Best Floor Tiles for Living Rooms: Stylish & Durable Options
A living room is more than just a place to relax and spend leisure time. It is also a reflection of your personality, passion, and style, and that being said, choosing the right tiles for your space can make a big impact on the overall look and also how other perceive the space
In this article, explore floor tiles that go with your living room style and purpose, along with which kind of floor tiles should you choose for your living room from a functional and aesthetic standpoint.
In Brief
- Choosing tiles for your living room largely depends on the size, interiors, and function of your living room space.
- Porcelain tiles are widely used and can be one of the best choices for tiling your living room floor.
- Regardless of the size of your living room, larger format tiles are always the best choice and benefit on all fronts.
- Ceramic tiles offer the same features to that of porcelain and can be more budget friendly.
If you are planning to install floor tiles to your living room and are in a conundrum whether which one to go for, visit us for a free consultation and quote.
Living rooms are perhaps one of the most used spaces in a home. They are those spaces that are designed from an aesthetic standpoint which can reverberate a pleasing aura inside. Besides this, they are also those areas that gain more foot-traffic and are more prone to spills, movement of amenities, and hence more the potential for wear & tear.
When it comes to selecting floor tiles for your living room, understanding these realities becomes paramount. While giving cognisance to aesthetics, homeowners also need to look for longevity when selecting floor tiles for their living room.
Most homeowners neglect at least one aspect when choosing floor tiles; but the fact is, it is important to make the right choice in a way that enhances the visual appeal as well as offers durability at the same time. A poor choice can harm cohesiveness, and the overall feel and harmony of the space whilst making the space less functional.
Going forward let’s explore some of the best suited floor tiles that can not only tick the box from a durability standpoint but also adds to the beauty and style of a living room.
Tiles for Living Room Floors: How to Choose the Right Style
With a plethora of materials, styles, and several other design considerations to choose from, selecting floor tiles that goes hand-in-hand with the style can be an overwhelming task. Choosing the right style means, roof tiles need to blend with the already existing interiors and aura of the living room.
To elaborate, they need to seamlessly blend with the colour of the wall, the layout arrangement, the design of the space, and should go hand-in-hand with the dimension (size) of the space too.
Let’s explore the ways by which you can choose the right style for your living room –
1. Match with your Interiors
Your interiors have that aura that can be intangible and subtle at many times. It is the first thing that grabs a silent attention. If any part of your interiors seems incoherent or is haphazard, it usually comes off starkly. It is hence crucial that the type and style of floor tiles you choose should be in tune and coherent with the interiors of your living room.
Below are a few ideas you can take inspiration from –
- Minimalist or Modern Interiors: Large sized porcelain tiles can be an ideal choice as they are sleek and can mimic natural materials like wood or a stone which goes well with both minimalism and modernity.
- Industrial Interiors: Matte finished, or concrete tiles can go well as they can blend with the raw, unfinished look. The fact they are non-reflective, they can expertly hide any imperfections which can be perfect for industrial interiors.
- Countryside/Rustic Interiors: Timber-look or Terracotta tiles can be ideal for rustic interiors as they evoke an earthy feel and natural aesthetics all in all makes for a timeless charm inside the living space.
- Eclectic Interiors: Patterned tiles and textured finished tiles can offer true justice to a vibrant and eclectically designed space as they add the visual appeal and provide a sense of depth whilst complementing a range of design elements.
- Classic Interiors: Polished Porcelain or Marble Tiles can do wonders for elegant and classic interiors as they offer a glossy finish which usually complements an elegant space. Besides, they also create a sense of spaciousness and whilst offering versatility to suit various design ranges.
Giving consideration to colours for your living room floor tiles can be a decisive aspect. Colours play a crucial role in shaping the style and ambience of a space and can greatly impact kerb appeal. To give you an idea –
Light coloured floor tiles reflect natural light and create a sense of spaciousness, making the room feel larger and airier.
Dark coloured floor tiles can make the living room cosier and offer a more intimate and dramatic feel to it, if that’s your taste.
Neutral Colours/Hues contribute by offering flexibility and versatility to the space thereby can accommodate various designs styles inside a living room.
Bold Colours attract attention and can be the focal point of your living room.
Warm & Cool Tones will create a welcoming atmosphere wile cooler tones will evoke a sense of calmness and tranquillity in the space.
3. Think of Durability
Tile durability significantly impacts style considerations. This is especially important if your living room attracts more traffic, includes furniture or similar heavy elements, or is exposed to moisture. In such cases, it important to ensure that the tiles not only look good but are also capable of withstanding daily use and maintenance.
4. Finish and Texture
Finish and texture of the tiles will glaringly impact the style. For example, matte finish tiles offer a soft look, are non-slippery and can be great choice for family homes.
If your choice of style is glossy, then you have the advantage of having a light filled space which can still be elegant looking. You need to consider the fact that such tiles can be slippery.
If you want to go for a textured finish, then they can add character to your space whilst offering resistance to slippage.
5. Dimension of the Living Room
If your living room is a large one, then large sized tiles are always ideal as they complement the space and add a sense of spaciousness.
If you have a small living room, then go for small sized tiles.
Why Choose Tiles for Your Living Room?
Don’t be surprised by the question. But choosing floor tiles for your living room is both a practical and an aesthetic necessity. Tiles offer a lot of benefits for any space whether it is an enclosed or an open one. Let’s look at a few key ones –
1. Longevity and Maintenance
In general, tiles are excellent as flooring options. They are not only durable but are also functional and add the value of aesthetic beauty to your space. When choosing tiles for your floor, arguably the most desired aspect is the durability.
So, when you are choosing floor tiles, you need to choose those that can last long and that comes with low maintenance where you can easily sweep, clean, and mop the floor without worrying about fading or easy breakage.
