Tiles are a great medium for expression of creativity in a space – you can use multiple colours, patterns, and layout styles to infuse your personality into a space. They are robust and long-lasting, making them a great choice for your floors and walls. The layout of your tiles can visually expand or contract the dimensions of your space almost flawlessly.
While choosing tiles for a space, such as the kitchen, bathroom, living room, office, or even an entryway, it is easy to get swayed by the latest trends. One great way to make tile selection easy is to think what would you like the tiles to do for the space: is their purpose to add colour? Add some texture? Visually expand the space? Add a pattern?
Once you have decided the purpose of the tiles in the space, you can narrow down the colour and design scheme. Looking for some tile laying inspiration for your space? Read on!
1. Play With The Magic Of Pattern To Visually Stretch Your Space
Tiles, when laid in a diagonal pattern, draw your eyes towards the corners of the rooms, creating the illusion that the space is much bigger than it actually is. This is a handy trick to employ in small spaces, such as galley kitchens, bathrooms, corridors, and tight lobbies.
This trick can be replicated with vertically placed tiles too. Stack the tiles with their longer ends stretching towards the ceiling – your eyes will be drawn upwards, making your ceiling look much higher than it actually is – making this trick ideal for rooms that have low ceilings.
If you are looking for ways to make your small bathroom look bigger, here is one hack that is a sure shot way of making the ceiling of your bathroom look higher, giving the bathroom a grand look. And we all know, lighter colours reflect more light and can make your space look bigger.
So, restrict the use of the darker tiles towards the lower half of your space and opt for lighter tiles as you inch towards the ceiling – this quick and easy hack will make your space look a lot taller. This hack can also be used in spaces like the mudroom, entryway, or any space that has a lower ceiling.
If you wish to create an interesting backsplash or an accent wall on a budget, placing the same tile in different ways is a great way to go. Instead of placing the tiles in a simple stack or brick pattern, alternate the faces of the tile to create a striking pattern that is exciting and unique. Here the ODH Trapezoid Blue HL has been placed randomly with either of its faces up and the Nevada Bianco OE 2122 has been randomly inserted to break the monotony of the pattern.
4. Use Tiles To Demarcate Zones
This kind of tile laying pattern is a great choice for open plan homes or spaces that are used for multiple functions. Using a mix of pattern and plain tiles can help you demarcate different zones in the same space, keeping things cohesive, while still creating distinct zones.
For example, if your living room doubles up as the dining room, adding different tiles in the “dining area” can create a zone without any need for physical partitions. This comes with the added advantage of keeping your space visually clutter-free.
Using a single type of tile in your space can be pretty boring. Switch things up and add a magical touch to your space by using a mix of different colours and/or patterns. Using different patterns and colours can help break the monotony of a space and breathe a new life in it.
It is recommended that while choosing tiles for a smaller space, such as bathrooms or mudrooms, you should not use more than three different tiles. Using more than three tiles in a small space can overwhelm the space and make it look too busy, even making it look much smaller than it actually is. One great trick to use in smaller spaces is to use different tiles in the same colour scheme so that your space looks cohesive, but not flat.
Are you a fan of a minimalistic look with no bells and whistles? Well, minimalistic does not mean you cannot play with patterns. On the contrary, most simple tiles allow you to use some of the most amazing tile laying patterns. For example, you may not be able to lay a floral tile in a herringbone pattern without getting a headache, but placing a simple tile in the same pattern is a piece of cake.
A lot of times we are so obsessed with designs and colours that we forget the beauty of simplicity. For example, the image above has two simple tiles in it –Plain Ocean Blue and a plain white tile. While the concept is pretty simple and straightforward on paper, the actual look makes you go wow. The sharp contrast between blue and white is striking, and the simplicity of the whole thing really emphasises the bold contrast.
The herringbone pattern is bold and presents a striking visual wherever it is used. Herringbone tiles can also help you visually expand the space and add a sense of fluidity and movement to it – and this property is especially effective in smaller spaces such as bathrooms, corridors, small balconies, etc. But, this does not mean that you cannot use this tile laying pattern in a larger, more expansive space. The fluid look of the herringbone pattern looks spectacular, regardless of where it is used!
Choosing the right tiles is very important for any space – be it residential or commercial – since tiles are a long term investment and are not replaced every year or two. But, along with selecting the right tiles, it is critical to install them in a way that is pleasing to the eye. I hope this blog has provided you with some inspiration on how to use tiles most effectively.
How Can Orientbell Tiles Help?
Seeing as selecting the right tiles for any space is such a big deal, selecting the perfect tile may feel like a daunting task. But, with Orientbell Tiles’ tile visualisation tool,TriaLook, tile selection is now a breeze. Simply upload a picture of your space and try the tiles to see which tile(s) works best for your space. Use our Tile Calculator to figure out how many boxes you need, and you can purchase the tiles from the website itself. Want to physically hold the tiles before buying? Use our store locator to find the store nearest to you – our team of tile experts will help you to the best of your ability. So, what are you waiting for? Begin your tile journey with Orientbell Tiles today!
Mannika Mitra brings a wealth of experience to her role as Digital Content and Marketing Manager at Orientbell Tiles, having been associated with the company for the past 5 years. With a total of 12 years in the industry, Mannika holds an Arts degree from Delhi University and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication. Her journey has seen her excel as a digital producer at esteemed news agencies like ANI, NDTV, and Hindustan Times.
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