If you&#;re taking on a DIY home remodel on your own, or just looking to get started picking from hundreds of tile choices, you need all the self help you can get! Unlike a basic upgrade like new paint colors or throw pillows, choosing a new tile can be a more involved project. There are a number of factors to consider such as material, design, location and installation. For these reasons, you&#;ll want to be smart about this investment in your home. To help prepare you, our design expert has answered these 7 common questions to ask before picking a tile!
Here&#;s the end goal - finding the perfect tile for beautiful installs like this elegant bathroom with our White Deco Fan Glass Mosaic Tile
We&#;ll dive into Areas of Use, where it&#;s safe to use specific tiles, the different types of tile materials that are best for each project, and what to consider for color, finish, and more!
The type of material you choose depends on where you&#;re installing your new tiles: shower, kitchen, vanity backsplash, ect. Here&#;s the lowdown on the common types of materials for each project and how to pick one.
Ceramic
Ceramic tiles can have a gorgeous shine with color glaze like our La Riviera Blue Reef ceramic subway tiles!
Ceramic tile is a classic for a reason! It&#;s a budget-friendly tile that still provides a major impact. Although it&#;s not as resilient or water-resistant as porcelain, ceramic is still a versatile option that&#;s a great look for the price and low-maintenance. Think of it as the tile outlet shop version of your #designergoals.
Ceramic tile is made of clay, kiln-fired and glazed for color and shine. It offers a gorgeous glossy shine in a variety of colors! From a crackle finish or a zellige handcrafted look, there are so many gorgeous ways to add detail with ceramic! It&#;s a popular choice for kitchen and bathroom walls with a classic ceramic subway tile look.
Porcelain
Add a modern look with the metallic rinse finish on our Ionic Steel 12" x 24" Porcelain Tile, or find the perfect porcelain finish with a wood look, natural stone design, or other finish!
As the most reliable and practical option, porcelain tile is like your classic black blazer &#; it&#;s a high-quality safe bet for almost any design. It&#;s made from a refined clay that&#;s fired at high temperatures, making it hard, durable and non-porous.
Since it won&#;t absorb water or bacteria, porcelain holds up well in areas that see a lot of liquid such as the bathroom floor, kitchen backsplash or shower. This perk means easier cleaning work for you and less fuss. Otherwise, porcelain tile can also work pretty much anywhere else, including living room floor, entrance way and accent walls.
An amazing feature of porcelain is that it can resemble a variety of natural textures. Whether you want to mimic a wood grain pattern or even a gritty surface like rock, porcelain tile can create the illusion of other cool materials. Neat right?
Glass
Matte, glossy, colorful, or light - you can&#;t go wrong with the gorgeous look of glass tile, like our Obsidian Black Herringbone Glass Tile for a modern black and white bathroom!
Glass tile is a gorgeous option for a designer look! It comes in everything from decorative mosaic patterns, timeless subway tiles, and large field tiles. Since it's non-porous, glass will resist liquids and prevent bacteria from growing in the cracks. Matte or polished, it&#;s easy to wipe down glass backsplash tiles or shower walls.
In terms of appearance, glass offers a charming reflective surface that bounces light to brighten up the room. This quality is popular among people who love a glam look! Another bonus is that the hues in glass are extra saturated so the vibrant colors will last a long time.
It&#;s also a material that can be endlessly recycled, offering a sustainable material for your home as an added bonus!
Marble
From large-format marble slab style wall coverings, classic marble subway tiles, or intricate marble mosaic designs - the style options with this luxury home material are endless!
Let&#;s delve into luxury interior design! The durability and classic beauty of marble tile makes it a timeless investment for your home.
You can use marble tile almost anywhere to elevate the look of a room. Just keep in mind, however, that beauty must be maintained.. It&#;s quite porous and needs to be sealed to prevent liquids, dirt and germs from affecting the finish. You must also be diligent about cleaning marble regularly because it collects more impurities than porcelain or ceramic.
You can install marble tile just about anywhere - from a marble subway tile kitchen backsplash, luxurious walk-in shower, elegant traditional home flooring design, or as a high-traffic floor or wall covering in a business!
