Tile has been typecast. People think that tile is for bathrooms and kitchens only. But it’s just not true! There is great style to a tile living room, bedroom, or more, when used with purpose. Why do I say used with purpose?
Because tile has so much more style than carpet. It can be dull or shiny, plain or decorative, monotone or full of colors. The aesthetic options with tile are wide open. What this means is that it’s easier to create a situation where the style of tile doesn’t mesh well with the interior design of a space- simply because it’s not just a blank slate (actually, it could be a blank slate tile)!
But you know what I mean. Tile has flavor. For that reason people sometimes leave it out of the larger living spaces is their homes. But you don’t have to. You can use this flavorfulness to your advantage.
List of Contents
Tips for Tile in Living Spaces:
Size Matters
When you look at homes that use tile well, you’ll notice that the larger the space, the larger the tile surface area. Although coin size tiles can be charming in a small bathroom, they tend not to do you any favors in a large office.
Finish is More Important that You Might Think
Why is finish so important? Because the amount of light a tile reflects will affect your ambiance, how the room feels. It can also affect how often the tile needs cleaned, and how safe the flooring is when wet. High shine can lead to glare, but also brings a bright clean feeling. Dull or matte finishes create a more rustic or natural feel, and tend to offer safer footing, but can be perceived as less clean.
Colors Can Be More Intense Than Expected
When you look at tile samples for a small space, you can often judge easily how the color will affect the decor. But when you’re going to use a tile for a large space, colors that looked tame in hand became stronger, and brighter seeming when used over large areas.
So while tile will offer you a wide range of colors, keep in mind that the tile samples may seem more tame than a whole floor will.