When it comes to tile designs for the kitchen, ceramic tiles stand out as the preferred choice for most of us. Welcome to the world of ceramic tiles. Be amazed to discover the range of designs shapes, colors, textures, and sizes. No other family of tiles offers as many choices as the family of ceramic tiles.
However, before you take our word on ceramic tiles, check out the following facts for yourself.
Fact 1 – Healthy & Hygienic
Ceramic tiles, both glazed and unglazed, are made of all naturally occurring materials like clay and sand and do not use harmful chemicals that are generally used in some other types of tiles. Ceramic tiles do not use Formaldehyde, VOCs or PVC.
As per WHO prolonged exposure to Formaldehyde may cause allergies, breathing-related discomforts as asthma, nose, throat and eye irritation, headaches and nausea. Long-term effects may vary from person to person but can severely affect the body’s immune system and may cause cancer. Certain kind of tiles emits VOCs as invisible gases that may have both short and long-term health effects on humans and animals. Exposure to PVC often includes exposure to phthalates and chlorine, which are considered to be endocrine disruptors. Prolonged exposure to PVC may impair human productivity or create hormonal imbalances in a body.
Carpets and wooden tiles tend to deteriorate over time and are excellent grounds for fungus, mold, and mildew. Organic growth takes place if the surfaces are not cleaned regularly or not possible to clean at all. In addition, fissures, cracks, and gaps allow these organic growths to stay and expand, thereby creating long-term health issues for humans and animals around. Since ceramic tiles have hard reflective surfaces that are easy to clean, any kind of organic growth cannot survive.
Ceramic tiles can help cut down indoor allergens quite a bit, as these tiles are less porous than some other types of tiles and hence do not retain moisture or liquid. Glazed tiles are extremely easy to clean with simple soap and water, rather than harsh chemicals.
Fact 2 – Very Safe & Durable
Ceramic tiles are fired hardened products and hence extremely tough and last for the lifetime without decay or deterioration. In case of a fire incidence, ceramic tiles are also good fire retardants. Ceramic tiles are very non-flammable and hence best suited for areas below stoves, on countertops, and as tabletop runners. Having ceramic tiled walls and floors ensures containment of fire as the tiles will not burn, melt or give out toxic fumes or smoke, in case of fire in the kitchen.
Ceramic tiles are also anti-slip and hence provide the necessary friction between the feet and the wet surface of the kitchen, should there be a fluid spill on the floor. A wide variety of ceramic tiles is now available which offers different grades of anti-slip features.
Fact 3 – Easy and Simple Maintenance
Ceramic tiles are fire-hardened materials that do not chip or erode over years of usage. Since ceramic tiles are fluid, stain, scratch, and fade resistant, they do not require harsh chemicals to clean their surfaces. Ceramic tiles can be easily cleaned by using simple soap and water.
Fact 4 – Best Value for Money
A house with ceramic tiles installed can also increase the resale value of the house, as the buyers are willing to pay a better price for well-appointed bathrooms and kitchen. Ceramic tiles have a long life span and are extremely durable for any installation. Once installed correctly, ceramic tiles can remain virtually maintenance free for many years to come and can keep your house looking like new.
Other floor tiles as wood, vinyl, cork or laminate require far too much care and require costly chemical treatments for normal upkeep and maintenance. A house using ceramic tiles requires a lot less money on maintenance thereby contributing indirectly to the savings of the owners.
Fact 5 - Versatile Design Choices
Over the years, technological advancements have made it possible to produce ceramic tiles and its accessories in a wide variety of color, design, texture, shape, and size. As a result, ceramic tiles now find use in almost every room, wall, and area of our houses including outdoors.
Ceramic tiles have become add-ons for many other products in our houses thus creating new and unique combinations of creativity and materials. For example, wooden bookracks with ceramic backplanes or wooden plant boxes with ceramic tile works are some new age creative combinations. People are experimenting with ceramic tiles to create pieces of art. It would not be an exaggeration to say that ceramic tiles find an important slot in our house and office décor.
Tile Options For Your Kitchen
There are three types of tiles that can go into your kitchen. Coming from the same family of tile types ceramic, porcelain and quarry are quite related.
