Selection of tiles is one of the most important tasks in space designing. As an interior designer, your choice of flooring materials must suit your client’s taste as well as the project budget. In addition, flooring must be suitable for long-term wear and tear. Price, quality, durability and style of flooring should be suitable to the interior decor and utility of the space.

Things to consider while choosing a tile:

Size: 

Tile size is most important criteria in interior designing. There are wide range of tile sizes available in market such as 300×600 mm, 600×600 mm, 800×800 mm and 1200×1200 mm. In general, large sized tile provides a more spacious look to a space. But it is advised to match size of a tile with the room size or with area of the space. For example, if your room area is less and you use a large size tile on the floor then your room will look even smaller. In such cases, it is recommended to choose medium size tiles of dimension 600×600 mm for a small room area.

Area:

There are varieties of tiles available which can be used for interior and exterior spaces. However for flooring, vitrified tiles are the best option as they are durable and can withstand heavy traffic. For walls, you can choose ceramic or porcelain tiles. These are non-porous & stain resistant tiles. Be careful when choosing tile for wet areas like bathrooms, common washrooms, etc. These areas must have non-porous, anti-skid (non-slip) tile for safety. For external spaces also, its best to select matt finish or anti-skid tiles to avoid accidents.

Tile Finish:

Finish of a tile affects the overall look and feel of a space. The finish of tile can be classified in three main categories namely Glossy finish, Matt finish and Lappato finish. Selecting perfect finish will certainly add value which would create an impressive decor. For example, on walls you may choose glossy finish tiles. Stone finish, Subway, brick finish and mosaic tiles are some of the trending options for bathroom and kitchen walls. Wood finish tiles are popular for bedroom flooring.  Glossy tiles tends to be slippery but easy to clean. Matt tiles are comparatively less slippery but difficult for cleaning when used in public spaces like cafeteria.

Tile Colour:

Generally, use of neutral tile colours is a practical solution. But one can also experiment with bright colours for a funky look in particular spaces like kitchen dado, bathroom wall or children’s room flooring. Usually, tile colours such as grey, brown, cream, and beige create neutral colour palate. You may use red, violet, blue or green accent tiles for wall. It will impart your space a cool and contemporary look. From maintenance point of view dark coloured tiles are easier to maintain than the lighter one. So, we suggest darker tiles for flooring and lighter coloured tiles for walls.

There are various types of tiles available in market. Let us ponder on some of the tile details :

1. Ceramic Tile:

Ceramic tiles are most popular & commonly used in homes and offices. These tiles are hard surfaced & made with sand, clay and few other materials. They are available in market at an affordable price. Ceramic tiles are best suited for walls, flooring, kitchen and bathroom counters, showers, and back-splashes. These are usually used in commercial areas, living rooms, drawing rooms & bedrooms.

2. Terrazzo Tile:

Terrazzo tiles are well fitted for both indoor and outdoor spaces. These tiles are made with the composition of quartz, glass, granite, marble and various other materials. They are used in areas where long lasting and hard flooring is required. You may find terrazzo in public spaces such as shopping malls, restaurants, cafes, railway stations, airports, etc. Apart from flooring, terrazzo tiles can be found on the treads of  staircase and at column bases. They are also used in living rooms, bathrooms and wall decorative finishes.

3. Mosaic Tile:

Mosaics are small tiles (less than 5 cm) that fit together forming a geometric pattern. These are one of the versatile and attractive tiles you can choose from. They add beauty and uniqueness to the space. Mosaic tiles are available in various patterns, shapes and colours. One can create most innovative designs by using mosaics. You will find these tiles in hotel reception and lobby areas, pubs, restaurants, clubs and high-end luxurious residences. They can be best used on bathroom floors, walls, kitchen and bathroom counters, showers, outdoor areas and back-splashes. Bisazza is a popular brand for Mosaic tile.

4. Porcelain Tile :

Porcelain tiles are stain and water resistant. They are more durable than the traditional glazed tiles. Porcelain tiles are available in plain, rough, and polished finish. These tiles require low maintenance. They are mostly used in the areas where there is limited traffic. These tiles are best suitable for walls, kitchen and bathroom counters, showers, swimming pool areas, and back-splashes.

Installation of tiles can be done with spacer blocks or without spacer blocks. With spacer block, minor manufacturing defects of tiles such as not having perfect edges can be covered up. 3-4 mm spacers are recommended which can be grouted with matching/contrast colour depending on design.

The choice of tiles surely affects the entire design of interior or exterior space. Tiles are most commonly used for flooring. But they are multipurpose. An outdoor landscape is incomplete without adding the element of tiling. Tiles could be a perfect solution to create the feature wall. And you could also use tiles to treat water leaking walls.

Finally, a small piece of advice, order a few extra tiles while purchasing, so that there would not be any inconvenience in case of damage during installation.