{"title":"Tiles - Selection Guide","description":"\u003cp\u003eChoosing the right tile comes down to four decisions: the material (porcelain, ceramic or natural-stone-look), the finish (matte, gloss or textured), where it's going (floor or wall, wet area or dry), and the format (large format, mosaic, subway or standard). Get those four right for your specific room and the rest, like colour and pattern, becomes a much easier choice.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003ePorcelain vs ceramic vs natural-stone-look\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePorcelain and ceramic are both fired clay tiles, but porcelain is denser and fired at a higher temperature, which makes it less porous and generally more durable underfoot. That's why porcelain is the more common choice for floors and high-traffic areas, while ceramic is often used on walls where durability underfoot isn't a factor and a lighter, more budget-friendly tile does the job. Natural-stone-look tiles, including travertine-look and marble-look finishes, give you the appearance of stone such as travertine or marble in a porcelain or ceramic body, which means you get the visual warmth of natural stone without the sealing and maintenance that real stone often needs in wet areas.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eMatte, gloss and textured finishes\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eFinish affects both the look and the practicality of a tile. Gloss tiles reflect more light, which can help a small bathroom feel brighter and larger, but they also show water spots and soap scum more readily on walls and can be slippery underfoot on floors. Matte tiles have become the more popular choice for bathroom and shower floors because they offer better grip and hide everyday marks more easily, while still working well on walls for a softer, more contemporary look. Textured tiles, including some travertine-look and stone-look ranges, add a tactile, natural finish and are often chosen specifically for wet area floors where slip resistance matters.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFloor vs wall suitability and slip rating\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eNot every tile is rated for floor use, and fewer still are rated for wet area floors like showers and bathroom floors. Wall tiles are generally thinner and not designed to handle foot traffic, so using a wall-only tile on a floor can lead to cracking over time. For floors, especially in bathrooms, laundries and outdoor wet areas, look for a tile with a slip resistance rating suited to the area. Matte and textured finishes typically perform better here than polished or high-gloss tiles, which is worth prioritising over colour or pattern preferences in genuinely wet areas like shower floors.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWet area vs dry area tiles\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eBathrooms, showers, laundries and outdoor areas are considered wet areas and need tiles with appropriate water resistance and slip rating, along with correctly rated grout and waterproofing beneath the tile. Living areas, hallways and bedrooms are dry areas, which opens up a much wider range of finishes, including gloss and large-format polished tiles that wouldn't be practical in a shower. If you're tiling a single space that includes both, such as a bathroom floor that continues into a hallway, choose the tile rated for the wettest part of that space and carry it through.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSize and format: large format, mosaic and subway\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eLarge-format tiles, generally anything from around 600mm and up, create fewer grout lines and a cleaner, more expansive look, which works well on both floors and feature walls in larger rooms. They do require a flatter substrate to install well. Mosaic tiles, made up of small individual pieces on a mesh sheet, suit curved surfaces, niches and feature strips, and their higher grout-line density can actually improve slip resistance on shower floors. Subway tiles, the classic rectangular brick-laid tile, remain a popular choice for splashbacks and bathroom walls because they suit almost any style, from traditional to contemporary, depending on the grout colour and laying pattern chosen.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eBringing it together\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eStart with where the tile is going and how wet that area gets, since that narrows your material and finish options first. From there, pick a format that suits the size of the space and the look you're after, whether that's a large-format porcelain floor, a travertine-look feature wall, or classic subway tiles on a splashback. Getting the practical decisions right first means the tile will perform well for years, not just look good on install day.