When it’s time to buy the tiles for your renovation project or even a new build, the process can be both exciting and bewildering because there are so many choices. So, we’ve come up with the ultimate guide to buying tiles in Melbourne to make the task easier for you.
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Types Of Tiles
There are many different types of tiles that you can choose from. The most popular ones are:
- Ceramic
- Porcelain
- Natural stone
- Terrazzo-look tiles
- Marble mosaic
- Sandstone
This is just the first choice you have to make when selecting tiles for your home.
Consider Your Budget
Before you go any further, you want to determine what your budget is as this will help you with selecting the type of tiles that will work for you. For example, ceramic and porcelain tiles are going to be more affordable than natural selections like sandstone.
To work out how much you can spend, take some measurements of all the areas that need tiling and then calculate how many square metres of tiles you’ll need. When you do this, you can easily determine how much you can afford per square metre of tile.
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Tile Sizes And Layout
As you would imagine, if you choose larger tiles, you’ll need fewer than if you were to select small ones. But, large tiles are heavier and may cost more to install. You’ll also have fewer grout lines with large tiles, so this could save you some money and time down the track when the grout needs some retouching.
You also want to think about where you want the tiles to go because there can be a variance between wall tiles and floor tiles. For example, large floor tiles look fantastic and can be quite cost-effective, but these would be more difficult to install if you want to position them up the walls as well. So, if you’re looking for bathroom tiles, you might want to choose larger tiles for the floor and smaller ones for the walls behind the basin and the bath.
Styles, Colours And Textures
Choosing the right colour for your tiles should be relatively easy if you follow the 3-colour rule that professional interior decorators use. This rule suggests that you use one main colour on large areas and then compliment this with a secondary colour on smaller areas. Finally, a third colour is brought in as an accent. You can use this same formula when selecting the colours of your tiles. But keep in mind that white and light-coloured tiles will make your space feel larger while dark tiles are great for large spaces to make them feel more cosy and elegant.
At the same time, you also want to focus on the different textures and finishes of tiles so that you can find the right ones for every situation. Here, you can select from:
- Gloss tiles
- Matt tiles
- Honed tiles
- Polished tiles
- Textured tiles
You’ll also find that different styles of tiles suit different applications, For example, Kit Kat tiles and Subway tiles have been popular choices for kitchen walls and splashbacks as they look great and are easy to work with. But, in outdoor areas, you might want to consider using stone or stone-look tiles that have a non-slip surface.
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Durability
Most tiles that are manufactured these days are designed to be durable and long-lasting, especially those made from ceramic or porcelain. You’ll also find that many of these tiles are non-porous which not only increases their durability but also makes them less prone to staining.
Buying Tiles For Your Melbourne Home
When buying tiles for your Melbourne home, think about the atmosphere you want to create with your tile choices. With cold winters and hot summers, it can be difficult to find just the right tiles to give your home that feeling of comfort across all seasons.
While gorgeous large ceramic tiles will be lovely and cool underfoot in summer, they might just be a little cold in winter. But, you can overcome this easily by adding some lovely warm rugs as the temperature starts to drop. Or, you might like to opt for some of the timber-look tiles for that little extra warmth.
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Tiles Republic Can Help You Select The Right Tiles For Your Home
Choosing just the right tiles for your home doesn’t have to be difficult when you focus on the most important aspects such as types, styles, textures, and tile finishes. Your colour choices should ideally match the rest of your interiors and, of course, your ultimate selection will depend on your available budget.
For a full selection of gorgeous tiles for any room in your home as well as some expert advice on making the right selection, why not visit Tiles Republic today? You can either come into our showroom which is open 6 days a week, or peruse the huge range on our website.
You may also like to read “Ceramic Tile Flooring: A comprehensive guide to choosing the perfect option for your home