Design Trend: 10 Ways to Use a Straight Set Pattern in Your Home

Let's get something straight–setting your tile in a straight set pattern can be just as impactful as a more intricate pattern. Straight set, also known as stacked, can add modernity to your space while also showing off the geometry and natural variation of your tile.

Whether you install rectangular tiles or squares, vertically or horizontally, a stacked look is clean and fluid and looks great in anything from crisp white to a vibrant shade. See the possibilities of straight set with ten of our favorite installations.

Small tiles, big impact. Sheeted 1x6 Mosaic Tile shows off our pastel Eucalyptus glaze’s range of color variation in crisp columns thanks to the straight stacked pattern. We love how the proportion of the petite tile beautifully contrasts the high ceilings and spaciousness of the airy kitchen yet the modern pattern makes this backsplash feel right at home.

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This modern kitchen is all about clean lines, starting with a straight-set installation of Glazed Thin Brick in Columbia Plateau. Brick is a stunning way to add textural appeal to your space, and setting it in a vertically stacked pattern gives the rustic material a modern edge.

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Spa day, anyone? Vertically stacked green Rosemary subway tile envelops Mandy Moore’s bathroom, transforming it into an expansive and soothing escape. Tonal grout lets Rosemary’s high variation and crackled detailing take center stage, lending the space a luxuriously organic allure.

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You can’t go wrong with a white straight-set tile pattern–this look is so versatile that you can easily dress it up or down. This stunning bathroom goes for the glam, pairing our warm white Feldspar Gloss in a classic stacked pattern with marble accents for a result that’s pure luxe.

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Step inside a midcentury masterpiece that was inspired by flora in every detail. Our sheeted 2x4 Ceramic Tile in Palm Tree casts a chartreuse color across the shower walls and floor for one unforgettable look.

Choosing our sheeted tile ensures that your installation is crisp and seamless since the grout lines are pre-measured. Learn more about our tile sheeting here.

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Add playful interest to your straight-set installation by sprinkling in contrasting colors, as Mandy Riggar did in this joyful poolside bathroom. Colorful 2x8 Ceramic Tile is randomly placed in walls of vertically stacked Calcite Gloss above a terrazzo wainscot for a look that’s both cohesive and eclectic.

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The Brownstone Boys imbued the perfect touch of moody drama in their Bed-Stuy Brownie’s modern kitchen with a black backsplash. Defined by sleek and streamlined contours, this space's orderly aesthetic is highlighted by our slender matte tile. A straight-set arrangement keeps it feeling modern and sophisticated.

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No one pulls off a perfectly restrained tile installation quite like Sarah Sherman Samuel. On her Magnolia show “Inspired Interiors,” Sarah used 2x8 Ceramic Tile in a seamless stacked pattern to complement the inviting earth tones in this California canyon-inspired kitchen.

Stacking your tile vertically is a great way to make a space feel bigger if you’re working with low ceilings or a smaller space, and a straight-set pattern will keep your white tile clean and simple. You can use a matching grout for a minimalist approach, as Sarah did above, or go with a light to dark grey for a bolder look.

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Setting your tile in a horizontal straight set looks fresh and modern. You can install this pattern almost anywhere and get a sleek, elongating effect from your kitchen backsplash to your bathroom to your fireplace, like the one above.

This fireplace looks extra elongated thanks to our slightly longer Norman brick size. The column of stacked brick in soft green Elk creates a gorgeously geometric vignette especially flanked by rectangular built-in niches.

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Don’t be afraid to embrace your creativity–you can see above how you can utilize vertical and horizontal straight-set patterns in multiple tile sizes without it becoming overwhelming. There’s something about this aligned pattern that keeps everything orderly and easy on the eyes.

Our soft Sand Dune in a 1x6 vertical straight set pattern meeting 6x12 Adobe in a horizontal stack above the counter was just the right combination of subtle color and pattern that Anne Sage was searching for when she designed this stunning Art Deco bathroom.

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