The latest porcelain kitchen floor tiles are combining ultra realistic design, innovative surface textures and beautiful patterns to deliver tiles that are both stunning and practical in equal measure. With more tiles to choose from than ever before how do you decide which tiles to pick for your project? In our blog we explore the top tips to consider when searching for new tiles for your project. We take a look at the latest trends, what makes a great quality porcelain tile and how to go about choosing porcelain kitchen floor tiles for your project.
Tile colour plays a crucial role in defining the overall feel of a space setting both tone and mood. From the ambience of a room to the functionality of that space, the colour of your tiles is more than just a “colour” choice. Most tile collections are available in a range of hues that cover the spectrum of light toned tiles to darker colours and everything in between. With warmer tones making their way into homes it can feel as though grey has had it’s day, but this tried and trusted colour is still prevalent in design and for those who just can’t decide between the two, well how about opting for a greige, the perfect blend of both.
A good starting point for choosing porcelain kitchen floor tiles is to pull together a sample of your door, worksurface and paint colours if possible – plus the fabric of any other crucial piece of furniture perhaps. That way you can create mood board with your tile samples. Bringing these along to the tile showroom is a great idea too – you can play around with the samples and tiles. So let’s explore some colour options!
Ever popular, creams, off-whites and whites can make smaller spaces feel larger because they reflect more light which makes them a good choice particularly for smaller kitchens. As we will explore later, tile texture makes a huge difference to a tile. A white tile in a highly polished finish will reflect light and make a space feel colder. That same tile in a matt finish will absorb or softly diffuse light and that makes a space feel cosier so even a bright white tile in a soft finish doesn’t necessarily make a space feel cold. Lighter tiles may require a little more maintenance than some other colours to it worth considering when choosing, having said that, a gorgeous cream tile can make the perfect canvas for a stunning kitchen design and pairs particularly well with woods.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, if dark and moody is your thing, then take a look at charcoals, blacks and navy blues all of which add a touch of sophistication to spaces. With the right kitchen unit and worksurface combination a dark floor tile can really make a great canvas. And charcoals and blacks in particular can work beautifully in a monochrome colour scheme. Or think about adding accents of bright pops of colour in the form of pinks, oranges and lime. Darker colours also marry well with woods for a more muted colour scheme.
Without doubt, the trend over the past few years has been towards a warmer, nurturing colour palette rooted in nature. Sands, mushrooms taupes and terracottas as well as soft greens and clay colours are all making their way into our homes – Mocha Mousse is after all named the Pantone colour of the year. These calming and soothing hues work brilliantly with natural materials such as hessians and jutes and of course, all things biophilic.
With everything from silver greys to darker greys, despite the move to more nurturing tones, grey is unlikely to have ever “had its day” as this brilliant shade is just so universally liked and so easy to work with from a design perspective. If you really love grey but are tempted by warmer earthy notes, then consider opting for griege. This colour is the perfect combination of grey and beige which means you can warm up or cool down spaces easily.
From soft mint greens to baby blues, soft yellows and powder pinks, these retro-inspired colours add energy to spaces.
Tile design is a key decision. Do you want a flooring that is a beautiful canvas and other elements are the star of the show, do you want pattern that adds interest to your kitchen floor but don’t want your tiles to steal the spotlight or do you want to go all out and opt for a highly patterned dramatic tile that is the wow factor.
The latest tile technology has pushed the boundaries of what is possible with tile design to amazing heights. So much so that the latest porcelain kitchen floor tiles are now echoing other materials with such precision it can be hard to tell the difference from the real thing!
The latest tiles are now echoing everything from woods to marbles, metals to stones, concretes to cements. And the latest tiles have taken tile design to extraordinary new heights. Take Macchia Vecchia from our marble collection, these are tiles that not only look like marble, they are designed to feel like marble. The veining is ultra realistic and rather than just a flat print, the veining of these tiles has texture. These are tiles that align pattern with design to create ultra realistic tiles. There are wood tiles like our Season collection that truly highlight the knots and gnarls of wood brilliantly.
