Kitchen Wall Tiles Made Easy - Choose the Tile Perfect for You

Your kitchen can, after your living room, be a central hub of activity in your home. It is, after all, where all your cooking takes place and where the family usually gathers in the morning. It’s also one of the most likely to be seen by guests, especially if it doubles as a dining room. Therefore your choice of kitchen wall tile can in fact make or break your kitchen, not just in its appearance to you, your family and friends, but also in its functionality. Choosing the right tiles can mean a juggling act between availability, cost, aesthetics and practicality. So where should you start?

First and foremost, consider your budget. How much can you spend on your tiles? If you’re on a tight budget, consider looking at cheap, plain materials, such as plastics or ceramics. Larger budgets will allow greater choice in kitchen tiles, such as natural stone or porcelain. Don’t be too cheap. The cheapest tiles will actually cost you more long term because you’ll need to replace them all the time, likewise you should not settle with a tile you are genuinely unhappy with.

Consider also the difference between materials for your kitchen wall tiles. Each one has its own strengths and weaknesses, and understanding those strengths and weaknesses will be crucial to getting the most from your kitchen.

The sort of colour scheme you want to go for will also be an influential factor. This will influence a number of things, principally the material your tiles are made out of. For example if you want a warm, cosy colour scheme you may want to avoid brighter materials such as pine or limestone, and instead settle on rosewood or basalt. Certain colours may also not be easily found in more natural materials such a stone, and thus will require painted plastic or ceramic tiles. Have a look around your kitchen and try to visualise how the final design will look. If it helps, draw a picture or look online for examples to draw inspiration from.

Another factor to consider is just where exactly the kitchen wall tiles will be placed. For example, tiles placed around the kitchen sink will need to be water resistant, as there’s a high chance of backsplash while washing dishes. Meanwhile tiles placed as the backsplash of a cooker needs to be resistant not just to heat but also easy to clean, in the event that bubbling sauces and other stains splatter against them. Ceramics are cheap and easy to clean, but they can also be brittle and chip easily if you’re not careful around them, making them unsuitable for areas with heavy pots and pans. Again, look carefully at the materials you’re using, and consider the sort of pressures they’ll be placed under.

When looking at tiles, always look at the long term. You want to get the most out of your kitchen wall tiles before they need to be replaced, whether it’s because they’re in need to repair or because you wish to change the design. Always ask yourself: in ten years from now, can you still see those wall tiles being there?

For more information about kitchen wall tiles, visit the website of Crown Tiles. You can also phone directly by calling 0800 156 0756.