Tiles are extremely important in the design of a room and the choice is now fairly limitless with more colour, finish, texture, and pattern available than ever before.
Colours usually determine the mood of a room and neutral beiges and creams in ceramic, porcelain and natural stone are the first choice for many as the safe option for a relaxing environment. There are also a variety of shapes and sizes and large tiles have become more popular as they help to create a more spacious effect.

With the massive choice of tiles now available, bathroom walls - and indeed walls all around the home - are becoming an expression of personal style and flair. Feature walls of bold colour or pattern are popular, and many use accent tiles or exquisite mosaics to create a focal point of a bath, shower, enclosure, basin or WC. With so many tiles to choose from, an endless number of looks can be achieved.

Natural stone makes for a relaxing, soothing environment and a polished finish adds a touch more luxury. Large tiles, particularly polished, create a feeling of space. Mosaics are a perfect choice for a wet area, as they more easily cope with the slight slope of the drain.
White tiled walls are still popular for their unbeatable ability to brighten even the smallest of rooms. But there is a new white - rectified white. The edges of rectified tiles are squared off, which allows for tighter joint spacing and smaller grout lines to create a low maintenance, modern yet timeless, sleek and sophisticated finish.
White is easy to co-ordinate with fittings and accessories and looks great with a mosaic border. In this bathroom, glitter mosaics and a sparkly floor add subtle, highly contrasting interest – simple yet striking.

Make a focal point of a bath, basin, shower or even WC with co-ordinating, contrasting tiles – a darker colour behind the fittings framed with a border and surrounded by neutral tones makes a favourite fitting really stand out. Tile Depot’s ceramic Elements range can be used to make a feature of the gorgeous freestanding bath.

Mosaics in exquisite materials such as glass, natural shell and in a huge choice of finishes and colours can also be used to create a focal point.

Being bold with colour or pattern on one wall in a room can add zest, and feature walls are great for making a real statement. With the choice of new tiles now coming to the market in striking colours and a range of patterns, it is easier than ever to express personal flair with tiles.

Tile Depot’s new ceramic Vogue range is now available in-store. With its contemporary brown and gold metallic floral wallpaper-style design and co-ordinating 25 x 50cm cream tiles along with border tiles and wood-look wall and floor tiles, Vogue makes for a sumptuous, rich environment – perfect for any room in the house.

Tiles are increasingly being used for both walls and floors in living and dining areas as well as kitchens, hallways and conservatories. Replacing flooring with large, cream, polished porcelain tiles brightens any room and creates a heightened feeling of space, with less grout lines lengthening the line’s eye.

Prices:
Bathroom wall tiles from £3.99 per square metre
Kitchen wall tiles from £9.99 per square metre
Floor tiles from £5.99 per square metre
Porcelain tiles from £9.99 per square metre
Natural stone tiles from £19.99 per square metre
Real wood flooring from £21.99 per square metre

Tile Depot is the UK’s largest independent tile and stone retailer with 14 stores in London and the South East. Tile Depot carries massive stocks so everything is available to take away today, in-store lifestyle displays make it easier to choose and the lowest prices are guaranteed with Tile Depot’s Price Promise.

For further information, nearest store or online ordering: Tel: 08000 740720 or visit www.thetiledepot.co.uk.

About the Author

Gary Pratten

Gary is an Electrician, editor and blogger. Owner of the www.MyLocalElectrician.co.uk magazine. Group editor for H&D magazine and has a keen eye for interior and exterior design.