Mosaic Tiles and How to Use Them

When it comes to the matter of home design, mosaic tiles usually get overlooked by the majority of home designers. The reasons for this vary, but usually it amounts to people being uncertain how exactly to use mosaic tiles. They are, of course, rather small and fiddly as tiles go, which gives people the impression that they’re difficult and time consuming to use. This of course is a little disappointing, as mosaics can truly give your bathroom or kitchen a dash of any sort of theme you desire if used correctly. But how do you use mosaic tiles effectively?

Do not be intimidated by their small size. Mosaic tiles are actually surprisingly easy to install, certainly they’re no harder than any other kind of tile. The key to using them effectively comes with understand how to properly use their size and colour.

Like most tiles, mosaics can come in a wide range of colours, tones and textures, whether its dark and stone-like to bright and glossy. How they’re used can radically alter the mood, theme and perception of a bathroom, so understand the basics of tile design first. Use bright, reflective tiles to make a kitchen seem brighter and larger, and use darker, more natural tiles to make a bathroom seem cosier and more contained. Also consider carefully just how the tiles themselves are shaped and designed.

For example, you can easily use stone-like, naturally coloured and textured mosaic tiles in a kitchen to give it a somewhat authentic Mediterranean appearance, with just a dash of the Levant or Tuscan Italy. Use of reds, browns and beiges will enable you to capture a warm, summery look, and used with larger stone-like tiles and fixtures will quickly give your kitchen a timeless, handmade appearance. This is especially useful if your kitchen is in view of guests -- the effect of the mosaic tiles will certainly give them something to talk about.

Another design is the use of single primary colours to evoke a single feel or theme. For example, extensive use of green tiles will give your room a very natural, foresty feel that would work well if you plenty of plants scattered about the place, such as in a conservatory. Meanwhile, blues will naturally lend themselves more to nautical and sea themes, which is a rather obvious design choice for a bathroom.

Meanwhile use of bright blues, greys and whites will make your rooms seem brighter and cleaner, while reflective surfaces means that more light can bounce around the room and give the illusion of space. The final look will be very modern, perfect for homeowners who want a home that looks ahead of its time. There is also a practical application to the use of bright mosaic tiles -- marks and stains become easier to spot, and thus they’re easier to keep clean. Clean rooms are hygienic rooms, and thus will enable you to better see to the health and welfare of your family.

How you array your tiles will also influence the final look and feel of your home. Evocative and bold designers may wish to consider using exaggerated, chequered designs using several different contrasting colours, something that will make the room stand out and draw the eye. This is good if you want to create a distinction between the wall and any working spaces or fixtures, such as showers or cabinets. Others may consider that a little too loud and distracting however, and as such may prefer to use only one or two colours of similar shades and hue to give the appearance of texture without overwhelming the sight. This is more suitable for people who want to create a sense of harmony and balance to their rooms, with everything blending together into one comprehensive whole.

As you can see, mosaic tiles can thus be used to great effect in altering and enhancing the designs of your home. For more information, or for a selection of other tiles, visit the website of Tile Choice. You can also phone directly by calling 0800 1560 560.

Kitchen Light Design Tips and Ideas

Your kitchen will probably form one of the core communal areas of your household, after the living room. Indeed it’s actually the custom among some families with particularly spacious kitchens to keep all domestic activities within that section of the house alone, with the lounge being strictly for entertaining guests. As such, ensuring that your kitchen is adequately illuminated by good quality kitchen lights is essential if you want to maintain a positive atmosphere for you, your guests and your family.

It is also essential if you want to keep things organised and tidy, given the amount of activity the kitchen can expect.

So what do you need to consider in kitchen lights? The first steps are to consider exactly what you intend your kitchen to provide for your family. What you usually do within a room should, of course, reflect in how you design the room around it. It also depends on whether you want guests to see the kitchen or not. If the kitchen also functions as a dining room where you will be expecting to have guests, it’s essential that the lighting is just as attractive as the rest of the kitchen.

So, what if your kitchen is strictly for cooking with very little activity besides? In that case you’ll want lighting that’s utilitarian and practical, offering you a very clear vision of what you’re doing. You can place a kitchen light in the dead centre of the room for maximum coverage, or maybe even include several lights installed on the bottom of overhead cabinets for additional illumination.

As there’s no real concern about aesthetics -- no one will be spending too much time in here -- you don’t have to worry about the tone of lighting. It can be as warm or stark as you please.

What about a kitchen that doubles as a family gathering area, or one where guests can expect to be entertained? In that case you need to be a little more thoughtful.

