While hardwood floors remain a popular floor covering for many styles of home, and carpeting remains a popular choice for bedroom floors, porcelain tiles and stone tile patterns are quickly gaining ground as an alternative flooring option. Style, ease of maintenance and reduction of allergens are all benefits of installing a tile floor in the living areas of the home, as well as the more traditionally tiled areas.
Modern Home Living Spaces
Contemporary homes with open concept layouts and clean lines are well complemented by the clean lines of large format porcelain tiles. With sizes up to 24 inches square, vitrified materials that can be butted together for a tight fit and modern design concepts such as textured and leather tiles, modern porcelain tiles were made for just this use.
Porcelain tiles are extremely easy to care for; they can be washed with any cleanser and never need refinishing. This makes them an attractive floor covering for families with busy, active lifestyles. Installing a porcelain floor in the living area of the home, as well as in the kitchen and entry ways, means that no thought needs to go into how hard the floor is used.
Contemporary homes with homeowners who prefer natural material, large format French limestone tiles are another popular choice. These tiles have clean lines and smooth surfaces that complement modern home designs, while still being easier to care for than other types of natural stone.
Stone Patterns and Older Homes
The European look of older homes with large format, stone patterns and rustic stones laid throughout the living area of the home, is beginning to grow in popularity in the United States and Canada as well. Rustic, tumbled stones with worn edges and softened surfaces can make a warm and comforting appearance in family rooms, sun rooms and other areas of the home.
Stones with a great deal of variation, such as slate are perfect for homes with high traffic areas, as the stones will help to mask dirt and traffic. Travertine floors that have been left unfilled are also an attractive option as these floors will mellow and patina over time, rather than appearing etched or worn.
Laying the stones in tile designs and patterns of multiple pieces and sizes helps to add interest and versatility to the design. Stone patterns can change as they move from room to room, with hallways and narrow areas being laid with one size of stone on the diagonal to help open the area visually, and large, open areas being filled with multiple piece patterns to give additional interest.
Stone floors complement homes with a great deal of wood work, wood paneling and other heavy architectural details.
Using tile throughout the home, rather than confining it to kitchens, bathrooms or entryways, helps bring additional interest and beauty to the home. Tile floors often have a unique quality to them that differs from hardwood floors, making them perfect for contemporary homes and older homes alike.
Utilize tile floors in every room of the home to eliminate the care of hardwood and the dust and allergen collecting of carpeting while bringing interest and depth to the home today.
Sarabeth Asaff - Sarabeth Asaff is a freelance writer and artist with a passion for cooking and good food. Growing up in the kitchen of her Lebanese ...
