What types of tiles can I buy?

For floor and wall coverings, almost regardless of room type, tiles are an excellent choice. There is a lot to be said for floor tiles for instance, even in the living room. They are for example:

• Easy to clean
• If damage occurs, usually just one tile needs replacing as opposed to the entire flooring (if carpet)
• Stylish
• Durable

Of course, the above applies to wall tiles as much as floor tiles, but most people wouldn’t even consider floor tiles outside of the kitchen or bathroom. The UK homeowner however is starting to take the lead of our friends on the continent. With so much choice available in the brave new world of floor and wall tiles throughout the home, there is a problem – choice.

There is a lot to choose from in terms of colour, style, material, shapes and sizes. Here’s what on offer here.

How many types of floor tiles are available?

In three words: quite a few. In a few more:

• Terracotta
• Ceramic
• Porcelain
• Natural stone
• Cement

At BathShack we favour the ceramic and porcelain flavours (matt and gloss). When thinking of floor tiles most people wouldn’t think of gloss, preferring a matt finish instead, but the gloss look can be extremely attractive as shown with the Vitoria Gris porcelain floor tile. This does look great as a bathroom tile for the floor, but it looks equally good in other parts of the home.

On the other end of the spectrum, in terms of looks and usage, there is the classic black matt wall tile. These look great in the kitchen, as splashbacks for instance, but look equally at home elsewhere. The Norai Black Matt wall tile is a great example of this. These tiles look chic, classy and are easy to keep clean with a quick wipe down.

What type of tile is best for the home?

Choosing which type of tile, such as material, is best for your home is going to largely depend on the room type. High traffic areas benefit more from tile than carpets, because they are harder wearing and easier to clean, but which is better? Stone tiles are an obvious choice – they look amazing and are practically indestructible in ‘normal’ use. That said, you are limited in colour and design choice.

Beige is a popular choice for floor tiles, as well other flooring types, because they go with just about any design style. As a flooring choice the Caracalla is excellent in all areas of consideration.

Hard wearing, beautifully designed, easy to maintain and with a matt finish. A matt finish usually works better smaller rooms or areas, such the living room or hallway. For larger rooms, many prefer a gloss finish. Either way, it is an excellent choice for many design styles around the home.

As for material types:

Ceramic

The ceramic tile itself is one of the more popular types of tile because they are relatively easy to install and are highly durable. Ceramics are usually used for kitchens and bathrooms; this is because they can be cleaned rather easily and so don’t become a breeding ground for germs. Apart from looking great, they are very functional and the Metro White Biselado Brillo is ideal in this regard.

Another great benefit of using ceramic is the tiles do not have to be sealed once they are in place. Result!

Porcelain

Another favourite of ours is the porcelain tile. A type of ceramic tile, the porcelain option is excellent for high traffic areas because it is even more resistant and hardwearing than its ceramic counterpart. Porcelain tiles are very often used in public spaces (such as airports, shopping centres etc.) as well as a home environment precisely because they are extremely durable.

In conclusion

Whichever part of the home you are renovating, or redecorating, wall and floor tiles could be the thing that you are looking for. It is important that you choose the right material for the job, and not just the right style. The examples shown here cover all eventualities, in terms of tile use around the home, so you will be best served by checking them out and matching them with your needs and style choice. Durable, versatile and easy to keep clean wall and floor tiles alike are a brilliant way to make your mark on the style of your home – in any room, not just the kitchen or bathroom although they do look great there too.

For more help and advice, just get in touch – we are always happy to help.