7 Common Mistakes to be Aware of When Selecting Tiles and How to Avoid Them

Are you at that stage where your builder has asked for your tile selection choices to be finalised in the next couple of days so he can finalise the order and lock in a start date.

Right now, all you can do is start freaking the beep out! You knew this day was coming, you knew it was important and in your head, it was done! You thought you knew exactly what you wanted and now your brain is completely frozen. You have a five minute real deal, no-one -has -a clue internal melt down.

Then you go straight into boss mode.

Tomorrow, you will be take a sickie and head straight to the tile store after school drop off and get this thing done, done, done. Big sigh of relief! Great plan!

Next day: You head straight into the tile store as planned – feeling confident! 20mins later – you walk right back out…and you start freaking the beep out again!

If this is not you now. Let’s keep it that way!

Whether you are selecting tiles for your living room, bathroom, kitchen or outdoor area. There are always ways to eliminate poor tile choices just by doing your due diligence.

There are so many tile selections out there – where does one possibly start on trying to select tiles for their home. Unfortunately, many aspiring new home builders and renovators make rookie mistakes when it comes to choosing tiles for their home.

This blog post seeks to educate new home builders/renovators on avoiding common mistakes when selecting tiles for their home as well as providing insights into the best approach they should take.

Why is it important to select the right tiles for your home?

It is a large investment

Selecting the right tiles for your home is an important decision because it is indeed a large investment. Good quality tiles are not only beautiful, they are also highly durable and can add significant perceived value to your home if chosen well. It has a good return on investment.

Expensive to change

Tiled floors are more labour intensive to lay than most types of flooring due to the prep work involved and even more so when tiles need to be removed & replaced. Costs associated with replacing tiles include: cost of removal, cost of new materials, potential cost damage to walls, floors, trim or other fixtures and fittings, cost to re-prep and cost to re-install new tiles. Choosing the wrong tile for your home can be an expensive ordeal if you want them replaced as you can see.

It holds a lot of design weight

If you intend on using tiles as your main floor/wall finish in multiple areas throughout your home, aka, in your living room, in your kitchen, in your bathrooms, in your bedrooms as well as outdoor patios and porticos etc. you will need to get it right…from the start.

Creating a cohesive look is key to good interior design. The right type of tile can transform a room into something special while the wrong tiles can leave you with a feeling of disappointment and regret.

Taking the time to compare different tile materials and styles can ensure you get the most out of your purchase, such as selecting durable tiles with interesting patterns or textures that can add visual interest to your room.

Your reward, for investing your time in getting it right, will pay dividends to your soul when you see the result and are absolutely in love with it!

So what are the 7 mistakes….lets go!

• Mistake #1 You enter a tile store with no idea of what you are looking for.
• Mistake #2 You ask for design advice from your builder/tiler and everyone else you know.
• Mistake #3 You are uncertain of your own design style.
• Mistake #4 You are unsure of what tiles to select for the desired look you want to achieve.
• Mistake #5 You have difficulty envisioning your tile selection & are worried about making the wrong choice.
• Mistake #6 You don’t consider other decisions that should be made during the design phase.
• Mistake #7 You are unaware of actual project costs and therefore underestimate your budget.

The simple truth is that all these mistakes/problems can be easily solved or minimized by simply just being aware of them, gaining knowledge and doing your due diligence.. Let’s elaborate on these mistakes and flip them over one by one!

Mistake #1: You enter a tile store with no plan, no direction and no idea of what you are looking for.

Don’t make the mistake of walking into a tile store as your first port of call. Walking in willy-nilly with nothing but high hopes is time wasting and futile. While this seems like a logical first-step approach, here are some likely scenarios that may play out. You walk into your local tile store and 10mins later you walk back out with heart palpitations due to first-degree overwhelm. Or, a lovely sales assistant comes over to help you, shows you lots of different options, steering you in multiple different directions, causing another facet of first-degree overwhelm. Or worse, you order tiles you are not 100% certain about!

Instead, consider doing some due diligence first by creating a plan before you head into a tile store. Take a copy of your house plan or design layout and concept, some inspiration photos and some preliminary tile choices you have selected prior online.

The tile assistant will be super impressed by your preparedness but more importantly be of more value to you because they know exactly what you want and what you are trying to achieve

Mistake #2: You ask for design advice from your builder/ tiler and everyone else you know.

It seems completely logical to ask your builder or tiler for their opinion about what tiles they would recommend – after all, they have years of experience and have seen many tiles laid. Don’t get me wrong, they are loaded with technical knowledge, but when it comes to design knowledge, they can only offer their opinion. It is not their area of expertise….and truth be told, most may just advise you on the easiest option not so much the best option.

So if you can remember this…

The builder‘s expertise is to build, the tiler‘s expertise is to tile, the Architect’s/Designer‘s expertise is to design …follow the logic? This rule should apply to everyone else you ask their opinion for – family members, neighbor, friend, co-worker etc. Too many opinions will cause more harm than good. If you want advice, seek professional advice instead.

