Well, square tiles are kind of on their way out. I mean, they'll never be totally out, but the trend is moving toward wood-look planks. The exception to this is the bathroom, where large format tile is still super trendy and probably will be for a good, long time.
Square tile has been gaining popularity in recent years, but today's squares are not the pink-squared bathroom tiles you grew up with. Many of the latest squares look hand-crafted and range from subdued neutrals to glossy and colorful. “We're seeing squares really come back in style,” Emser's Zurfluh says.
For both larger and smaller rooms, small square tiles can be used as wall tiling or for decorative feature walls effectively. Large format rectangular tiles can be used for floor tiling in larger rooms, and smaller rectangular tiles can be used effectively for wall tiling in any room, of any size.
1. Larger Tiles Make Small Rooms Appear Bigger. Because grout lines are thinner and fewer as part of the layout, smaller rooms appear bigger when using larger tiles. Large-format tiles make floors look more streamlined – therefore, creating the illusion of more space.
One camp says that the wall and floor tiles should complement each other but should not match. This is because matching floor and wall tiles make a room feel smaller and more closed up.
Tile Sizes & Shapes
The tried-and-true 12” x 12” tiles are still popular, but tiles are tending to be larger and larger. Sizes like 16” x 16”, 12” x 24” and even 24” x 48” are becoming more prevalent. Large-format tiles have fewer grout lines to clean and help a room look bigger, more open and less busy.
Neutrals are easy to coordinate with other décor, no matter what style you choose, and unlike the current year's hot color scheme, subtly-hued elements like beige tile flooring will never look dated.
Keep in mind that patterned tiles have been around for centuries, there is no way that it is going out of style anytime soon! Just remember to complement your house style and design aesthetic and you'll end up with a custom design that's perfectly you.
Medium wood in shades like honey, copper, and blonde are gaining popularity because of their light and airy feel. Wide planks, as well as matte and satin finishes are a couple other 2021 flooring trends commonly seen with this material.
“Subway tiles are classic and timeless, yet versatile, which is why they are so great. They aren't going anywhere in 2021 or beyond,” shares Erin Davis, lead designer at Mosaik Design & Remodeling in Portland, OR.
"Real hardwood will always be a highly desired amenity, not only for appearance but for longevity—it can be sanded down, regraded, stained, and even covered in tile or carpet," Westfield explains. Another consideration is that wood-look tile may be cheaper, but typically does not add resale value to a home.
The suggested size of tiles for the living room is slightly larger at 12-inches to 18-inches. Because living rooms tend to be the largest space in the home, larger tiles work better in the living room. As you can imagine, larger tiles cost more per tile than smaller tiles.
For paint colors, whites, grays and pale blues are most popular both as they go with the most popular tile colors and also because they are light and neutral.
Ceramic and porcelain are good options for small living rooms, as are any other tiles that come in white, beige, or cream colors. Light colors make a room look more open. Ultimately, you want your tiles to be a color you won't mind looking at every day.
The neutral colors of gray and white go well with beige tiles as they keep the room clean and won't obscure its features. Grey and white tiles have both different variations of their color, so you will always find one that matches your tiles no matter the temperature of their surface.
Checkerboard Tile
Out of all the timeless tile designs, checkerboard is perhaps the most flexible. The design can make a great impact on the floors in a space as small as a bathroom yet is bold enough to make a statement in a larger surface area like a foyer.
Move over, marble — it's travertine's time to shine. It may be 2021 — but you wouldn't know it from looking at the current lineup of design trends. Everything from bright colors to bold patterns to squiggly shapes have returned from the 1980s this year, pointing to a renewed embrace of the maximalist decade.
“Travertine had an extended demand and increase from 2000 to 2015 – a 15-year run. That's most unusual for a stone.” “It's a little bit out of style right now. People aren't using the beige colors much.” Jonathan Verrengia Managing Partner Marble and Granite Inc.
The darker the floor tile, the more spacious the room looks!
Darker shade floor tiles can make your room appear spacious and bigger. But the fact is you need to have light coloured walls for the combination to work well. The dark and light combination can make any space look classy and bigger.
A small bathroom can actually benefit from a large tile. With fewer grout lines the walls and floor are less cluttered and the room visually expands.
Floor tiles and wall tiles can match, but certainly do not have to. Most importantly, floor and wall tiles should create a cohesive look by either combining monochromatic colors, coordinating patterns with colors, or pairing complementary solid colors together for an aesthetically pleasing result.