When planning your tile layout, think color and pattern and coordinate the whole room, floors, furniture, walls, accessories. Consider your whole design scheme at the same time. The more powerful your tiling decor is, the more restrained your other elements should be.
Artigiano from Daltile is a glazed ceramic subway tile.
This is a good time to consider how thick or thin, how dominant or restrained you want your joints and grout lines to be. Unless you want joints to be a dominant part of your pattern, they should be as tight as possible, with no grout lines, or use light-colored grout.
Assess the size and scale of your tile, its individual design and the overall pattern – as well as your layout – within the context of your room.
A busy border around a busy field of tile can be confusing and distracting. However, a strong frame around a plain field makes a more tasteful, significant and chic statement.
Florida Tile
Thick or multiple borders will help reduce the spacious feeling of a large room.
Skip borders around the room if you intend the installation pattern to run through a doorway.
The key to selecting grout color is to determine if you want to match the grout to the tile so it blends and makes the area you’re working in look larger. Light grout colors will help, too.
Article courtesy of the World Floor Covering Association. wfca.org