Always check the Area of Use on the specific tile you&#;re looking at online to make sure it&#;s approved for the type of installation you want! If you&#;re not sure, search by Project to find kitchen backsplash tiles, high and low traffic floor tile options, tiles for showers, and more!
Whether you pick plain or decorative tile designs should depend on the surrounding decor in the room.
If the tile is more detailed and elaborate, the nearby furnishings should be understated, letting the tile act as the main focal point. Or it should work the other way around: a plain tile offers a neutral backdrop for neighbouring elements that are more intricate, such as a statement rug or funky wallpaper.
This Luxor Bianco Carrarra and Thassos Micro Mosaic tile brings impact with a simple wall application - the design is a work of art all in itself, while the soothing gray and white colors can work with any other hues in your color scheme!
We&#;ll show how to use a neutral tile in this country-glam kitchen reno. The white glazed ceramic subway tile adds a luxurious sheen and texture, yet is neutral enough to blend with other eye-catching details like crystal pendant lights, bright florals and wood textures.
Our advice for deciding between a decorative tile or a less focus-pulling design?
Tile is one of the most versatile options for a floor or wall covering in your home! Unlike painted walls, you don&#;t have to worry about cooking splatters damaging your kitchen walls, and unlike hardwood floors, you don&#;t have to worry about water damage, scratches, or refinishing.
The most common areas to tile in your home:
Add stunning pattern to a neutral farmhouse kitchen with our marble mosaic backsplash tile!
The impact floor tiles can have on your interior is huge - how about this Mediterranean home with our Blue and White etched marble star and cross tiles?
Dreaming of the perfect laundry room design? This blue and white backsplash has all the charm of wallpaper with a water-resistant and stunning marble mosaic wall!
Tile size is important for two reasons: aesthetic and safety.
Starting with aesthetics: the matter of tile size is important because it can influence the overall style and feel of the room.
Here&#;s an example of how small tiles bring depth to a small vanity area. This glass mosaic backsplash features mini hexagons of White Emerald Weaved Hexagon Glass Mosaic Tile. Petite tile pieces like these introduce more grout lines, producing extra texture and complexity &#; a feature that feels more decorative.
They&#;re great for a mosaic backsplash insert to add character and charm to your kitchen wall over the stove, or anywhere you&#;d like to add decorative elements!
Practically speaking, smaller tiles and mosaic patterns introduce a vital home safety element - slip-resistance. The more grout lines, the more grip - which is why smaller tiles are considered the best option for floors that are prone to get wet, like entryways, laundry rooms, and especially shower floors.
Next, let&#;s consider bigger patterns and slabs of tile. Looks wise, they tend to have a more classic and crisp appeal.
This upbeat dining room in an urban home, for instance, is designed with these large porcelain floor tiles. These porcelain floor tiles offer a tasteful design without overcomplicating the space. Visually, they work well in bigger spaces to compliment the expanse of the walls.
From a functional standpoint, large tiles can also create the illusion of more space. So if you&#;ve got a small kitchen or bathroom, you might consider steering away from complicated patterns for a smoother look with fewer grout lines.
Tile colors belong to three main categories: neutrals, monochrome, and colors. The right color should create a feeling of harmony within the space.
These Mallorca square ceramic tiles add a glossy black wall covering thanks to their gorgeous glazed finish.
Let&#;s start with the rule of darks and lights or monochrome designs. Dark colored tile bring drama to a large space, while light colored tile have an expanding and brightening effect for small rooms. Whether you want a dark and dramatic flooring to add a moody feel, or love the look of light and bright walls, these always work well together and can be paired with just about any other color.
Add depth to an all-white kitchen with the mix of finishes in this White Ceramic And Pearl Glass Hexagon Mosaic Tile backsplash!
Next up, we&#;ve got neutrals: these are shades and tones like taupe, grey, black or ivory. They match with almost everything! They&#;re a great base palette if you&#;re looking for a large flooring area or a stretch of wall.
You can never go wrong with neutrals, like the warm earth tones of our etched marble subway tiles.
You might also consider a tile with blue colors like teal, purple and indigo. These colors match with other cool tones or shades, and other neutrals. Despite its cool tone, blue remains one of the most popular interior colors - it&#;s considering welcoming and soothing, which makes it a classic for paint colors, tiles, and other interior decor!
