Dado Tiles: Uses and Design Ideas

With the constant advancement of technology in the tile industry customers today can find tiles in a large variety of colour and designs at their disposal. This has led to a rise in demand for tiles with various patterns and colours that can appeal to customers and work well with various designs and colour schemes. Interior designers today are veering towards dado tiles in a lot of spaces. This is because tiles can easily be used to inject colour and pattern into a room, without affecting the functionality of the space. Dado tiles, which were traditionally only used for backsplashes, are now used freely throughout the home. Shop this look here and here. From backsplashes in the kitchen and bathrooms, to accent walls in the living room to even trendy floor designs in the bedroom - dado tiles can be used almost anywhere if you put your mind to it. But, it is not just the aesthetic value that makes dado tiles a popular choice - it is the functional value they add to the space too. Dado tiles are easy to clean, thanks to the kitchen dado tiles texture, with often a swipe of a washcloth being enough to clean them. They also have a low porosity rate, making them a great choice for wet spaces or spaces that often see spills and splashes. A wide variety of dado tiles or backsplash tiles are available in the market today, making it easier than ever to find the perfect tiles for your project. There is a wide variety of dado tiles or backsplash tiles available in the market today, in different kitchen dado tiles texture, materials, finishes, designs, sizes, and colours. If you're remodelling your kitchen or bathroom, a tiles showroom will be a great place to look into the latest styles and possibilities. You can make an informed decision and realise your design idea by visiting a tiles showroom, which offers a wide selection of designs, colours, and materials.  Depending upon your vision for your space you can choose the tile for any area – from luxurious marble tiles to dazzling Moroccan tiles to quirky origami tiles! Hereon we will talk about what is dado tiles, the various design probabilities, various uses, and the dos and don’ts associated with them.

What are Dado Tiles?

Shop this look here. Dado tiles or backsplash tiles are tiles that are used to fill the gap between the cabinets and the countertop, especially behind the stove or behind the sink area. Earlier, dado tiles had the sole purpose of protecting the walls from spills and splashes that occur during cooking and cleaning while elevating the kitchen decor. But, now, along with this purpose, kitchen dado tiles designs are also used to inject colour and pattern into the space, create a focal point and enhance the overall look of the room. Also read: 20 Trendiest Kitchen Backsplash Ideas The kitchen Dado tiles can be used in a variety of spaces and their use is wider than the backsplash area or the kitchen area. These tiles can be used in living rooms, bedrooms, and even entryways to enhance the look of the space and uplift its ambience to the next level.

Benefits of Using Dado Tiles

There are multiple benefits of laying dado tiles in your modern home interiors. Here are some of these benefits:

Easy to Clean 

Dado tiles are easy to clean. You can easily clean their surfaces with a damp cloth and remove dirt, dust, and even cooking residues. So, they are highly convenient for different spaces, including kitchens, and perfect for maintaining cleanliness and hygiene. 

Protective Layer

If you consider infusing kitchen dado tiles in your kitchen, these tiles can act as a protective layer for your kitchen walls, safeguarding them from the cooking mess. As you may know, kitchen walls are more likely to get stained or catch a lot of cooking residues. If they are left uncleaned for some time, they can result in bacterial growth and even bad odours and airborne diseases. That's why you should consider applying dado tiles, which are easy to clean, to your kitchen walls and protect the walls from trapping these residues. Likewise, you can add dado in bathrooms to add a protective layer to the walls. 

Durable Material 

These dado tiles are made using high-quality materials so that they can survive in high temperatures and moist areas. Thus, you can freely use dado tiles for bathroom and kitchens. Also, they can work wonderfully in other living spaces, including living rooms, dining rooms, and bedrooms. 

Precise Installation 

The installation process for these dado tiles involves multiple steps, including surface preparation, adhesive application, and grouting. These steps are not very complicated, making these tiles a great choice for modern spaces. Also, each step ensures the proper functionality of the wall. 

Aesthetics 

Dado tile designs can upgrade the appearance of any space by injecting colours and designs, giving every space its one-of-a-kind style. They can add beauty to every space, be it your kitchen or bathroom.

