Spacing ceramic tiles can be accomplished by several methods, but once you choose a method you need to stick with it for the duration of the project. Laying ceramic tiles takes a lot of attention to detail, but the rewards are more than worth it.
Floor Tiles
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Decide how thick you want your grout line to be. For 12-inch by 12-inch tiles, this should be at least one-quarter of an inch. If the tiles are too close together, it can weaken the grout, and if they are too far apart, your floor will have an unintended stripe-y look.
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Purchase removable tile spacers. You can buy them in several widths, including one-eighth, three-sixteenths, one-quarter and three-eighth inches.
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Lay your first tile, and then set the removable tile spacers at the corners.
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Set the next tile tight up against the spacers, and put spacers against its corners.
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Place the next tile, the next spacers, and so on until you are finished.
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Use the edge of a tile held perpendicular to the floor as a spacing guideline if you are experienced at laying tiles. Use the same edge of the same tile for consistency.
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Lay out all tiles, working from the center of the room farthest from the door to one side, and then the other. Do not grout any tiles down until you can see how they will look when laid out.
Wall Tiles
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Make a tile stick from a straight 1 inch thick x 2 inch wide board that is at least 24 inches long. Start by laying a straight line of your tile out on the floor. Space your tiles using removable tile spacers, or the edge of a tile held perpendicular to the floor. Don’t forget to include an accent tile, if you will be making a stripe around a shower wall or some similar pattern.
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Mark the tile edges and grout lines on your 1inch x 2 inch board. For square tiles, you will only need one tile stick, but if your tiles are rectangle-shaped, you will have to make one guide for laying out the tiles horizontally and another for the vertical spacing.
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Set the tile stick flush against the wall, and use the lines drawn on it to guide you in placing your tiles.