Save vs. Splurge - Tile
Part of my job as a Registered Interior Designer is to give my clients advice on how to get the high end design they are looking for while maintaining their project budget. In order to do this you need to know when to Save and when to Splurge when you are purchasing the materials for your project. So today let's look at tile because tile can be a great place to do both.
SAVE:
Tile selection can be a great place to trim your budget when designing a space. This can also be one of the most confusing places for people to understand how to pick an appropriate tile because there is such a huge selection and variety of price points to pick from. So where do you start if you are looking to reduce your budget costs? Well first you need to know what type of surface you are looking to tile and what kind of wear you expect it to experience. If you are looking for a floor tile then scroll down to the splurge section of this post because floor tile needs to hold up to a lot of wear and tear. If you are looking for a wall tile to be used as a backsplash, tub/shower surround, or as a feature wall then great news you can use a cheaper tile and rely on pattern and contrast to elevate the design of your space. Here's how:
Consider using a white subway tile, which is one of the most inexpensive tile types, and contrast it with a dark grout. This tile design works great in almost any home design, but it is particularly beautiful in modern farmhouse style homes, and homes with a vintage feel. The tile pattern shown below is called a horizontal offset.
If white subway tile isn't your vibe then try laying your tile in a herringbone pattern. This pattern is a wonderful choice for mid-century modern homes when using a glazed tile. It also has a vintage vibe that works well with modern farmhouse style homes, and traditional home designs.This pattern may cost slightly more on the labor/ install end so be sure to discuss with your contractor if there will be a cost difference for laying the tile in a herringbone pattern vs. a simpler pattern such as the horizontal offset pattern above.
There are two important reasons that you may want to consider to splurging on tile. Either you need to invest in a quality tile that will hold up to wear and tear in a high traffic area or you want to add high design to a space by highlighting the beauty of a feature tile.
Choosing a quality tile is important when you are using it for flooring in your space.
Lower end tile will be more likely to crack within a few years especially if it is installed in an older home where the structure of the home may be more prone to movement, i.e. squeaky floors. This can of course be improved by creating a proper underlayment for the tile but a higher quality tile will still be less prone to cracking. Porcelain tile, which is made from a more refined clay and fired at a higher temperature is a better tile choice for flooring. You also want to look for a tile that is colored all the way through. This means that the color of the tile is continuous all the way through the tile and as a result any chips or cracks that do occur will be significantly less visible. Here is an example of a tile that is colored all the way through:
Remember a little can go a long way, so use it to add that pop to your kitchen design, or create a feature wall in your living room. By using tile to highlight areas with a small square footage you can add high-end design without breaking the bank. Even tile with a high price point, over $20.00/sq.ft, if ordered in a small quantity won't be a huge additional cost to your budget.
I hope that these designer tips and tricks will help guide you as you move forward with your design and let me know if you have any ideas on how to Save or Splurge with tile.
SAVE:
Tile selection can be a great place to trim your budget when designing a space. This can also be one of the most confusing places for people to understand how to pick an appropriate tile because there is such a huge selection and variety of price points to pick from. So where do you start if you are looking to reduce your budget costs? Well first you need to know what type of surface you are looking to tile and what kind of wear you expect it to experience. If you are looking for a floor tile then scroll down to the splurge section of this post because floor tile needs to hold up to a lot of wear and tear. If you are looking for a wall tile to be used as a backsplash, tub/shower surround, or as a feature wall then great news you can use a cheaper tile and rely on pattern and contrast to elevate the design of your space. Here's how:
Consider using a white subway tile, which is one of the most inexpensive tile types, and contrast it with a dark grout. This tile design works great in almost any home design, but it is particularly beautiful in modern farmhouse style homes, and homes with a vintage feel. The tile pattern shown below is called a horizontal offset.
If white subway tile isn't your vibe then try laying your tile in a herringbone pattern. This pattern is a wonderful choice for mid-century modern homes when using a glazed tile. It also has a vintage vibe that works well with modern farmhouse style homes, and traditional home designs.This pattern may cost slightly more on the labor/ install end so be sure to discuss with your contractor if there will be a cost difference for laying the tile in a herringbone pattern vs. a simpler pattern such as the horizontal offset pattern above.
Remember when choosing an inexpensive tile, anything under $5.00/sq.ft, that more than likely you will be looking at a selection of ceramic tiles. Ceramic tile is by the nature of its manufacturing less durable than porcelain tiles, which is why I recommend only using them on wall surfaces where they won't be exposed to a lot of wear and tear.
SPLURGE:
There are two important reasons that you may want to consider to splurging on tile. Either you need to invest in a quality tile that will hold up to wear and tear in a high traffic area or you want to add high design to a space by highlighting the beauty of a feature tile.
Choosing a quality tile is important when you are using it for flooring in your space.
Lower end tile will be more likely to crack within a few years especially if it is installed in an older home where the structure of the home may be more prone to movement, i.e. squeaky floors. This can of course be improved by creating a proper underlayment for the tile but a higher quality tile will still be less prone to cracking. Porcelain tile, which is made from a more refined clay and fired at a higher temperature is a better tile choice for flooring. You also want to look for a tile that is colored all the way through. This means that the color of the tile is continuous all the way through the tile and as a result any chips or cracks that do occur will be significantly less visible. Here is an example of a tile that is colored all the way through:
Here is an example of one that is not and should not be used for flooring:
Other items to review when investing in a quality tile for your flooring are if the tile can hold up to moisture for wet spaces such as bathrooms, and does it have a textured surface that will make it more slip resistant for areas such as your mudroom or entry. You will be able to see these tile properties by reviewing the tiles specifications, which are provided by the tile manufacturer.
Splurging on an expensive tile also makes sense when you are highlighting the beauty of a tile as I did in this kitchen remodel below. In this design I used a beautiful natural stone mosaic tile for the kitchen backsplash as well as for the small wall surrounding the window over the kitchen sink.:
I hope that these designer tips and tricks will help guide you as you move forward with your design and let me know if you have any ideas on how to Save or Splurge with tile.
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