A Quick Guide to Choosing Tiles for Your Kitchen

You may have decided that you are after the classic look and durability of floor tiles in your kitchen. Congratulations, tiling is a great option that really will add value to your new kitchen and your home as a whole. But visit any tile showroom and you’ll find what can be a confusing amount of choice. Your first decision is what material your chosen kitchen tiles should be. Here, we offer a brief but handy guide to your main options.

What Materials Do I Have to Choose From?

First, there are ones made from natural materials. These include slate, limestone, marble and quarry tiles, not to mention polished granite. Any of these will look superb and add a real touch of class to either a traditional or contemporary kitchen space. All are incredibly hard wearing, are easy to clean and maintain and will definitely roll with the punches in a busy family kitchen! They will ‘weather’ naturally as they age, developing a unique patina that will grow even more beautiful over time.

One slight drawback: they can be more expensive than other types of tiles, but you are making an investment in something that can potentially last a lifetime! And if you’re not quite sure you’ll want your tiles that long without wishing to change them, then you could always opt for ceramic or porcelain tiles instead. While these are still hard wearing in their own right, they do tend to be less in price than the natural materials mentioned above. That means they can be the more cost effective option if you have an oversized kitchen or are on a tighter budget. They’re also lighter and easier to lay, which can result in less expense when they’re fitted.

What About Style, Colour and Texture?

The great thing about tiles is the sheer choice when it comes to their look. There are plenty of colour options available, which means it’s easy to find something that not only matches your own taste, but also the aesthetics of your kitchen as a whole. One factor to bear in mind, though, is that darker tiles may hide a degree of dirt and grime (less frequent cleaning!), but can make an already small space look even darker and more confined. Lighter coloured tiles, on the other hand, will reflect light and brighten the space up, but will tend to show every fault, flaw or smear.

Choosing a textured style can add interest to the floor, making it more of a focal point. Again, in a small space, this can add to an already cluttered look – but a textured tile does have the advantage of being less slippery than a smooth one.

In the end, many of these decisions come down to personal taste, but will equally apply if you’re looking for bathroom tiles for your floor. One way to ensure you get the best flooring for your needs is to find a showroom that features plenty of choice and take advice from an expert in the tiling world. In Lingfield, East Grinstead, Crawley, Tunbridge Wells, wider Surrey, Sussex and Kent, that means Barge Tiles. We have a wealth of floor tiles and wall tiles to suit any home, and can help you decide what’s right for yours.