• Multi-piece patterns work well in family rooms.girls image by Vasiliy Koval from Fotolia.com
  
  Tile is moving from bathrooms, kitchens and foyers to expand into the living areas of the home. Tile is both decorative and easier to maintain than some hardwoods or carpets. Whether your home is traditional or contemporary, tile floors can complement the family room and living areas of your home.
  
  

Multiple Piece Patterns

• For added interest, tile the floor in a multiple piece tile pattern. Multi-piece tile patterns are made up of one tile used in varying sizes. One pattern could include 6-inch, 6-by-12-inch, 12-inch and 12-by-24-inch tiles, all locked together to form a repeating pattern.
  
  For traditional or rustic home designs, try using a tumbled limestone, which is warm and soft underfoot. Modern homes can use a porcelain tile with a metallic finish for extra style.
  
  

Texture

• The family room should remain inviting both in looks and in feel. Look for textured tiles that mimic leather, fabric and wood and use them in various patterns. Lay plank sized tiles in a herringbone pattern, while square tiles outline the room straight and fill the interior in at an angle to bring the focus to the center of the room.
  
  

Use a Border

• For extra style and detail, inlay a polished border into the floor a few tiles in from the perimeter of the room. A polished border will catch the light among a more matte floor, drawing the eye and adding color and detail. To make further use of the border, use it as a dividing point between two patterns.
  
  Alternatively, use a tone-on-tone effect with a border made of a smaller tile in the same color as the other floor tiles. Run two or three courses of 2-inch tile through a field of 12-inch and 6-inch tiles for subtle detail.