How to use tiles in your home
Add interest to your interiors with tiling
Main image: Carnaby Pink, Porcelain Superstore
Tiles have been used around the world for centuries. Practical and beautiful, they can transform an area, adding character, colour and texture. But now there are so many to choose from, where do you start?
Practical considerations will come first – where are you going to use the tiles? Some can be used on either floors and walls, some will be too heavy for a wall, or too delicate or slippery for a floor: check the rating, with R13 being the most slip resistant, R9 the least.
Then the rest is down to personal preference: natural or man-made? Natural materials will always offer a unique design, and include limestone, slate, marble and travertine. Keep in mind they are more maintenance intensive.
Man-made tiles offer a more robust and low maintenance option. Ceramic is the oldest type of tile and comes in endless varieties. Porcelain tiles are a newer concept and a very resilient choice – they can also replicate everything from marble to wood, with none of the maintenance issues.
Then choose a finish – do you prefer a gloss that will reflect light or matt that offers a more authentic look if you are opting for a tile that gives the appearance of a natural stone. if you are opting for a tile that gives the appearance of a natural stone.
Encaustic tiles boast beautiful patterns and are created using different coloured clays inlaid within the tile. They are a good choice for areas of high footfall as the pattern can’t be worn down.
There have been many advances made in terms of materials. Ca’ Pietra’s Victorian Style Range, for example, is great for period properties but come with the benefits of porcelain, so they’re easy to care for, and lay down as they have a pre-scored mosaic design.
Also consider the eco credentials. Artisans of Devizes’ Sequel is made using waste material that would otherwise be disposed of by the stone industry, from powder to chips of marble, granite, and limestone.
Choose your size – large format tiles have been popular for a while, and, conversely are good for making small spaces look larger. Glass mosaics will add pretty details to a room.
Then consider the overall look you want to achieve – bright eye-catching statement style or more calming and spa-like? With tiles, you can be as imaginative as you like – current trends include mixing up your tiles in terms of colour combinations as well as how you lay the tile. Herringbone, for instance, can be really striking. Think about your grout colour too – there are many colours available, so it doesn’t have to be a traditional white.
Pictured: Kitchens by Holloways, Tile of Spain
Get creative – you can add interest to a kitchen by tiling in unexpected ways such as contrasting floor and walls as in this stunning space by Kitchens by Holloways. Kitchen maker The Main Company notes that rather than just the traditional splashback, if you have a chimney breast in your kitchen, it can look stunning when tiled. Or use tiles on your island instead of paint to create a focal point.
Tiles are also perfect for creating subtle zoning in an open-plan layout, notes Ca’ Pietra, simply by switching out a tile layout for a row or two. Or you can create a distinct division between rooms. Just be mindful it isn’t jarring and check the depth of tiles when you’re picking too, if you want to avoid a step between rooms.
In terms of trends, earthenware is a great way to create an inviting space, notes Tile of Spain UK, from olive and moss green to terracotta and clay. Fluted tiles continue to be popular, from larger panels and slabs for bathrooms to smaller, brick tiles for kitchen splashbacks.
Before you choose, get as many samples as you can, and see how they look in different lights. And consider how your choice will need to be maintained over its lifespan, from how it will need to be cleaned to whether it will need sealing and resealing to keep your tiles looking good in the years to come.