Porcelain - The porcelain tiles are the hardest type of ceramic tiles since these tiles are pressed and baked at higher furnace temperatures and for a longer duration of time compared to normal ceramic tiles. As a result, these tiles are very dense in composition and extremely water resistant. Because of the dense structure, porcelain tiles are best suited for installation where water absorption levels have to be kept lower than 0.5 percent or less.
Ceramic - Normal ceramic tiles, both glazed and unglazed, are great choices for kitchen walls, floors, and countertops. Ceramic tiles are our favorites for the reasons mentioned above but we love them for the availability of a wide range of colors, designs, textures, shapes, and patterns.
Quarry – Coming from the same family of ceramic tiles, this kind of tile is manufactured by a slightly different process. Instead of being pressed under pressure, the soft clay is shaped into tiles, using moulds and then baked in a high-temperature furnace. Therefore, the end product is not as dense as the porcelain or the ceramic tiles but still strong and durable enough to bear rough usage and household weights.
Quarry tiles are manufactured in a wide variety of natural color tones as tan, brown, black, and red. These colors work well both indoors and outdoors to create an ambiance that has natural flavors. These tiles can withstand high variation in temperature and are well suited to a minus degree and sub-Sahara temperatures. Some other tiles as terracotta resemble quarry tiles but they are quite different in composition and do not belong to the ceramic family of tiles. Quarry tiles are favorite choices for commercial kitchens in hotels, restaurants, breweries, cold storages, and public kitchens.
Tile Designs And Shapes For Your Kitchen
Ceramic tiles offer some of the best designs for your kitchen. You can try a combination of designs to create an entirely new design, which may even look like a piece of art. Imagination is the key to creativity and the new age ceramic tiles can help you translate your imagination into wonderful designs. We bring you some of the most popular basic designs available in ceramic tiles.
Mosaic
Tiles smaller than nine square inches in any shape are generally known as mosaic tiles. Mosaic tiles, when arranged in a sequence or pattern or combination of both, can create an impression of art. You may easily recall glass mosaic art in famous old churches or even in public murals. These days, small tiles are created in vibrant colors, shades and hues, different material types and almost in every possible shape. As these are small in size, mosaic tiles are available as tile strips or tile mesh for easy installation.
When installed in small areas as backsplashes, and insets, these tiles offer a stunning effect with the right kind of lighting. Easy to clean and maintain, mosaic tiles continue to be hot favorites for people having a preference for artistic tastes.
Circles
Also called “penny” tiles, these are small circular or rounded tiles, typically the size of a coin. While these tiles are available in quite a few colors, the bronze or copper colored tile plays out the best effect. Since these are small sized tiles, these are generally used to cover smaller areas of the kitchen and may be used to draw attention to a certain area of the kitchen or backsplashes. Typically used in the inset area, they may also be used on the wall if it is not too large.
Squares and Rectangles
Square and rectangle ceramic tiles are available in all sizes, colors, and textures and are very well suited to decorate your kitchen. From size as small as two by two square inches to almost two feet by three feet, ceramic tiles provide you the largest possible choice for the kitchen floors and backsplashes.
Remember the classic “subway tiles” ever so popular from the New York subway metro. We find them installed in many public areas and especially the hospitals and clinics. Classy white rectangular six-inch tiles have never gone out of fashion and still continue to make a sober statement, wherever installed. Try a combination of classy “subway tiles” with other contrasting modern tiles to create new designs and effects for the kitchen backsplash area.
Hexagons and Polygons
Another classy and vintage design is a hexagon that gives the tiles a unique characteristic. Refuses to go out of fashion, hexagonal tiles have evolved to modern tastes of both the urban and rural buyers and are now available in bold new colors, multiple sizes, and quite a few textured finishes.
Installation of hexagonal tiles require professional skills and using professional services can make all the difference for a long lasting décor. Use matching grout to highlight the hexagonal theme.
Taking is a step further, experiment with irregularly shaped polygons and see the stunning effects on the floor. Try contrasting colors for that desired effect.
New Shapes & Illusions
If you wish to go beyond the hexagons and polygons, try something even bold in new age designs and illusions that do not follow the conventional shapes or sizes. Manufacturers are introducing futuristic shapes and designs that are appealing to the new generation and are pre-installed in new age constructions as art galleries, hotels, and theme houses. If you wish to try these kinds of tiles out for the first time, select a floor or a wall and see how it plays out.
