When it comes to using wall tile in your home the options are endless! You can go traditional and simply use tile in your kitchen backsplash or shower walls, or try out something more contemporary and have a tiled wall in your home! Tile looks great, is pretty easy to maintain, and can be very cost effective. Here are just a few ways you can choose the perfect tile options for your space:
Choosing the Perfect Wall Tile
Determine your material.
There are so many options for tile that it might feel daunting to choose tile for your project. For wall tile, first think about material first.
- Ceramic tile is a basic choice that is plentiful, with lots of color options, sizes and shapes. You can choose the basic subway tile, or beveled subway tile for a dressier look, or ceramic tiles with patterns on them, so that when put together they produce a large-scale pattern that looks like wallpaper. There are even ceramic tiles in specialty shapes, to create a true custom design.
- Glass tile can provide a solid color with shine, or a solid color with a frosted look. Or you can find hand-poured glass tile that is a mix of colors, which can be used to tie a space together.
- You can use porcelain tile on walls. Consider using a large-format (12” x 24”) tile to go right up the wall for a contemporary look.
- Natural stone tile often comes in many shapes and sizes. For example, you could use a 3” x 12” marble tile to create a herringbone pattern.
Choose a layout.
Tile patterns can transform the overall look of your room. The Brick pattern is probably the most common, and is great for hiding any imperfections in your walls. The Grid layout can create a contemporary look to the space. The diagonal lay sets the tiles up on a 45-degree angle to help a space feel larger. A basket weave layout, and a Herringbone pattern are great for adding a lot of visual interest to a room.
Go with your grout.
Grout is essential for any sort of tiling. It locks your tiles in tight, keeps any water out, and bonds tiles together to prevent the edges from chipping and cracking away. Grout helps with the overall durability of your tiles and plays a major role in day-to-day maintenance and the overall longevity of tile. You can go with matching the grout to the color of your tile. This will make the grout look less pronounced, and accentuate the tiles themselves. Another option is to try out contrasting grout. This will emphasize both the pattern and the layout of the tiles rather than the tile itself.
Most importantly, have fun considering the options, give your ideas a little while to “percolate” in your head, and you’ll end up with the perfect tile wall for your room!
