The living room… Besides the dining room, it’s the only other room in the house whose title describes the action that takes place within it. “Living’ encompasses any number of activities. From a quiet evening with family on the couch to a large party with friends, the living room constitutes the heart of the house. No matter what events are taking place, the living room is a high traffic area. That means that your flooring choice is pretty important.
Tile is a wonderful option for this type of space. Durability, ease of maintenance, and the sheer variety of styles combine to give homeowners good reason to check out tile. From springy cork, to traditional ceramic, to several types of wood and bamboo, the choices are numerous.
First, take into account the size of your room. Costs go up with floor space. Next, pick a narrow band of colors which will look the best with your décor. Finally, take the time to shop around both online and in person. Even if you find a great deal online, try to find the actual tile in a store so you can actually feel it.
1. Match the desired atmosphere.
Finding a balance between a ‘homey’ and a more modern entertainment space can seem daunting at first. But with the right flooring, it can be a simple matter of moving a few chairs, rearranging some pillows, and putting down or taking up some rugs. Below we take a look at some of the characteristics you should consider when picking tiling for your living room. With good planning and forethought, you can create a floor which will last the life of your house.
2. Which Color of Tiles
Color is probably the first factor folks look at when considering tile selection. Color sets the mood and the tone of a space. Also, you need to consider if your existing furniture and decor would match that color. Bright colors may seem a great idea at the moment, but extreme color choices can be hard to coordinate with and can ‘put off’ visitors or even members of your own family!
Neutral shades and colors do not mean ‘boring’ shades and colors. Remember that this color is covering a lot of space so even a seemingly neutral color will have a large impact. Neutral colors soothe people and can serve as a ‘canvas’ for your other design ideas. You can change wall art, throw rugs, and even furniture much easier than changing your floor. Some of the most picked colors are shades of beige, grey, and brown. Other neutral colors are available as well.
3. Choose Ceramic Wood Tiles
If you like the look of hardwood but do not like the high cost or high maintenance, take a look at ceramic wood tiles. They are designed to mimic hardwood floors without the hassle. They are very resistant to water and scratching. They make these tiles to mimic any number of hardwood floors. However you should remember that while they may look like hardwood, they do not impart the same level of warmth as a hardwood floor.
4. Select Porcelain or Ceramic Tile for a Solid Flooring Option
Ceramic and porcelain tile look very similar to one another. But there are differences that potential buyers should be aware of. Ceramic tile is slightly less dense and slightly more porous than porcelain. Despite these slight differences, both are good options for kids and pets as they resist stains pretty well. If you are looking for the best protection, porcelain is your best bet.
Porcelain does generally cost a little bit more than ceramic but it also lasts longer. Both tiles are made in several colors and designs. Installation for both types is relatively easy.
5. Mosaic Tiles are a great choice for textured, lively flooring
The history of mosaic tiling is very long. Archeologists are constantly finding new mosaic tile floors in the mediterranean from the ancient world. Made up of very small individual tiles, mosaics can paint a detailed picture on your floor. However, mosaic tiles can be very expensive given the level of detail and time it takes to design and install them.
6. Opt for bamboo floors
Bamboo has exploded on the flooring scene as a sustainable, warm option for wood and tiling flooring. It is easy to maintain, being water-resistant and simple to clean. They are softer than other surfaces, so they can scratch easier. If you have kids or animals with claws, watch out.
They aren’t the best for humid environments since constant moisture can warp bamboo and make it susceptible to mold. Since bamboo takes only three to five years to mature, compared to twenty years for hard woods, bamboo is much more sustainable and better for the environment. Bamboo also lends itself well to a minimalist decor. Various sealants are on the market which can increase the life of your bamboo tile floor.
7. Select Marble for an Elegant, Polished Look
If you have the money and are looking for elegance, you simply cannot beat marble. Just the name evokes feelings of luxury. It is durable. Just ask the Romans! And you can find it in a number of colors. It does have a tendency to absorb liquids and dirt more than some other materials, so frequent maintenance is a good idea. And at an average $5 more per square foot than other tile materials, you will probably not mind keeping your marble floor clean.
Marble is also very slippery, which increases the risk of falls. So it is not a good choice for homes with kids or elderly parents. Secured rugs can reduce this risk. Cheap rubber padding placed between your rug and the marble floor can give your marble floor a surface that people can use safely.
8. Consider Durability and Maintenance
Because your living room gets a lot of traffic, durability is a very important factor to think about. Not only does the number of feet matter, but the chances of something falling and spilling on this floor is greater than other rooms of the house. Porcelain has traditionally been the most durable material on the market. It is harder than old ceramic and most natural stone. They are stain resistant and are easily mopped clean. However, certain bamboo tiles are challenging porcelain for the highest durability ranking. While a heavy object might crack a porcelain tile, bamboo has much more ‘give’ and won’t crack.
9. Choose Flooring that Suits Your Daily Lifestyle
Before buying tile, ask yourself what you will be using your living room for the most. If you are planning for heavy foot traffic, glazed tiles aren’t the best option. If you have kids, elderly, or pets, these slippery tiles can be a safety hazard. While they can look great, tile flooring can be a slipping danger, especially to those in socked feet. Rugs can help mitigate this risk.
10. Sizes of the Tiles
Size of tiles is a very important factor in the design of your living room floor. Larger tiles impart a more modern look compared to smaller ones. We discuss a few more benefits below.
11. Make a Small Room Looks Bigger by Choosing Lighter Colored Tiles
Lighter color tiles give a room a more open appearance, making your space seem more open and spacious. But most importantly, you need to be comfortable with seeing this color everyday. More neutral colors are easiest on the eye and can blend with other designs.
12. Large Tiles Give the Appearance of Spaciousness
The interaction between the human brain and eye is an amazing thing. Certain patterns can make your brain think that a space is bigger than it actually is. For example, the larger the tile size, the larger your room will seem. Tiles 13 inches by 13 inches or bigger are the best at achieving this effect. There will also be fewer grout lines to worry about.
13. Select a Matching Grout to Create a More Cohesive Room
Grout can be an afterthought when it comes to tiling. Many automatically think ‘white.’ But grout, the stuff that goes between some style of tile and seals them together, now comes in a lot of colors. It is best to pick a shade that comes closest to matching your tiles.
Don’t worry, even if you think the grout matches perfectly, it will not cause you to lose that distinct tile look. Grout will dry a slightly different color and will change subtly with time. The main point is that the color is close enough not to clash with the tile color and make the grout lines stand out.
14. Take Pictures of Your Furniture and Painted Walls to See How Things Blend Together.
Before heading to the store, take some photos of your living room. Take wider photos of the whole space as well as up close photos of more prominent colors. It can be hard to match colors from a photo but something is better than nothing. But if you can, bring the actual item, like a pillow or small rug.
