A Guide To Choosing Your Tiles
Floors and walls have been decorated with tiles for thousands of years
. They last longer than carpets, wear less than wallpaper and have the added bonus of looking gorgeous. Tiles are a great way to add value to your home, and should always be viewed as an investment, rather than a cost. Below is a guide to help you choose the right tiles for the home.
Selecting a great colour
Wall and floor tiles can now come in a wide variety of colours, sizes, textures and materials, all of which will allow you to create a beautiful and unique environment - tailored to your specific tastes.
Colours are subject to personal choice, more than anything else. Here are some tips for when thinking about what colour to pick:
*Light colour tiles can help make a small space appear bigger, as the tiles reflect more light than dark coloured tiles.
*Using similar colour tiles on the walls and floor can also aid in giving a more spacious feel.
*If using plain tiles you can add in some decorative tiles or border tiles to give some added flare to your design.
Kitchen and Bathroom Tiles: The Two Most Tiled Rooms
Kitchen tiles - what size tile should I use?
The size depends on the room, but as with most things is mainly down to individual preference. Kitchen wall tiles are traditionally small 10cm x 10cm size tiles, however many homeowners are now using larger tiles for their kitchen walls. Smaller kitchens can benefit from using smaller 30cm x30cm floor tiles; this is because they can help make the room look bigger. The larger floor tiles are usually preferred for kitchens (60cm x 60cm).
Bathroom tiles - what size tile should I use?
The size of bathroom wall and floor tiles is once more up to individual choice. If the spacing between the basin, toilet and window is compact, then for practical reasons a smaller tile maybe more suitable. Bathroom floor tiles have can be chosen for the same reasons as Kitchen tiles - small tiles make a bathroom look bigger but bigger tiles are the usual choice.
Types of tiles: Ceramic, Porcelain, Natural or Mosaic
Ceramic tiles
Historically, and up until recently, these have been the main type of tile available for both walls and floors. For indoor use, they provide a tough and practical decorative surface that looks great, as well as being maintenance free and long lasting.
Porcelain tiles
Porcelain tiles are usually harder wearing than ceramic tiles and virtually impervious to water and many are frost resistant - making them perfect for bathrooms, kitchens and the outdoors. A major benefit of porcelain tiles is that they can usually be found in larger sizes than ceramic tiles.
Natural stone tiles
Travertine, marble, granite, limestone and slate are the types that make up the term natural stone. Being natural these tiles create really stunning earthy designs and a big benefit is that they are very hardwearing. The biggest drawback is that they can be porous and require treating or sealing before using.
Mosaic tiles
Mosaics tiles can usually be found in ceramic, glass and natural stone. If you want to be a little different they can also be found using materials such as stainless steel and even real sea shell. They are usually supplied on sheets that can be used whole or cut for borders and features to create some eye-catching decorative pieces.
by: Toby Dicks
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