Mistake #3: You are uncertain of your own design style.

Understanding the overall vision and feeling you want to create as well as how they relate to each other is crucial. You must spend time going through this process of discovering what you like if you don’t already know. Some people find this easy to do, while others find it much more difficult, liking so many different styles they just can’t make up their mind.

Step 1 how to discover your overall design aesthetic

The first step is to go onto Pinterest and find images that represent the overall aesthetic you like as well as the general feeling/mood you want to capture. Then, get a little more detailed with your search and start collecting images of singular elements that you like the look of too. i.e. different tile patterns, tapware, material combinations, colours etc.

DON’T THINK TOO HARD ABOUT YOUR INSPO IMAGES – GO BY FIRST GUT REACTIONS ONLY.

Only collect images that are definitely… ‘OMG’ yeeesss!! – if you have to think about whether or not you like it – leave it and keep moving. Collect 15 images – more if you just can’t help it.

Step 2

Print off each image. Place them side by side and see if you can find any commonalities you have chosen. What is the common thread with them all? Don’t discount an image that you absolutely love even though it does not quite fit in with the others. This is where new styles can be created and the end result will be a look that is a little more personable to you.

Ask yourself these questions with each image. What do I like about this image? What words come to mind? Write them down on each image?

If you have a partner who wants to be part of the decision-making process, then get them to follow the same process separately. It will be fun to see what you both like without influencing each other.

Step 3

You will then have to use a process of elimination and remove any image that doesn’t quite tickle your buttons as much as the others do. Get them down to 5-6 images per room. Yes you will have to do this process for each space.

Hopefully, you and your partner end up with similar images 🙂 If not, you will certainly learn something new about each other… I will say no more here ….good luck

Step 4

Digitally collate these images onto 1 page either via power point or canva. Write 3 words to describe this collection.

THE RESULT? A COHESIVE SET OF IMAGES THAT WILL CRYSTALISE YOUR OVERALL DESIGN AESTHETIC MAKING THE SELECTION PROCESS FASTER AND SIMPLER FOR YOU.

what tile would you select for the above vision board in a living area? how would you describe this collection in 3 words?

Mistake #4 You are unaware of actual projects costs and therefore underestimate your budget.

Renovating or building a home can be a costly endeavor. People often underestimate the amount of money they need to budget for and are generally surprised when they start to receive quotes back.

While it can be a time consuming endeavor to do this type of research beforehand, it will give you a general baseline figure. Bear in mind, there are so many variables with the cost of building/renovations that just because your friend paid X amount of dollars for their bathroom renovation does not bear much weight on how much yours will cost. Always expect something to cost more (a lot more) than your initial budget. This will eliminate any surprise factor later on.

Take for instance tiles: Consider the following unrealised costs associated with your tile selection.

• Tiles are not laid at equal pricing. Larger tile formats or mosaic tiles are generally more expensive due to more intense labour and time needed.
• Laying tiles in more creative or intricate patterns can require more time to cut and lay and therefore be more expensive. Furthermore, some tile patterns e.g. the herringbone lay require more tiles to be ordered to account for any waste or cuts needed.

do you know what level of finish you want?

When level of finish is discussed in a project it generally corresponds with your budget amount too. Finish levels can be termed “budget friendly”, “standard”, “mid-range” “high”, “luxury”

Finish level	Investment Range
Budget	$30-50
Mid Range	$50-70
High	$70-100
Exclusive	$100-150
Luxury	$150+
Hybrid	A combination of the above range.

Notice there is a hybrid level of finish you can do? This is what I call it anyway. Other designers, may call it something different. Which is the ability to use tiles of different price ranges or levels of finishes. I would not recommend pairing a budget tile with an exclusive tile to equalize the budget. In my opinion, they are too far apart in quality to work together. Rather – you could use a high-end and luxury tile as a safer tile combo.

It is all to common with people suffering from the beer budget (or water budget)and champagne taste syndrome. You do get what you pay for.

So you have to figure out what is more important to you? What are your long term goals for this project. Is it sticking within the set budget -i.e you will not consider using another tile option even if you love it! Or is the quality and overall aesthetic more important to you? – i.e. you are willing to pay extra for a more expensive tile because you know you’ll be more satisfied with the result?

It is possible, to a degree, to create a higher-end finish look with a lower budget…but you may be compromising on quality at the same time. This should be left to the design professionals as they know and understand how to achieve results with different price points using different tile selections.

Generally speaking: The higher the tile price = the higher the tile quality or unique design opportunity the tile offers.

Mistake #5 You have difficulty envisioning your tile selection & are worried about making the wrong choice.

No there is nothing wrong with you! Being able to visualise materials and products for a space is a skill that not many people have – only designers in general. Most interior designers are able to take any material or product and be able to 3-dimensionally visualise it in their mind’s eye. This allows them to make decisions quickly and confidently.

