When it comes to creating the illusion of a bigger space, the right choice of wall and home floor tiles can make all the difference.
Table of contents
Large-format tiles
With such a large variety of tiles available today, we are no longer limited to small formats, and essentially the smaller the tile, the more grout lines you’ve got.
Smaller tiles are a no-go for smaller spaces. The more grout lines you’ve got, the busier the complete design looks, which ultimately overwhelms the space.
Our first tip is to opt for large format tiles. As there are fewer grout lines, these tiles trick the attention into thinking space appears larger than it really is.
To maximize the trick of the attention further, blend the tiles seamlessly with grout of a similar tile shade.
White, or other contrasting grout colors, frames the tiles instead of blending them together. This seamless finish provides the effect that the walls or floor are composed of a singular slab.
Gloss tiles
The more light is in a room, the more spacious it feels. Allowing natural light into an area exposes the interior, and gloss tiles can help with just that.
The smooth and glossy finish of gloss tiles, like those from our Marmi and Bookmatch collections, reflect the light of their surface. As the light bounces from tile to tile, space appears brighter and bigger.
You should definitely check out the Sparkle series by Orientbell. It is one of the best series that is home to some of the amazing super glossy tiles that will give you the sparkle you are looking for and the look that your space deserves.
Simple tiles
Busy patterned tiles can dominate an area because the eye is driven towards the striking arrangement. That’s not to say a patterned tile shouldn’t be utilized in smaller spaces, but take care before deciding on a pattern with subtle prints, like marble, or other sorts of veining.
Also, choosing a minimal color palette adds to the simplicity of the space. A multitude of contrasting colors ‘cut up’ the space, making it appear busier, therefore smaller. Try matching your wall and floor tiles.
Playing with Colours and Shapes to make space look Bigger
While many designers assert that light colors convey an illusion of greater space than dark tiles, the impact of floor color will depend upon the colors used throughout the space. According to the world floor covering association, the light/large equation is solely mythical. Experiment with colors to check what works best in your decorating scheme.
Like an accent wall in a vivid color, a powerful contrast in color and tone between the floor and the remainder of the space can make space seem constricted or cramped. A possible compromise could be to use very small colored accent tiles at the corner junctions of neutral ones. The larger the tile, the longer the gap the attention travels from one accent to the next.
Mixing square and rectangular tiles within the same color and texture provides subtle visual variety without drastically affecting the sense of space. Constructing a seemingly random pattern of varied tile sizes takes some skill but will expand visual perception more effectively than creating borders or edgings. You may wish to seek professional help in mixing sizes, in order that all tiles are of a similar thickness or caliber.
Few changes in installation can make your space look bigger
One of the foremost effective strategies for using large tiles in small spaces is to install tile diagonally. A diamond pattern, rather than a checkerboard, prevents the viewer from measuring space in tiles down vs. tiles across.
The only limit to diagonal patterns could also be an area with many alcoves, doorways, or other interruptions of wall space. A room with frequently interrupted wall space presents many challenges to laying tile diagonally. It may also impose limitations on using very large tiles. A floor with many partial or cut-down tiles looks constricted rather than spacious.
Following the principle of simplicity, you would like to decide on a simple configuration. Layouts like herringbone and chevron are ideal for lengthening narrow spaces, but if your room is boxier, stick to traditional vertical or horizontal layouts.
Lay rectangular tiles vertically down the length of the space, to further trick the attention into imagining the space is elongated. A great technique which can be implemented in small bathrooms, utility rooms and entryways as well.
For all your tiling needs, Orientbell can prove to be the one-stop destination. Their wide range of tiles can solve any of your tile requirements be it glossy, large-format, wooden, or marble, or any other pattern, look, feel you desire.
Their latest ranges like Inspire 3.0, Rhino, Sahara, Canto, and many more have proven to be very successful when it comes to both homeowners and the industry itself. Check their website out for an easy and hassle-free tiling experience.
Author Bio:
Isha Tandon has worked within the architecture and interior design industry as a flooring consultant expert – specializing in tiles, stones, and terrazzo. She has worked with Orientbell Limited, a leading tile manufacturer in India, as a product development manager in the design team and has recently joined the marketing team as their digital content expert. Her experience comes in handy in understanding the audience as she creates value-driven functional & informational content for the readers. She creates lifestyle pieces that focus on interior design products, trends, and processes. She loves to travel to historic places with rich architecture.