What aspects should be taken into account to get it right?
If there is a practical and functional coating for spaces such as the bathroom and kitchen where there are wet areas, it is ceramic and porcelain stoneware. It is resistant, waterproof, easy to maintain and clean and, in addition, it boasts an endless repertoire of designs to choose from.
However, such a profusion of models can make us fall into indecision. Here are some golden rules to help you choose the best tiles for your house.
Stick to one colour palette (and only one)
In ceramics and tile coverings, colour is one of the most used resources when designing. You will find so many models and in so many colours ranges that it is worth focusing your attention on. When choosing, think of a range that you are passionate about and stick to it. It will be a good formula for not saturating the environment with too many shades.
Bet on the monochrome effect
In line with what was explained in the previous rule, it is not advisable to fill your bathroom or kitchen with tiles of many different shades. It is preferable to bet on a monochrome effect and choose a single colour.
It can be white, especially if the space is not too large, or a dark tone if your bathroom or kitchen has enough square meters and natural light. Be that as it may, moderation when choosing the colours of the tiles is a sure success.
Combine printed pieces with other smooth ones
A tiled floor decorated with geometric motifs can be elegant and modern, as long as it is counterbalanced with smooth pieces on the walls, for example.
If your wall is covered with decorated tiles, then choose a bare floor to balance the whole. As for the colours, opt for a tone in the patterned pieces and bet on it for the smooth ones.
Mix different formats and sizes
Using different formats within the same series of tiles is an unbeatable way of bringing dynamism to the space without breaking the harmony.
The pieces can share, for example, the same colour to unify the final result. Choose two or three different formats and sizes and combine them on the walls and the floor.
Choose the most suitable finish.
Glossy, matte or satin: these are the three most common finishes for ceramics, although, in recent times, new shades have been created (metallic, crackle, etc.).
The good idea is to combine two different finishes (gloss and matt, for example) in the same space, as long as the functionality of the materials is not compromised. In other words, for the flooring, it will be better to choose a non-slip flat floor, while for the kitchen walls, tiles with a gloss finish may be easier to clean.
Aesthetics must be put at the service of functionality and not the other way around.
The joints between tiles also matter.
An important chapter, which will have its consequences on the final result of the ceramic coverings, consists of choosing what the joints between the ceramic pieces will be like, as well as their grout.
Depending on whether they are broader or narrower, the joints will be more or less evident. And the same will happen with the colour of the grout. If it is dark (or white in the case of black tiles, for example), it will have a more significant role at an aesthetic level, and if it is the colour of the tile, it will go unnoticed, giving it greater relevance.
Subway tiles are a success.
This type of bevelled glazed ceramic tiles with a rectangular format does not lose its validity for a long time.
They began to be used in the New York subway (hence its name) since a resistant, durable and easy-to-maintain material was required. For these same qualities, they are a benchmark in kitchens and bathrooms.
In addition to practicality, subway tiles provide elegance and a touch that remains cosmopolitan. Choose them in white or black: both options are equally captivating, and, in addition, they combine wonderfully with other coverings, materials and designs.
The power of perfect imitations
Are you passionate about natural stone surfaces? Do you want the elegance of marble for your bathroom? Do not hesitate and choose ceramic coverings that imitate this type of material.
There are models of incredible fidelity that provide you with the security and guarantees of porcelain stoneware—marble, granite, slate, and concrete. You will find versions of all these materials so that you can enjoy their beauty with the qualities of an off-road coating.
For the pavement, the most resistant materials
In the vast universe of ceramic coverings, there are tiles of various qualities and features. Some pieces are more solid and resistant than others, so you must make sure that you choose them correctly.
Ceramics suitable for floors must have unique characteristics that are not necessary for wall coverings. Ceramic flooring must withstand abrasion stoically and must be non-slip to prevent accidents.