This charming kitchen combines white countertops, natural wood cabinets, and Sky Blue Penny Round Glass Tile for the perfect welcoming home!
Lastly, we&#;ve got warm colors. They&#;re more intense and saturated than cool colors such as yellow, or orange and red. They match with neutrals or other warm colors.
Add a warm pop with a red glass mosaic tile backsplash for a modern kitchen!
Having trouble deciding? That&#;s where samples come in! Play with tile samples, paint swatches, fabric books, and other details to create a space that feels fabulously finished!
Just like lipstick, every tile offers its own level of shine. Whether you prefer matte, gloss or semi-gloss will depend on the overall vibe you&#;re trying to achieve.
A Matte Ceramic Subway Tile will feel more calm and understated than Mother of Pearl Mosaic Tile which has an iridescent, shimmery finish. On the extreme side of shine, you might consider something like the Silver Diamond Mosaic Tile. It&#;s made of glass which offers a polished luster, while the silver hues bring a vivid metallic quality for a powerful punch to your kitchen backsplash.
Add shimmer and iridescent shine with Mother of Pearl shell tiles!
The type of finish you choose isn&#;t always about looks; it can have a functional purpose too! One advantage of matte tiles is that they hide smudges and water marks better than glossy tiles. On the other hand, since glossy tiles are more reflective, they bounce light around the room to give the impression of a brighter space.
Matte marble - like our honed Carrara Herringbone mosaic tiles - adds a gorgeous finish to any interior!
Matte or honed floor tiles are also a great option to increase slip-resistance, as they provide better grip than a polished tile.
The choice between a premium or budget-friendly tile should depend on your lifestyle and design goals. Certain areas of your home might be more &#;deserving&#; of special upgrades, while for others, a budget-friendly option will suffice.
For example, if you&#;re a passionate cook who dreams of a more inspiring kitchen space, then it&#;s worth splurging on a gorgeous marble backsplash.
Whether you use a high quality marble mosaic like our black and white glass and Calacatta waterjet as an accent tile or a large-scale installation, you&#;re sure to love it!
Or if you spend a lot of time in your family room, you can consider investing in a higher quality tile for your accent wall or fireplace. Yet, be rest-assured that luxury doesn&#;t always have to be high-end Italian marble. You can opt for porcelain, which is still a durable and elegant alternative at an attractive price point.
Fireplace featuring the Kasai Notte Kintsugi Porcelain tile, a design inspired by Japanese Art.
If you want to learn more, please visit our website NANOGRESS PORCELLANATO.
The last - and possibly the most important - question! There are a lot of advantages to shopping for tiles online, but we understand why you might have some questions. We&#;ve answered this question in a bit more depth before, but let&#;s dive into some of the bigger points:
Browse some of our favorites to find your perfect style by use, material, finish, color, and budget! Of course, you can&#;t go wrong with our favorite Herringbone Pearl and White Marble tile!
Hopefully we&#;ve had a chance to answer most of your questions, but if there&#;s something that&#;s still on your mind - feel free to contact our team for a quick and friendly response!
Ceramic floor tile is a water-resistant flooring option that is both durable and stylish. Perfect as a bathroom, kitchen, or shower floor tile, ceramic is a more affordable alternative to natural stone.
Tile has been the go-to flooring option for decades, so the odds are pretty good that you&#;re familiar with it, and you might even be considering it for your next floor. Still, you probably have some questions you want answered before you make your decision.
Good news! This guide is here to help you with that.
Read more to learn about the different types of tile, the pros and cons, how to install it, and much more in this in-depth floor tile guide.
Related Content >> Tile FAQ
&#;Tile can be made to look like wood or stone, so it&#;s an inexpensive flooring option for homeowners hoping to achieve that look. It&#;s stylish, durable and has relatively low-maintenance upkeep, making tile an ideal option for areas that may see a lot of foot traffic or spills. Because of its long-lasting nature, choosing to install tile flooring is a relatively safe bet for those concerned with resale value down the road.&#; - Liz Kane, Budget Dumpster
Floor tile is designed to be thick and sturdy enough to hold up against foot traffic, while wall tile is thin and light for easier installation. Some floor tiles can be installed on walls, depending on the size and weight.
