Choosing the Perfect Floor Tiles for Your Home

When it comes to transforming your home, few decisions are as impactful as selecting the right floor tiles. From bathroom tiles and kitchen floor tiles to hardwearing outdoor tiles, the choices you make speak volumes about your personal taste, and can define your space’s style, functionality and longevity. Choose wisely, because floor tiles are the base canvas of your look and set the tone for the rest of your redecoration. They should be an investment in long-term loveliness. At Italtile, we’re here to offer you pain-free guidance and provide a little inspiration along the way. Here’s everything you need to know to pick the perfect floor tiles for your home. 

What Should I consider When Choosing Floor Tiles? 

Selecting floor tiles isn’t just about aesthetics (although that’s a major consideration!) – it’s about finding the right balance of practicality and personality. Let’s break it down. 

Floor tiles come in a wide price range, and at Italtile you’ll find as many beautiful options in the affordable luxe category as you will in the high-end “investment art” category. Each one is an Italtile exclusive, selected for your eyes only! From value-for-money vinyl floor tiles and locally manufactured hardbody ceramic floor tiles to high-end, ultra-luxe porcelain marble-look floor tiles, wood-look floor tiles, stone-look floor tiles, concrete-look floor tiles and pretty-as-a-picture patchwork floor tiles created by leading tile specialists in Spain and Italy.  

Setting a budget helps you narrow down options without compromising on quality. (Shopping for floor tiles at Italtile means you’ll always take quality home.) General rule of thumb: while cheap tiles might save money upfront, investing in durable, good quality porcelain options will pay dividends in the long run... with less maintenance, minimal to no replacement costs, and a favourable ROI when the time comes to put the For Sale sign up outside your property.  

Consider where the tiles will go. High-traffic areas like kitchens and bathrooms need durable, water-resistant, anti-slip tiles (what we prefer to call slip-resistant tiles - because even the grippiest tile cannot guarantee a slip-free life, but it will mitigate the risk.) In these types of spaces, you need to ensure hard-wearing surfaces that offer safety. For exterior floor tiles, once again, water resistance, UV resistance, stain resistance and slip protection are key. Matching the tile’s durability to the purpose of the space ensures lasting performance. 

The type of floor tiles you choose matters. Natural stone and natural wood, while undeniably beautiful, are unsustainable and incredibly expensive. They also require an enormous amount of maintenance, and upkeep costs will be high. Natural cement floors may offer the urban edge you’re looking for but, unless meticulously thrown, can crack and damage over time and will require regular sealing. The long-term solution for a peerless, flawless floor? High quality porcelain floor tiles will deliver all the beauty of the real thing, along with durability, and retain their integrity. Hardbody ceramic floor tiles are also good options. And Italtile’s exclusive wood-look vinyl floor tiles are an excellent value-for money alternative. Each look has unique benefits. Explore them to find your fit. And speak to us before you make your decision. 

Colour and texture put the mood in moodboard. Light shades like creamy beige or soft grey can make small spaces feel airy. Classic marble-look floor tiles fit the bill here and will never date. And deliciously grainy wood-look floor tiles will be forever fabulous. Bold hues add drama – and while these theatrical choices are often chosen for larger rooms, you may well want to bring drama into a smaller space (but this requires the guidance of our design-certified sales consultants and our highly experienced, style-savvy Professional Residential Agents. Floor tiles design options, from sleek gloss floor tiles to satiny lappato surfaces and more textural stone-look floor tiles, will let you tailor your home’s vibe, to sing those beautiful songs about your personality and unique taste. If you’re looking for a little fun, let’s investigate the undeniable charm of patterned floor tiles. Go achromatic with black and white patchwork... or dial up the fiesta with a multi-coloured pattern. These looks can add tremendous appeal to areas like entrance halls, or kitchen and bathroom floors... we’ve also seen patterned floor tiles elevate a staircase.  

Interior design notes: For warm wood looks, browse our Yorkwood Matt Glazed Rectified ranges by Ceramica Sant’Agostino. A little pattern in your future? Why not investigate our Yorkwood Brown Classic 01Rectified Matt Glazed Décor Tile (a combo of wood and travertine looks in a dance of diagonals). Or perhaps the timeless black and white allure of our Circle Black. Classic creamy marble looks more your thing? Drench your space with our colossal Marvel Calacatta Extra Matt Porcelain Slabs (1200 x 2800!) And for a peerless, tactile alpine stone look, there’s our inimitable large-format Bergstone Rectified Matt Glazed Tile 1200 x 1200. 