Top Ways to Use Dado Tiles

Shop this look here. Do you believe that dado tiles can only be used in the kitchen? If the answer to that question is yes, well, you are sadly mistaken. Dado tiles may have started off as solely kitchen backsplash tiles, but these tiles can be used almost everywhere now. Don’t believe us? Read on to know more!

As A Backsplash In The Kitchen

Shop this look here. As mentioned, dado tiles are often used on the backsplash in the kitchen, helping add pops of colour and pattern into the kitchen. Often, people prefer to keep the kitchen space simple and chic. The backsplash area allows you to show your creativity and go wild, while still maintaining a semblance of constraint.

As Accent Tiles In The Bathroom

Shop this look here, here, and here. Dado tiles are essentially accent tiles and these tiles can be used almost anywhere to upgrade the look of the space, and the bathroom is one such space. While smaller in area, bathrooms are one of the most frequently used spaces and are often well-decorated. Dado tiles for bathroom can be used to create an accent wall or accent feature in the bathroom, enhancing the look of the space. You can find the colour and design of dado tiles for bathroom according to your liking as they come in varied options in the market.

On The Fireplace

Shop this look here. Tiles are a great way to upgrade your fireplace to the next level. The spunky designs and colours of dado tiles can be used around the fireplace to inject colour and pattern into your living room in a subtle way. Make sure the colour and pattern of your dado tiles stand out, but still work well with your existing furniture, décor, and upholstery.

In The Entryway

Shop this look here. The entryway is the gateway into your home and dado tiles can also help in creating a colourful and dramatic entryway to your home. With dado tiles you can add pattern, colour, and texture to your entryway and elevate the look of the space, having a striking impact on anyone that enters your home – leaving them mesmerised. These tiles can also be used in the lobby area of your apartment to create an eye-catching space.

On Stair Risers

Shop this look here and here. The stairs do not need to be plain and simple, but adding patterned tiles on top of the stairs can be a tripping hazard too. So, to counter this, we propose a middle ground – dado tiles on stair risers. These tiles can add a refreshing pop of colour or design to your stairs, without affecting their functionality.

To Create Floor Design: Dado Tiles can be used to create a one-of-a-kind Floor Design.

Shop this look here. Floors no longer need to be boring – you can use designer dado tiles to add a stylish touch to your floors and create a design that is unique and personal. A combination of plain and dado tiles can help enhance the beauty of your space. Shop this look here. Dado tiles are available in a wide variety of designs and colours today, making it easy to use them in almost any space. They work great as accent tiles to accentuate the beauty of your room. From being used around fireplaces in the living room to creating an accent wall in the bedroom behind your headboard – these tiles can effortlessly help create a focal point for your space.

Latest Dado Tiles Design Ideas to Beautify & Revamp Your Space

Looking for ideas to incorporate dado tiles in your home? Scroll down for some stellar ideas that you won’t be able to resist stealing for your next renovation!

Fun Florals

Shop this look here. Floral prints are fun and can add a happy vibe to any space they are added to. While floral upholstery and drapes are a common sight across the home, floral tiles are slowly carving their way in too! Shop this look here. Floral patterns are a timeless classic – from the loud floral prints of the 70s to the subtle and elegant floral patterns being used today – floral patterns have always been in trend. While a floral look can look overwhelming if overdone, especially with larger prints, smaller prints can be used over a large expanse without any fear of overwhelming your space.

Moroccan Tiles

With the gradual shift in interior trends, neutrals, which have been ruling trends for so long now, are being shifted to the back seat, while brighter colours make a comeback. One of the trends that have been slowly gaining due to this slow return of brighter colours is Moroccan tiles. A lot of people think that Moroccan dado tiles are too loud, with their bold patterns and bright colours, and are best suited just for the kitchen backsplash, but this is far from the truth. Moroccan tiles are versatile and can be used in almost any space you can think of – from kitchens to bathrooms to living rooms to stairs to even outdoors!