I recommend you consult a professional before choosing to install floor tile on your walls. Lots of factors go into determining how flooring tile will work as a wall treatment. Meanwhile, wall tile won&#;t ever be a good option for flooring, simply because it&#;s too thin and delicate.
Related Content >> Wall Tile Buying Guide
Though it might all look and even feel similar, not all tile is the same. Different types of tile will be better suited to you depending on your budget and your needs.
Discover the differences between ceramic, porcelain, and real stone, and then decide what option is best for you.
Ceramic tile is made from a majority clay, mineral and water solution that is then pressed into a tile shape and fired in a kiln at a high temperature. Many ceramic tiles are glazed, and that makes them waterproof.
Unglazed ceramic tiles offer a more natural look that some people prefer, but they are only water-resistant, not waterproof.
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Porcelain tile is a type of ceramic tile, but it&#;s more durable and dense than other ceramic. For this reason, they are considered distinct from one another.
Porcelain is created using fused clay minerals and water. The clay is often comprised of feldspar, kaolin, and quartz. This combination of clay makes porcelain denser than ceramic clays.
Porcelain is waterproof whether or not it is glazed, so it&#;s a good choice for areas with a lot of moisture.
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The naturally occurring patterns in stone floors are popular for a reason: they&#;re beautiful! With a huge variety of colors and textures to choose from, there is certain to be a genuine stone floor for your luxury interior design needs. Stone flooring is a good option to consider if you have the money.
Be aware, though, that natural stone requires more upkeep compared to ceramic or porcelain tiles. Natural stone needs to be regularly sealed and resurfaced to maintain its beauty.
Related Content >> Porcelain vs. Ceramic TileTile traditionally refers to ceramic and stone materials, but this section specifically explains the construction of ceramic tile. Learning how it&#;s made can help you understand where it will work best in your home.
There are many types of ceramic tile, but as a general rule, you can expect ceramic to be made from a mixture of clay and water. Denser clays, like kaolin, or any clays that contain quartz, create a more durable tile that is also water resistant.
All tiles will go through a drying and firing process that bakes out the water content and hardens the tile to be a durable, waterproof flooring solution. After that, it&#;s all about that glaze. But we&#;re not done yet! There&#;s so much more to learn about how tile is made.
Most ceramic tile is comprised of two layers: bisque and glaze. The bisque is the body of the tile- from the side this will be the thickest layer visible. The glaze is the top of the tile, where the color sits. Some tiles do not have a glaze- these tiles are often referred to as through-tile construction since they are solidly colored all the way through.
Ceramic is tile is made from a mixture of water and clay minerals. After a dryer removes some excess moisture from the mix, the tile is pressed into shape and left to dry on a rack. At this point, these tiles are called &#;green tile&#; or &#;greenware.&#; That&#;s because the tile has yet to be fired or glazed.
After the tile has been dried, a high-tech inkjet printer will add the desired colors and patterns. It&#;ll also be glazed to protect this image from wear and tear. Porcelain can also be left unglazed.
Related Content >> Best Tile Flooring OptionsOnce both ceramic and porcelain tiles are glazed, they will be fired to burn away any remaining moisture and to set the glaze. Porcelain is fired at an extremely high F - higher than ceramic at F. Since porcelain is fired at a higher temperature, and has denser clay materials, it becomes impermeable to water.
The body color refers to the color of the bisque (or biscuit) that makes up the base of the tile. Body color doesn&#;t always match the top glaze, so if the glaze is chipped, the body color can be revealed.
Ceramic tiles typically have a red body, and they won&#;t match the glaze in most cases. Through body porcelain is manufactured with a through color. If the surface chips, the body color underneath will be the same.
There is also something called color body porcelain, for porcelain tiles that have a multi-color glaze pattern. In body color porcelain, the bisque of the tile matches the dominant color in the glaze. This design can often hide the appearance of chips, though not as completely as through body tiles.
Related Content >> Best Bathroom Flooring OptionsWhat are the benefits of tile floors?
What are the drawbacks of tile floors?
You can find tiles in just about every style imaginable - that&#;s what makes this flooring so great! However, there are a few main style categories that are important to consider as you begin your search for the right floor.
