Larger tiles will trick the eye and make a room look bigger,rather than smaller. The main reason for this is that larger tiles reduce the 'busy' factor, whereas smaller tiles, such as mosaics (with comparatively more grout lines), will increase how busy the design looks.
With new build homes being significantly smaller than those from previous generations, homeowners are always on the lookout for the perfect solution to their small rooms. Thankfully, using large format tiles in a small space is known for giving the illusion of the room being much larger than it actually is.
Because these tiles are larger and heavier than standard tiles, they can be difficult to handle and install. This means that installation costs can be higher than with smaller tiles. Additionally, if the tiles are not installed properly, they can crack or become damaged, which can be costly to repair.
Common oversized tile sizes include 16x16, 18x18, 24x24, 12x24, and even 24x48, sometimes larger! These tiles are the perfect way to make a room look and feel bigger and draw attention to a room. Thanks to fewer grout lines, the larger tile size helps make walls look seemingly endless.
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.
Large tiles do make a room feel more spacious but only in a good-sized room. In a small bathroom they don't work quite so well and will tend to swamp the room if they're too large. Also, if there are lots of cuts involved, then this can just look messy.
Large tiles can't flex over raised areas or dips in the subfloor like smaller tiles can. If the substrate is not perfectly level, using large tiles can result in lippage, which is when the edge of one tile is higher than an adjacent tile.
Con: Cold, Hard Walking Surface
Without radiant heating, tile floors can be a cold walking surface during the winter months. If you are someone who likes to walk barefoot throughout the house, you may not want to install tile extensively throughout your home.
Generally, it is recommended to choose tiles that are 4" or smaller for small bathrooms because it's easier to contour around fixtures and appears visually proportioned in a smaller space. Another great option is to go for a more modern design, such as using large format tiles (12"x24").
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.
The smooth and shiny finish of gloss tiles, such as those from our Marmi and Bookmatch collections, reflect light of their surface. As the light bounces from tile to tile, the room appears brighter and larger. We have a whole story dedicated to gloss tiles, which you can view here.
Terrazzo Looks
Terrazzo is both a popular look for tile pavers and an element of another 2023 tile trend, cobbled tile. This versatile style is capable of looking both natural and hyper modern, depending on its colors and scale.
1) Light and dark flooring
Choosing lighter coloured flooring to compliment your furniture can expand the perceived size of any room and can open the space right up.
Use Wider Planks
Wide plank flooring can make a room look bigger. Since wider flooring takes up more space, there are fewer seams on your floor, making the space feel less crowded and overall bigger. They can also be more affordable because you need fewer of them.
It can improve your house's appearance, make your floor more resistant to spills, and even make cleaning easier. When done right, it also increases your home's value!
Laminate flooring is softer than tile, and it does a better job of retaining warmth, so most homeowners will find it warmer and more comfortable to walk on. As far as appearance, laminate can come in a vast range of styles thanks to its photographic layer, which can mimic the appearance of wood, stone, tile and more.
If you want to install tiles in an open space, you need to choose a walnut,charcoal or dark color tiles, so that your bigger space will appear smaller with a snug atmosphere. If your room is tiny, choose something light and soothing color like light wood, beige or white to look the room bigger.
The most popular and readily available tile sizes are (in inches) 12 x 12, 16 x 16, 12 x 24 and 18 x 18. The color of your tiles can hide wear and tear.
Tile Sizes & Shapes
The tried-and-true 12” x 12” tiles are still popular, but tiles are tending to be larger and larger.
Some popular sizes for floors include 300×600 mm, 600×600 mm, 610×610 mm and 800×800 mm, while wall tiles generally come in sizes of 250x350mm, 300x450mm, and 300x600mm. According to experts, large format tiles lend a more spacious look to space. However, it is advised to match tiles to room size.
Misconception #2: “Large format panels are more fragile and therefore, more likely to crack.” In reality: With proper installation, tiles that are larger in size are no more likely to crack than their smaller relatives.