2. Sturdiness
Perhaps another important aspect about choosing tiles especially for a living room space is how strong those tiles are. Imagine if your living room is a busy space and includes some heavy amenities, you need to make sure the tiles can withstand the weight and continual movements inside. Maybe you want to shift a furniture or a wardrobe, or some teapoy within the living room space, you then need to make sure your floor tiles can withstand such pressure and hard movements without them cracking.
3. Stylish and Appealing
Perhaps the third most important aspect you can ponder upon is about how appealing they can look. For example, choosing floor tiles that are stylish and that can blend with the walls and interiors of your living room space will be a great idea.
For example, if you have white wall think of choosing navy blue or peacock blue coloured floor tiles. This not only adds contrast but just amplifies the beauty of your space. If you have a liking for minimalism, then you can play with dual colours or bring in more flare and flavour into your space by choosing multi-coloured tiles if you are a fan of eclectic styles.
4. Creates the Illusion of Expansiveness
If your living room is where you want to attract most of the attention and limelight, you can then think of creating an illusion of a spacious area. You can easily achieve this by installing large sized tiles. Another advantage with such tiles is they have lesser number of breaks and grout lines in between when laid and will create an illusion that the floor area is a unified space.
Best Types of Living Room Floor Tiles
While choosing the best type of living room floor tiles, you may probably be in a conundrum on which one should work well for you. Mind you, this can be a tough choice. You are exposed to several types of styles, materials, and patterns to choose from, and choosing one among them does require some thinking and is not easy.
So, we have simplified it for you according to our order of the best types of living room floor tiles to choose from –
1. Porcelain Tiles
Porcelain tiles are versatile in design and can be adapted to both modern and traditional styles. They create a seamless look and can enhance the visual appeal of the space to a great extent. Beside all these, they are highly durable as they are manufactured at high temperatures and exhibit great density and are hardened to resist wear, making them perfect for high traffic areas such as the living room.
Below are some of its key features that makes them a great choice –
- They are less porous and absorb less than 0.5% water, making them moisture and stain resistant.
- They are also less susceptible to scratches, cracks, or chipping and thus offer high durability.
- Porcelain tiles are available in a variety of finishes including matte, patterned, glossy.
- As they are good conductors of heat, they can be perfect for spaces where there is underfloor heating.
- They offer low maintenance and are easy to clean, sweep, and mop.
- They offer high resistance to fading even when exposed to direct sunlight and thus can be suitable for living rooms where there is ample natural light or with large windows.
Natural stone tiles such as marble or granite can be perfect for creating a sophisticated, alluring, and a timeless living space. They not only add a unique character and prestige to the space, but they are also durable.
With natural stones…
- Each tile stone can be unique and come with varied colours and patterns.
- If well maintained, they can last long, making them ideal options for living rooms.
- From granite, marble, limestone, and slate, natural stone floor tiles come in variants.
- Like porcelain tiles, natural stones offer good heat conductance and are suitable for space that has underfloor heating.
- Many stone variants (limestone & slate) are non-slippery and can be ideal for open spaces such as the living room.
- As they are naturally available, it means they are sourced naturally and are sustainable by nature.
Ceramic tiles are similar to porcelain when it comes to the manufacturing method. They are heated at high temperatures which makes them tough and durable choices, which is why they are one of the most popular and the most used type of floor tiles across residential projects. Below are fee reasons why you should choose ceramic tiles for your living room space –
- Highly adaptable to any space and are affordable.
- Can offer a sophisticated look and can mimic expensive materials like wood, natural stones while still being budget friendly.
- Ceramic tiles when glazed can offer high resistance to moisture, stain, and dirt. They are naturally cool and can be great options during warmer climates.
- Extremely easy to clean and maintain and are ideal options for families with children and pets.
- Can blend into any interior style – whether it’s rustic, classic, traditional, or contemporary.
- Can be vulnerable to chipping or shattering when used extremely roughly. If not properly glazed, ceramic tiles can be prone to moisture absorption.
Apart from just a couple of downsides, ceramic tiles can be an ideal choice when well-maintained as they can strike a balance between durability, affordability, and style.
4. Wood-Look Tiles
Wood-look tiles are typically made of ceramic or porcelain but are design in a way to resemble the appearance and texture of real wood. As they are made from ceramic or porcelain types, they offer the advantage of the appearance of a wood, and the durability of a tile.
Similar to the features of porcelain they do not scratch or warp and can be great options for busy places. When considering the aesthetics, they are ideal for rustic and cozy spaces.
How to Choose the Right Tile Size and Finish
Choosing the right tile size and finish for your living room floor requires planning and preparation. When done right, the size and finish can impact by dramatically transforming the style, comfort, and functionality of the space.
Here’s what you can do when selecting the best of both for your living room.
1. Choosing the Right Size
Before we delve into the details, you need to know about the general golden rule that, the larger the tiles, the more spacious your space feels.
- Large Format Tiles (600*600 mm, 600*800 mm, 1,200*600 mm)
- Small Sized Tiles (300*600 mm)
- Wood-look Plank Tiles (150*900 mm, 200*1000 mm)
Choosing the type of finish depends on your priority and how you are going to use the living room space. It’s more about your lifestyle goals, maintenance preferences, and aesthetic interests.
- Matte Finish
- Glossy Finish
- Textured Finish
- Semi-Matte/Satin Finish
Conclusion
If you are planning to install floor tiles to your living room, there are several considerations you need to pay heed to. From choosing the right tile that suits your space, planning the layout, considering your aesthetic and functional preferences, and durability – there are a lot to consider.
If you are in the near-future planning to lay floor tiles, our construction experts at Extension Architecture can provide the right guidance and expertise to help you with your living room goals.
