2025, due to their versatile and elegant appeal. Checkerboard tiles work in any room aesthetic retro diners look, vintage-inspired bathrooms, classic entry ways to modern minimalist kitchens. Evolving into a modern day floor covering, options include 300x300 checkerboard tiles, up to large format checkerboard tiles such as the 75x 75mm format found in the N&C Olympia tile collection. Muting the stark contrast of plain black and white tiles, adding a touch of soft veining through the floor offers a softer, more subdued aesthetic perfect for creating beautiful homes with character.

Retro & Vintage Revival: Interior design magazines highlight the rise in vintage-inspired homes, with black and white kitchen floors being a major feature.

 

Classic Interiors: Designers can be seen using checkerboard floors in both traditional and new homes to add classic, timeless charm.

 

Trend Forecasts: N&C Tiles and Bathrooms’ 2025-2026 trend forecast predicted a resurgence of checkerboard in both homes and hospitality places like bars and cafes.

 

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Where Can Checkered Floors Be Installed?

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Checkerboard flooring’s versatility enables it to be installed in both residential and commercial spaces.

 

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At Home

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Hallways

The hallway is the first impression of your home, and checkerboard floors make quite the statement. At N&C Tiles and Bathrooms, our Victorian Porcelain is a customer favourite for hallways and porches, with CAD drawings provided to ensure the pattern works perfectly for your space and dimensions. A diamond pattern layout makes a space feel more expansive, whilst bordered styles create a tailored, elegant look.

Dining Rooms

Adding checkerboard floors to your dining room is the epitome of elegance, elevating everyday meals and creating a glamourous space for entertaining.

Kitchen

Checkerboard floors in the kitchen makes for an iconic combination. Whether you’re trying to recreate the retro-inspired diner look, going for a rustic-farmhouse style or creating a luxurious, modern kitchen, N&C checkerboard tile ranges suit every aesthetic. Pair with coloured shaker-style cabinetry and open shelves for a cosy, relaxed feel. For modern styles, checkerboard pairs perfectly with smooth, seamless cabinetry and a sleek island.

 

 

Bathroom

At N&C Tiles and Bathrooms, we believe the bathroom can be the perfect space for experimenting with creative floors. Contrasting tile floors adds intrigue and personality to any bathroom. The diamond-pattern checkerboard layout is ideal for smaller bathrooms, as it expands the perception of the floors, making the room feel larger. Marble-effect checkerboard brings a spa-like elegance, bathing the room in a luxurious relaxation. Pair with a clawfoot bath and wooden bathroom furniture to create a vintage, traditional feel. Combined with minimalist, wall hung furniture creates a high end, modern space. Curved mirrors, fluted shower screens and brushed brass fittings creates an art-deco vibe.

 

Living Room

We think checkerboard tiles are a perfect floor to connect from the hallway to the kitchen to the living room to create a stylish and cohesive floor plan. For eclectic homes, chequerboard is a statement pattern perfectly paired with contrasted patterned rugs, cushions, colourful sofas and lots of plants. For more minimal and refined interiors, marble checkerboard floor tiles are the centrepiece of the room.

 

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Commercial Spaces

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Cafes & Restaurants

A checkerboard floor really adds a classic, retro statement.

Bars & Nightclubs

Checkerboard really adds to the dramatic and fun atmosphere.

Retail Stores & Boutiques

Perfect for incorporating heritage and luxury into the feel of the space and brand.

Hair Salons & Barbershops

Offers versatility, a perfect mix of modern and traditional style.

 

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Which Colours Are Most Often Used for Checkered Floors?

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We all know and love the black-and-white checkerboard floor, but the possibilities don’t end there. Alternative tones are perfect for those with varying palettes, or just for those wishing to add in a classic with a twist.

 

• Black and White – Classic and versatile.
• Green and White – A softer take on the classic combination. Olympia Verde and Carrara combined adds a natural feel.
• Red and White - Warm and bold. Olympia Rosso and Carrara adds a deep and luxurious vibe.
• Red, White & Black – Creates depth, warmth and drama. Olympia Rosso, Carrara and Nero adds ultimate luxury, whilst being perfectly versatile.
• Green, White & Black – Balances natural tones with stark contrasts. Olympia Nero, Carrara & Verde add a dramatic yet soft touch.

 

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What Materials Can Be Used for Checkered Floors?

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Whilst checkerboard floors can be installed from various materials, at N&C Tiles and Bathrooms we recommend porcelain tiles as the best and most practical option.

 

Why porcelain?

