Let’s Talk Tile
Ceramic, porcelain, natural stone, glass, concrete — you have a lot of choices to make when it comes to selecting tile for your home, and that’s just the material options! As with any topic, there are many subtleties related to tile. If you are researching for your project, you’ll learn about these factors and decide what’s important to you. I’ve helped my Austin interior design clients find the right tile to fit their homes, lifestyles, and budgets. To give you a leg up in your journey, I’m sharing a brief overview of what you need to know in my Interior Designer’s Guide to Tile. My guide will help you plan ahead and avoid the stress of last-minute surprises. Now, let’s talk tile!
Different Types of Tile Materials
Many considerations go into selecting a tile material, including interior design style, durability, budget, and application. Let’s break down each material so you can pick the right one for your space.
Ceramic Tile
Ceramic is one of the most common and economical tile materials. It’s formed with clay, fired to harden, and then glazed to its final pattern or color, although the inside of the tile will remain the terracotta color. So, these tiles need to be finished with an edge treatment on the corners of showers, tops of backsplashes, or edges of wall niches. I will dive into this more later on. But plan to be intentional about surface edges if you choose ceramic tiles.
Porcelain Tile
Porcelain is similar to ceramic. However, this material is fired at a higher temperature, which makes it more durable, nonporous, and tolerant to temperature variations. Additionally, the color runs through the body of the tile so the edges match the face. You’ll hear terms like “through body” and “color body” to describe these tiles and indicate if the color and pattern are visible from the side. Because these tiles have a more uniform look from all angles, edge treatments are less of a concern than with ceramic tiles.
Porcelain is often designed to mimic the look of natural stone for a lower price. I avoid using it in this way. If I want the look of natural stone in a project, I would rather use the real thing. But on occasion, a space calls for the enhanced durability of porcelain. In these cases, I’ve found a sneaky trick is to mix natural stone elements with the porcelain, which helps the entire room feel more natural.
Natural Stone Tile
Remember, natural stone is a natural material. So, prepare for variation. In years past, I’ve had clients carry a single natural stone tile around to coordinate with other materials. However, the order that arrived was very different from that one piece, which caused a slight panic and shift in the plans. Now, I request many samples to capture the full scope of variation and prepare clients for this dynamic. If you love natural materials like me, be ready to embrace the variation.
Natural stone is a beautiful way to establish indoor-outdoor connections because it can be cut in varying thicknesses and used in many different applications. For example, you can use the same stone as interior tile and on exterior applications like patio pavers, pool coping, and masonry. While stone is a versatile and durable material, it has three main drawbacks: price, variation, and porosity. Natural stone tile will usually hit your budget harder than ceramic or porcelain, and its porosity limits use in certain wet applications, like a steam shower. But it is just so beautiful, and I love that nature made it and no two tiles are the same.
Other Types of Tile
While these are three of the most popular types of tile, the material list also includes glass, concrete, and zellige tiles. These materials have a few general things to note.
1. Glass tiles are pricier and best suited for wall finishes or backsplashes because they’re slippery on floors.
2. Concrete tiles are thick and porous, which are characteristics to keep in mind. I like using them on floors, but plan and communicate well in advance so your contractor can accommodate the extra thickness and adjust the thresholds appropriately.
3. Zellige tiles are a type of terracotta tile similar to ceramic that originated in Morocco. They have lovely character and feature color, glaze, shape, and thickness variations, which some might consider a drawback, but for me these qualities give them a really special effect.
Tile Shapes and Sizes
Tile shapes and patterns range from tiny mosaics to large format tiles, and they play a significant role in design style. Traditional homes tend to include smaller tile sizes and a wider range of shapes, like mosaics, hexagons, and subway tiles. Contemporary design often features large format tiles (mostly in rectangles), and in fact I’ve used sheets as large as 4x8 feet. Due to their size, larger tiles come with more installation considerations. For example, sometimes builders rely on countertop installers rather than tile layers for these oversized (and heavy) tiles. They can also be expensive to transport and at a high risk of damage, so prepare for these extra challenges and price tags.
