Ultimate Guide To Tiles and 15 Tile Ideas for Homes

A tile refresh can transform your space from drab to fab in no time at all! Installing new tiles is a simple and effective way to elevate your home’s interior, creating a more refined aesthetic.

When it comes to your bathroom, tiles are undoubtedly the star of the show. With an endless range of colours, textures and grouts available, tiles are a timeless choice and one that will be as valuable functionally as they are aesthetically. 

In addition to their place in the bathroom, tiles can also be used to transform your kitchen, laundry, and even your living space. If you wish to instil your living room with a classic, heritage feel, consider installing a tile feature around your fireplace.

You can find tile inspiration for all spaces in your home, from tile ideas for a shower to tile ideas for a fireplace, through the Amber website.

Alongside the kitchen, the bathroom is a key selling point of your home. Whether you’re planning to sell or stay put, a bathroom remodel can breathe new life into your home. 

There are countless tile ideas for bathroom spaces, be it large or small. Whether you’re looking for tile ideas for a walk-in shower or tile ideas for a small shower, Amber has a solution and inspiration for every design. 

If you’re looking to create a feature and make your bathroom the focal point of the home, why not mix and match your tiles? When it comes to tiling your bathroom, you can pick different tiles for the floors and walls to create a unique contrast, adding depth to your space. 

However, if you’re after a more subtle style, ceramic or porcelain tiles in neutral colours are a great way to imbue your bathroom with a timeless design to last the ages. 

First and foremost, consider your design style. If your home is a coastal oasis, then a bold, graphic patterned tile may not complement your existing decor. Instead, opt for something light and bright, such as a textural tile that emulates natural stone, paying homage to the Australian coastline. Keeping in mind your home’s character is key to the success of your new living room. 

A style that is popular amongst top designers is creating a Moroccan oasis through the use of terracotta and warm-toned tiles. To create a Moorish design in your home, consider installing terracotta tiles that run from the inside of the home through to your courtyard or garden, creating a seamless flow between inside and out.

If your living room has a fireplace, consider installing tiles around the frame or base. Not only will this elevate the space, but choosing a durable tile such as a porcelain tile will act in the same way as fire-resistant bricks by absorbing heat without transferring it to surrounding areas, making it ideal for your fireplace hearth. 

For a contemporary home, a sleek subway tile will align with your design aesthetic. However, if you prefer a natural character, consider the Aix tile, ideal for a coastal themed home. 

Get creative! The kitchen is the heart of the home, so why not use tiles to create a feature in your kitchen with a fun colour or pattern. A popular design trend is to incorporate colour and texture through the kitchen’s splashback tile. Offering both a functional and an aesthetic value, a splashback tile is a must-have for budding chefs and busy family homes. If your home has a coastal style, perhaps consider a cool blue or ecru tone, paying home to the tones found by the ocean. However, if your home has an industrial style, a bold red or sleek charcoal can complement your decor and furnishing. 

Alternatively, juxtaposing different laying patterns from the wall to the floor is a great way to add interest to your space. Consider herringbone flooring with subway-tile stacked walls to instil your kitchen with a modern, refined feel

Many benefits come with tiling a small bathroom. Due to the smaller surface area, there will be a much lower quantity of tiles required, which means you can splash out on getting the ones you really love. 

Scale plays a significant role in tiling, so it's important to keep this in mind when selecting your tiles. Whilst you may love the look of lots of small, patterned tiles, this may not be the most efficient design style for maximising your small space. Instead, we recommend sticking to a light-toned tile to give the illusion of more space. From here, you can incorporate extra colour and texture through towelling and bathroom accessories. 

Your floor tiles are an investment, and something that aren’t regularly changed, so when selecting a tile, you’ll want something that will last the test of time. With this in mind, neutral colours that can adapt to changing decor styles are a great, safe option.  

When deciding on which tiles are best for your flooring, consider what design goals you’re striving to achieve. For example, if you want to open the space up and make it feel more generous, a white or light coloured tile will help give the illusion of extra space.

When it comes to designing your bathroom, there are countless ways to get the shower of your dreams. For design continuity and easy accessibility, curbless showers offer a sleek, refined finish. 

However, if you like the look of a shower curb, why not use this space to add a small pop of colour or texture? Your bathroom curb could be a sleek, coloured subway tile, or perhaps a mini-mosaic in keeping with the colour palette of your home. 

Whichever way you choose to go, for peace of mind, ensure your tiles are properly installed by a professional so they’re waterproof and structurally sound for years to come. 

Whilst it may seem counterintuitive, big tiles lookk great in a small shower. Due to the minimal grout lines and clean finish, medium to large tiles are well-suited to a small shower to ensure the space is optimised.

A walk-in shower epitomises luxury, elevated living. Floor-to-ceiling subway tiles are a popular design style for walk-in showers. Alongside their timeless design and easy-to-clean finish, a white subway tile can give the impression of more space, making your walk-in shower feel like a spa!