In addition, there has been a move towards huge pattern variation in tile collections in the past few years. Gone are the days of just one or two patterns per marble tile. Now tiles include a number of patterns that ensure variation across any space. The number of patterns is important especially across larger spans of room because you want to avoid repeating the same pattern too closely.
Size of tile can make a huge difference to the overall look and feel of a design. Larger tiles that were once the preserve of interior designers are now making their way into our homes. The latest tile collections house tiles that are super large and if your aim is to create a calming vibe then these larger formats are the way to go. With less lines spaces feel calmer and less busy. And they are practical too from a cleaning perspective – especially if tile edges are rectified ie straight because in this case grout lines are 2-3mm in width so super slim.
There are some considerations with very large formats such as 1200 x 1200mm or larger. These tiles can be harder to handle on site and wastage can be higher.
If budget is key then you may want to consider a smaller format tile. You can still create the illusion of seamless design by picking a grout to blend with the colour. This helps create the feel of spaciousness as grout and tile colour align.
The finish of a tile is both important from a slip resistance perspective and aesthetically too. As any interior design expert will advise texture plays a crucial part in interior design. Texture adds interest and depth to a space. Just as colour choice impacts the mood of a room, so too does texture and it is important to introduce rough and smooth textures to a space for a cohesive design. Polished or shiny tiles tend to reflect light so they can make a space feel colder whereas matt finishes tend to bring a warmer feel to a design and will gently diffuse light across the tile surface making spaces feel more cozy.
In the kitchen the opportunity to add texture is more limited. You could introduce some softer finishes by using seat cushions, artworks or hessian plant holders for example but one area you can definitely introduce texture to soften the overall look and feel is through your choice of flooring. With the latest porcelain tiles sporting a multitude of finishes there are some really clever options available now.
Take our Antislip Soft finish, a beautiful soft texture that has a higher slip rating of an R11 A+B+C making it ideal for kitchens – and it is specifically designed to still be easy to clean.
Kitchens are spaces where water is present of course, so considering the finish of your tile is important not just from a design perspective. Tile slip ratings are a good guide to help with your decisions. Tile slip rating start at R9 through to R13 the latter more applicable to commercial spaces. For more info on slip ratings click here. Adding soft furnishings to a space can help soften the overall feel of the room.
The kitchen is one of the busiest rooms in the home and the flooring you choose for your kitchen is a key consideration. Ultimately, you want a floor that looks beautiful – this is after all the canvas upon which your dream room will be built. But it also needs to perform. Of all the flooring options, porcelain is one of the most hardwearing materials you can opt for. This superb material is highly scratch and stain resistant making it the perfect option for busy kitchens.
Picking the right tile for your project can feel like a daunting task but it is also an exciting one! The latest kitchen floor tiles are bringing ultra realistic design coupled with high performance through innovative techniques and can add value to your home. Tiles are getting larger, more sophisticated in design, with clever surface textures and a whole host of colours. If you need help finding your perfect tiles get in touch with us! We would love to help!
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The TilePortfolio specialise in Italian and Spanish Porcelain and Ceramic tiles, in particular large format Porcelains and Porcelain tiles for inside and outside. Our carefully curated, stunning tile portfolios are beautifully presented online and supported by our fuss-free ‘go-the-extra-tile’ service. In addition, you can view our entire tile collection at our Northamptonshire Showroom. Visit our website for unmissable interiors inspiration. The TilePortfolio team are always available to chat, we’d be delighted to help with your project so please do get in touch.
Please note: We strongly recommend using a professional tiler for your project. Installation requirements may vary depending on the tiles you choose, the fixing products used and the specific conditions. Always check with your tiler regards the suitability of the tiles. Please get in touch with us if you have any questions.
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