Mini Squares

A mini square tile is a small, even unit that makes a wall read as a grid. At 100 mm it sits between a mosaic chip and a subway tile, so the wall shows a clear pattern without looking busy. Most are 100x100 mm, with a few at 75x75 mm.

The glazes are gloss and matt. Colours run from white, ivory and wheat through terracotta, clay and taupe to blue, green, burgundy and black. About a third have handmade-look edges, so tone and edge change slightly from tile to tile. Where a listing states a use, it is walls.

Because the tile is small, you count more rows than you expect. A 600 mm splashback takes about six courses of 100 mm tile, and a 2100 mm shower wall about twenty, once you allow for a joint of 2 mm. Count against fixed objects (bench 900 mm, vanity 850 mm, door 2040 mm) before you order, so the top row does not land on a sliver.

• Stacked straight, the grid is quiet and graphic. A 1/3 offset softens it.
• Joints of 1.5 mm suit rectified edges. Use about 3 mm on standard tile.
• Match the grout to the tile for a calm wall. Contrast it for a graphic one.
• On handmade-look tile, avoid bright white grout, which highlights every chip.

To estimate boxes, measure the wall in square metres, subtract openings, and add 10% for cuts. Add 15% if the edges are handmade-look. Divide by the box coverage on the listing. A 4 m² wall with 10% becomes 4.4 m². At 0.54 m² a box, that is nine boxes. With 15% it is 4.6 m², which is also nine.

Mix tiles from every box before you fix them. Related ranges: larger square tiles and subway tiles.