 Try to go with lighting that, while offering good illumination, also gives a warm and inviting feeling. Lower the watts of the light by a few units to give a more relaxed air, and scatter them around the room evenly. A particularly effective design is to have several wall-mounted lamps and a single ceiling light directly over the centre of the dining table or living area, which gives good coverage of light without being overwhelming.

As there are more going to be more shadows in this sort of kitchen, lighting needs to be more strategic and precise. Place kitchen lights directly over your main cooking stations, such as the cooker, the cutting board and any islands you may have. Light here can be a lot stronger than light in the dining and living sections -- because the lights are so focused they will not interfere too much with the overall ambience. Besides, you can always shut them off after the meal is cooked and served.

Consider installing lights directly in drawers and cabinets, which activate as they are opened. Lights under overhead cabinets and behind backsplashes are also a very good way of illuminating key areas unobtrusively.

For more information about kitchen lights, visit the website of Lighting Majestic, which can supply for a wide variety of lighting needs within the kitchen and other sections of the home. You can also contact them directly as well by calling 0800 4080049.

Kitchen Floor Tiles are an Essential for your Home

Most floor tiling is incredibly durable and can stand up to a large amount of heavy traffic whatever the size of your home, making it perfect for busy areas such as the kitchen. If you’re looking for a long term flooring solution for your home then tiling makes sense. Floor tiles have many advantages when it comes to style and practicality and can help you to put a personal stamp on a room or give it a more expensive and ‘stylish’ feel. Kitchen floor tiles can be one of the cheapest ways to decorate a room if fitted, laid and maintained properly and what’s best is that this can all be done by you!

To perfectly prime your floors for tiling, you will need to invest in a few bits and bobs if you haven’t already done so. Adhesive is the first thing you will need once you have ensured your floor is clean, dry and even. Applying a thin layer of adhesive to the floor will make sure that the surface is smooth and that any remaining dust will be fixed in place. This gives you a smooth finish that’s perfect for your floor tiles. You will need to measure the floor tiles out from the centre of the room to achieve the right fit for your room; this will be slightly harder with an irregular shaped room but should still be doable with the right tools and a keen eye.

You will need to buy and mix a good quality tiling adhesive to secure the kitchen floor tiles to your surface and this should not be applied too thickly. A notching trowel and spirit level are needed to lay the adhesive evenly and will help to ensure your flooring remains even. Once the floor tiles have had 24 hours to set, you will need to fill the tiles gaps with a good quality grout, available at most hardware and tiling stores. If all of the steps are followed correctly, your tiles should be perfectly straight and even, giving you a great floor finish.

Once you’ve got all of the bits and pieces you need, you can start focusing on the style. You can purchase kitchen floor tiles in stone, ceramic, porcelain and many other different materials, they all have their advantages but it’s best to get advice if you’re not sure which one to go for. Red, blue, beige or black, whatever you fancy there’s a tile out there for you and once you’ve got the tools, all you need is your imagination!

Create the Perfect Home with Your Choice of Kitchen Tiles

The kitchen is the most important room in the entire house; it’s used for socialising, cooking and generally bringing friends and family together. Therefore, it’s important to give your kitchen the TLC it deserves when decorating so that it not only reflects your style but is simply a pleasant place to be. Your floors and walls are an important component to the overall style and design of your home, adding character, colour and a range of other benefits. Getting them just right for you can sometimes seem both expensive and difficult but it doesn’t have to be. Kitchen tiles can be a great way to add a unique touch of elegance or colour to your home without forking out thousands of pounds for standout style.

Tiling works well in any home but finding the right fit for your style and your space is the most important thing you can do for a room. Practicality is key when it comes to kitchen tiles and if you have a smaller kitchen, it’s important to create space and light with your tiles. Not doing so could enclose your room and create a dark, dingy and unpleasant atmosphere. Whites, beiges and pastels are the best colours to choose for small kitchens, as they can really help to lift a room. Although opening up your room is important, you should also remember to differentiate the colours in your walls and flooring. If you’re worried about your room being too boring, it’s easy to incorporate splashes of colour into both your walls and floor without compromising on an airy, spacious look.

Open plan kitchen and living space? If your kitchen incorporates a dining area as well as a main cooking area, you can afford to play around with different colours and shapes a little more. Nonetheless you may have to work harder to ensure your room looks comforting and cosy, rather than cold and empty. Bold border tiles and mosaic tiles are a great way to do this, as the short sharp bursts of colour break up your room and help the space to appear more homely. This style of kitchen tile is fantastic as it can be found in a variety of shapes and colours, meaning the most important room in your home will never look dull. Kitchen tiles are perfect for every space because they’re easy to fit, cost effective to maintain and best of all, there’s a style to suit every home!

