In This Post:
Dos and Dont’s of Kitchen Tiling
Types of Kitchen Tiles
Picking tiles for the kitchen in your home is a bit tricky. On the one hand, you want something trendy, expensive, and amazing, but on the other hand, you also want your kitchen to be easy to move around, practical, and easy to clean. The key to selecting the best tiles for your kitchen is to stop stressing and take a look at our list of important dos and don’ts of picking tiles for the kitchen in your home.
For your convenience, we have divided this blog into two parts. First, we will discuss the dos and don’ts of picking tiles for the kitchen, then we will give you an overview of the most suitable types of tiles for your kitchen.
So without further ado, let’s get picking!
Dos and Don’ts of Picking Tiles for the Kitchen
Giving a new look to the floor of your house is considered one of the greatest ways to spruce up the living space without going through the hassle of matching and scheming. However, picking a tile for the kitchen that matches your needs and looks beautiful is often the most daunting task in home renovation.
To help you get out this challenging situation, here are some dos and don’ts of picking tiles for the kitchen:
Do: Go Classic, Natural, and Timeless
One of the biggest constraints of picking a tile for your kitchen is shortlisting the design. It is quite common for homeowners to choose a trendy design only to find out that the total cost of application is way above their estimated budget.
So, the easiest way to prevent yourself from getting stuck in such situations is to just stop following the trends and avoid trendy shapes and colours. Do not stress on something that is overly decorative, and you are only attracted to it since it wears the tag of “modern” or “trendy”. Whenever you are picking a tile for your kitchen, you should remember that trends are meant to go out of fashion – so it is best to stick with neutral or natural colours and go for a classic pattern that is somewhat timeless than trendy.
Don’t: Get too Decorative or Picky
When you are shopping for tiles for your kitchen, you must keep one thing in mind that tiles play a supporting role in your interior, so it doesn’t have to be too decorative or embellished. If you are selecting tiles for the floor, make sure that it is making other elements in the kitchen look their best rather than becoming the feature statement of the space. Don’t get too picky, instead go for the design that enhances your cabinets, appliances, and other essentials in your kitchen.
Do: Get Help and Ask Questions
If you have decided to decorate or renovate your kitchen on your own without hiring or consulting a professional interior designer, then it might get a little more tricky for you. When you are heading out to shop for tiles, keep following things in mind and ask as many questions from the seller as you can regarding it:
- Your family size and the traffic in your kitchen area
- The safety factor in a certain design
- Durability and aesthetics in the same design
Spend time in due diligence, and don’t rush, take your time to get satisfied. You can even call the shopkeeper in advance and ask for a separate time when they don’t have high traffic in their shop. We’d also advise you to take a look at our compilation of top interior designers in Pakistan and consult them if you need any further assistance. Visit our home décor section and take a look at our variety of blogs on tiling and backsplash. Just give time to research and explore all the available options on the internet.
Don’t: Mix Various Designs and Just Hope for it to Work
While it is a good thing to go a little off-board and be creative, do not complicate things by mixing various designs and just hoping for the amalgamation to work out later. You want to make your life easier, so select a tile that suits the dimensions of the kitchen area. Don’t go for slivers if you are not sure about how to install them.
The goal is to add beauty to the space and make it look appealing to guests and family members, so instead of trying the amalgamation of various patterns to create one design, opt for a single tile that is budget-friendly and classic.
Do: Consider Subway Tile
Subway tile is, hands-down, a timeless design that many homeowners, interior designers, and home decorators swear by. Many modern houses in Pakistan are decorated with this particular design since they are chic, and they never look out of style. The most amazing thing about subway tile, especially in white, is that you can pair it with anything, whether dark, neutral, or light. It serves an outline and puts an emphasis on the wall paint, appliances, and kitchen cabinets.
On a side note, if you need help with installing backsplash in your kitchen, head over to our recently published DIY guide on installing kitchen backsplash.
Don’t: Go for Wooden or Concrete Floor
Wooden and concrete floors are although a trending option for interiors, you cannot have it in the kitchen. The thing with wooden floors is that they aren’t suitable for areas with water and high foot traffic, while concrete floors require extraordinary care and maintenance.
Now that you have a clearer understanding of how to pick a tile for your kitchen, let’s take a look at the most suitable types of tiles for the kitchen floor, countertops, and walls.
Most Suitable Types of Tiles for Your Kitchen
Unlike most areas in your house, your kitchen is the only room that needs to have different types of tiles for floors and walls to enhance its practicality and beauty. You don’t want matte for the backsplash to avoid food and water mess, so go for glossy tiles that are easy to clean. While glossy tiles are good for walls, they wouldn’t certainly be a perfect match for the floor. So, the kitchen flooring needs to be extremely safe and practical to move around.
There are many types of floor tiles for kitchens. But for your convenience, here are some popular types of tiles for your kitchen in Pakistan:
- Ceramic Tiles
- Porcelain Tiles
- Vinyl Tiles
Ceramic Tiles
Tiles on your kitchen’s floor need to be moisture-resistant, safe-to-walk, and durable. Hence, ceramic tiles are considered to be the best tiles for the kitchen. They are composed of a mixture of water, clay, and mineral, and are prepared at high temperatures. They are most commonly available in two forms: glazed and unglazed.
With ceramic tiles, a homeowner can get creative since they are affordable, and they are also available in various sizes, patterns, and designs. They are also extremely easy to install.
Porcelain Tiles
Porcelain tiles are often confused with ceramic tiles, but they have extremely different properties. It is a safe choice for individuals who want their kitchen to look appealing but don’t quite want to pay a high price for it. These tiles are although made from the same mixture as ceramic tiles, they are prepared at a higher temperature.
Porcelain tiles are considered to be the best for kitchen flooring since they are also durable, slip-proof, and water-resistant. These tiles can be a good option for the backsplash as well.
The biggest con of porcelain is that they are a little complex to install, and it would require an expert to carry out its successful application.
Vinyl Tiles
If you are renovating your house on a budget and looking for a high-end and sophisticated look, then vinyl tiling is the option for you. The biggest advantage of using vinyl tiles for your kitchen, besides its affordability, is that they are available in various designs. Whether you want an imitation of the wooden floor, stone floor, or even ceramic floor – you will find all of these options in vinyl.
While vinyl tiles are ideal for kitchen flooring due to their water-resistant properties, they require high maintenance and care. You must sweep your floor daily and wash or mop it with water only. Do not use soap or detergents; they can damage the polish and make it look scratched.
Comparatively, vinyl flooring sheets are quite easy to maintain and they are considered to be a part of low-maintenance kitchen.
This brings us to the end of our post on dos and don’ts of picking tiles for the kitchen. We have also mentioned the popular types of kitchen tiles in Pakistan in this blog. If you have any further questions, you can write to us at blog@zameen.com, and we will try to get back to you as soon as possible.
For more tips on home renovation and maintenance, keep visiting Zameen Blog – Pakistan’s personal portal for everything real estate. Show us some love by liking our Facebook page and sharing this piece with your friends who might need some help with shopping for kitchen tiles.
On a side note, if you are looking for popular markets in Pakistan that mainly deal in kitchen tiles and home interiors, you can take help from our virtual area guides. From markets near Karachi’s BMCHS to Lahore’s Ameen Park, we have you covered.
