1. PLAN THE LAYING PATTERN
Choosing a floor tile you love is, more often than not, only half of the process. The next step is to work out the laying pattern, and depending on the design of the tile you choose, this can be a whole separate creative endeavor in itself!
2. USE STRIPED TILES TO MAXIMISE THE SPACE
Depending on the floor types you choose, you have the potential to alter the feeling or visual experience of a room. For example, light toned flooring can really open up a room, while darker tones can help a large space feel more cosy. Or, opting for larger tiles can also really help to make a room feel bigger. In terms of pattern, stripes are an immensely influential visual cue.
3. USE TILES TO ZONE AN OPEN PLAN SPACE
In a room with multiple functions, it can be tricky to decide on the kitchen floor tile ideas that meet all of your requirements. Wooden flooring is often preferred in living rooms for its inherent warmth, whereas tiling is much more practical for a kitchen. So why not combine the two?
4. MIX WOOD AND GRANITE TILES
If you think that mixing tiling with your wood flooring ideas will work in your space, but want to add a modern twist, this idea could be for you. Neat straight lines will of course look beautiful in many rooms and properties, but if you’re looking to create a quirky feature, an irregular transition adds a huge amount of visual interest.
5. GIVE TRADITIONAL TILES A TWIST
An enduringly popular choice, flagstone style flooring is one of those kitchen trends that will stand the test of time. ‘Traditional stone flooring not only looks aesthetically beautiful,’ says Louisa Morgan, Creative Director at Mandarin Stone, ‘but it has many other benefits too. Whether you go for natural stone tiles - or as shown here, porcelain tiles that mimic the look - both materials are exceptionally durable and will naturally heat to the ambient temperature of the room’.
6. USE TILES FOR A CHECKERBOARD FLOOR
Another traditional tiling look that’s made a huge comeback in the past couple of years is checkerboard flooring. It’s easy to achieve - simply choose two plain tiles in complementary colours, and lay them alternately - yet the effect is incredibly striking.
7. REFRESH EXISTING TILES WITH CHALK PAINT
If you’re desperate for a new look, but aren’t able to completely replace your tiles right now - how about revamping your existing ones? ‘You can paint your tiles for a fraction of the cost of buying new ones,’ says Color and Paint Expert, Annie Sloan. ‘The only skills you need are patience, imagination and a little forward planning.’
8: ADD A MONOCHROME PATTERN
Even when it comes to working with rustic kitchen ideas, you can still take a modern approach to the floor tiles. In this scheme by Jessica Helgerson, the light-filled farmhouse-style space is brought bang up to date with the patterned monochrome tiles.
The key to using such a bold technique is to introduce some regularity. So the pattened tiles creating a pleasing cross-shaped design which is easy on the eye and less jarring in this more traditional space than it otherwise could have been.
9. IMITATE TERRAZZO WITH TILES
When it comes to terrazzo flooring, the costs can escalate pretty quickly. However, terrazzo tiles are more affordable, easier to work with, and come in a variety of different colors. Here, the slightly pinky tones of the cabinets are matched by creamy blush tones of the floor tiles, meaning that the bold color in the middle - splashed across the island - is anchored either side by softer, more serene shades.
10. USE TILES TO SEPARATE A GALLEY KITCHEN
Thanks to all the latest galley kitchen ideas, you can get a lot more into a corridor-style space if you know how to sort the layout. The trick is to stop them from seeming just like a walkthrough.