Floor coverings: our complete guide to choosing the perfect tiles for your home

When selecting flooring for your home, 'floor coverings tile' consistently ranks as the top choice for homeowners seeking durability, style, and long-term value. With their water resistant properties, huge range of styles, and hard wearing characteristics, tiles offer endless possibilities for creating the perfect look in any room.

Whether you’re renovating your bathroom floors, updating living rooms, or designing a complete house makeover, understanding the diverse collection of floor tiles available will help you make informed decisions that suit your own style and practical needs.

Key points

• Porcelain and ceramic tiles are the most popular floor covering options, offering durability and versatility for any room

• Floor tiles come in various effects including wood, stone, and marble to replicate natural materials at lower costs

• Anti slip finishes are essential for bathroom and kitchen floor coverings for safety

• Large format tiles (60x60cm or larger) create spacious looks while smaller tiles allow for intricate patterns

• Proper installation by professionals ensures long-lasting and beautiful floor tile coverings

• Floor tiles suitable for underfloor heating systems provide enhanced comfort

Types of floor covering tiles

The extensive range of floor tiles available today offers something for every space, style, and budget. Understanding the characteristics of each type helps you select the perfect floor tiles for your specific needs.

Porcelain floor tiles

Porcelain floor tiles represent the premium end of the tile market, manufactured from refined clay fired at extremely high temperatures. This process creates dense, hard wearing properties that make porcelain tiles ideal for high traffic areas and commercial spaces.

The timeless beauty of porcelain lies in its exceptional durability and water resistance. These tiles can withstand the demands of busy households while maintaining their appearance for decades. Polished porcelain tiles offer a luxurious finish perfect for living room applications, while matt finish options provide better slip resistance for bathroom floors.

Porcelain tiles are also frost-resistant, making them suitable as outdoor tiles in many climates where freeze-thaw cycles occur.

Ceramic tiles

Ceramic tiles provide an excellent balance of performance and affordability, made from natural clay fired at lower temperatures than porcelain. While slightly softer and more porous than porcelain, ceramic tiles offer good water resistance when glazed and remain a popular choice for moderate-traffic areas.

These tiles are easier to cut during installation, making them cost-effective for DIY enthusiasts. The range of ceramic options includes everything from plain tiles to elaborate patterned designs, allowing homeowners to create unique looks without breaking the budget.

Natural stone tiles

Natural stone brings unmatched elegance to any space, with options including travertine, slate, marble, and granite. Each stone type offers distinct characteristics:

• Travertine: Known for earthy tones and porous surfaces, best suited for low-moisture indoor areas

• Slate: Features strong slip resistance and unique colour variations, making it popular in kitchens and entrances

• Marble: Offers luxury aesthetics but requires regular sealing and maintenance

• Granite: Provides exceptional durability and unique patterns

Quartz floor tiles

Quartz floor tiles combine the beauty of natural stone with engineered performance benefits. Made from quartz aggregate and resins, these tiles offer scratch resistance, non-porous surfaces, and uniform appearance while requiring low maintenance.

Tile Type	Durability	Water Resistance	Maintenance
Porcelain	Very High	Excellent	Low
Ceramic	High	Good	Low (if glazed)
Natural Stone	Variable	Variable	Moderate to High
Quartz	High	Excellent	Low

Popular floor tile effects and finishes

Modern manufacturing techniques allow tiles to replicate the appearance of natural materials while offering superior performance and lower maintenance requirements.

Wood effect floor tiles

Wood effect floor tiles have revolutionised flooring design, offering the warmth and beauty of real wood without the maintenance. These tiles perfectly mimic hardwoods like oak and walnut using advanced printing and texturing technologies.

Unlike wooden floors, wood effect tiles resist water damage, warping, and scratches, making them perfect for bathrooms, kitchens, and basements where real wood isn’t suitable. The contemporary styling options include everything from rustic barn wood to elegant parquet patterns.

Stone effect tiles

Stone effect tiles capture the natural beauty of limestone, sandstone, and slate while providing enhanced durability and easier care. These tiles suit both traditional and modern aesthetics, offering the luxurious appearance of natural stone without the sealing requirements.

Marble effect tiles

Marble effect tiles feature patterns inspired by Carrara and Calacatta marble, allowing you to achieve opulent visuals without the cost and maintenance of genuine marble. These tiles create stunning focal points in living rooms and bathrooms while standing up to daily use.

Surface finishes

The finish you choose significantly impacts both aesthetics and functionality:

• Matt finish: Reduces slip risk and suits utilitarian spaces

• Polished: Delivers reflective elegance but may not be as slip-resistant

• Satin: Offers subtle shine with easier maintenance

• Textured: Provides enhanced slip resistance for wet areas

Room-specific floor tile recommendations

Selecting appropriate floor tiles for each room ensures optimal performance and safety throughout your house.

Kitchen floor tiles

Kitchen floor tiles must withstand grease, spills, and heavy foot traffic while remaining easy to clean. Porcelain and glazed ceramic tiles perform best in these demanding conditions. Anti slip surfaces are essential in cooking and washing areas where water and oils create hazardous conditions.

