Whether you're looking for ways to make your kitchen operate more efficiently or searching for decorative options that will elevate the style of the hard-working room, remodeling with tile in the kitchen offers solutions. Bare floors and walls easily become stained and scratched. Affordable, durable and easy to maintain, tile provides a functional surface for your kitchen floors, walls and countertops. From backsplashes to borders, tile offers multiple opportunities to add decorative style as well.
Vinyl Tile for Affordable and Stylish Flooring
On the kitchen floor, you'll want tile that can handle dropped dishes as well as tile that will take splashes and spills in stride. Vinyl tile is affordable material that's easy to install, durable and a breeze to keep clean. Great for busy family kitchens, vinyl tiles can be surprisingly stylish too. You'll find designs that mimic wood parquet or natural stone as well as tiles that fit together to form intricate or geometric patterns.
Ceramic and Porcelain Tile for Floor and Countertops
Ceramic and porcelain tile can be good choices for kitchen flooring too. Fired under pressure at higher temperatures than ceramic, porcelain is particularly dense and durable. It's resistant to scratches and stains and impervious to water. Both ceramic and porcelain tiles make functional and attractive countertops as well, although grout can be tough to keep clean. Colored grout or grout sealants make the task easier.
Natural Stone Tiles Offer a Touch of Luxury
Natural stone tile is the most durable choice for tile flooring, although stone requires a bit more maintenance than other materials. Periodic sealing helps keeps stone water-tight. Granite, soapstone and slate tiles are better at resisting acid than travertine, limestone and marble tiles. Stone tile is a great choice for backsplashes, adding a look of luxury to the wall space between kitchen countertops and upper cabinets.
Decorative Wall Tiles
Decorative tiles, also known as art tiles, are best approached as durable little pieces of art. Each individual tile is painted with pictures, designs or patterns. Use them sparingly to add a distinctive style to your kitchen. Apply a border of tile as ceiling molding around the perimeter of the kitchen. Use them in conjunction with standard field tiles over a sink or stove. Line a window sill with a row of decorative tiles. Decorative tile lets you add an artistic touch to your kitchen.
Mosaic Glass Tiles Add Sparkle to the Kitchen
Available in a multitude of patterns, textures and colors, mosaic tiles are a favorite choice for kitchen backsplashes. They come with mesh backings that make them easy to install. Because they're smaller in size than conventional tiles, it's easier to work them around electrical outlets. Glass mosaic tiles have a reflective surface that makes them ideal for backsplash applications. They help provide ambient light to the shadowed area under kitchen cabinets.
Whether you're undertaking a major kitchen renovation or are looking for a weekend DIY decorating project, tile offers multiple opportunities to add both style and functionality to your kitchen. Pick a material, choose an application and use tile to express your creativity and personal style.
