Choosing the Right Kitchen Tiles
Kitchens are often a mosaic of different tiles that come together to create a beautiful backdrop. Floor tiles may feature distinct tones or properties than ones chosen for countertops or wall surfaces, but all combine into a single harmonious style. Here’s everything you need to know about choosing the right kitchen tiles:
High-Quality Kitchen Tile Materials
- Porcelain: Popular and rightly so, porcelain tiles are durable and heavy. They can stand up to major punishment in the kitchen thanks to their dense structure and water-resistant properties. Porcelain doesn’t scratch or chip, and it has a similar appearance to natural stone.
- Ceramic: Similar to porcelain but slightly more porous, ceramic tiles are beloved for their versatility. They’re equally at home as kitchen flooring as for wall designs, and they’re available with practically limitless color and style options.
- Stone: This broad category includes luxurious granite and marble coverings, as well as slate. Marble is the epitome of opulence, and it gives homes a certain Mediterranean quality. Granite is less expensive than marble and provides an elegant, minimalist feel popular in contemporary kitchens. Slate offers kitchen designs a rustic ambiance and texture.
- Glass: An excellent choice for walls and backsplashes, glass is heat resistant, impervious to water, stain resistant and scratchproof.
- Vinyl: Luxury vinyl tile is durable, versatile and easy to install. Standard vinyl tiles can provide a great style for a very comfortable price. The main disadvantage of vinyl versus ceramic is that vinyl needs regular maintenance to stay in optimal condition.
Factors To Consider
When choosing kitchen flooring, the best option is the one that fits your design vision and lifestyle most closely. Here are some things to consider:
- Tile quality and durability
- Cost of materials and installation complexity
- Room atmosphere and color tone
- Decor theme
- Functionality and ease of cleaning
- Kid-friendly properties
You don’t have to make these decisions on your own. Many professional kitchen tile and countertop installers will sit down with you to provide recommendations and answer questions for the best finished look.