If you are looking for tile ideas for a laundry room and want to create a contemporary feel with water-resistant quality, why not consider a tiled floor-to-wall feature? 

When it comes to selecting the best tile for your laundry room, ceramic tiles are our top pick. Not only are they water and slip-resistant, but they also minimise bacteria and mould growth, and are more stain-resistant than other materials, ensuring that your laundry stays fresh, clean and dry.

A tile design is an interlocking pattern that is created when tiles are laid and installed together. The goal is to create a cohesive appearance through a seamless application of tiles. 

There are so many incredible ways tiles can be laid to create interesting patterns, and when it comes to tile ideas for creating a feature in your home, the possibilities truly are endless. Whilst there are hundreds of patterns to choose from, the most popular tile patterns are timeless and classic. Here are some of the top picks: 

• Herringbone
   

As popular in tiling as it is in masonry and timber flooring, a herringbone pattern is an elegant style that can imbue your space with a contemporary feel. This pattern is achieved by using subway-shaped tiles assembled in a v-shape.

• Brick Bond
   

This is perhaps one of the most popular, straightforward laying patterns. Brick bond has a distinctly urban, modern feel. Inspired by the subway style, this pattern requires a rectangular tile laid horizontally, with the following tile laid at an offset of 50%.  

• Hexagon
   

Simultaneously playful and refined, a hexagon tile pattern can ensure your bathroom is the feature of the home. Despite their delicate and intricate appearance, a hexagon pattern can be achieved through mosaic sheet tiles, providing a simple application. 

• Linear 
   

Offering simplicity and a refined style, a linear pattern is used to create the striking ‘checkerboard’ effect that has become increasingly popular in recent years. Whilst the pattern itself is very simple, it’s possible to inject style and flair through alternating colours. 

When it comes to tiling, it’s worth noting that today’s savings may be tomorrow’s splurge if you cut costs on high-quality products. Making the conscious decision to invest in premium materials will reduce the costs associated with ongoing repairs or maintenance, resulting in long-term future savings. 

In terms of high-quality for low-cost, ceramic tiles are a great cost-effective option. Ceramic tiles are fired at a lower temperature, and as such, the time taken to manufacture them is shorter, resulting in a lower cost. 

If you’re unsure about which tile is best for your space, take some measurements and visit your local Amber to speak with a professional who can offer some guidance. 

Renowned for its hardwearing materiality, porcelain is dense and less porous than many ceramic tiles, which means that it is impermeable to water damage, stains and wear and tear. 

When it comes to selecting your floor tile, you’ll want something that can last the test of time and is sure to hold its own in terms of strength and aesthetic. 

Whilst porcelain is typically chosen for flooring, if you wish to choose a natural stone instead, granite and slate are the best options due to their inherent natural strength and patina. 

Both ceramic and porcelain tiles are excellent options and will offer long-lasting durability and design prowess. However, they each offer different benefits and one may be more suitable for your design purpose.

Ceramic tiles are a great option for a renovator on a budget. Due to their lower cost, they’re a cost-efficient choice for tiling large spaces. Do keep in mind that ceramic tiles are softer and less dense than porcelain tiles, making them slightly more porous and susceptible to marks. 

Porcelain tiles are perfectly suited to flooring applications. Due to its low porosity and hard-wearing finish, it is a durable long-term option for your bathroom or kitchen floor. 

Both glazed and unglazed porcelain tiles are an excellent option, and whichever tile you choose, you’re guaranteed durability and timelessness. 

For flooring, an unglazed porcelain tile is more slip-resistant, ideal for a family bathroom, kitchen, and any other high-traffic area. Unglazed porcelain tiles are also the same colour and texture all the way through, which means that if there are signs of wear such as chips or cracks, they will be barely noticeable. 

It is important to note that the additional layer of glass on glazed porcelain tiles renders them the most moisture-resistant product, with a level of porosity of less than 0.5%. For bathroom tile ideas for walls, where slip-resistance isn’t a significant factor, a glazed tile will be the most functional option. Glazed porcelain is slightly cheaper, so may be more suitable for a renovator on a budget. 

Ultimately, the best tiles for your space are the ones that you love, that suit your purpose, budget and design style. With so many incredible tile ideas available, there’s no better time than the present to start considering how you can elevate your home with some fresh new tiles. 

For durability, design flexibility and a timeless style, you can’t look past porcelain tiles. If  you’re tiling on a budget, ceramic tiles are a great way to ensure practicality without breaking the bank. 

For guidance throughout your tiling journey, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our team of tile experts who can help you from concept through to execution. 

For tile ideas or inspiration for your renovation, look no further than our inspiration blog and gallery to see just how Amber can transform your space. 

Amber has the answer.