Tile Design: Expressing Your Personality

Tile, as a functional product and as a tool of artful and personal expression, has a myriad of possibilities. In interior design, we seek to balance these two ideas within the restrictions of time and budget. Starting with a general plan of the space, and a layout of cabinetry and plumbing fixtures or appliances, as in a bathroom or a kitchen, are key. Drafting elevations of all walls can go a long way to help a client envision the overall feel of the tile, and are very important for proper installation to the craftspeople working in your home. As in any project, good preparation, following the latest techniques, and using the best available products are essential. If there are questions regarding proper tile installation methods, you may refer to the "Handbook for Ceramic Tile Installation" from the Tile Council of America.

Color, Texture, Function

Choosing tile is the next difficult step; often clients are overwhelmed when they walk into a tile showroom. Taking a magazine clipping with you can help guide you. Evaluate the color flow of your home and the color choices that tend to draw you, by looking at your clothes or your home accessories. Think about texture choices like glazed or natural stone and wander the showroom familiarizing yourself with the various areas and how the tiles are grouped. Then, focus in on what immediately catches your eye and spend time thinking about living with this choice for years to come. Will you tire of it? Is it functionally correct? Can you change your accessory colors around it in a few years? If you are in doubt about technical issues, always ask your designer or a salesperson.  

Design, Pattern, Detail

One thing I often tell clients is to look for a special tile for each room as an accent, and then a less expensive tile to coordinate with it as the major player. This is a budgetary trick to help your money go farther. I often use that accent tile in several places to pull the eye around the room and make the room feel cohesive. Try the same accent tile, but in differing shapes and sizes to create interest. I like to do no fewer than two types of tile and no more than four or five, depending on the room sizes and tile differences, but every project and client are unique. Bathrooms can hold more tile choices than a kitchen or an entry area. 

An example would be adding a border of two 1” rows of mosaic tiles on the floor with two colors of the same field tile and perhaps a change in direction of the tile pattern. Bring a row or two of that mosaic to the backsplash and several rows to the shower wall, possibly changing orientation, direction, or size for more interest. All of this can add up to a small amount of the mosaic actually being ordered, but with a big visual payoff. If you are working with a designer, please tell them your feelings, and express if you want to change anything they have chosen for you. Designers are there to please you and generally enjoy a design challenge, with at least a little direction. Here in Portland, I tend to stay away from drab colors, especially in smaller rooms, and consider the rest of the homes décor when making tile decisions.

By adding these expensive, but smaller multiple areas of interest, you can express your individual taste, have fun in your kitchen or bathroom, and keep the budget and your tile setters peace of mind under control. Tile is the most permanent surface you will select for your project; it is worth the time and effort to explore your many possibilities.