The Ultimate Guide To Choosing Tiles
The Ultimate Guide To Choosing Tiles
Expert tips from the Interior Design team at Baked Tiles
Welcome to the ultimate guide to choosing the perfect tiles for your space, brought to you by the interior design experts at Baked Tiles. Selecting tiles can be a transformative decision that defines the style and functionality of your room. Our team of interior designers have put together this guide to help you make informed decisions, from picking out samples, to understanding how colours and patterns can impact your space.
Feeling overwhelmed by all the design decisions you need to make?
You can always book a consultation with one of our experienced, qualified interior designers to guide you through the process.
How to Select Tile Samples
Tip One
Start with Your Vision
Before diving into the world of tiles, it’s important to have a clear vision of the style you want for your space. Whether you’re looking for a modern and minimal feeling or find yourself leaning into a more rustic, traditional style, knowing your design goals will help narrow down your options.
We recommend creating a Pinterest account, saving images of rooms you like. You could start an old-school scrap book, if ripping out pages in magazines is more up your street, or you could create a digital mood-board with items and rooms that fall into the style you love. Canva is great for this. Slowly you should get an understanding of the type of look you love, so when it comes to ordering samples (whether that’s tiles, fabrics, paint colours) you will be able to see if they could easily fit within your design scheme.
If you are unsure what tiles fall into the right aesthetic for your space, don’t forget that Baked Tiles design team have curated specific collections that fall into certain design categories, you find everything from Modern Organic, Scandi and Retro collections via the Shop Tiles/Shop by Style navigation on our site.
Tip Two
Consider the Room’s Purpose
Each room has its unique requirements, it’s so important to consider what the room will be used for, who will be using it and what you want from the room.
For example, when it comes to a kitchen, do you want tiles that are durable and easy to clean? When it comes to a bathroom, is it a wet room? Then it’s important to pick a product that is slip-resistant. And in a hallway, are lots of people going to be walking through the house? If the answer is yes, then you will need to pick a tile that can withstand heavy foot traffic.
Understanding the practical needs of the room will guide you towards the right material and style.
Tip Three
Materials Matter
Here’s a quick overview of common tile materials to help guide your decision:
Ceramic Tiles: Tend to have a more artisanal feel and are suitable for most indoor applications.
Porcelain Tiles: Denser and more durable, they’re perfect for high-traffic areas, but also available in a wide range of design styles, everything from encaustic style, terracotta styles, wood and stone, all with the added benefit of not requiring any sealing. We adore porcelain floor tiles with the luxury of underfloor heating too.
Tip Four Tip Five
Order Multiple Samples
Always order a few samples of any tiles that have shading, are multi-tonal or a pattern. This allows you to see variations in colour, texture, and finish, which can look different online compared to in person.
Think About Size & Shape
The size and shape of your tiles can dramatically change the perception of space. Larger tiles can create a sense of openness in a small room, while smaller tiles can add detail and texture.
Best Practices for Viewing Tile Samples
Lighting is Key
Tiles can look dramatically different under various lighting conditions. Place your samples in the room during different times of the day to see how they appear in natural light, evening light, and under artificial lighting.
View Samples in the Space
It’s essential to place the tiles in the actual room where they will be installed. This helps you visualize how the tiles will interact with your wall colours, furniture, and overall décor. Also place the sample at the distance away from you that you will generally view the tile once installed. So many people view the tile samples close-up, when in fact you will rarely view them from that aspect. Place them against a wall or floor and step back to view them from at least a meter. From a design perspective, some details that you thought were quite prominent, when held in your hand, will simply fade away, this will give you a more accurate feel for the tile and avoid you pairing it with other colours you hardly see.
Assess from Different Angles
Move around the room and view the tiles from different angles to understand how they catch the light and change appearance.
Tip Seven
Consider the Grout
Don’t overlook grout colour when choosing tiles. Grout can either blend in with the tiles for a seamless look or contrast for a bolder pattern effect. The design team are here if you have any questions about the right grout.
The Colour Tile You Pick Will Impact Room Size and Atmosphere Tip Eight
Lighter Tiles
Light-coloured tiles like whites, creams, and warm soft greys make a room feel larger and more open. They reflect more light, enhancing the feeling of space and brightness.
Darker Tiles
Darker tiles create a cosy, intimate vibe, perfect for larger rooms where you want to add a touch of warmth. However, in smaller spaces, they can make the room feel a bit more enclosed, or dramatic, depending on your style preferences. Nothing wrong with a dramatic room scheme!
Warm Colours
Tiles in warm tones, such as beiges, yellows, terracotta and reds, add a sense of warmth and comfort, making a room feel welcoming and inviting.
Cool Colours
Cool tones like blues, greens, and greys can give a room a calm, serene atmosphere. They’re excellent for creating a sense of relaxation, especially in bathrooms and bedrooms.
High-Contrast Tiles
Using tiles with bold patterns or contrasting colours can make a dramatic statement. They draw attention and can act as a focal point in the room, perfect for feature walls or striking floor designs.
Using Patterns and Textures
Patterned and textured tiles add depth and interest to a room. Be mindful that whilst patterns can make large spaces feel vibrant, they might overwhelm smaller areas, so choose carefully as some pattern styles work better than others in a smaller space.
Tip Nine
Tiles Can Influence Room Dimensions
Making a Room Feel Taller
Use vertically placed tiles or elongated shapes to draw the eye upward, making ceilings appear higher. Exaggerate this by going for on-trend stripes of different coloured tiles.
Making a Room Feel Wider
Horizontal tiles can expand the sense of width in narrow spaces, making them feel more spacious and once again stripes are the perfect tool for making a narrow wall look wider. One other tip, if you wish to make a wall look as open as possible, always use one tile design across the whole wall, placing a feature only in the centre, or to one side will always make it look smaller.
Creating visual space
Larger tiles with minimal grout lines can create a seamless look that gives the illusion of greater depth and space.
Focal Points and Accents
Accent tiles can be used to highlight specific areas of a room, like a shower niche or a kitchen backsplash, drawing the eye to these details.
Tip Ten
Order In Plenty Of Time
Many of our most loved tiles sell really quickly and if we happen to be out of stock, they can often take between 4-6 weeks to come back into stock, so order early! We also recommend waiting for tiles to arrive a good few days or a week before your tiler is due to start, so there’s time to fix any issues that might occur.
Need Our Expert Help?
Choosing the right tiles will be a transformative decision for your space, and we hope this guide has given you the confidence to make informed choices. If you’re still unsure or need tailored advice, we invite you to book a consultation with our design team at Baked Tiles. Our experienced designers will be delighted to help you create the perfect look for your home. Visit bakedtiles.com to:
