Ground Rules: Your Ultimate Guide to Gorgeous Tile
Tile is one of the hardest-working home design elements—and one of the most overlooked. It plays a starring role in kitchens and bathrooms, brings a clean aesthetic to laundry rooms, and pulls its weight in mudrooms, entryways, and more. But choosing the best tile for your home isn’t just about picking trendy colors and patterns. It’s about understanding the material: how it performs, where it works best, and the upkeep it needs.
Whether planning a full-scale renovation or simple surface refresh, we’ll cover three of the most common types of tile, along with modern tile ideas, tips on where to use tile, what to consider before you buy, and how to achieve a flawless finish.
Types of Tile: Choosing the Right Tile for Your Space
Tile is more than hardware; it’s a chance to create home makeover magic. The right type of tile can elevate the most modest spaces, but an abundance of options can make the decision process feel like learning a new language of grout, glaze, and grade.
We’re cutting through the confusion with a look at three of the most popular types of tile, their advantages, disadvantages, and the best spots for them to shine:
1. Ceramic Tile
Ceramic tile is a favorite for budget-conscious DIYers tackling quick upgrades and weekend projects. Made from kiln-fired clay, ceramic tile is lightweight, easy to cut, cost-effective, and comes in various colors and patterns—perfect for beginners or anyone designing on a dime. However, what ceramic tile offers in affordability and versatility, it lacks in durability. More porous than other materials, like porcelain, ceramic can absorb moisture and is prone to chipping and cracking over time. It’s ideal for low-traffic, low-moisture areas like kitchen backsplashes, fireplace surrounds, or decorative floors.
Pro tip: Always confirm whether your ceramic tile is rated for floors, as some styles are wall-only.
2. Porcelain Tile
With a dense construction, porcelain tile is the heavyweight champ of tile. Ultra-durable, nearly waterproof, and built to take a beating, it absorbs less than 0.5% of water and is ideal for splash zones, spills, and spaces with heavy foot traffic like entries, kitchens, patios, and bathrooms. Bonus: It offers luxe looks like marble or wood without the high-end price tag. Just be ready to call in the professionals. Porcelain is tougher to cut, requires more advanced tools, and typically costs more than ceramic. But, its long-term durability makes it a top pick.
Pro tip: Opt for textured porcelain in wet spaces, like pool decks or shower floors, for added slip resistance.
3. Natural Stone Tile
If Donatella Versace were a tile, she’d be natural stone—bold, timeless, and effortlessly dramatic. Popular picks include:
- Marble
- Granite
- Slate
- Travertine
- Limestone
- Sandstone
- Quartzite
- Onyx
- Pebble
Each is an organic masterpiece, with unique veining, color, and texture that add elegance and lasting impact to any space. But luxury comes at a price. Because it’s quarried from the earth, natural stone costs much more than ceramic or porcelain—and it demands more upkeep, including regular sealing. Still, natural stone’s classic appeal is worth its weight in salt when it comes to increasing home value, making it a rock-solid investment.
Pro tip: Test sealant before applying; some stones darken or change color when sealed.
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DIY Tile Installation Tips That Stick
Tackling a tiling project? It can be rewarding, but not for the faint of heart. A seamless installation requires thoughtful planning, the proper equipment, careful execution, and an abundance of patience. When installing tile yourself, follow these expert hacks to achieve professional results:
- Calculate for good measure. Double-check square footage (length x width) to account for materials, and add an extra 10-15% to cover cuts, mistakes, and future repairs.
- Prep the surface. Ensure your subfloor is dry, clean, level, and structurally sound; uneven, flexible surfaces can result in cracked tiles and poor adhesion.
- Sketch a layout. Snap chalk lines to map out the center of the space and create a balanced floor plan; dry-lay tiles to visualize placement for a flawless install.
- Stock your toolbox. Be sure you’re adequately equipped to do the job; use a wet saw for porcelain, a tile cutter for ceramic, and a diamond blade for natural stone—and don’t forget the safety gear!
- Lay it on thick (but not too much). Mix thinset mortar according to package instructions, and let it “slake” (rest) before use; apply with a notched trowel in small sections to prevent drying out.
- Mind your grout. Place spacers on tile edges to maintain consistent gaps between each; remove the spacers before the mortar sets so they don’t get stuck.
- Seal if needed. Porous materials require sealing before and after grouting to prevent stains and moisture absorption.
- Allow enough curing time. Give mortar and grout the appropriate time to fully cure—typically 24 to 72 hours—before walking on or cleaning your freshly tiled surface.
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Beyond Types of Tile: Boost Your Home’s Value with Smart Design Choices
The right tile can do more than beautify a space—it can elevate your property’s overall value. From sensible ceramic tile to durable porcelain tile and timeless natural stone tile, a flooring upgrade can make a significant difference. With thoughtful installation and material choices, your next home improvement project will create visual appeal and maximize your home’s long-term worth.
Boosting your property value doesn’t end with tile flooring. Check out our article, “Want to Increase Your Property Value? These Small Updates Will Make a Big Difference,” where we share simple yet effective renovation ideas beyond tile.