Do large tiles make a room look small? It’s a good question and the answer is not perhaps what you expect.
As well as tile size, you will also be considering colour, style, tile shape, finish, material and more. With tile trends definitely favouring large tiles we are often asked whether large tiles can actually make a room look small.
In fact, it is the opposite. Large tiles can actually make a room feel larger than it is and that is for a number of reasons.
Take a very small utility area or a small bathroom, it may seem that a large tile will cover most of the floor space and therefore make the room feel small. However, because there are fewer grout lines – and more tile on show – it can actually look and feel the opposite.
Large tiles were once the preserve of interior designers gracing the walls and floors of large exclusive designer projects, however, these large formats are making their way into our homes both on floors and walls and they really can make a stunning statement. There are considerations when opting for large tiles, but in answer to our question, do large tiles make a room look small, let’s explore further.
Contrary to popular belief, large tiles can actually be a brilliant choice for smaller rooms because they can make a small room feel much more expansive. There are three good reasons for that:
1. More tile, less grout
Grout lines tend to make spaces feel cluttered and busy with lots of lines across walls and floors. A larger tile brings an uninterrupted look to spaces giving the illusion and tricking your eye into seeing more space. Add to that rectified tile edges – this means that the tile edge is straight – and those grout lines are down to just a few mm – so very slim. This enhances the look of walls and floors with a more tile, less grout look. The grout colour you choose can really impact the finished look of your space so keep reading as we explore this further in our blog.
2. Contemporary feel
Large tiles bring an architectural look and feel to spaces so ideal for contemporary spaces. They are perfect for making a small space feel more airy and less cluttered. This minimialist feel is well sought after and large tiles are an ideal way to achieve this look and feel – think a sleek and stunning Italian concrete effect porcelain tile or micro cement effect tile – this is about as modern as it gets.
3. Continuity
Large tiles bring continuity to a space and a calming vibe especially with tiles that have minimal patterning. Well-designed concrete and cement effect porcelain tiles are perfect for this because they have minimal movement in their design.
And it is also worth considering a tile with more pattern eg a stone or marble effect porcelain tile. The beauty of a large tile with a stunning marble design is that the design continues across the surface of the larger tile rather than being broken up by a smaller tile size.
With tile sizes ever increasing, what exactly do we mean by a large tile size? Whilst tiles come in an array of sizes, larger formats tend to fall in the 600 x 600mm and above category with really large sized tiles coming in at 800 x 800mm, 900 x 900mm, 1m x 1m and 1200 x 1200mm – or for those preferring a rectangular format perhaps a 1200 x 600mm or larger.
Of course, there are giant extra large tiles coming in at a huge 2.7 x 1.2m for example, bringing maximum coverage and minimal grout lines. It is always important to discuss the size of your tiles with your tiler – and think about how practical it is to get the tiles into your room. If you are looking to put a huge porcelain slab tile in your small bathroom upstairs, you do need to be able to get the tile into the room! For new builds, this can of course be programmed in, but for refurbishments it is a key consideration as it may just not be practical. Porcelain tiles don’t bend!
Giant extra large tiles can bring with them some additional costs. Additional labour may be needed on site to help with lifting and fitting. Specialist deliveries may be required and specialist handling equipment and how tiles are stored will be more important than with a smaller tile.
Large tiles are therefore a good choice. A typical 800 x 800mm or 900 x 900mm tile are large enough to feel large format but not so large they incur too many additional considerations for installation.
It is tempting to think that you can perhaps use a large tile across your ground floor and then in the smaller rooms eg utility or the downstairs loo you might look to choose a small tile in the same colour and design.
It really is best to try and use the same tile across the entire ground floor area. Using two different size tiles means they are generally from different batches and that means that colours are unlikely to be an exact match. All tiles are batched and colour can vary slightly batch to batch it is important when ordering that all your tiles come from the same batch for colour continuity.
One big benefit of using the same tile across an entire ground floor is there are no thresholds which can add to that feeling of flow. Whilst you won’t need a threshold necessarily with two different tile sizes, it won’t be possible to line up grout lines so this could make that area look busier.
The colour grout you opt for can transform the look of your tiles. For smaller feature tiles it can be fun to explore using a different colour grout, perhaps a bright orange or yellow with a white tile for instance to really highlight the “grid of grout” and actually make a feature of it. However, generally with a large tile designers opt for a grout colour that is very much in keeping with the tile itself and blends with the tile so as not to accentuate the grout lines. This adds to the feeling of spaciousness creating an almost seamless floor of tile, something that is much easier to achieve with less grout lines.
Even with a larger tile, choosing a contrasting grout will create more of a grid look so if your aim is to make your room feel larger than it is then a contrasting grout colour isn’t really the best way forward.
As well as large tiles on floors, it is also worth considering the impact on design of large tiles on walls. Lots of our wall tiles are large format and are specifically designed to create the illusion of a seamless wall.
With rectified ie straight tile edges, grout lines are down to a few mm and by matching grout to tile as closely as possible you really can create a the illusion of a seamless wall of textured surfacing or even wood. Large tiles with texture can bring a cosy feel to spaces and are a great way of introducing a different surface feel to spaces. As any interiors expert will tell you, combining the rough with the smooth is essential in creating a well-designed interior.
The amount of natural light will likely play a role in the colour of tile you choose for your project. Large tiles in darker colours can make a space feel more enclosed and darker colours tend to absorb more light which can make a room feel smaller than it really is.
For maximum benefit large tiles in lighter shades and tones will ensure rooms feel larger visually and of course lighter colours tend to reflect light better which in turn creates a more open, spacious vibe and feel.
We have already explored how concrete and cement effect tiles with minimal movement in the design are a great option for spaces where you want continuity and a seamless feel to spaces. It’s also worth thinking about wood effect tiles and how they can also work in larger formats. Again, with less grout lines and tile technology continuously pushing the boundaries of design, wood effect porcelains are now echoing the real material with incredible precision.
Picking the right tile can transform your space as well as adding value to your home. These formats can be a great option for use across the home especially if you are looking to create a space or room that is contemporary and brings a feeling of spaciousness. Because large tiles minimise grout lines, they help make spaces feel less busy and by opting for a grout colour that is a close match to the tile itself you can enhance this further! Check out our gallery below to see more of our beautiful large format tiles perfect for use across the home. You can also click the images in our blog to take you straight to our website!
If you would like to know more, please get in touch...
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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