Pastels Coloured Tiles

Shop this look here, here, and here. With the rise of colour, as evident from the last few Pantone Colours of the Years, pastels are also making a comeback! These refreshing colours can instantly uplift the mood of your space and add a light and airy feel to it. Shop this look here. Colours such as mint green, coral, mauve, and robin’s egg blue are usually what constitutes as “pastel” for most people. Still, theoretically, any colour that has a high value and mid to low saturation falls under the umbrella of “pastel”. Shop this look here and here. These soft colours can be easily used in the kitchen, bathroom, living room, dining room, and bedroom, and work very well when paired with hardwood floors, wooden tiles, and wooden furniture.

Modern Pattern Tiles

Patterns such as chequered, chevron, and stripes are often considered to be some of the more “modern” patterns. They add a stylish and chic look to your space while oozing tons of elegance. Shop this look here, here, and here. Stripes are not only a great way to add some oomph to your space, but they can also help make your space look bigger. Horizontal stripes can make your space look deeper, while vertical stripes can make your ceiling appear a lot higher. Shop this look here and here. Chequered designs are another style that is very appealing these days. Evoking nostalgic memories of a chessboard, chequered tiles work well in retro-themed homes – especially black and white checks! You can opt for the classic two-colour pattern for your floors and walls or use chequered dado tiles for a similar impact with minimal effort. Shop this look here. Chevron tiles have gained extreme popularity in a very short period of time. While laying tiles in a chevron pattern is a labour-intensive process, chevron dado tiles can be easily installed to add a modern touch to any space. They can help create a focal point that is eye-catching but does not overwhelm the whole space with its presence.

Origami-Printed Tiles

Shop this look here. Origami printed tiles are 3D look tiles that resemble folded paper from far away. These tiles have a very geometric look and can make your space appear striking. Designs like a pinwheel design or a triangular design often evoke images of origami pieces and can add visual depth and a quirky element to your space.

Monochromatic Tiles

Shop this look here, here, here, and here. Monochrome is the new black! In theory, using a single colour over and over may seem like a boring concept, but, in reality, when executed well, monochrome designs can be the highlight of your home. Shop this look here. By using multiple shades of a single colour you can easily highlight the spaces you want using monochromatic dado tiles. If using a single shade is not you, you can add a soft neutral, such as white, black, or beige to balance the look of the space, while still not taking away from your desired colour scheme.

Honeycomb Pattern Tiles

Shop this look here. Hexagons hexagons everywhere and not a bee in sight! Hexagons are the new “in” shape with everyone and their brother rushing to add some in their design. From hexagon wall décor, coasters, and even hexagon centre tables, it is raining hexagons! So, why should hexagonal tiles be left behind? Shop this look here.Hexagons help create an interesting visual treat while providing you with unparalleled symmetry – making your space look unique and intriguing at the same time. While you can find tiles that are actually shaped like hexagons, getting them installed can prove to be a long drawn process and even the slightest mistake can ruin your whole look. Tiles with a hexagonal pattern are easier to install and are more forgiving of errors.

Geometric Patterns Wall Tiles

Shop this look here. Geometric tiles have been a popular choice in modern households – they provide you with an aesthetic that is symmetrical, uniform, and precise and has a smooth and flowing look one craves from tiles. Geometric tiles add a sense of movement to the space with their iconic shapes, allowing you to create a large impact even with the smallest of applications. Some spaces need a broad statement, while others fare well with a subtle nod and geometric tiles can aid you in creating both looks seamlessly.

Mosaic Dado Tiles

Shop this look here, here, and here. Mosaic is magic, but this magic is not well used since a lot of people have the misconception that mosaic tiles are only great for kitchens, bathrooms, swimming pools, and other outdoor areas. The fact is that mosaic dado tiles can be used in spaces like your living room, study or bedroom quite effortlessly. These tiles pair well with various other tiles, such as the marble tiles in the image above, and can make your space stand out like no other. Shop this look here, here, and here. Traditional mosaic tiles are usually a collage of different materials put together on a mesh – but these can be difficult to install and clean. Mosaic-look tiles provide you with the same aesthetic with a lot less effort towards installation and cleaning.

