A 16″ or 18″ tile will generally give a room a larger feeling than a 12″ tile. One of the main reasons for this is the lack of grout lines. The less grout lines, the less busy your floor is and the more expansive it appears. This expansiveness naturally will make your room appear larger.
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.
Large Format Tiles
Large tiles can fool the eye into thinking that a room is bigger than it is. This is because the large size removes the “business” from a room that can be caused by smaller tiles.
A tile or stone larger than 16” x 16” is generally described as 'large format'. Large format tiles expand the space so are good for smaller rooms, although in really small rooms they can look a bit overpowering.
If you want to create a spacious room or are craving that sleek modern look - large and extra format tiles are for you! But if you are after a more intimate feel or intricate design, smaller tiles might be for you!
We now have numerous sizes of tile available up to 24″ and sometimes even larger. One easy way a homeowner can make their room appear larger is to select a larger format tile. A 16″ or 18″ tile will generally give a room a larger feeling than a 12″ tile.
For instance, a diamond pattern creates the illusion of a bigger room than a checkerboard pattern. In a diamond orientation, the widest section of each tile faces the entrance. This prevents you from measuring the space in terms of tiles across or tiles down.
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.
Whilst bold colours are modern and can help to create depth, it's often best to use them sparingly if you're trying to create the impression of increased space. We recommend choosing pale tile shades such as white, cream, beige or grey because they can make the room look lighter and brighter.
Selecting wide floor planks is one of the easiest and most effective ways to make a room look bigger. Instead of thin strips, go for boards at least seven inches wide. Longer planks (four or more feet in length) can help as well.
Add reflective surfaces
Yes, you know that mirrors make a space appear larger. (“It's like doubling a room,” Curtis says.) But other reflective surfaces — high-gloss painted ceilings, lacquered furniture, shiny tile on a kitchen backsplash — have a similar effect, casting light and creating the illusion of volume.
Pick dark shades that have a bit of color. 'I love dark green as a feature wall in a room with a lot of natural light,' says color and paint expert, Annie Sloan. A dark purple, brown, burgundy or navy blue can also work against a soft white or cream to help trick the eye into making the space feel bigger.
Tiny Tiles Help a Small Rooms Flow
Tiny tiles can help improve the flow of small floor plans when the spacing between the sink, toilet, cabinets, and other bathroom fixtures is compact. Small tiles like mosaic tiles require fewer cuts, which ultimately offers a more streamlined look.
Using smaller tiles, such as mosaics, will give you lots of grout lines, which can give the bathroom walls a grid-like appearance that can promote the feeling of being boxed in – making your bathroom feel smaller still.
Large format tiles are also easier to maintain than smaller tiles. With fewer grout lines to clean, it's easier to keep these tiles looking their best. Additionally, large format tiles are less likely to chip or crack than smaller tiles.
White subway tile in a shower or bath will never age, Winn says. For floors, penny tile — white or black and white — is still found in homes built in the 1950s and '60s in North Arlington, Va., Winn says, but clients are also asking for it in new bathrooms.
Tiles are considered large format when one edge is greater than 15 inches. In the past, 12-by-24-inch rectangular tiles were the most popular large-format size. Today, 18 by 36 inches is common, though, thanks to new technology, tiles are being manufactured as large as 5 by 10 feet.
Large-format tiles are trending! Sizes like 24x48 are becoming more popular, along with bold patterns like herringbone and hexagon shapes. Large tiles work best as floor or shower wall tiles. They can also work well outdoors for covered patio spaces.
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.
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.
Look for tiles that are 13 by 13 inches (33 by 33 cm) or larger. There will be fewer grout lines in your living room, which will make the space look more streamlined. Larger tiles also mean less grout that you'll inevitably have to clean. Larger tiles also look more modern than small tiles.
Large tiles are proportionate to a large room, and they can make a small room feel bigger. However, tiles larger than 18 to 24 inches may overwhelm a small space, like a bathroom or mudroom.
The same tile used on a vertical surface and horizontal surface will look different, due to the throw of light on it. For example, if the same tile is applied on the wall and on the floor, the colour of the wall will tend to appear darker as compared to the floor.