Why Ceramic Wall Tiles are Best for the Kitchen and Bathroom

Want to revamp your home but don’t want it to cost the earth? There are a number of ways to save money on a home redesign without cutting corners. Many people choose cheaper, alternative materials that often look and feel the same but aren’t, such a laminate flooring or wood effect floor tiles. Another material that is widely used due to its cost effective nature is ceramic tiling. Although cheaper than many of its counterparts, ceramic wall tiles are often more advantageous than marble, glass and quartz tiling. So, if you’re looking for an amazing new wall without having to spend your life savings, a ceramic tile could be your new go to material

Unlike many other materials used for wall tiling, ceramic wall tiles are perfect for the conditions you have to contest with in the kitchen and the bathroom. Ceramic tiling is made by shaping, glazing and baking clay. It has been made the same way for thousands of years, with just a few modern tweaks to allow a better shape for your walls. 

Due to the hardening process that takes place when ceramic is baked, it makes a wonderfully durable surface for any bumps and scrapes that occur around the home.  Glazing is another great feature of the ceramic process, as it ensures that the wall tiles are easier to clean than almost any other material. Scrubbing and repainting will never be a worry with ceramic wall tiles, meaning you get to sit back, relax and enjoy your space.

Alongside excellent durability and an easy clean surface, ceramic wall tiles are also perfect for your style. Due to their popularity, ceramic wall tiles are made in both huge quantities and an incredible range of colours and shapes. Whether you choose a gloss, matt or satin finish, you can transform your kitchen or bathroom wall into the ultimate stand out feature. Go bold with fiery reds and greens or recreate a beautifully classic style with beiges and creams, thanks to ceramic’s hassle free manufacturing process, you can enjoy whatever style you want at the right price.

Want to save even more money? Ceramic wall tiles can easily be fitted by a keen DIY lover, there’s no need to call in the experts. If you’re not sure where to begin when it comes to tackling you wall tiles, check out these detailed guides from Crown Tiles. These guides will tell you how to prep, lay and maintain your ceramic wall tiles in a professional manner and ensure you get the perfect finish for your new wall. So what are you waiting for? Get tiling today!

Why do Ceramic Gloss Wall Tiles Work so Well in Homes?

Everyone knows that gloss wall tiles look lovely in the home; there are a vast number of styles, colours and shapes available so that you can design a room that is perfect for you and reflects your personality and style. However, there are so many more reasons to choose gloss wall tiles for your bathroom and kitchen, which makes them brilliant if you need practicality too. Sometimes the most attractive, high end materials can have serious downfalls and it takes a sturdy classic, such as the ceramic wall tile, to show them whose boss.

Ceramic is the most commonly used material for making gloss wall tiles because it is strong, sturdy and can stand up to the everyday wear and tear of kitchen and bathroom use. Thanks to the way it’s made, using ceramic, it also means that it’s not prone to staining either so you won’t have to worry about the dreaded sauce and toothpaste stains that are such a hassle to get out of other surfaces.

Choosing a gloss wall tile in a ceramic material will also give you protection against moisture too. Because ceramic tiling doesn’t expand or retract when exposed to steam or water, it makes the perfect surface material for rooms where this can be an issue, such as the kitchen and bathroom. The tiling’s resistance to moisture also means that if looked after properly, they will last years and years without being harshly affected by mildew. Finally, gloss wall tiles are easier to clean than other materials and are also resistant to many harsh chemicals, making them great for hygiene too. Simply wipe a tile clean when a splash occurs, there’s no need for endless hours of scrubbing!

Gloss wall tiles are easy to prep for too and if done properly, will ensure you get the best out of your new wall for a long time to come. To prep your walls for tiling, you must first make sure the walls are clean, smooth and free from damp. If you need to fill any holes in your wall, simply use wall filler to achieve a clean finish. Alongside this, to ensure the tiles easily adhere to your surface it’s also worth placing a good quality acrylic bonding on the wall. For more detailed information on how look after and fit your gloss wall tiles, check out these how-to tips by Crown Tiles or give them a call today on 0800 156 0756.

Choose Black Bathroom Floor Tiles and Give Your Room Some Style

Style, sophistication and elegance are things that we all want for our bathrooms and whether you live in a large detached home in the country or a quaint flat in the middle of town, getting the perfect style for your home is incredibly important. The bathroom is one of the most important rooms in the home, as so much goes on there every single day! Such a busy room calls not only for quirky style but for sensible practicality too. If you want to combine the two and create your ultimate room, then black bathroom floor tiles could be the perfect answer to your perfect room design.