Shimmer and Shine Dado Tiles

Shop this look here, and here Glossy finish dado tiles can impart a great look to your space. They also reflect maximum light; brightening up any space they are added to and making it look a lot bigger. Glossy wall tiles are very easy to clean thanks to their smooth surface.

 Marble Backsplash Tiles

Shop this look here, here, and here. The aura of marble tiles is simply incomparable. The luxury, the opulence, the royal feeling – it is simply unmatched. While regular marble slabs require a lot of maintenance and would not be a great backsplash choice, marble tiles require minimal maintenance, have low porosity, and are super easy to clean – allowing you to incorporate the marble aesthetic into your space easily.

Glass Backsplash Tiles

Glass backsplash tiles are highly popular and for good reason – they are easy to clean and do not require a lot of maintenance. Glass backsplash tiles can be used in a variety of spaces and can even be painted over to change the look of the space at a minimal cost!

Metallic Coloured Tiles - Grey, Copper, Gold, Etc

Shop this look here. Metallic shades can add a touch of glitter and shine to your space. Dado tiles with hints of metallic hues, such as gold, silver, or bronze, can help add a subtle luminosity to your space without looking too gaudy. These tiles can not only up the ante of the ambience but can also brighten up your room.

Brick Textured Tiles

Shop this look here. Exposed brick walls were a popular trend in the past, but the slow chipping of exposed bricks is what caused the trend to decline. Brick walls are back but in the form of brick tiles. These tiles provide you with the look of brick walls but in a convenient tile form. Shop this look here. Brick tiles can spruce up the look of the space and add a vintage touch with a modern twist. Today, brick tiles are available in a large number of different colours and designs for you to choose from.

Wooden Tiles

Shop this look here, here, and here. With wooden tiles, you can add a classic wood look to any space- especially places where you cannot use traditional hardwood or wood planks, such as bathrooms or open terraces. These tiles bring in the warmth one usually associates with wood, while still being sturdy enough to withstand the onslaught of water and other liquids. Wooden dado tiles work well with most colour and design schemes, making them an apt choice for all spaces.

Do’s And Don’ts of Dado Tiles

Now that we have seen the various uses of dado tiles as well as design ideas, here is a list of do’s and don’ts that you should keep in mind while selecting dado tiles for your space. Do's

• The installation of dado tiles requires a rough surface for the tile to hold. Make sure your work surface is rough before you start with the installation process.
• Make sure your walls intersect at right angles for proper installation of tiles.
• Ensure that your surface is dry and rid of all sorts of debris before you start with the installation process.
• Ensure all your electrical and plumbing work is over before you start with tile installation – it is difficult to remove installed tiles without breaking them.
• Soak your tiles in room temperature water for at least 2 hours before you install them.
• While laying tiles make sure you mark the positions of cabinets, cupboards, shelves, lights, taps, etc. with a pencil or tape. This will aid in easy cutting of tiles.
• Lay out your tiles and check every single piece before you start installing them.

Don'ts 

• Avoid opting for heavy slabs of stones or heavy tiles – they can be difficult to install on walls and can increase labour costs.
• While tapping tiles into place never use metal hammers as they can cause the tile to crack. Always use wooden or rubber mallets.
• Avoid letting the extra grout dry on the surface of the tile. If there is excess grout on the surface of the tile, make sure you wipe it off using a wet rag or sponge before moving on to the next tile.
• Do not prepare too much grout and get rid of the grout that has been set.

Dado tiles are a great way to protect your walls while enhancing the aesthetic beauty of your space. Gone is the time when dado tiles were solely used in kitchens and bathrooms – today dado tiles can be used in almost any space you desire.

How Can Orientbell Tiles Help?

Are you looking for designer dado tiles for your space, but are confused by the options available? Select the tiles of your choice, upload a picture of your space to TriaLook, and see how the tiles will look post-installation in your space in real time. Still confused? Visit a store near you and our in-house tile experts will help you make the right choice!