What about BOTH?

If you lay the tiles in a diamond pattern, it is necessary to purchase more tiles than making square.
There is a great deal of waste in the cutting.

I would absolutely lay them on the diagonal. It will make a huge difference in opening up your "bowling alley". It will be worth the extra time and expense.

I agree with astridh. My bathroom is 14ft x 90 in (loong and skinny, in other words) and I currently have straight tile. I look at it daily and wish it were on the diagonal.

Another vote for diagonal. I am so glad we went that route even though my tile guy wasn't thrilled! The diagonal points push the walls out and make the room look bigger.

Thanks, everyone. It's good to hear that no one thought the diagonal would look too busy with the subway tiles. That is what started me to really worry. The tile is already purchased for the diagonal pattern so I know we have enough material to do it that way. I believe last minute jitters are getting to me!

I have a mix of tiles set on the diagonal and squared and it looks great. It's a nice way to break up the pattern, especially in a long skinny room.

Like writersblock, there's an area where I regret not spending the money and having the tiles go on the diagonal. Not worth ripping out the tile as is, but if yours have yet to be installed, go for the diagonal given your description of the space or, as others have suggested, a mix of diagonal and straight.

The rule for laying diagonally and have it look it's best, is to have enough room for two full tiles to fit point to point without any cuts.

There are also other patterns besides straight and diagonal.

Also check out the patterns at the Marazzi site

Here is a link that might be useful: marazzi tile patterns

The marazzi site is really helpful! Thanks, Kevin. We only have one size of tile for the main floor so I believe the diagonal will be the best choice. We can get 2 full tiles point to point like brutuses suggested. The subway will be in a brick pattern for the wainscot and the shower. This all could end up very busy....but I have tried to stay simple with everything else. Once again, I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

coach, as long as you don't have wild colors of tile, your designs won't be busy at all. Can't wait to see it finished. We're doing a brick pattern of 9 x 12 in the shower and around the tub and then diagonal on the floor. Not too busy at all because it's all beige and boring. LOL

Brutuses, Thank you! I just tried my 12 X 12 samples and I can only fit 2 on the diagonal in my skinny long foyer hallway and three on the diagonal in my front foyer that I had thought was wider! I guess 12 X 12 is the best sized tile for my foyers. i want to go with bigger tiles for my kitchen on the diagonal.

Bill Vincent, what is the name of that tile in the bathroom that I love and I know would look great in my bathroom? Is it a porcelain ceramic? My monitor has it very light but with shades of variation in it and very rich looking.

It's been a long time. Even the date stamp lies!! I did the installation in my sister's bathroom in 99, but took the picture to show someone when I went down there for a family get together. I know it was a glazed porcelain, and I have a feeling it might have been a Daltile, because I've used one very similar since then. I'll see if I can get the name of the Daltile, because it just so happens I have some in my garage. Buried, but it's there! :-)

Thank you Bill for such a quick reply. You do beautiful work. I wish you lived around me in Northern NJ.

I'll check back to see if you had time to find the name of the tile an the color. It is perfect in that bathroom!

I still haven't gotten to it yet (I'm in the process of moving, made alot more difficult yesterday by the loss of the transmission on my truck!). I SHOULD be able to get to it tomorrow night. Here's a pic of the tile I have. As you can see, it's very close:

Do diagonal. I just did. Makes the room appear larger.
Also more interesting.

Thanks gunter for letting us know that diagonal will make the room bigger. Thanks Bill for the pretty pic and the tiles do look very similar. We will wait for your response on the name of the tile. I am so sorry about your transmission going on your truck. Is the tile smooth or rough and does it have pits that try to look like real stone? Is is just pretty and looks to me like real stone.

Thinking of laying the 12" tiles on a diagonal in the kitchen - it is a galley and area between the cabinets is 6 feet by 14 - any suggestions?

Hi this is an old post but hopping your still round! I have a choice of 12 x12,12x18 and 18x18 tile for a small long and narrow Bath width is 37 in x 7 feet, any suggestions on a pattern? Any help appreciated thanks

laxrox: best to put your question in a new post. You'll get more answers.