subject: Bring Mediterranean Style In To Your Home [print this page] Ceramic tiles are a great way to add elegance and style to any room. Although usually associated with their functional use in the bathroom or kitchen, ceramic tiles can add a touch of Mediterranean glamour wherever you decide to use them. Indeed, the fact that they are so seldom seen in other rooms ensures that they will become a talking point and touchstone for your developed sense of style. There are a wide range of designs and textures available and many of these are a great way of injecting a sense of depth and colour into a room. In particular, there are some exquisite handmade ceramic tiles that are fantastic for use in living rooms, where their raffish charm and idiosyncrasy will create an instant air of glamour.
Finding the best ceramic tiles is easy, as there are now many online shops that stock products from around the world and will have something suitable for every budget. However, take care to get a sample before committing to buy anything online. Although the quality of digital photography has increased considerably in recent years, it is still very difficult to get a good impression of colours and textures unless you actually get a sample to check the overall effect. Look for tiles that complement the rest of your home moving from room to room should be an organic experience that reflects the core values of your aesthetic choice. Because tiles are a more novel material in comparison with wallpaper and paint, it is easy to forget that all wall coverings need to reflect the colours and styles within the room and not provide a distracting contrast that comes across as vulgar.
When preparing your walls for a tile covering, take the time to ensure that they are completely level and flat. Old houses, in particular, often have very crooked walls and although this is rarely apparent when they are simply covered with plaster or wallpaper, by adding an additional layer of material, such defects will show up much more pronounced. Neither do you want to find that halfway through hanging your tiles, you have to remove some of them to address such problems. Indeed, preparation is the key and the best advice is to consult a professional if at all concerned. This is not to say that you have to abandon what can easily be a DIY job; simply that it reaps dividends to get some professional advice before potentially wasting a lot of money.
