“Tiles marry form and function perfectly, and because they are waterproof they won’t swell or degrade when wet or exposed to steam,” Abbas Youssefi, the director of independent tile specialists for Porcelain Superstore, explains to The Spruce. “Plus, they are easy to care for and keep clean—so from a homeowner’s perspective, they’re a dream.” But, there are some truly beautiful tiles out there, and relegating them to only the shower floor doesn’t seem fair. We turned to a few tiling experts to find out all the unexpected ways tiling can enhance your home. “Anywhere you would think to install wallpaper could also be an ideal space for tile," she says. “We’re seeing a huge surge in tile replacing wallpaper in coffee bars, breakfast nooks, in-home office spaces, laundry room accent walls, and more. It’s a great way to display your creativity and an opportunity to make a huge impact in a small space.” On the other hand, Smith says you can do both. “You don’t have to pick between wallpaper and decorative tile,” she tells us. “Pattern matching is so fun, and when done correctly, it looks killer. Install your decorative tile as a wainscotting with a fresh wallpaper above.” “Stairs are a perfect place to express your personality,” Youssefi assures us. “Small patterned tiles on stair rises always make a visual impact, as do ‘patchwork pattern’ tiles. For a more subtle vibe that still wows, a tile with a repeating pattern is a great choice.” “Darker tiles are on trend and are the antithesis of class white marbles, meaning they make a real impact,” he says. “Choose something with a handmade aesthetic so not only will it catch the eye, but it will offer a relaxing, healing feel.” Hingle agrees, noting that this is a place where grout is an important consideration. “We prefer to select a subtle grout color that blends in with the colors found in the natural stone so that our beautiful patterns can really shine,” she tells us. “Functional as well as eye-catching, a tiled kitchen backsplash is always a good choice for patterned tile,” she notes. “Make a powerful statement by tiling counter-to-ceiling, or keep it simple and sweet with a centerpiece over your stove.” Youssefi advises that choosing a durable type of tile is particularly important. “Ceramic and porcelain tiles are better suited to kitchen walls than other materials for many reasons,” he explains. “Primarily, they are far more stain resistant than natural stone and marbles, so there is no need to worry about oils, pasta, and sauces. Plus, there are hundreds of designs, quite literally something to suit every space and style.” A bonus? “They are easy to install, so you can change the look of your kitchen simply by updating your splashback with new tiles,” Youssefi says. “Wherever possible, tiles should be fixed to cement backer boards, which are unaffected by heat,” he notes. “Secondly, fireplaces can emit a lot of ash, and while tiles themselves won’t stain, grout joints can. Use epoxy grouts, which are far harder to stain than traditional cement-based grouts.” “You want to make sure that the tiles that you have selected a rated as appropriate for heat applications,” Georgie Smith, co-founder of LIVDEN, adds. “You can get that information from the manufacturer’s website or by asking your local tile expert. Popular choices would be natural stone, ceramic, or porcelain.” Hingle agrees. “We’re seeing a more bold approach in shower wall installations lately,” she says. “Especially as more detailed murals or patterns are used on a larger scale, similar to a wallpaper application. While you obviously can never go wrong with the classic look, this current trend is really winning us over.” “It is always nice when the tile that you select for the pet station ties into somewhere else in the home—it gives it a sense of cohesiveness,” Smith says. “One designer we worked with had leftover patterned tile from a project, so they used the bathroom tile as the doggy station tile. This was a fun and easy addition that added some boldness to the room.” “I really do believe that if you pick a patterned tile that you love, it will never go out of style,” she tells us. “I know it’s tempting to choose a patterned tile you see all over Pinterest and Instagram, but if it isn’t speaking to you, it will probably lose its luster. Even if a pattern is deemed ‘not in style’ but you love it, choose that tile—go for the tile that makes you do a double take every time you see it.”