Dark-coloured or patterned tiles help camouflage inevitable stains and wear, while large format options minimise grout lines that can harbour bacteria and require frequent cleaning.

Bathroom floor tiles

Safety takes priority in bathroom applications, where wet conditions demand anti slip tiles with R10-R11 slip resistance ratings. Porcelain and textured ceramic tiles provide the necessary grip while offering water resistant properties essential in humid environments.

Smaller tiles or mosaic options increase grout line density, providing additional slip resistance. However, this creates more maintenance requirements for keeping grout clean and sealed.

Living room floor tiles

Our Green and Cream floor tiles from the Confetti range come in the style of terrazzo for a distinctive floor design. The colour contrast creates a striking floor solution in this modern living room

Living room floor tiles should balance comfort, durability, and aesthetics. Large format tiles create expansive looks that make spaces appear larger, while polished or satin finishes reflect light beautifully.

Underfloor heating compatibility becomes important in living rooms where comfort is paramount. Most ceramic and porcelain tiles conduct heat effectively, making them suitable for radiant heating systems.

Hallway and entrance areas

Hallways and entrances endure the heaviest foot traffic and accumulate dirt from outside. Dense, dark-coloured porcelain tiles work best in these areas, offering exceptional durability while hiding everyday wear.

Anti slip properties remain important, especially near entrances where wet shoes can create slippery conditions.

Outdoor applications

Outdoor tiles must be frost-resistant and weatherproof to survive freeze-thaw cycles and temperature extremes. Only specific porcelain, quarry, and textured stone tiles meet these demanding requirements.

The extra large format tiles popular indoors may not suit outdoor applications where thermal expansion and contraction require more frequent expansion joints.

Floor tile sizes and layouts

Tile size dramatically affects the visual impact and practical considerations of your flooring project.

Large format tiles

Large format tiles (80x80cm, 120x60cm) create contemporary, spacious appearances by minimising visible grout lines. These tiles work particularly well in open-plan areas and modern homes where seamless looks are desired.

Installation of large format tiles requires perfectly level subfloors and professional expertise to prevent lippage (uneven edges between tiles).

Standard sizes

Traditional sizes (30x30cm, 45x45cm, 60x60cm) offer versatility and easier handling during installation. These sizes suit most residential applications and provide good proportions for average-sized rooms.

Plank tiles

Plank tiles (15x90cm, 20x120cm) specifically replicate wood flooring proportions. These rectangular shapes can be installed in various patterns including herringbone, brick bond, and diagonal layouts to enhance the wood effect illusion.

Mosaic and decorative tiles

Smaller tiles and mosaic options excel in creating intricate patterns, borders, and feature areas. While requiring more maintenance due to increased grout lines, these tiles offer unlimited design possibilities, especially when it comes to maximising small spaces.

Popular laying patterns include:

• Herringbone: Creates visual interest with wood-look planks

• Brick bond: Offsets each row for classic appeal

• Diagonal: Adds drama and makes small spaces appear larger

Installation and maintenance

Professional installation ensures optimal performance and longevity of your floor tile investment.

Professional installation

Proper tiling requires perfectly level subfloors, appropriate adhesives, and precise spacing. Professional installers understand substrate preparation, waterproof membranes for wet areas, and expansion joint placement to prevent cracking.

Large format tiles and natural stone materials particularly benefit from professional installation due to their weight and specific handling requirements.

Daily maintenance

Most floor tiles require minimal daily maintenance. Neutral pH cleaners protect glazed surfaces and natural stone sealers, while avoiding harsh chemicals that can damage grout or stone.

Regular sweeping prevents abrasive particles from scratching tile surfaces, while prompt spill cleanup prevents staining.

Grout care

Grout maintenance significantly impacts the overall appearance and hygiene of tiled floors. Sealing prevents water infiltration and staining, particularly important in bathroom and kitchen applications.

Coloured grout options can enhance design schemes or help camouflage normal wear and discolouration over time.

Other considerations

Long-term value

Floor tiles offer exceptional long-term value compared to other flooring options. Well-installed tile floors can last 20-50 years with proper care, compared to 8-12 years for laminate and 7-10 years for carpet.

This longevity, combined with low maintenance requirements, makes tiles cost-effective despite higher initial investment.

Shopping tips and selection process

Smart shopping strategies ensure you get the perfect floor tiles for your project while staying within budget.

Sampling process

Order samples before making final decisions. Physical samples allow you to assess colour variation, texture, and quality in your home’s lighting conditions. This step prevents costly mistakes and ensures satisfaction with your final choice.

Quantity calculation

Calculate required quantities carefully, adding 10% extra for wastage, cutting, and future repairs. Buying sufficient tiles from the same production batch ensures colour consistency throughout your project.

Technical specifications

Review technical specifications including:

• Water absorption percentages: Affect suitability for wet areas

• Slip resistance ratings: Critical for safety applications

Design co-ordination

Consider how floor tiles will co-ordinate with wall tiles and your overall interior design scheme. This holistic approach ensures cohesive results that enhance your home’s value and appeal.