Style with tiles

Inside or out, tiles can give your home a long-lasting, stylish yet practical finish. For people with dust allergies, a tiled floor offers a healthy alternative to carpet, while tiles that are exposed to the sun in winter will retain heat for hours, imparting a welcome warmth to the room.

Glazed, terracotta, patterned or textured: there are so many varieties, colours, styles and sizes now available. Here are some tips to guide you through the maze.

Small or large? Larger tiles might seem like they’ll get the job done more quickly, but it’s important that the size of the tile should match the area of the room. A lot of small tiles can be overwhelming on a large floor, whereas large tiles tend to make the walls or floor look bigger. Remember also that the more tiles you use, the more grout lines will be visible and these will also have an effect on the overall look of the room.

If you’re tiling a small room, rectangular tiles can make it appear larger, while a long narrow room will seem wider if they are laid across the floor rather than along its length. Alternatively, set contrasting or chequerboard tiles in a diagonal pattern to create an optical illusion of incalculable space.

Glazed or unglazed? Glazed tiles are waterproof so don’t need sealing – but they can be slippery when used as flooring. Unglazed tiles such as the ever-popular terracotta, on the other hand, need to be sealed if they’re being installed in areas where they might be subjected to oil or food stains, or heavy use.

In a dark room, light-coloured glazed flooring and walls will have the effect of capturing and reflecting the available light.

Colours or patterns? Decorative, coloured or patterned tiles give you the option of creating your own artwork in a space that might otherwise be simply utilitarian. Take into account the overall style of the room then ‘play’ with the idea of chequering, edging, colours and shapes.

For a unique finish, look for hand-made tiles; they might be more expensive but can really make an impact when used in conjunction with regular tiles, as a feature, border or diagonals.

A note of caution: wall tiles are not suitable for use as flooring as they lack the density needed to support foot traffic and furniture; floor tiles, on the other hand, can be used on walls though you will need to account for their weight.

Grouting. Use grout that is complementary-coloured rather than contrasting – you want it to blend in with the tiles rather than delineating them. Avoid using white grout on flooring, as it can be difficult to maintain.

When considering laying tiled flooring, always take into account the increased floor height and whether it will impact doors and entry ways into the room.