Just keep in mind the fact that tiles that are installed to create “illusion effect” require special expertise and it would be best to seek professional tile setting services to get the desired effects.
Wood Textured
While actual wooden tiles in the kitchen are a recipe for decay and a health hazard, ceramic tiles with wooden texture are a healthy and long last solution for kitchen floors Manufacturers have now perfected the technology to produce ceramic tiles in every possible texture, hue, and color of the natural wood. Wood textured tiles are available in all standard sizes starting as small as six by three inches to larger three feet by two feet planks. When installed, these tiles give the perfect impression of a wooden floor, without the perils of an actual wooden floor.
Tile Patterns For Your Kitchen
As we have said earlier, creativity has no boundaries and one is limited only by his or her imagination. There is no set rule when it comes to creating a pattern for kitchen floors and walls, yet we present below some of the most common and often used patterns that can get you started.
Grid Pattern
One of the simplest and easy to install, the grid is one of the most common patterns that we see all around us. Similar sized, colored and shaped tiles are arranged one after the other, in a straight chessboard pattern. Any kind of ceramic tile, with or without texture, could be used to create the grid pattern. Works very well with tiles with natural stone textures.
The grid pattern is quite suitable for both small and large sized kitchen floors. Based on the size of the kitchen size, use appropriate sized tiles to enhance the perception of the kitchen size and make it look larger than actual.
Checkerboard Pattern
Very similar to the grid pattern, the checkerboard pattern uses similarly shaped and sized tiles but in two different colors. This creates the same effect of a checkerboard where alternating tiles are of the same color. This is one of the vintage patterns and can be seen in old buildings and public places. With the advent of ceramic tiles, the checkerboard effect has just become more textured and sophisticated.
Checkerboard floor pattern can be installed either parallel to the walls or at an angle of forty-five degrees. Create the classic black and white monochrome pattern or bring in the new bold lively colors. Experiment with three or four colors instead of just two to create new checkerboard patterns in your kitchen.
Running Bond Pattern
Running bond pattern can be created using both square and rectangle tiles. Alternate rows of tiles are placed at an offset such that the next row tile starts somewhere below the midpoint of the previous tile. The offset can be fixed or could vary depending upon the desired pattern. Wood designed and textured ceramic tiles are often used to create the running bond pattern. Try using wood effect ceramic tiles with regular and irregular lengths and widths to create an altogether different effect but with greater durability, safety, and hygiene unavailable in actual wood tiles.
While there are no set rules, the size of the tiles is determined in proportion to the area of the kitchen, wall, and floor to bring out the intended effect.
Octagon and Dots Pattern
Another Victorian era tile pattern uses diamond (eight-sided) tile with dots at four alternate corners. When four tiles are joined together in a two by two pattern, a larger dot is formed at the center where four tiles meet. Ceramic tiles are available in contrasting colors, attractive designs, and dots. Choose vintage styled colors or modern designed dotted tiles to suite to your taste and décor. Try matching or contrasting grout color for side effects.
Herringbone and Chevron Pattern
Placing rectangular tiles at ninety degrees in “L” shape and placing them at forty-five in “V” shape creates Herringbone and Chevron patterns respectively. Both patterns are generally created using two sets of tiles in contrasting colors, textures or sizes but you may create your own pattern using three or maybe four sets of tiles. Both patterns contribute to the perception of larger than the actual size of the wall or floor area where installed.
Accents and Borders
While tiles alone can create wonderful patterns, the effect of the patterns can be enhanced by using simple accessories as borders and accents. Creating a border on the edges of the floor tiles can easily create the carper effect, thereby making the floor pattern look richer.
Similarly, adding accents to the kitchen walls can enrich the wall pattern considerably. Manufacturers have acknowledged this fact and hence they now offer a total “family” of the tile set, complete with border, inner main tiles, and the accent. Browse through the manufacturers’ website to know which kind of ceramic tiles are available with tiles accessories.
Summary
We believe we have been able to highlight the benefits of ceramic tiles in your kitchen area and now ceramic tiles would be on top of your list of options too. Considering the availability of colors, shapes, sizes, textures, and designs in the ceramic tile family, you would certainly find the best set of tiles that represent your taste and reflects your lifestyle. Ceramic tiles in your house and kitchen is a smart decision for both your health and wallet.
Please complete your information below to login.