Are you thinking of changing things up in your home? Redoing the design of your room? Or maybe just changing up the floor? We know there is a world of options over there, and making the right choice can seem like a Herculean task.
Re-flooring a room entails a lot of different things. From choosing the right material to the best finish, colour and design are very important. One wrong decision can have a long-term impact on the functionality as well as the aesthetic of your room.
5 Tips To Make Tile Selection A Breeze
Tiles are one such popular flooring material that can be used in any room of your home – from the bathroom to the kitchen, from the bedroom to the living room.
Manufactured using the latest technology, tiles are durable, long-lasting, easy to clean, require minimal maintenance, and have low porosity, making them an all-around good choice for your room.
But how do you select the perfect floor tile for your room? Here are five tips that can make tile selection a breeze!
1) All You Need To Know About The Different Types Of Tiles
There are various different materials in which tiles are available in the market. Each material comes with its own set of pros and cons, and these should be considered carefully before zeroing in on the material of your choice.
1) Ceramic Tiles
Ceramic tiles are some of the most popular available tiles in the market. These tiles are pocket friendly, durable, and available in a wide variety of colours, designs, sizes, and finishes. These tiles can handle light to medium traffic but are not advised for places that see very high footfalls as they can get damaged or cracked.
2) Vitrified Tiles
Vitrified tiles are some of the strongest tiles in the market and can withstand heavy foot traffic as well as the weight of heavy equipment. There are various different categories of vitrified tiles available, such as full-body vitrified tiles that have a single colour running through the body of the tile, double charge tiles that have two layers of tile, glazed vitrified tiles that have a glazed surface, and polished glazed vitrified tiles have a polished surface.
The size of the tile can have a great impact on the overall look of your room. It is best to choose the size of the tile based on the area of your room to ensure minimal tile wastage. Smaller tiles in a large area can feel cluttered and busy due to a large number of grout lines, while using large tiles in a smaller room can result in a lot of wastage. Choose the size that will minimise wastage and have minimal grout lines to make your room feel much more spacious.
4) Select The Best Finish
Tiles are available in a number of finishes, and these finishes affect not only the look of the tile but also its functionality. Here are some of the most popular tile finishes available:
Glossy Finish
Glossy tiles, as the name suggests, have a glossy, mirror-like shine. The surface of these tiles reflects maximum light and can make your room brighter and feel a lot bigger. Glossy tiles have a smooth surface that easily shows stains, marks and dirt but is very easy to clean. But, these tiles can get slippery, especially when wet. So, if you have elderly, children or pets in your home, it is not advised to install glossy finish tiles on the floor and limit their use to just on the walls.
Matte Finish
Matte finish tiles have a rough surface that does not reflect a lot of light. The tiles also hide stains and dirt very easily, though it can be difficult to clean them due to the many nooks and crevices present on the surface of the tile. But, their rough surface increases the friction between the foot and the surface of the tile, reducing the chances of slips and accidents. Matte finish floor tiles are an ideal choice for homes with elderly, children and pets.
As mentioned before, tiles are available in a wide variety of patterns and colours. With the rapid advancement in printing technology, tiles today can emulate and replicate the aesthetic and feel of a lot of materials such as marble, wood, slate, granite, and other stones. Apart from these, tiles are also available in patterns such as geometric, floral, 3D, mosaic, etc.
It is imperative that you consider the overall theme and colour palette of your room before you zero in on the design. Keep your walls, furniture, upholstery, and wall art in mind while making a choice – you do not want your designs and patterns clashing against each other! You can even use two different designs to create a pattern on your floor, such as marble and wood or geometric and floral.
6) Set A Budget And Stick To It
It is very easy to get carried away while renovating your room. But if you are working with a limited budget, overspending in one area will mean cutting corners on other aspects, which really will not be fun! So, when planning your renovation, set aside a budget for the tiles and make sure you stick to it. Keep this budget in mind while you browse, select and purchase tiles.
Note: While purchasing tiles, make sure you buy 10% more than you require since there will be some waste, and you do not want to run to the store to buy more tiles at the last moment!
The Orientbell Tiles product page allows you to calculate the number of boxes of tiles you will require for your project – all you need to do is enter the area of the space you are looking to tile!
Selecting the right tiles for your bedroom is an important task since tiles are a long-term investment. These tips will steer you in the right direction and help you make a sound choice that is not only aesthetically pleasing but is also a great functional aspect of your room.
How Can Orientbell Tiles Help?
Orientbell Tiles has a wide variety of tools at your service to make tile selection and buying easy. From the availability of all product details and MRP on our website to TriaLook, our industry-first tile visualisation tool, from TruLook, an expert bases assistance program that can design your home for as little as Rs. 500 to our channel partners equipped with QuickLook – we are dedicated to making tile buying a breeze.
So, which floor tiles will you pick for your room?
Mannika Mitra is an Arts Graduate from the Delhi University & a Post-Graduate Diploma holder in Journalism and Mass Communication. She has worked as a digital producer with new agency; ANI, NDTV & Hindustan Times before joining Orientbell Tiles as a part of their digital and content marketing team. Her interest in interior design and knowledge of tiles comes from her family of architects and Tile Shop owners. In her quest to write useful blogs that help users pick the right tiles and renovation inspiration, she frequently does research with architects, tile dealers among others. Apart from writing content for the website she loves to travel, know about various cultures and binge watch on OTT platforms.
PGVT Calacatta Natura 600×1200 mm
