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Lay floor tiles ‘dry’ from the centre of the room before you start to stick them in place, so you can achieve the best layout.

Finding the centre point

Whatever type of tile you are laying, you always begin in the middle of the room, so you need to find the centre point.

1. Measure two opposite walls and mark their centres. Snap a chalk line between these points.
2. Measure the line and mark its centre. That is the middle of the room.

Alternatively

• If the room has a chimney breast, snap the chalk line parallel to that wall.
• If the room also has a by, square it off with a line between the ends of the bay and measure along this false wall line.
• If the room is even more irregular in shape, choose one wall as the base wall. Snap a chalk line parallel to it, about 75mm away, and mark its centre point. Draw a short chalk line at right angles to this base lin. To obtain the right angle, use a few tiles as a guide. Extend this line the full length of the room by snapping a chalk line. Measure this line and mark the centre.
• Once the main chalk line has been laid, a second line needs to be drawn across it at right angles. To do this, place two tiles on the floor, each with one side along the centre line and one corner on the centre point. Then snap a chalk line across the room, passing through the centre point and following the edge of the tiles.

Placing the key tile

You must now decide the position of the first tile, which will determine the position of all other kitchen tiles in the room. Ideally, all the tiles around the edge of the room should be equal in size, and at least half tile width. Experiment by laying tiles from the centre to all edges of the room.

The key tile can be placed in any of several positions:

• Centrally on the middle point of the room
• In an angle formed by the two chalk lines
• Centrally on the main chalk line and on one side of the line that crosses it
• Centrally on the crossing line, and on one side of the main one.

Centring the tiles on a feature

• Some rooms have a dominant feature such as a fireplace, or bay window. To obtain an attractive result, adjust the appropriate base line – keeping it parallel to the original line – to ensure that the tiles are centred on the feature. Once again, ensure that you get the biggest possible cut tiles at the edges.
• A room may have two features. If this is the case adjust both base lines so that the tiles can be centred on both features.
• It is not possible to centre tiles on more than two features, except by accident.