Modern homes often feature minimalist design, characterised by clean lines, generous use of glass and refreshing colour palettes. We also find in many of the newer properties that we feature on this site that some interior designers are looking more to tiling as a means of enhancing a home’s aesthetic. On that note, we’re dedicating a blog post to the many applications and benefits of tiling.
There are many reasons to consider tiling your property. To begin with, the sheer breadth and variety of tiles that are available today is astonishing, and this means that you’ll have no problem finding styles and colours to suit both your personal preferences and the existing design motif of your property. As you’ll see further down in this post, tiling portions of your home could also serve to increase its value. But before we go into that, let’s pause to consider specific ways you can use tiles at home.
Read more after the jump:
Where to Incorporate Tiling to Your Property
There are a few different ways that tiles can be incorporated into your home or property. We’ll go over a few of them in the space below:
Floors
Obviously, the floor is the most common place to install tiles – particularly in the kitchen and toilet, but also in other rooms. These days, the breadth and variety of tiles that are available on the market means that you can easily find a style and colour to suit other rooms in the house as well. If you’re having trouble deciding what is going to be best for your situation, then set aside some time to browse our interior design section for ideas. Likewise, it never hurts to call out an interior designer for a consultation.
Walls
Tiles can also be placed on the wall in certain situations. This is a particularly useful approach for rooms in which splashing water could be a problem. Naturally, the main candidate for a tiled wall is the toilet and shower. Some homes also feature a tiled backsplash in the kitchen above the countertops.
Outdoor areas
Tiles can also be incorporated into outdoor areas such as patios, swimming pool areas and more. They’re also popular in indoor-outdoor rooms such as a conservatory or partially enclosed porch. Give plenty of thought to whether or not your flooring tiles are likely to get wet. If they are, look specifically for the non-slip variety.
Inlays
The points listed above represent fairly conventional tile applications, but there are plenty of other ways to use them as well. For example, some furniture designers use tiles as an inlay in table surfaces, which serves a decorative purpose while also providing a durable and easy-to-clean surface. Your interior designer may also recommend using groupings of tiles with unique colours or designs as decorative inlays within larger tiles. This can create attractive accents and designs within larger floor and wall areas.
Regardless of where you choose to install a tiled surface, it’s absolutely essential that you charter the services of an experienced tiling team. Proper tiling is much more difficult than it looks, and it requires a great deal of skill and patience to keep the surface level. So whether you’re looking for tilers in Wolverhampton, Sydney or anywhere else in the world, it’s worth doing some research to find a local service provider with the requisite skills and certifications required for the job.
Tiling Floors in Preparation for an Eventual Sale
Tiling your home may serve to increase its value. Depending on the flooring that is currently installed, it’s quite possible that tiles could serve as an upgrade. Aside from hardwood flooring, tiled floors are amongst the most sought-after floor types for modern homes. This is partially because they’re much easier to clean than carpets and throw rugs. And provided you source the tiles from a quality vendor and have them installed by a skilled tiling specialist, you can expect years of enjoyment out of your new floors.
It’s also worth noting that enhancing your home’s interior could end up making it easier to sell even if the improvements that you make do not contribute to a higher sale price. For example, all things equal, a prospective buyer may choose to purchase your house rather than another similarly priced or similarly located property simply because they appreciate the ease of maintenance that tile flooring offers.
Today’s homeowners appreciate low-maintenance properties more than ever – but that doesn’t mean that they want to make compromises in terms of style or design. Thanks to the ease with which tiles can be cleaned and maintained, there’s much to be said for pulling out dingy carpets and worn flooring in favour of attractive, easy-to-clean tiles. And given the sometimes unpredictable nature of the property market, it’s certainly worth doing everything you can to boost the value of your home and make it easier to sell.
Choosing the Right Tiles for the Job
As you begin shopping around for tiles, you’ll quickly notice how many varieties and options you have at your disposal. Ceramic and porcelain tiles come in a range of sizes and colours, depending on where and how they are intended to be used. If you’re looking for help making the right selection, you’re best off consulting with two different specialists – a tiler and an interior designer.
Tilers in Wolverhampton and elsewhere can help you determine the best rating for a given application. For example, if the tiles are going to be installed in a high traffic area (such as the kitchen), then they’re likely to recommend a porcelain tile that is rated to accommodate heavy foot traffic. But your tiler isn’t likely to have much to say in regards to the colour and design of your tiles.
This is where the interior designer comes into play. Whether you hire a consultant to help on a purely advisory basis or a full-time designer to help with everything from planning to procurement, there’s much to be said for having an expert on the job. You’ll end up with a more beautiful final product than you ever dreamed was possible.
Images from Tyche Apartment by Casa Colombo & Serboli Architecture
