Patterned & Moroccan Tiles
Encaustic, Printed Porcelain & Zellige-Style (2026)

What counts as a patterned or Moroccan tile

"Moroccan tiles" in Malaysian shops usually means a square tile with a geometric or floral pattern, often in blues, greens, terracotta and cream, that repeats across the floor or wall. "Patterned tiles" and "encaustic tiles" are used for the same look. The name tells you the pattern, not the material, and the material decides where the tile can go, how it is laid and how it ages.

ClickBina's tiles design gallery shows patterned floors as one of many looks and notes that patterned tiles vary too much by product to give one price. This guide explains the materials behind the look.

Three materials behind the same look

Most "Moroccan tiles" sold for Malaysian bathrooms and kitchens today are printed porcelain or ceramic. True encaustic tiles are imported and treated as a feature material.

Where each type suits

• Wet floors (bathroom, wet kitchen, yard): printed porcelain with a suitable slip rating. Encaustic can work but needs sealing and resealing; zellige is too slippery.
• Dry floors (entrance, dining, living): any of them. A patterned rug-like panel framed by plain tiles is the classic use.
• Kitchen backsplash: printed ceramic or zellige-style; behind the hob, choose a glazed tile that wipes clean.
• Shower walls: glazed porcelain or ceramic; encaustic on a shower wall needs a robust sealer and upkeep.
• Outside: only tiles rated for outdoor use and frost-free sun; check the grade, not the pattern.

For floors, grip matters more than pattern. ClickBina's anti-slip tiles guide explains the R ratings to ask for in wet areas.

Sealing encaustic tiles

Encaustic tiles are porous until sealed. Unsealed, they soak up grout colour, oil, tea and even water marks. The usual sequence is:

1. Lay the tiles on a flat bed and let them dry out fully.
2. Apply a penetrating sealer before grouting, so the grout does not stain the tile face.
3. Grout with a colour chosen to suit the lightest colour in the pattern, and clean the face promptly.
4. Apply further sealer coats after grouting, as the sealer maker directs.
5. Clean with a neutral cleaner; acidic or harsh cleaners strip the sealer and etch the surface.
6. Reseal periodically, more often in kitchens and wet areas.

Printed porcelain needs none of this beyond normal grout care, which is the main reason it is the common choice for busy homes. The stone sealing guide explains how penetrating sealers work on porous surfaces.

Layout, batches and the pattern repeat

A patterned floor that is laid without a plan shows it at once: a half pattern at the door, a seam of cut tiles across the middle, a border that does not meet.

• Dry-lay first: lay out a section without adhesive to check the pattern and the colour mix.
• Centre the pattern on the room or the main view, so cut tiles sit at the edges.
• Mix boxes: encaustic and handmade tiles vary between boxes; blend them as you go.
• Order spares from one batch: patterned tiles are hard to match later if one cracks.
• Plan borders and panels: a framed panel of pattern in a plain floor is easier to set out than wall-to-wall pattern.

The tiles design gallery warns that patterned layouts need more cutting and labour than a straight lay; ask for it as its own line on the quote.

Grout and joint colour

Joint colour changes the pattern. A grout that matches the lightest colour lets the pattern flow across joints; a dark grout outlines every tile and turns the floor into a grid. Thin, even joints suit printed porcelain; handmade zellige-style tiles need slightly wider joints to take up the irregular edges. In wet areas, ClickBina's grout types guide explains why epoxy grout resists stains and mould.

Using pattern without overwhelming the room

In small Malaysian condos, patterned tiles work best in one zone: an entrance, a powder room, one bathroom wall, a kitchen backsplash or a dining area panel. Whole floors of busy pattern make small rooms feel smaller. The Peranakan interior guide and the Mediterranean interior guide show how patterned tiles fit into those styles.

What patterned tiling costs

There is no single price for patterned tiles; it depends on the material and the product. These published supply-and-lay rates by tile grade are the nearest figures (indicative 2026, Klang Valley):

Imported encaustic tiles usually cost more than printed porcelain to buy, and their sealing and the extra layout labour are separate lines. Hacking, levelling and waterproofing are also quoted separately.

How ClickBina can help

We do floor and wall tiling as part of renovation work, including patterned layouts and feature panels. WhatsApp us your job details for a quote: where the tiles go, the rough area, the tile type you are considering and what is on the surface now.

ClickBina is an experienced KL & Selangor contractor for whole-house refurbishment and trade coordination. We reply within the hour, and the price we agree is a flat price with no hidden charges.

Sources & methodology

• ClickBina tiles design gallery — per-grade supply-and-lay prices and the patterned-layout labour note.
• ClickBina Peranakan interior guide — hack and re-tile price, batch and centring advice.
• ClickBina anti-slip tiles and grout types guides — grip and grout for wet areas.
• Sealing and care steps described from general trade practice; follow the chosen sealer maker's instructions. No external source is quoted.

How we estimated prices: every RM figure on this page is quoted unchanged from the ClickBina guide named beside it; they are indicative Klang Valley ranges for 2026, not fixed rates.