Black bathroom floor tiles are a fantastic way to help you create a style that is both modern and a little different. Black floor tiles come in a range of different options so you don’t have to compromise on your look. Satin, gloss and matt are all finishes you can have when choosing your black bathroom floor tiles and each one helps you to create a totally new look. Matt floor tiles are a less regular choice among people and are therefore, a great way to achieve a classic modern style with a twist. However, if you’d prefer to try out a style with more traditional elegance, paring white and black bathroom floor tiles in a gloss finish is the right way to go as it creates a wonderful ‘checkerboard’ finish on your floor. Whatever style you decided on, there are so many reasons to choose tiling for your bathroom floor.

As mentioned previously, floor tiles are the most practical thing you can put into your bathroom, which is great if you live in a busy home or simply want to keep your floor looking as good as possible for years to come. Most floor tiles are made from a ceramic or porcelain material, which means they are incredibly resilient against every day wear and tear and are also easy to clean, perfect if you prefer an easier cleaning experience. Best of all, floor tiles are easy to fit with the right tools, which could save you even more money. So, why not treat yourself to that extra special finishing touch for your home?

Not sure where to start? Visit the Crown Tiles website for handy tile tips and a wide range of black bathroom floor tiles to suit any home but most importantly, get tiling today!

Bathroom Wall Tiles: Great for Practicality and Style

Looking for that stand out style but worried about the budget? So many of us want the home of our dreams and with prices always going up, you’re probably thinking about all of those big style sacrifices you’ll have to make. However, that doesn’t have to be the case because with a few simple tricks and tips you can cut your costs without cutting corners.

The bathroom is probably one of the most expensive rooms to revamp, especially if you need to buy new plumbing, such as toilets, showers, sinks and baths. Nonetheless, one place you can save huge amounts of money is your walls. Wall tiles are great option if you still want that stand out style without the hassle of added costs. Bathroom wall tiles often seem more expensive when first purchased but in reality, they will save you bundles of cash over the years.

Tiles are a great choice for a range of reasons but for many people one of the most common motives for buying wall tiles is because they last. Treat your bathroom wall tiles properly when they are first fitted and they will last you for years and years to come. Wall tiling is designed to stay strong against everyday bumps and scrapes that happen all too often around the house, due to the strong materials that tiling is derived from. Alongside this, they also have the added bonus of an easy clean surface thanks to the way they are finished, because who could resist the idea of spending an extra hour or two relaxing?

Thanks to the diversity of bathroom wall tiles, you never have to sacrifice style to hold on the practicality. Your perfect bathroom is never far away as wall tiles can be found in all kinds of shapes and styles and whether you love bold glossy squares or quirky satin mosaics, sacrifices and compromises are a thing of the past. 

Not sure what to opt for? If you’re stuck for style ideas, then why not go for a classic bathroom look? If you want an element of quirky glamour in your home a black and white checkerboard bathroom is the perfect way to achieve an easily fitted, stand out look for your walls. Is a traditional elegance more your style? If you want the perfect country cottage haven, choose a beautifully beige matt tile to open up your room and achieve a sense of calm. Whatever you decide, you can make it your own with the perfect bathroom wall tiles.

Monochrome Inspiration

The colour black has been a staple in fashion, art and home design for centuries. From statement monochrome print, glossy black flooring to every woman’s wardrobe must have – the LBD – the colour is anything but dark and dull. Within interior design used with accent colours, black can bring warmth to a room or create edgy designs to pique interest. With such versatility, opting for black in home design could outlast other seasonal trends – making for a long term redecoration must have.

One of the most common uses of black in decoration is as part of a statement monochrome theme. With a palette of black and white a room could be transformed into something with that ‘wow’ factor. Opting for this colour choice can create a sleek, modern look when paired with clean up lines, abstract wall art and gloss finished furnishings. Alternatively, using a variety of hues, patterns and textures within a monochrome themed room could create a warm and intimate space – especially when paired with soft mood lighting.

For those who are not quite daring enough to dig out the paint brushes and block paint interior walls in black, opting instead for black coloured flooring may be the perfect answer when trying to create a monochrome themed design. Black bathroom floor tiles, for example, against a white bathroom suite and carefully placed wall art and accessories could be all that it is needed for the black/white inspired décor. Plus, incorporating or switching a bold accent colour within the room in line with the changing seasonal trends – with the likes of towels and other bathroom accessories – could make for an effortless way keep your home ‘on trend’ without the need for continuously large redecoration projects.

For further information on black coloured flooring including bathroom floor tiles, please visit the website of Crown Tiles, who offer of range of shades, finishes and styles of tile for any room vision. 