Pro-tip: Don’t Slip Up on Shower Slope
Many homeowners like the idea of using large format tiles in showers to avoid grout, which can be difficult to clean. It’s a great strategy, but plan for a more complicated installation. These tiles are usually capped at 8 feet, so you’ll need a plan to accommodate taller shower stalls. Due to the slope of a drain, floor tiles larger than 6x6 inches cannot be used with a standard centered drain. You have probably seen showers where many smaller cuts were made on a larger tile to accommodate the slope. It looks like a “whoops moment” or a messy mosaic. Instead, you'll want to use a linear drain when continuing your larger tile. Linear drains allow a slope in two directions rather than the standard four. You might have to dig deeper to understand this rule. If you want to continue your main tile into the shower without a curb or seam, you’ll need to plan for this in the early design phases. Remember, adjusting the shower slope after the fact or in remodels is much harder because it involves the slab.
Tile Lay Patterns
The predominant patterns for laying tiles are straight and running bond (which is essentially staggered joints). Running bond patterns specify where the joints line up with variations, including 1/2 and 1/3 joint splits. Familiarize yourself with different patterns and their visual effects. Your tile installers will ask for these details, as well as what you want the tile lay centered on. For example, you could run a lay centered on a door, a shower wall, etc. If your material isn’t square or features a pattern, they’ll also ask what direction you want it to run. None of these answers are challenging, but they require planning and communication. Think about all the factors upfront to avoid last-minute questions and stress. (Can you tell these lessons are from experience?)
Other Tile Considerations
Tile Edge Treatments
Think of tile edge treatments like trim details. Traditional homes typically use a bullnose or pencil liner to match the tile. Contemporary designs often employ a metal strip called a Schluter in the same finish as hardware and plumbing fixtures or coated to match the tile glaze. It is a sleeker look. If your home is more traditional, look for tile with corresponding bullnose pieces during the selection process.
Tile Grout
Many homeowners dislike grout because it can collect grime and become difficult to clean. So, we often design our projects with the thinnest grout joint possible. Over the years, that joint has gotten slimmer, but ultimately, it depends on the tile and how even the edges will be. I’ve had thick concrete tiles with wide variations that suggested 1/2-inch thick joints. On the other end of the spectrum, I’ve had porcelain tile with rectified edges that allow 1/32-inch joints.
The grout color is also much more important than people recognize because it can immediately change the tile's overall look. Think about if you want contrasting grout or something that blends in. Make your selection before the tile installer begins because they will need the decision quickly once the job starts. I once had a client insist on a dark grout because they felt it would get dirty anyway, and in that case, the grout ruined the tile for me. They didn’t seem as bothered by it, but it makes me twitch just thinking about it!
Tile Niches
Shower niches for shampoos and soaps are becoming more and more creative. Some clients like to use an accent tile as an opportunity for interest. Others don’t want to draw attention to this spot because it will collect clutter. (I lean toward the latter approach.), but even in those cases we can be creative with unique shapes or locations. It is a highly functional area, so think about what will be most practical for you. I have designed niches divided into shelves for small items like razors and taller sections for shampoos, and I’ve frequently measured shampoo and body wash containers (for the record, most products will clear a 14-inch opening). In terms of location, it’s good practice to avoid putting your shower niche on an exterior wall (in some colder states this is mandated) because it disrupts the insulation. Take all factors into account as you design your space.
Tile Thickness
Most standard tile thicknesses range from 1/4 to 1 inch thick. Be aware of your tile’s thickness, as it could create challenges in various applications. For example, a thick tile on walls will have visible edges to consider, and on floors you’ll want to look at the thickness of neighboring flooring to make sure there aren’t dramatic differences requiring thresholds.
Outdoor Tile Applications
Outdoor tile applications have more considerations than their indoor counterparts. Here are a few of the primary concerns to keep in mind.
1. Surface texture must be considered because slick tiles present slipping hazards when wet. Verify that the tile is suitable for outdoor use or see if a texture can be applied.
2. Varying thicknesses are also important for mixed applications outdoors. Patio tiles, walkway pavers, and pool coping all require different thicknesses but should maintain a cohesive material and finish.
3. Exterior weather conditions might be the most significant factor. Will the material withstand extreme temperature changes, sun exposure, and freezes? Outdoor materials require much more durability than interior finishes.
Porcelain is highly recommended for outdoor use because of its durability, and many companies have recently stepped up to the plate with stylish porcelain offerings. I often use natural stone outdoors because it can be cut into many thicknesses and finished with different textures.
The Bottom Line:
Tile can become stressful if you don’t plan ahead. You’ll need to balance style, durability, maintenance, and budget in your decision and account for special applications. Remember, small things like size, pattern lays, and grout color can have just as big of an impact as the tile material itself.