Kitchen Tile Shopping 101
Kitchen tiles are a vital design element that covers your walls and floors, all while giving your space character. Tiling personalizes your kitchen and where you spend an important part of your routine life. Needless to say, it must be to your liking. But how you make this addition effective depends on the selection of tiles.
The possibilities are endless. Since kitchen tiles come in different materials, textures, designs, and budgets, it is easy to get lost in the sea of choices. You need to figure out which tile will go where, and how it will complement the entire kitchen design and color scheme. Plan out how much kitchen area the tiles will cover, whether they will go with your countertops and if they will make the room size look bigger or smaller. There are many minute details to it, so it is best to do your research before buying them.
Make a Budget
If you go shopping for tiles without preparing a budget, it is easy to get carried away by the top class options and end up buying expensive tiles. The entire kitchen renovation can hence get out of budget. Tiles come in all kinds of range, so you must calculate how much you can easily afford to spend on them. Measure the area you need the tiles for, to know the exact quantity. Calculate a minimum and a maximum price range you can afford. Visit different tile stores to get an idea of the costs. If you are still confused, then you can always get an estimate from a professional available at tile or home improvement stores. Usually, vinyl and linoleum tiles are cheaper as compared to ceramic tiles. Do your homework before you shop.
Determine the Location
The floors, walls, and backsplashes of your kitchen can all have different tiles, depending on your usage of the particular area and the kitchen theme. The materials, colors, and design will differ based on where you want them installed.
If you are getting tiles for the floor, then the selection range will be different than that for the walls. Flooring will make a huge impact on the entire look and feel of the room, so choose them smartly. White or light colored tiles will give your kitchen a spacious look, but you will also have to make an effort to keep it tidy. Dark floors also show dirt, so it will be best to choose tiles that are somewhere in the middle of the color spectrum. If you go for dark floors, then make sure you put light colored tiles on the walls to balance it out.
When selecting wall tiles, determine the area you want to cover and measure it. You can have tiles installed on the entire wall or on particular areas like the backsplash behind the stove or only on the sides of cabinets.
Backsplash tiles are used to prevent walls from splashes and splatters but also function as a design element. It can make the area stand out, subtly or boldly, depending on how you like it. You can use trendy, glossy, mosaic or even painted tiles, but these should not defeat the purpose and must be able to take all kinds of splashes, oil splatters, grease and stains. You can choose ceramic, glass, stone, porcelain, or metal; the backsplash options are plenty. So let your imagination run wild and add decorative flair to the most used space of your house.
Tile Materials for Different Areas
Kitchen tiles come in various materials such as quarry, stone, cork, vinyl, bamboo, ceramic, porcelain and glass. When choosing tiles, you should be aware which material you can use for flooring and which is best suited for walls. Vinyl, cork and bamboo tiles are usually used in flooring. Matte or textured floor tiles will be safer than glossy as you can move about freely without worrying about slipping. Quarry, ceramic, and porcelain are more suited for counters, islands and floors. For backsplashes you need something that is easy to clean and looks elegant as well, so people often use glass tiles.
Consider Your Lifestyle in Choosing Kitchen Tiles
Kitchen tiles have to be resilient and easy to clean, but everything needs a little bit of love and attention. The amount of maintenance your kitchen needs depends on your lifestyle and family habits. Since the longevity of every tile material differs, you need to choose them keeping your lifestyle in mind. You’ll get the most out of your kitchen renovation if you think about how you will live in it.
If you have a busy lifestyle and do not want to be worried about its upkeep, then go for tough materials. Ceramic tiles are quite tough and practical for countertops. They can resist heat from hot pans and you do not have to fret over stains. But, if the tile surface is uneven it can crack. Clay and limestone are durable choices as well. Some tiles need special care and solutions to keep them clean. Before buying, find out about the cleaning practices of the material you want. Choose the finish smartly according to your family’s lifestyle.
Tiles Must Complement Your Cabinetry and Style
When choosing tiles, make sure they do not make your cabinets look out of place and go well with the entire kitchen design. If your kitchen has a modern look, then go for trendy tiles that enhance the mood you want to create. The tiles should complement your cabinetry. You can either match the color or use contrast to make them stand out. Plan out if you want a single color throughout or want to incorporate different colors and textures with tiles. With proper planning, you can have all the elements working together in cohesion to create a beautiful cooking space.