• Porcelain is extremely durable, perfect for your living rooms, kitchens, hallways and bathrooms where there is more foot traffic and likelihood of items being spilt, dropped, smashed etc.
• Water resistant - Natural stone and cement tiles are extremely porous making them dangerous in wet areas like the bathroom. Porcelain has minimal porosity making them ideal for wet spaces.
• Low maintenance - Porcelain tiles require very little maintenance and are easy to clean in comparison to real marble, stone or cement.
• Versatile - With a range of collections, you can achieve a look of natural stone, but in a durable and practical format.

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Styles That Suit Checkered Floors

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• Classic / Traditional: Checkerboard flooring is iconic for its traditional, timeless style making it perfect for Victorian and Georgian homes.
• Retro / Vintage: Checkerboard being hugely popular in the 1950s makes this the perfect floor for those encapsulating a retro feel. Paired with splashed of bold colours like reds and greens creates a real diner-inspired space.
• Modern / Minimalist: Let your floor do all the talking. In a minimalist aesthetic, these floors are ideal for adding geometric, visual depth to your space whilst letting the remainder of your deco be calm and minimal. Consider creating a herringbone pattern to truly combine classic and modern design.
• Rustic / Farmhouse: The classic black and white or green/red and white brings character to farmhouse kitchens, hallways and rustic bathrooms. Complemented beautifully with shaker style cabinetry, wooden furniture, and warm and natural textures, this aesthetic encapsulated everything homely.
• Luxury / Art Déco: checkerboard is all about adding elegance and sophistication when it comes to the art deco style. Add brushed brass fittings, curved mirrors, fluted glass and deep jewel tones to complete the vibe.
• Eclectic / Contemporary: We love to see that a lot of contemporary interiors are all about maximalism and expressing individual personalities. Checkerboard can be a perfect base for creating contrast with unexpected colour pairings. The colour combinations are particularly perfect for juxtaposition. Pair green and white floors with yellow walls or red and white checkerboard with a blue bath. The design opportunities are endlessly fun.

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What size Tiles are Usually Recommended for Checkered Flooring?

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The size of the tile ultimately affects the overall look and feel of the checkerboard floor. Size influences the pattern, palette and how spacious your room feels.

• Small Rooms - Use smaller tiles (200x200mm or less) to keep the pattern in proportion to the space.
• Medium to Large Rooms - For larger spaces like kitchens, living rooms and hallways a larger format creates a sleek, seamless look. Bigger tiles (300x300mm, 600x600mm) also allow for lesser grout lines.
• General rule - If unsure on what size is right for your space, try to ensure that at least 3 whole tiles can fit across the length and width of your room, to ensure symmetry.

 

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Checkerboard Tile Layouts

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Checkerboard doesn’t mean you have to stick with being completely classic.

• Classic Straight Layout - The traditional, chess like layout. Grid alignment is particularly perfect for Victorian and Georgian style homes.
• Diagonal (Diamond) Layout - Placing tiles on a diamond angle creates a dramatic look and can make a room feel larger.
• Bordered Checkerboard - Bordered checkerboard works particularly well in porches and hallways. Adding a decorative border can elongate the perception of a space and is perfect for traditional aesthetics.
• Mixed - Colour Checkerboard- Consider diverting from the traditional black and white and combination and include colour or even incorporate three colours into your checkerboard layout.
• Large-Format - Larger format allow a space to have fewer grout lines, making the space feel more spacious and seamless.
• Herringbone - Completely in contrast with the traditional layout, consider placing 75x300mm in a zig-zag pattern. This design captures the feel of contemporary style whilst still incorporating the classic checkerboard affect.

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Grout Colour Options for Checkered Floor Tiles

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The grout colour choice really does impact the overall effect that you are trying to achieve.

Our Tile Expert, Mark Cooper says ‘For black and white checkerboard I would recommend and use Nicobond Starlike in Silver Grey. It’s not stark white so its softer against the black tiles, whilst also blending with the white tiles. I’d recommend Silver Grey for green/red and white pairings too.’ Silver Grey is a neutral grout that balances the contrast.

However, you can choose any grout colour that suits your desired look, go for black if you want to create dark and bolder look, opt for white for a clean, sleek finish, or choose any tone in-between.

 

Checkerboard floors remain the epitome of timeless elegance. In 2025, checkerboard expertly bridges the gap of traditional aesthetic with modern creativity. From the large kitchen to the small cloakroom, tile size, layout, and grout colour all impact the finished effect. At N&C Tiles and bathrooms we like to make sure there’s a style for everybody, offering Rosso and Verde for colour lovers. For those with a contemporary palette, why not go for a herringbone layout? Whatever colour, size, or pattern you opt for, Checkerboard is as stunning as it is timeless.