Herringbone Tile: Floors, Backsplashes, and Accent Walls in West Michigan Homes

Herringbone is one of the oldest tile and stone patterns still in active use — and one of the few that works equally well in traditional, transitional, and contemporary interiors. West Michigan homeowners in Forest Hills, Ada, East Grand Rapids, and Cascade request herringbone across every application: kitchen backsplashes, entryway floors, laundry room floors, fireplace surrounds, and living room accent walls. Its appeal is consistent because it adds visual interest and intentionality to a surface without requiring an unusual color or material.

What Is the Herringbone Pattern?

Herringbone is a pattern of rectangular tiles set at 90-degree angles to each other in alternating rows, creating a V-shaped zigzag across the surface. The name comes from the resemblance to a herring fish skeleton. The effect is a dynamic, directional pattern that creates movement across a surface — more visually interesting than a straight-set grid, but not so graphic that it competes with surrounding design elements.

A related pattern, chevron, uses tiles cut at 45-degree angles to create a point-to-point zigzag rather than the brick-like stagger of herringbone. True chevron requires tiles cut to a precise angle, while herringbone uses standard rectangular tiles set at right angles. Herringbone is more common in residential installations because it does not require custom-cut tile and is more forgiving of standard tile dimensions.

Herringbone on Kitchen Backsplashes

The kitchen backsplash is the most common application for herringbone in West Michigan homes. A herringbone subway tile backsplash — standard 3×6 tile set in a herringbone rather than the usual running-bond pattern — creates significantly more visual interest from the same tile at the same price point. The pattern draws the eye and adds movement to the backsplash without requiring an unusual color or an expensive material.

Grout color is more consequential in a herringbone backsplash than in a straight-set installation. A grout that closely matches the tile lets the pattern read subtly — you notice it on second look. A contrasting grout makes the pattern very explicit and graphic. Most West Michigan clients we work with prefer the subtle approach for backsplashes: same or very close grout color, letting the pattern work without being the loudest thing in the kitchen.

Herringbone on Floors

Herringbone floor patterns require more planning and more tile than a straight-set floor because the diagonal layout generates more cut tile along the perimeter. In a rectangular room, the cuts along the walls are angled and irregular, which requires precision and adds time to the installation. The result is worth the extra effort — a herringbone floor has a finish quality and intentionality that a grid layout does not.

Small-format tile in a herringbone pattern works particularly well in entryways, mudrooms, and laundry rooms — spaces where the scale of the room is better matched to a smaller tile and the traffic volume is high enough to benefit from the busier visual texture of a herringbone pattern. In larger spaces like open-concept living areas, a large-format herringbone in a 12×24 tile is a statement that holds up across the scale of the room.

Herringbone on Accent Walls

Herringbone accent walls are most commonly done in subway tile — the same tile used for backsplashes applied to a feature wall in a living room, dining room, or great room. Thin brick tile in a herringbone pattern creates a particularly rich texture that is difficult to achieve with any other approach. Natural stone tile in herringbone works well in spaces with warm, natural material palettes.

The scale of the tile relative to the wall matters. A 3×6 subway tile in herringbone reads as detailed and textured on a tall wall — appropriate for a formal living room or a dining room feature wall. A 4×12 or 4×16 tile in herringbone reads as bolder and more graphic, better suited to contemporary interiors or spaces where you want the wall to be a strong focal point.

Herringbone Installation: What Makes It Different

Herringbone requires a carefully established reference line and more precise tile placement than a grid layout. The pattern must start from a consistent center point or reference line so that the zigzag stays aligned across the entire surface. Drift in the pattern becomes visible over a large surface. We establish reference lines and dry-lay the first rows before any tile is set permanently, ensuring the pattern stays true from start to finish.

Contact Adam Baker Masonry at (616) 612-1284 to discuss herringbone tile for your kitchen, entryway, or living room. We bring samples and can show you how different tile formats and grout colors affect the finished look.