While it will certainly help in deciding by offering samples, sometimes it’s difficult for a customer to picture exactly what those tiles will look like in the home. The amount of natural light, the location of their fixtures and fittings, ceiling heights, and available wall space- all play a role in how the finished space will look. It’s generally good advice to purchase tiles of a size relative to the amount of space. So, a really large area, say an open plan kitchen or dining room, can probably handle really large format tiles or planks which will lengthen the room in the direction of the planks (like the image above). If it’s a medium size bathroom, a medium-sized tile will generally be suitable. The tiniest of guest bathrooms may look best with smaller, even mosaic-style tiles.
Right: adagio light grey porcelain
However, one thing to bear in mind is grout lines, as these will make an impact on the final result and whether the space will look smaller or larger. The more grout lines you have, the busier your wall or floor will look and this may tend to make a smaller space look even more restricted. It may be good to go with a medium-sized tile instead to reduce that grid-like appearance that results from grout lines and give the illusion of a larger space.
On the other hand, a smaller bathroom, for instance, might have some difficult angles which means, practically speaking, a larger tile is going to need more cuts to fit around those items. If the toilet is located quite close to the shower, for instance, those tiles running along both may require more work than using a smaller tile that will fit better around them.
One thing that will make a room look larger is to use a grout color that is similar to the color of the tiles. This will then make that grid appear less noticeable and the tiles will look more seamless.
One area you can usually get away with smaller tiles is inside a shower cubicle. More grout lines mean better traction and less slipping, so choosing a small or mosaic tile for this area with a larger tile in the rest of the space is a good idea.
Left: brick glass mosaic
Whatever your project requires, our knowledgeable Tiletoria sales team are eager to assist you. Please contact your closest showroom to find the perfect size tiles for your renovation.