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How to choose large grey floor tiles

7 Tips


Our love affair with grey spans more than a decade with this staple of design reigning supreme. From the chic subtle tones of dove grey to moody charcoal hues – it is on trend and timeless. Grey has dominated the design world like no other colour and could be described as something of a phenomenon rather than a trend. With this in mind we have put together our guide on how to choose large grey floor tiles.

And proving it is here to stay Pantone’s colour of the year 2021, Illuminating Yellow is paired with the aptly named Ultimate Grey.

It’s the stuff of grown-up colour palettes that encourages you to strike out as well as stay subtle – it pairs beautifully with vibrant yellows, burnt oranges and shocking pinks or stay calm with natural materials, pastel shades and neutral tones. From paint to paper, soft furnishings to furniture, grey is to here stay.

And so too with porcelain tiles. As a material that has been around for centuries it is arguably a superhero of the everyday. Brilliantly hardwearing, beautifully tactile, stunning designs and a breeze to keep clean. This is a material that takes whatever life throws as it and is the backdrop and canvas upon which dream rooms are built.

So grey porcelain tiles are here to stay – but with more shades than you could shake a stick at – how do you choose large grey floor tiles tiles without ordering hundreds of samples?

Here’s 7 TilePortfolio tips to help you narrow it down.

1. The grey spectrum - light, mid or dark


Light grey porcelain floor tiles

You probably already have a good idea of whether you are looking to go with a lighter, mid or very dark grey as your floor canvas.

Off-whites with the merest whisper of grey give a lovely contemporary feel and pair with pretty much anything. This is such a flexible colour palette and a canvas that can work throughout the home.


Mid grey porcelain floor tiles


Mid greys are light enough to work with ease across both large open plan spaces and smaller areas and add their own character stamp. Our beautiful Blend Dove tiles make the perfect large grey kitchen floor tiles and the perfect canvas for dining areas and beyond.


Charcoal grey porcelain floor tiles


Nothing beats a moody gorgeous charcoal paired with a crisp white. It always looks so fresh. Dark greys and charcoals can create cosy backdrops and make a real statement. They also work wonderfully with bright pops of colour.

2. Undertones are key

Once you’ve decided light, mid or dark grey, then undertone is key. All greys have an undertone of another colour, for example blue, green or purple or the warmer tones of red and yellow. Find those notes and it will help you narrow your search.


3. Tile effects - cool it down or warm it up


Very plain grey porcelain tiles, whether light or dark can feel stark. With an abundance of effects from concrete to stone, marble to cements and more, there is the opportunity to bring movement, tone and a little more design to spaces with porcelain.

The great thing about grey is you can cool it down, or warm it up and tile effects can enhance that. Even taupes can feature hints of grey for a warmer vibe and don't forget woods. Woods can be a great way of adding grey with some warmer tones.


4. Tile texture and finishes


Tile finish transforms a tile and has an effect on the appearance of colour. The same grey matt porcelain will look very different with a polished finish. Ultra-smooth and shiny surfaces are more light reflective indicating coolness and softer, matt surfaces absorb more light making us feel more warm and cosy.

Of course, finish is also important in terms of safety. Polished tiles are stunning to look at but if there are concerns about spillages and slippages then opting for a more matt surface may be an option.


5. Large grey floor tiles

For those seeking more tile, less grout, then bigger is definitely better. Tile sizes have grown larger and larger with 900 x 900, 1000 x 1000 and 1200 x 1200mm sizes becoming staples of design.

Large grey floor tiles tick all the design boxes for contemporary spaces. Less grout lines equals less busy space and with many larger formats featuring rectified or straight edges, grout lines can go as thin as 3mm. That means less lines generally and what grout lines there are, are super slim.


The TilePortfolio
Metro Silver 900 x 900mm tiles in Soft finish to floors

Opting for smaller tiles can be more cost effective and you still benefit from thinner grout lines if tile edges are rectified. Depending on room layout there can also be less waste with smaller tiles. Or mix it up. Lots of collections feature square and rectangular tiles that can work to create a modular effect.


6. Grout colour choice


Matching grout to your tile colour as closely as possible will enhance the feeling of flow and continuity of that beautiful grey floor canvas. Or you may want to make it a feature with a contrasting grout


7. Order samples

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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 and video design consultancy. 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. www.thetileportfolio.co.uk

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Hey there!

Want to keep up to speed with the latest tile trends, new products, fabulous offers and inspiration from The TilePortfolio?

It's all in our monthly newsletter!