However, how does this help you? It doesn’t. The simplest way for you to see something 3-dimensionally is to have a designer create a 3d model of your space for you and go from there. This type of interior design service is becoming increasingly popular and once you have it done, you can see for yourself where the value lies.

For example. If you are doing a bathroom remodel. The interior designer will model your bathroom space for you with the tiles that you want so you are able to visualise what they would look and feel like? You can also also play around with the tile placement locations and see if your tile combinations are working well together or not, before making your investment.

This way you can make changes or adjustments if needed, before starting the actual project giving you peace of mind and saving you from making any expensive long-term mistakes. Now, does this not make sense? Nod your head please, and just say yes.

I call this service ‘due diligence’ or ‘design insurance.’ Investing a small amount of money for this service is better than wasting $50,000 + on a hopeful result. Why hope?? Nod your head again, and say yes…yes this does make sense. Pay the price now or pay later.

Some tile suppliers do have a free 3D visualizing tools you can use to play around with within a generic space. However, If you want a more personable service and one that is directly related to your home, then investing in a professional 3d modeling service from an interior designer would be far more beneficial to you.

Mistake #6 You don’t consider other decisions that should to be made during the design phase

• Tile edge differences
• Grout color
• Sealant color
• Tile trims and tile edge finishes

Tile Edges: There are 2 common tile edges. These being the cushion/pressed edge or the rectified tile edge. The cushion/pressed edged tile has a slight curved edge and requires more grout to lay. This means the grout will be more noticeable and the tile lay pattern will be more pronounced.

Rectified tile edges basically have a 90 degree edge to them and can be laid closer together. Less grout is needed which creates a more seamless look.

Grout Colour: The colour and size of your grout can dramatically impact the overall look of a room and should be selected in line with the intended style. Using contrasting grout colours accentuates tile pattern while grout used to blend with the tile will deemphasise tile pattern.

Tile Edge Finish need to be considered for finishing the edge of a tiled area and also for tiled corners such as shower niches. A small detail that does contribute to the overall aesthetic of a space, particularly in the bathroom. Options to consider include using an aluminum tile trim, a glazed tile edge, mitering the ends of two tiles on a corner situation, or using a bullnose/architectural moulding tile to finish the tile row off. The tile trim should match with the overall aesthetic you are trying to achieve.

Sealant colour. Don’t forget your sealant colour too. You can choose a classic white or one that closely matches your tile colour. If you know what you want, make sure you make this known to the relevant trade prior, otherwise you may end up with something that would not necessarily have been your first choice. Remember trades are not designers.

If all this, is just a little too overwhelming and giving you heart palpitation already…

Mistake #7 You are unsure of what tiles to select for the desired look you want.

Step 1

The best thing to do after you’ve narrowed now your inspo images is to go online and search your local tile supplier website and see if you can find any tiles that are similar to your images. You will also need to take into account your investment amount too.

With each tile you like, pause for a moment and spend time visualizing what it would look like in your space. Does it align with your overall vision and the mood you want to create? You may need to put some relaxing music on in the background to counteract any overwhelm you may feel. It should be an enjoyable process.

Step 2

Print off each tile you like, and make a note on the top, what room you selected this tile for and where you intend this tile to be placed. Eg. bathroom (room), shower niche (tile placement location). Also write down additional notes on your print off. Supplier name, name of tile, finish of tile, tile size etc.

Step 7

Order a tile sample of each tile you like at the same time. This will help you make your final decisions easier and faster.

if this does not work….why not hire an interior designer?

Interior designers know how to create any space you want regardless if it is their signature aesthetic or not. If selecting tiles are a real paint point for you, then maybe investing in an interior design consultation is the best and fastest way forward. Sometimes, it’s just good idea to speak to an expert that will help you make sound decisions faster.

uNDERSTANDING DESIGN ELEMENTS & PRINCIPLES

Interior designers understand the basic fundamentals of interior design. These are called design elements and principles. They are fundamental building blocks to all successful design projects. Design elements include color, texture, shape, space and light and design principles include balance, rhythm, unity, emphasis, contrast, pattern and scale. They are used by designers in a way that best responds to the design brief or design intention. So if you are wanting to design a space that looks cohesive and well designed. Contact an interior designer.

Wrapping this up…

Don’t rush into your decisions when it comes to tile selections. Do your due diligence first by putting in the time to figure out what you really want. Collect inspirational images to refer back to, order tile samples online, and then visit tile suppliers in your local area. For your ultimate peace of mind, (especially for a bathroom space), invest in a3d modelling service so you are able to see the end result before you bring out the big dollars.

And for the ultimate quality control and design insurance for your project…get guidance from an interior designer. This way your end result will be more guaranteed and your journey a little more peaceful.

Taking note of these common mistakes and how best to avoid them will help you feel more confident with your tile selections, eliminating much self-doubt and unnecessary anxiety.

Happy Tile Shopping!