*This post is a paid collaboration with Crown Tiles.
Choosing the right tiles for your home is sometimes easier said than done. Trust me, I know! The choice can be so overwhelming and there are so many different aspects to consider. Which material should you pick? Will it be easy to clean? Knowing what’s right for your home and lifestyle as well as for the future, is no easy feat, especially when considerable amounts of money at stake. It’s a decision you won’t want to
So this post is in collaboration with Crown Tiles who have asked me to share the things we consider when tile shopping. I’m going to break this down into six different points and you can trust me on this – when spending any amount of money, we really do research and think hard about these decisions!
1. Which Tile Material Is Right For You?
Ceramic
These are usually the most affordable material for tiles making them great for those on a budget. They’re easy to maintain, hardwearing and available in the widest range of styles, from delicate patterns to marbled or slate effects. They’re also great for DIY fitting as they are fairly straightforward to cut, requiring only a basic tile cutter. Ceramic is hugely popular for being a good “all-rounder”, with the main negative being that they can be prone to chipping and therefore, may not last as long.
Porcelain
Porcelain tiles are extremely hardwearing and super water-resistant, making these are an ideal choice for high traffic areas or even continuing the same flooring between the indoors and outdoors. They’re also far less prone to staining and can mimic the appearance of other materials such as natural stone, or even wood. Whilst they’re more expensive to buy than ceramic and harder to cut and lay, they’ll last decades! And, unlike the real materials porcelain can mimic (natural stone, wood etc), they come without all the extra maintenance.
Natural Stone
Natural stone is an earthy material that, depending on the stone you pick, has the potential ro last a lifetime if looked after properly. From marble to limestone, slate or even travertine, each option has its own unique finish and feel and no two tiles of the same style will ever be alike. Most natural stone tiles can be purchased in a variety of different finishes, from being honed, polished, brushed or even unfinished.
Natural stone is great for bringing texture to your floors/walls, however, they are one of the most expensive options for tiles, often porous and a softer stone may be prone to scratching, which may something to consider, especially with pets or high traffic areas.
Other Materials
Other options like quarry tiles and cement-based tiles are also fairly popular. They’re hardwearing, durable and have proved to stand the test of time, appearing in many older properties. Cement tiles can, however, be known for staining and whilst becoming increasingly more popular, at the moment there’s still less choice compared to other materials and the price tag is still quite high.
2. What Kind of Style are You Looking to Achieve?
Tiles for a WOW Factor
I always like to consider what’s going to be the showstopper in the room. Is it an amazing copper bathtub, a raspberry coloured cooker, that piece of art, or is it the floor and walls? If your room lacks a bit of an edge, then opting for some feature tiles can be a great way to bring the wow factor to the room. Tiles which are more visually dominant in a room are a great way to add that wow factor. I mean, just check these out!
Tiles for a Country or Traditional Vibe
I think earthy natural stone tiles work perfectly within a country or traditional home. Although that doesn’t mean you have to splash the cash and go for the real deal – imitation tiles are a great way to achieve a country vibe even if you’re on a budget. These kinds of tiles may vary slightly in tone, texture or visual appearance, which makes them feel all the more natural.
Tiles for an Industrial or Rustic Effect
I personally love rustic effect anything. It allows imperfections to become perfections and can make its own unique statement in a room. These kind of tiles work as their own feature in an otherwise safe and simple interior style, or they work perfectly dressed up against other bold design elements. Imagine these tiles below with against a dark black ceiling and copper hardware – a bathroom dream!
3. What Maintenance is Involved?
Will They Require Sealing?
Natural stone and unglazed tiles, such as cement tiles will need sealing to prevent staining. This may need to be done every 1-2years depending on the type of tile and where they’re being used. This adds a secondary level of upkeep on top of regular cleaning and something to bear in mind if this is an option you choose. Especially for large areas.
Will They Be Easy To Clean?
Not all tiles are easy to clean. Tiles with a textured finish or little pits (which you may find in natural stone) can often be quite difficult to keep clean. A smooth tile can be mopped fairly easily, but anything with texture may be much harder to get into. Dark matt unglazed tiles may also show up dust more easily and a light glossy tile may not be a great choice if you have mucky pups and want a spotless home.
4. Choosing the Right Size Tile for Your Room
The size of the tile you pick can have a huge impact on the overall look of the room. A very large room with very small tiles will have considerably more grout lines and may, therefore, look fussier in appearance. By the opposite effect, a small room with very large tiles may look uneven with its grout lines. It may also make cutting and fitting large tiles in a small space harder. Choosing the right size tiles for the right size room is definitely something to consider before you fall in love with your tiles!
5. Tile Format
Some tiles can look completely different depending on the layout in which you lay them. A rectangular wall tile, for example, can be laid like similar to brickwork, in a grid fashion, herringbone, or even zig-zagged like old fashioned parquet. This gives one single tile a number of different aesthetic options which can totally transform the look. Here’s an example with these Maiolica Bue Steel Wall Tiles:
6. Other Factors to Consider
Grout Colour
It’s worth noting that when using light-coloured porous tiles, you may be limited with your choice in what grout colours you can use. That is to say, you won’t easily be able to use
Underfloor Heating
Not all tiles will be suitable for underfloor heating, so make sure you check this before pulling out your credit card. You’ll also need to make sure to buy the right grout and adhesive with underfloor heating systems as they’ll need to be flexible as well!
Budget
If the price is a real sticking point for choosing the right tiles for your home then I think it’s important to set out a budget before you start looking. I like to spend a little more in the rooms which matter, but I think it’s important to narrow down your choice by price-tag before you start looking. That way, you won’t fall in love with something you can’t afford and then struggle to find a cheaper alternative!
Good Luck!
And that’s it – six things we personally consider before we start tile shopping! I hope this was helpful and
*This post is in collaboration with Crown Tiles. All words and opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting this blog!
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