Everyone knows there’s extra to tiles than plain outdated shiny white squares, however with a myriad of shapes, colours and designs to select from, how have you learnt you are selecting the best ones in your dwelling?
The truth is, the thought we ought to be giving to our tiles runs deeper than their look alone. There are a number of various kinds of tile, from porcelain and marble to picket and craquelure. Every one has its personal properties and options that may make them higher suited to sure areas inside the dwelling.
Quite a bit is altering proper now on this planet of tiles. Whereas geometric patterns have dominated kitchens and bogs for the previous few years, tile tendencies level in direction of a extra earthy and pure really feel. A few of us are feeling bolder too: in keeping with a examine by Atlas Ceramics (opens in new tab), searches for lemon yellow tiles are on the up.
Not solely is it exhausting to maintain up with the tiles of the time however in contrast to selecting a paint shade, it is lots tougher to check tiles in your partitions or flooring earlier than you decide to what might be fairly an costly mission.
Whether or not it is toilet ground tile concepts or tiles in your kitchen wall, you wish to know you make the correct selection. So, in case you’re trying to incorporate tiles into your interiors, we have assembled a useful information to selecting the best tile kind, dimension, form and shade with the assistance of some tiling consultants.
1. Take into consideration the kind of tile in your house
There’s much more to tiles than you would possibly assume. Ceramic tiles are the most typical tile available on the market because of their versatility and since they’re often extra inexpensive, however their closest cousin is the porcelain tile. However what is the distinction between ceramic and porcelain tiles?
Each look very comparable in look and each are made utilizing a clay combination which is then fired in a kiln, nevertheless, the first distinction lies in the best way they’re crafted. Porcelain tiles are fired at greater temperatures than ceramic tiles which makes them stronger and extra sturdy.
Due to their high quality, they’ve a heavier weight which might make set up pricier too. Each are sturdy, dependable tiles nevertheless, making them nice all-rounders. However for out of doors areas, or flooring with heavier footfall or furnishings, you would possibly wish to contemplate porcelain tiles.
‘A ceramic tile is slightly bit softer than porcelain,’ explains Lesley Taylor, inside designer and founding father of the The Baked Tile Firm. ‘Due to this, you typically use them indoors. They’re appropriate for many areas of the house however for heavy obligation flooring you’ll use porcelain as a result of it is much more strong.’
Conversely, ceramic tiles may match finest on partitions due to their lighter weight. Glazed or polished tiles look nice on the partitions they usually have that shiny, clear look all of us lengthy for in our trendy kitchens and bogs. (Higher nonetheless, they’re tremendous simple to scrub!) Nevertheless, these kinds of tiles will not be the best choice for a ground as they turn out to be slippery when moist.
Lee Thornley, founding father of Bert & Could (opens in new tab), is in settlement in the case of the hardiness of porcelain tiles. ‘They’re extremely sturdy, even in high-traffic areas, are exhausting and non-porous, and simple to keep up.’ Nevertheless, he warns anybody trying to tile an area to contemplate whether or not the kind of tile wants sealing to be made water-resistant, as is the case with encaustic tiles.
2. Contemplate the dimensions of your room
Though we’re true believers that tiles can work in any house, too many tiles could make you’re feeling such as you’ve misplaced your means on the subway.
To keep away from tiles wanting too lurid, take into consideration the dimensions of your room. Trendy bogs are typically smaller areas, so ground to ceiling tiles could be a bit too dazzling. Within the washroom pictured right here utilizing tiles designed by Claire Zinnecker for Clay Imports, the tiles are solely purchased half means up the wall. The shell design is a unusual element that add character to the house, however too many wouldn’t solely wash the colour, but it surely may make the house really feel too enclosed.
As Lesley notes, that is particularly related in the case of using patterned tiles. ‘It’s best to select your sample relying on the dimensions of the room that you simply’re tiling as a result of sure patterns work higher in a smaller house,’ she says. ‘If you wish to embrace a sample however in a extra delicate means, you possibly can wrap a sample tile up a wall behind an arrogance unit or wrap the identical tile end on the ground into your bathe tile whereas retaining the opposite partitions easy.’