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePorcelain suits floors and high-traffic areas; ceramic suits walls and lighter use\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMatte and textured finishes offer better slip resistance for wet area floors\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWet areas need water-resistant, slip-rated tiles; dry areas allow more finish flexibility\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLarge-format tiles suit open floors and feature walls; mosaics suit curves and shower floors; subway tiles suit splashbacks and bathroom walls\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"faq\"\u003e\n  \u003cdiv class=\"acc_wrap\"\u003e\n    \u003cdiv class=\"accordion\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eHow do I choose between porcelain and ceramic tiles?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n    \u003cdiv class=\"panel\"\u003e\n      \u003cdiv\u003ePorcelain is denser and less porous, which makes it more durable underfoot and the better choice for floors and high-traffic areas. Ceramic is generally used on walls, where it's a lighter and more budget-friendly option since it doesn't need to handle foot traffic.\u003c\/div\u003e\n    \u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003cdiv class=\"acc_wrap\"\u003e\n    \u003cdiv class=\"accordion\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eShould bathroom floor tiles be matte or gloss?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n    \u003cdiv class=\"panel\"\u003e\n      \u003cdiv\u003eMatte or textured tiles are the better choice for bathroom and shower floors because they offer more grip and are less slippery when wet. Gloss tiles look great on walls and can brighten a small bathroom, but they're better avoided on wet area floors.\u003c\/div\u003e\n    \u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003cdiv class=\"acc_wrap\"\u003e\n    \u003cdiv class=\"accordion\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhat's the difference between a wet area tile and a dry area tile?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n    \u003cdiv class=\"panel\"\u003e\n      \u003cdiv\u003eWet area tiles, used in bathrooms, showers, laundries and outdoor areas, need water resistance and an appropriate slip rating along with correct waterproofing underneath. Dry area tiles, used in living spaces and hallways, don't face the same moisture or slip demands, so gloss and polished finishes are more practical there.\u003c\/div\u003e\n    \u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003cdiv class=\"acc_wrap\"\u003e\n    \u003cdiv class=\"accordion\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eAre large-format tiles a good choice for small bathrooms?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n    \u003cdiv class=\"panel\"\u003e\n      \u003cdiv\u003eLarge-format tiles reduce the number of grout lines, which can make a small bathroom feel more open and continuous. They do need a flat, well-prepared surface to install properly, so it's worth checking your substrate before committing to a large format in a small or older bathroom.\u003c\/div\u003e\n    \u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003cdiv class=\"acc_wrap\"\u003e\n    \u003cdiv class=\"accordion\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhy use mosaic tiles instead of a standard-format tile?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n    \u003cdiv class=\"panel\"\u003e\n      \u003cdiv\u003eMosaic tiles are useful for curved surfaces, niches and feature strips that a large or standard tile can't wrap around cleanly. Their higher number of grout lines also improves grip, which is why mosaics are a common choice for shower floors.\u003c\/div\u003e\n    \u003c\/div\u003e\n  \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cstyle\u003e\n    #faq { margin: 20px 0 75px; }\n    .acc_wrap { margin-bottom: 7px; border-radius: 8px; overflow: hidden; border: 1px solid rgba(240,240,240,1); }\n    .accordion { background-color: #4f6d85; color: white; cursor: pointer; padding: 16px; width: 100%; border: none; text-align: left; outline: none; transition: 0.4s; line-height: 1.2; }\n    .panel { opacity: 0; background-color: white; overflow: hidden; height: 0; transition: height 0.5s ease, opacity 0.7s linear; }\n    .panel \u003e div { margin: 25px; }\n    .panel.active { opacity: 1; height: auto; }\n\u003c\/style\u003e\n\u003cscript\u003e\ndocument.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", function() {\n  var acc = document.getElementsByClassName(\"acc_wrap\");\n  for (var i = 0; i \u003c acc.length; i++) {\n    acc[i].addEventListener(\"click\", function() {\n      var panel = this.querySelector(\".panel\");\n      var all = document.querySelectorAll('.panel');\n      for (var j = 0; j \u003c all.length; j++) { if (all[j] !== panel) { all[j].classList.remove(\"active\"); all[j].style.height = 0; } }\n      panel.classList.toggle(\"active\");\n      panel.style.height = panel.classList.contains(\"active\") ? panel.scrollHeight + \"px\" : 0;\n    });\n  }\n});\n\u003c\/script\u003e\n\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n  \"mainEntity\": [\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"How do I choose between porcelain and ceramic tiles?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"Porcelain is denser and less porous, which makes it more durable underfoot and the better choice for floors and high-traffic areas. 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