From small tiles to large format floor tiles, size and shape influence perception. Big tiles can make a small room feel spacious thanks to minimal grout lines (which will always break up a space). Intricate patterns are perfect for feature areas. Finishes matter. A glossy surface will reflect light beautifully but will also show the dirt. Speaking of - the high polish finish needs the backup services of a dirt trap at the entrances of the room to stop small sharp particles from scratching the surface. Matt options are a better option for a high traffic area, in terms of scratching and dirt. 

A Guide To Successful Tile Installation And How To Ensure Perfect Floor Tile Installation. 

Once you’re chosen your tiles, installation is the next step in bringing your reno vision to life. Here’s how to get it right. 

Plan your budget to cover tiles, installation costs, and extras like grout and tools. We also advise our Italtile customers to order extra tiles in the set, in the unlikely event of a chip or a break. Not everyone is a highly gifted DIY specialist. So unless you are an installation professional in your spare time, we advise that you DDIY (Don’t DIY). If you are purchasing high-end porcelain tiles, you’re investing in timeless style: please factor in professional help if needed – cutting corners here can lead to costly fixes later, if your installation lifts and cracks (the horror!) due to sub-standard or incorrect adhesive and a poorly prepared base. Please chat to our sales consultants about our vetted Professional Installation Services. 

Revisit your needs: durability for lounge floor tiles, slip-resistant floor tiles for kitchens, bathrooms, wet rooms and outdoor areas like patios and pool decks. If you’re unsure about your choice, we offer a Sample Tile Service so you can do a test in your space to see how the light and the layout affect the look. 

Play with floor tile patterns. For example, a herringbone pattern with wood-look tiles for that elegant, English Country House aesthetic, or a grid pattern for simplicity. Large floor tiles will always streamline modern spaces, while smaller floor tiles will add character and movement. Take advantage of Italtile’s free online tools to visualise your design before committing.  

We stand by our advice about professional installation teams. Skilled installers will be an expense you don’t regret in the long run. (And the pro teams we recommend have been trained in the correct methodology for all our floor tiles.) Quality grouts and specialist adhesives will protect your investment. Consider installing dirt traps at entrances if you’re laying high gloss floor tiles. Never use home-brewed cleaning potions on high-end porcelain or vinyl floor tiles. All it takes is a soft damp mop moistened with clean warm water. If you feel a little more “coaxing” is needed, should there be a tricky “oopsie”, we strongly suggest you investigate Italtile’s specialist tile cleaning products, to ensure a tiled surface that remains pristine for longer. 

Frequently Asked Questions. 

Lighter floor tiles paired with darker walls can ground a room, while darker floors with lighter walls create contrast and depth. It’s a personal choice – test the combinations to see what suits your space. 

Look for uniform size, minimal chipping, rectified edges... and trust exclusive, reputable brands from Italtile. Our name is your guarantee of overall quality, sustainability, high durability ratings and impressive nanotechnology for slip-resistance. 

Consider room function, traffic, budget and style. Research the types of floor tile looks – ceramic, porcelain or natural stone and natural hardwood – and their respective maintenance needs.  

Neutral tones like white, grey or beige shades, along with all the enduring warm tones and textures of wood-look floor tiles - are your friends when it comes to a timeless aesthetic that will never date.  

Lighter grout highlights tile patterns and nuances... but it may show the dirt more than darker toned grout. Darker grout will hide wear and everyday dirt. Match your grout colour to your lifestyle and your design goals... you might prefer a contrasting grout tone for the vibe of it. Consult us about our exclusive grout ranges and grout-maintenance products. 

Herringbone adds elegance, while a simple grid suits more minimalist homes. “The best” really depends upon your space and taste. 

This is our chorus, really: Big tiles open up any space with minimal grout lines for a sleek look, while small tiles add texture and fascinating character with masses of interesting grout lines. 

Bigger tiles can make rooms feel larger and more modern, but it’s about balance... because small tiles can shine in detailed designs. 

Investing in a high-end tile will certainly offer better durability, finish, and consistency. Cheap tiles may lack in longevity or aesthetic refinement. Cheap is never cheap in our experience, because you’ll have to spend more money down the line in a costly fix. 

Porcelain tiles are the top pick for strength, aesthetics and versatility. They will always be our first choice. However, we’re impressed by the versatility, longevity and overall value for money of our exclusive vinyl wood-look floor tiles. Overall, though, porcelain tiles reign supreme for durability, scratch resistance stain resistance, moisture resistance, UV resistance and resistance to temperature extremes. They really are perfect for every home.