Lee recommends making an attempt a mixture of patterned and plain tiles for a extra delicate look. ‘Setting patterned tiles inside plain tiles is an effective way to create curiosity inside the scheme, with out overwhelming the house,’ he says.
3. Do not restrict tiles to bogs or kitchens
There is not any denying that tiles are nice for bogs and kitchens. They’re simpler to scrub, assist so as to add texture, they usually’re totally waterproof. However, whereas valued for his or her utility, tiles are at the start a design product and in that respect, they need to be handled like so. Limiting such a flexible design materials to 2 rooms of the house does not enable tiles their true potential.
It is one thing Lesley agrees upon. ‘I believe that is a whole waste of a chance!’ she says. ‘Tiles convey character to a room, they reinforce a mode or shade scheme, and they need to be handled like every other ornamental product resembling wallpaper or paint.’
Historically, tiles make a fantastic addition to a hearth so as to add some shade or sample to a lounge. They can be used as a press release wall in a bed room, or as a mosaic ground design in an entryway. ‘You would additionally use tiling as a headboard, which creates an thrilling and surprising bed room function, and even as a table-top,’ says Lee.
In locations just like the kitchen or toilet, tiles often have a colder really feel, however to present them a hotter and extra distinguished look, Lesley suggests giving consideration to the smaller particulars. ‘It is not simply concerning the tile you select, but it surely’s the house that you simply enable across the tile,’ she says. ‘That’s essential as a result of it really impacts the best way that tile seems to be.’
‘Should you’re eager to create an exquisite Moroccan vibe and also you have been utilizing a spacer, you’ll fully spoil the look. So you could butt joint these by pushing them collectively, and it offers it a really uneven artisanal really feel.’
Your tile and grout mixture should not be missed both. ‘I like when purchasers go daring with a coloured grout or introduce texture with a hand-crafted look,’ provides inside designer Claire Zinnecker (opens in new tab).
4. Experiment with earthier tones
For the previous few years, muted pink and blue geometric tiles have been all the fad. To attain a extra traditional and timeless look, black and white tiles will at all times prevail. Nevertheless, the latest tile development is all about extra pure, earthier tones.
‘Earth and jewel tones are having a second in each the paint and tile world,’ explains Claire. ‘It is an effective way so as to add enjoyable, shade and curiosity to the outdated white and gray kitchens and bogs. Persons are bringing their character to their tile selections and I’m right here for it.’
It is not all about shade both. In accordance with Lesley, there’s been an increase in demand for tiles that mimic pure supplies. ‘There are some lovely tiles that emulate pure stone and a few unbelievable porcelain tiles that look precisely like timber,’ she explains. ‘There’s this excellent Scandi vibe occurring proper now so to realize a Scandinavian design vibe – or a retro, mid-century trendy fashion – you would put porcelain or ceramic wood-effect merchandise on a wall to decorate the room with that appear and feel.’
5. Strive a mural design
Repetitive patterns could be a feast for the eyes, however they’re precisely that – repetitive. A protracted entryway with the identical design time and again can get – effectively – a bit boring. Fortunately, there is a answer to the issue. If you need all the advantages of a patterned tile however a bit extra pizazz, why not embrace the mural development.
‘With the murals, the sample flows throughout the ground with a repeating sample identical to a stunning piece of cloth,’ says Lesley. ‘It is a softer, extra fluid strategy to sample.’
Though lovely, the designs are often fairly busy in order that they’re more likely to work finest in a smaller house. Use them to make a press release and turn out to be the point of interest of a room, resembling a kitchen backsplash. Do not detract from the fantastic thing about the design with the unsuitable grout selection both – select a tone that may mix seamlessly between the tiles in order to not disrupt the sample.