DIY Diagonal Ceramic Tile

Laying floor tiles diagonally rather than in a square grid adds some depth and variety to the look and feel of a room. It's also a good way to deal with an out-of-square room, obscuring the crooked lines of the walls, instead of highlighting them as a square grid pattern of tiles will do. Diagonal tiling is the same general process as tiling in a grid pattern, except the grid is turned at an angle.

• 1

  Divide the floor with your pencil, level and square into four equal squares, with two lines intersecting over the center, from the middle of each edge of the floor to the middle of the edge across from it. Use the square to ensure the lines are 90 degrees off each other.

• 2

  Mark out two diagonal lines through the intersection of the two straight lines, using your level, tape measure and pencil. Make the diagonal lines equidistant from each of the straight lines.

• 3

  Spread thinset mortar over the middle of the floor, covering the intersection of the lines, covering a few square feet. You will be able to still see the lines through the mortar.

• 4

  Set the first four floor tiles at the intersection, so each tile is bordered on two adjacent sides by the diagonal lines. Put spacers between the tiles as you set them.

• 5

  Apply additional mortar over the floor and continue setting tiles, building out from the middle of the floor toward the walls along the diagonal lines. Use a tile cutter to cut the tiles as needed at the walls. Let the mortar set overnight and pull out the spacers.

• 6

  Grout the floor with a grout float, forcing it into the gaps between the tiles and scraping it off the surface. Wipe up the residual grout with a sponge. Let the grout set for two days before walking on it.