Choosing the Best Tiles for Your Space

Tiles are a key feature in any home, adding character, ensuring durability, and setting the tone for your space. Whether renovating a modern kitchen, refreshing a compact bathroom, or revamping your outdoor entertaining area, picking the best tiles can make all the difference.

In this guide, we’ll explain how to choose the best tiles for your home and share some expert tips to help you plan smarter, avoid waste, and get the most out of your project.

Before you start your tiling project, it’s worth understanding the different types of tiles and their best uses to make the right choice for each space in your home.

Porcelain tiles, for example, mimic the natural look of stone, travertine, and concrete while providing a tough, moisture-resistant surface. Their subtle texture enhances anti-slip performance, making them ideal for expansive wall and floor spaces, particularly in high-traffic areas like bathrooms and kitchens.

Ceramic tiles deliver a similar look but are easier to install, making them ideal for walls and areas with light foot traffic. These tiles usually have a handmade look with a natural edge and can come in subway, square, and rectangular styles.  
 

Stone tiles bring timeless elegance with unique textures and natural patterns that add character to any space. With unique colour and veining variations, marble tiles can enrich and provide rustic appeal to spaces and are perfect for high-traffic areas. Neutral-toned limestone tiles are superb for walls and floors in high-traffic areas, including exterior spaces. 
 

Glazed mosaic tiles reflect light beautifully, enhancing kitchen and bathroom splashbacks while serving as stylish decorative accents. Due to their small surface area and numerous grout lines, they are often less durable under heavy foot traffic and more suitable for decorating walls rather than floors.

Picking tiles for the bathroom can be tricky, with so many styles and materials to choose from for both walls and floors. You’ll need to think about style, colour, and practicality, such as slip and moisture resistance and ease of cleaning. From feature walls in the shower or around the bath to flooring, tiles play a significant role in shaping the overall ambience of your bathroom.

The ideal bathroom floor tile balances texture, durability, style, and everyday practicality. Large-format tiles, in particular, make cleaning easier by minimising grout lines where grime typically accumulates. 

With various sizes, shapes, colours, and finishes available, floor tiles provide endless design possibilities, allowing you to personalise your space without compromising practicality. Many small- and large-format floor tiles are suitable for indoor and outdoor use. They can feature uniquely textured, anti-slip surfaces that enhance safety without compromising style.

For shower walls and bath surrounds, porcelain or ceramic tiles are popular due to their water resistance, durability, and easy upkeep. However, you shouldn’t overlook mosaics, often a standout choice for adding personality and detail. Mosaics can be used to highlight focal points or as a striking splashback behind the vanity. Their intricate patterns and small scale allow for greater creative expression, turning everyday surfaces into visually captivating features. Whether you're creating a bold statement or a subtle accent, mosaics bring artisanal charm and textural interest to bathroom spaces, making them a practical and beautiful choice.

Choosing the right tiles for your kitchen is just as important (and often just as overwhelming) as picking bathroom tiles. You must consider the flooring and tiles around your cabinetry and the importance of your kitchen splashback — protecting your walls from splashes, spills, and heat while adding texture, depth, and personality.

Subway tiles are known for their clean lines and consistent shape, making them a stylish choice that suits traditional and modern kitchens. Concrete tiles should also be considered for their bold and distinctive look. When properly sealed, they’re easy to maintain, resisting stains, moisture, and everyday wear while complementing wood, metal, and matte finishes. Natural stone tiles, such as marble tiles, stone tiles, and travertine tiles, offer unique veining and rich textures, making them an excellent choice for creating a grand, timeless impression.

When selecting kitchen floor tiles, it’s essential to pick durable and stylish ones, as the space endures heavy foot traffic, regular cleaning, and spills. Textured, anti-slip surfaces are ideal for added safety. The best floor tiles combine practicality with visual depth, offering elegant finishes that pair beautifully with a variety of cabinetry and benchtop styles.

When tiling your outdoor space, choosing tiles that can stand up to the elements and handle changing weather conditions is essential. The best outdoor tiles protect against weather, stains, and surface damage. At the same time, they elevate the visual appeal of outdoor areas like patios, porches, and pools. To ensure safety, particularly in wet conditions, it’s important to choose slip-resistant tiles. With a wide selection of colours, textures, and patterns available, outdoor floor tiles can easily turn exterior spaces into welcoming extensions of your home.

A tile calculator is a handy tool for homeowners, builders, and tradespeople to estimate the number of tiles required for a specific project easily and accurately. Using a tile calculator ensures you purchase the right amount of tiles, reducing the risk of overbuying or running short. However, we recommend rounding up when ordering tiles and adding a 10-15% surplus of tiles to account for any cuts, breakages, mistakes, or future repairs.

Grout is another key factor when selecting tiles, with various colour options that can subtly blend in or make a bold design statement. Consider whether you want the grout to contrast with your tiles to create a defined, eye-catching pattern or blend in for a more seamless, understated look. Light-coloured grout can brighten a space and suit minimalist styles, while darker tones offer a bold finish and help conceal stains in high-traffic areas.

Also, remember that lighting and room size can significantly affect how your tiles look once installed. Natural and artificial light can alter the tone and texture of tiles throughout the day, so it's worth purchasing tile samples to see how they look in your space before making a final decision. In smaller bathrooms or kitchens, lighter-toned tiles can help create the illusion of more space, while larger-format tiles can reduce visual clutter. Gloss finishes reflect light beautifully, adding brightness and a sense of openness, whereas matte tiles offer a more subtle, grounded look.

Choosing the best tiles for your space doesn’t have to be daunting. Begin by picking the tile type that fits your style and practical needs. Measure your area precisely, use our tile calculator to avoid costly mistakes, and plan your layout carefully to bring your space to life.

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Ceramic vs Porcelain Tile: Which Is Right for You?