Flooring is one of the most significant design decisions made for any room or home, and it can be tricky to know what type of flooring to choose. Flooring is not just a large investment, but the options are endless. Floors can have a huge impact on the overall feel and longevity of your home.

Over the next few weeks, we’re sharing what we’ve learned about flooring, the pros and cons for each flooring type and floors we love right now. This week is all about tiles!

Tiles

Gone are the days when tile floors were reserved solely for kitchens and bathrooms. A reputation for being cold and hard is a no longer deserved label. Tiles make up a massive portion of the flooring industry but not always in the home.

With the increasing numbers of homes opting for underfloor heating, tiles are still the best option. See, the reason they're cold to the touch is that they conduct heat well, and this can be exploited in reverse. Pair this with an endless choice of colour, size, pattern, surface, grout, thickness and layout - you are on to a winner.

We love the tile in mudrooms, laundry/utility rooms, bathrooms, and even sometimes in kitchens. They are the perfect option for any space that will get wet and dirty all the time. If you want to use tiles elsewhere in the home, such as a hallway, make sure you opt for a warm colour or pattern, such as a wood plank design with underfloor heating so it's pleasant underfoot and warm to look at.

We are going crazy for brick slips - especially in rooms that get dirty and link outside such as a mudroom. You can opt for a more neutral colour brick with a closely matching grout for a softer look too. Limestone is great for bigger budgets as this can be used outside too such as pathways and patios, linking the indoors with the outdoors.

Pros

• Budget Friendly

• Durable

• Variety of patterns

• Easy to clean and maintain

Cons

• Cold underfoot without heating

• Slippery if less than R10 rated*

• Natural stones such as marble can require additional care

USE FOR

• High traffic areas

• Spaces that get wet/dirty

• Mudrooms

• Utility/laundry rooms

• Bathrooms

You can get great tile on a budget, tile is usually very durable (depending on what you select), it is easy to clean/maintain, and there are lots of patterns for laying tile. Opt for an R10 or above slip rating if laying somewhere wet, and certain tiles are more porous and will require more maintenance (ie: marble tiles and cement tiles).

Here are some of our favourite tiled floors inspiring us right now including pretty hexagon mosaic patterns:

Sources, From Top to Bottom: 

All tile floors via our Pinterest board.

Hex floors by Fireclay Tile via our Pinterest Board.

Other patterned tiles via our Pinterest Board.