10 Tips when buying tiles

Are you renovating at home and need tiles for your home? Read our 10 tips before you buy your tile.

1. TILE, TILES OR MOSAIC?

Before you decide on a tile, you must take into account the intended area of ​​use. You use tiles indoors as wall covering and not for floors. Although the ceramic tile is wear-resistant, it is not suitable for flooring or laying outside. The glazed surface of the tile can become ugly and scratched, its porosity means that the tile can crack and, as a rule, it is also not as water resistant as clinker and granite ceramics. Mosaics are not to be confused with the different types, but are simply tiles in a smaller format on a grid - regardless of whether they are of the tile, clinker or granite ceramic type.

2. PLAN YOUR BUILD

Starting with a good planning of what needs to be done is a good start for the renovation to be successful. Renovating rooms such as kitchens and bathrooms is expensive so it doesn't hurt to spend a lot of time in the planning stage. Consider your existing room's shortcomings and potential. Also ask yourself the question of what your dream kitchen or bathroom looks like to help you along the way. You can then set up a priority list of your needs and wants, which can affect how much tile you need and where it should be placed.

3. TILES AND INSPIRATION ONLINE AND IN STORE

It has never been so easy to find inspiration for tiles as it is today. Images flow in huge amounts online where blogs or social media such as Pinterest and Instagram are some examples. At Stenbolaget.se, we have also set up an image bank full of inspiration and in store we have a large exhibition of tiles. Interior design magazines and fairs are two other examples of inspiration for a stylish tile.

4. TILES AT WHAT PRICE? SET A BUDGET

It is good that you sit down from the start and make a clear budget for what your renovation work will cost. In this way, you can prevent the costs from disappearing during the course of the work. There are many expenses in addition to tiles that control the price of the project. Find out what the work entails in terms of material and possible labor costs, as well as what each item may cost. Start from your priority list of needs and wishes, and choose your tile accordingly. The price of tiles varies a lot and depending on how big the area is to be tiled, you will choose one tile over another.

Also take good margins when you set your budget, as both material consumption and working time usually end up at a different figure than what was originally calculated. Calculate the amount of tiles you need based on the number of square meters to be tiled and add 10 percent. If you are going to lay the tiles yourself, it is also good that you think about when you want your project to be finished and calculate how much time you can spend. Valuing one's own time and required work effort is also important for determining the size of the project or assessing whether help is needed.

5. STYLISH BATHROOM AND KITCHEN - CHOOSE TILES IN THE RIGHT FORMAT

Based on how your room looks, tiles in different formats can be suitable. Choosing tiles in the right format can make a big difference in creating stylish bathrooms or kitchens. For example, if you have a low ceiling but want to make it appear higher, you can put a rectangular tile at a height. If you instead place it lying down in a long narrow room, it will be perceived as even narrower. The classic square tile is always a good option, regardless of how the room is designed. Also, don't be afraid to put large tiles in small spaces. It can also give a stylish bathroom or kitchen.

6. MATTE OR GLOSSY GLAZING?

There is a lot to take into account when it comes to aesthetics when choosing a tile. One such thing is whether you want a matte or glossy glaze. The choice between the two is entirely a matter of taste and has nothing to do with function such that one would be easier to care for than the other. The high-gloss tile provides reflection and can make the room appear larger and more alive. The mat can instead convey a calm feeling. But one does not have to exclude the other either, as a glossy floor together with a matt wall covering or vice versa provides nice contrasts.

7. PATTERNED TILES AND COLORED TILES

The choice between patterned and plain tiles is not always simple. Especially not when, as it is today, it is extremely popular to put patterned tiles in dry rooms as well as wet rooms. If you are leaning towards purchasing a challenging patterned tile, it is important that you think it through carefully before making a decision. It is easy to get tired of the patterned tile surface after just a few years and especially when new trends emerge. The same goes for colorful ceramic tiles.

Choice of color and pattern on tiles, as well as on which surfaces you place them, affects the feel of the room, just like the shape of the tiles. Dark walls against a light floor and ceiling will, for example, make the room feel higher. Light walls with a dark floor and ceiling, in contrast, will make the ceiling height be perceived as lower and the room longer.

8. TILE SEAL MAKES A DIFFERENCE

When you buy tiles, you also need to think about the joint. The joint width can differ between different tiles, but generally tiles have soft edges, which gives a larger joint.

Depending on how prominent you want the joint to be, choose a suitable color of the joint compound for the tile. Dark grout against light tiles will give a clear grid pattern, while light grout together with light tiles will give a more discreet and softer impression.

9. FURNISHING IN THE KITCHEN AND BATHROOM

The tile you choose must also interact with the interior, which should not be forgotten. Don't forget the overall impression that tiling together with other surfaces and furnishings in the kitchen and bathroom creates. In other words, a tip is not to see them as separate choices, but that when you look at tiles, think about what would go well with them. It produces results that are particularly distinctive and where you have the opportunity to create exciting combinations.

10. TAKE HOME A SAMPLE PLATE

When you have one or more tile options that you can think of, a hot tip is to borrow a sample tile to take home. Then you get a better feel for how it would look and how well the tile fits the home's personality. We can also offer free samples directly to your mailbox. Read more and order your samples here .