Tiles come in an assortment of sizes, which leaves plenty of room for creativity. Unfortunately, however, many designers tend to overlook bigger tiles in favour of smaller tiles. Common design trends suggest smaller tiles are seemingly easier for creating intricate, detailed designs, for usage as kitchen backsplashes, countertops, and so on.
But in reality, big tiles can help make a big statement, and there’s plenty of design diversity with larger tiles. In fact, they’ve become a major trend in 2022 throughout the fall.
If you’re looking to maximize your home’s aesthetic, here’s how using bigger tiles can help.
Their durability proves beneficial as wallpaper replacements
Because of how durable of a material tiles can be, they do not share the same anxieties one might have if using a wallpaper or simply painting their walls. Splatters can leave awful stains on wallpaper that can wear their thin material down over time, and paint is often subject to chipping or unevenness.
By using larger tiles, which can withstand accidental spills or bumps, you are saving yourself the need to do continual upkeep. You’re essentially taking a kitchen backsplash (which have several design and practicality benefits) and inflating it to be an entire wall.
You should, however, educate yourself on how to properly clean your tiles to keep them looking and feeling brand new!
They can change the perspective of your room size
Room size is a crucial element in choosing the right tiles for your room. But did you know that you can manipulate the eye to think a room is bigger if you use bigger tiles? It’s true!
When used in open spaces, like a kitchen or living room floor, the bigger tiles cause the eye to travel a longer distance between each tile. Combined with using a solid colour and no pattern, your guests will think your living room is miles long.
And if you use bigger tiles on the wall, it’ll make your spaces look taller. Try creating an industrial streamline appearance by matching your wall and floor tiles together to really push the boundaries of your home.
(Learn more tips and tricks about picking tiles based on room size.)
Say goodbye to grout lines, and hello to sleek designs
When used correctly, grout lines can play an important role in a room’s aesthetic. This can be seen in modern farmhouse designs that use grout lines to reinforce a rustic appearance. Grout lines, however, may not translate for more modern, chic designs.
With larger tiles, you’ll find less grout lines, which give the appearance of long, gleaming surfaces. Your tiles will have the appearance of one cohesive material, rather than being broken up by several lines. This is especially beneficial if you’re looking to create a wallpaper effect, or if you’re going for a monochromatic look.
Not only that, but less grout lines means you’ll have less grout maintenance to deal with!
Cut bigger tiles into unique and experimental shapes
The benefit of larger tiles is that any modifications made to them can be done on a larger scale. This makes the process of tile cutting much easier for detailed cuts, which differs from the precision needed for working on smaller-scale tiles.
Try using triangular tiles to create focal point that draws the eye towards a living room, or you can try using hexagons to make an expanded honeycomb look on your bathroom floor (which you can waterproof!).
If you’re curious about using distinct cuts, or simply want some design inspiration, book a consultation appointment at any of our locations to get one-on-one assistance from industry professionals.
And be sure to check out our Tile Town Visualizer Tool — see for yourself why big tiles are a big deal!