Where do I start when choosing tiles for my house?
We need to choose tiles for our house, and the builder is limited in quantity. We've already been to the showroom, seen and touched everything in person. Unfortunately, I have no idea how to combine what and where.
Some of the bathrooms in specialty stores look great, but they're not very useful because they're too extravagant/impractical/expensive/etc.
Is there a catalog somewhere with common combinations or where did you get your inspiration?
Answers
I know that initial desperation. Here are a few thoughts on the subject:
1. dark tile often visually "narrows" a space.
2. pay attention to slip resistance in the bathroom.
3. tiles whose color and base are very similar are less noticeable in the event of a defect.
4. very small and very large tiles are more expensive to install.
5. rectangular formats can visually stretch or compress rooms.
6. high abrasion is less important in the bathroom, but important in the entry area.
7. tile looks different in artificial light than in sunlight.
8. also pay attention to the type of laying (gluing) – especially if there are expansion joints in the room to be tiled.
9. in the bathroom is not necessary to tile all the walls and even more so the ceilings.
10. trust the impulse of his building instinct.
11. get ideas from magazines and picture searches on the internet. Vote on what you like and why.
12. many of the tiles have repeating patterns. Think about whether and how much it annoys you.
I, for one, have found that many of the examples on the shows can be realized and inexpensively. If the hot tub is included in the wall/floor combination, the bathroom can look good without it.
If you are impressed with the combination of beige and brown, you can choose this combination in the lower price range as well.
Also, don't be afraid to ask for on-site advice.
For example, we chose floor tiles based on how noticeable our hair, dust and dirt are on them. I clean, but I don't always want to see a dirty floor when I've just had my hair done. And finally, there's the budget issue: I don't look closely at tile or price it out if the price is way over the top.
If you answer the questions, maybe even show pictures of what you like, post your bathroom design here, maybe you'll get some examples or tips. Basically, you have to decide for yourself whether you want something flashy or timeless. One doesn't preclude the other, but some people like greenery and cacti for more than 10 years, so you can play around with the idea of accenting a short wall with just such tiles. Then the rest of the walls should follow suit.
Another option for South Sea lovers is the combination of beige flooring and turquoise walls.
Northerners choose the eternal combination of blue and white, which is well known and always works.
And for those who like it harmonious and basic but overplay others, take a warm wood tone floor tile with a white wall tile or tranquil wall tile matched to match.
I have the following quality criteria (non-professional)
Avoiding frequently repeated patterns. Of course, it is cheaper to use a smaller pattern, but I do not like to see duplicates.
Basic material: For floor tiles, I make sure that the basic material is porcelain stoneware and that it matches the color of the surface so that chips are not as noticeable afterward.
Chipping; I look at several samples. If they are all chipped, that's a bad sign.
With "special tile," the appearance is directly related to the quality of the criterion. Moroccan wall tiles can look bland or shiny. So can mosaics, especially glass mosaics, which can be mottled or shiny. The differences are huge and are reflected in huge price differences. Hand-painted products are as easy to distinguish in quality as they are in art.
Depending on the purpose, properties such as slip or abrasion resistance play a role, but I wouldn't consider them the main quality criterion.
With the exception of "specialty tile," I believe that quality tile does not have to be expensive.
I would choose something timeless and to your liking. Tile manufacturers usually have brochures where you can see the combinations. That was very helpful to us.
I would use white, brown, concrete, anthracite. Don't take white walls all over or it will look like a slaughterhouse.
Yes, the selection is huge. Have them show you only the tiles that don't have markings on them. Take away all the colors and patterns you don't like. For example, blue tones or flowers, rustic house, vintage. Sort out anything you can't agree on.
Then listen to the consultant about abrasion, stains, stucco properties, etc. There's nothing worse than tile in the kitchen, where you can see every crumb and have to scrub it off while kneeling because you stepped on it.