Staying on trend couldn’t be simpler with monochrome design!

Ceramic Tiles are Highly Popular in Home Decoration

The humble tile is without a doubt one of the most prolific and versatile methods for home decoration. Whether it’s the floor, the walls, or else just decoration around the cooker or shower, you can find and use them almost anywhere you wish. With limitless design potential and applications, they’ll probably form the backbone of your own DIY projects. And among tiles, ceramic tiles reign as one of the most popular materials around. So what makes them so special? What can they bring to your home that other materials, such as plastic or wood, are lacking in?

Well, there’s certainly a lot to be said.

To begin with, ceramics are very cheap. You can pick up a pack of twenty-five ceramic tiles for as little as £10-£15, and these will usually be more than enough for whatever projects your planning. And of course, tiles are cheaper when bought in bulk. The cheapness means that not only can you have more tiles, but you also feel less nervous about accidentally breaking or playing about with them. The economical advantage encourages you to be more creative, more relaxed and more willing to experiment a little with your tile designs. After all, if it doesn’t work or a tile breaks, you have plenty more to start again with.

Further ceramic tiles are economical in the long run too. They’re exceedingly strong for what they’re made of, and can withstand a lot of punishment before they fracture or shatter. This makes them ideal for floor tiles in rooms where there’s a lot of foot traffic, or for areas with lots of heavy handling such as conservatory or a kitchen. Rest assured that when the tiles are set, they’ll last for a long while.

Not to be forgotten in this regard is how resistant they are. Ceramic tiles are water-proof, very good and withstanding extreme variances in temperature and are highly resistant to a wide number of chemicals. As such you can use them pretty much anywhere you wish around the house.

But those are only the practical benefits. What about their look? Base materials for ceramics can come in a wide variety of colours and textures, from coarse natural-looking imitation stone tiles to more glossy varnished tiles painted in bright primary colours. Further they are very easy to modify yourself. Should you ever feel the desire to make your ceramic tiles more personal, there is nothing at all to stop you from applying a base paint and making your own designs. This opens up a lot of freedom for you.

For more information about ceramic tiles and other tile types, visit the website of Tile Choice or call them today on 0800 1 560 560.

Floor Tiles for Bathrooms: Choosing the Right One

If you’re doing up your home, you know how many things there are to think about. From finding the right flooring to adding the finishing touches like light fittings and rugs, sometimes you can lose sight of what’s best for your home. A new home should always look amazing but it needs to be well thought out too. For busy and messy areas such as the bathroom, you need to ensure that everything works for the conditions. Bathrooms are damp, wet and sometimes chaotic, so a resilient material that isn’t affected by the moisture in the air is a good choice. Tiling is the most popular choice for bathrooms because they hold many of these important properties. Floor tiles for bathrooms in particular are the best option for so many reasons but it’s important to choose the right type of tile to suit your needs.

Ceramic and porcelain tiles

Floor tiles for bathrooms need to be attractive but often need to be cost effective too. Ceramic and porcelain tiles are the most common type of tile and the most popular choice due to their cost and the way that they’re made. Both types of bathroom floor tile are made from clay; however porcelain tends to be made from a slightly denser type, meaning that is harder wearing and good for both indoor and outdoor use. Despite this, ceramic tiles are still perfect for bathrooms as they do not warp or move due to heat and moisture. They are also hardwearing enough for everyday bathroom use making them a great all round choice.

Marble and quartz

Although a little pricier, marble and quartz flooring is another fantastic option if you need floor tiles for the bathroom of your dreams. Alongside having a fantastic colour, quartz is one of the world’s most resilient natural materials and like porcelain, is incredibly strong against all kinds of wear and tear. Marble is well known for its beauty and there’s not much else like it out there if you want a truly elegant style for your bathroom. Alongside this, it’s also perfect for a mildew free bathroom floor, if treated correctly when laid.

Slate tiling

Possibly not the first choice for many when considering floor tiles for bathrooms, slate flooring does have its advantages. Slate is very heavy duty, much more so than some of its counterparts and works great in really busy environments. Slate tile is also incredibly waterproof and stain resistant, making it perfect for all the splashes and stains that can happen in the bathroom on a daily basis. Alongside this, slate is a great material for the bathroom floor because it’s different. Not many people opt for slate and this means you can have a room that will really stand out among the rest.

Whether you need an elegant high-end look or a colourful cost effective style, you can find a great range of tiles online from sellers such as Tile Choice. Buying online saves you time and money, and means that all those heavy tiles are sent straight to your front door, meaning there’s never been a better reason to start tiling today!