Related Content >> How to Choose Tile"Ceramic tile comes in hundreds of styles, most of which are very cost-effective. Glazed tile allows for a lot of variety in color, and it can mimic the look of hardwood, but with a lower risk of surface scratches. Its long-lasting nature is great for homeowners&#; return on investment, even years later." - Liz Kane, Budget Dumpster
Many tile &#;planks&#; feature the wood-look style that&#;s so popular right now. The surface of the tile is printed and textured to offer a natural appearance.
You&#;ll now see wood-look tiles even mimicking the trending textures of solid hardwood, including wire brushed, hand scraped and distressed looks. Each textured wood look comes with its own unique style and character.
Wood-look tile floors make your home look warm, modern and expensive. Choosing an ultra-durable tile over finicky hardwood will offer you an elegant look without the worry and maintenance of solid hardwood.
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Tiles can be manufactured to look and feel like real stone. This look is really popular in kitchens and bathrooms, but it works great everywhere.
Popular stone looks include:
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If you&#;re not a big fan of natural looks and textures, there&#;s no need to worry! Tile offers plenty of bright colors and creative patterns to add some personality to your home.
You can choose from classic or art deco designs, and everything in between. Some tiles are now even coming in sets that you can mix and match to create a unique &#;patchwork&#; kind of style.
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Related Content >> Tile Flooring TrendsFrom traditional squares to more adventurous designer shapes, tile has something to offer everyone. While there are a few common shapes that you&#;ll see wherever you look, I also want to point out some unique options that might be just what you&#;re looking for.
Your choices aren&#;t over just yet! Once you know the style and shape of your favorite tile, you need to decide how big it should be. Both ultra large formats and tiny mosaic tiles are fashionable right now, so you can rest easy knowing you&#;ll be on trend no matter what you pick.
Tiles are considered a large format size when any size reaches 15" or larger. These large tiles are growing in popularity for a lot of reasons.
First of all, they&#;re easier to clean since a larger tile means less grout in your floor. People also love the way large tiles can make small spaces feel more open. Installation can be more challenging, though.
Any square tiles ranging in size from 2&#; - 12&#; are considered standard sized tiles. Square floor tiles are most commonly 6&#; and larger.
These tiles are easier to install and easier to measure than larger sizes. Many of the most classic tile floors are standard size square tiles.
Rectangular tiles offer a variety of size options, from subway tile to much larger planks. Subway tiles range in size from 1&#; x 3&#; to 4&#; x 16&#; so you have a lot of room to pick the size you like best in that style.
Planks also have a pretty wide range of sizes to choose from, especially since the trend of wide planks has become more and more popular. You can find sizes from 6&#; x 24&#; to 12&#; x 48&#; in tile planks.
Any small tile ranging from .5&#; - 2&#; in one dimension is considered a mosaic tile. These tiny tiles can be squares, circles, and sometimes even thin &#;strips&#; of tile.
While beautifully detailed, they can make for a busy floor, so it&#;s a good idea to keep clean lines in the rest of the space.
Related Content >> How to Clean Tile FloorsWe&#;re almost &#;finished&#; (get it?) with your choices for tile flooring. All you need to do is decide if you want a glazed, polished, or more natural unglazed look.
The glaze is like the finishing touch to your tile. It works like a bodyguard to protect your tile from moisture and stains. Most ceramic tiles are glazed, but people sometimes prefer the natural, earthy look of unglazed tiles. Additionally, the glaze can cause these tiles to be more slippery when wet so we recommend using a textured tile if you plan to use a glazed tile in a bathroom or water-prone area.
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For a truly flawless surface, polished porcelain floor tiles are ground down to a high polish just like natural stones like marble and granite. A polished finish protects your tile from absorbing dirt and debris, offering you a sharper looking floor with less maintenance.
Unglazed ceramic tiles have no extra finish added after firing. They often look more earthy and natural than glazed ceramic tiles, but they are not quite as impervious to liquid or as easy to maintain. While these tiles can (and are) still used in rooms such as bathrooms and kitchens, they will require more maintenance than their safeguarded glazed counterparts.
While some people would consider a DIY tile project too much of a challenge, it&#;s not impossible! With the right tools and enough preparation, your DIY tile installation will be a success.
Now that you&#;re an expert on tile flooring, it&#;s time to explore your options!
The company is the world’s best rock floor tiles supplier supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.