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.
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.
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.
Large-format porcelain tiles are a trend that can respond to the design needs of all types of applications: walls and floors, kitchen counters and worktops, both for indoor and outdoor use.
The large surface area makes the space look cleaner, and avoids the checkerboard look of regular sized tiles. Large format tiles can be used both for traditional style bathrooms and kitchens and more modern sleek styles too. They are good for a minimalist streamlined look, and add a timeless accent to your room.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Large format tiles are also more prone to cracking than smaller tiles. Because they are larger and heavier, they can be more difficult to handle and install. This means that if they are not installed properly, they can crack or become damaged over time.
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.
The principle is that the smaller the tile, the more grout lines you have, which ultimately increases how busy the design looks. So, the first thing to consider should be large format floor tiles. These large tiles trick the eye and make a room look bigger, less cluttered and make the room feel more seamless.
Multiply the length and width of the space you want covered — like from the counter to the cabinets in a kitchen — by 12 to get each measurement in inches. Multiply these two numbers together to get your area, then divide that number by the area of the tile to get the number you will need.
#4: Light Neutral Colors
Another top flooring trend in 2023? Light and neutral flooring. Modern grey wood flooring continues to be popular, as are light floor colors like blonde and beige. A great way to add these lighter flooring shades to your home or business is to use bamboo flooring.
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!
Versions of subway tile are also on trend this year (and have been for a number of years now). Extra large, matte porcelain tiles add beauty and depth to a space, while still feeling timeless.
Cobbled Tile Trend
Large-scale aggregate looks ranging from time-worn terrazzo to cobblestone to Byzantine mosaics can ground a space with a foundation of history but with the modern technology of porcelain panels. This tile trend allows the old-world charm of cobblestone without a threat to stilettoed passersby.
While color palettes may be changing, designs are trending toward using patterned tiles or laying tile in a classic pattern, such as checkerboard. A nod to mid-century modern, muted tones such as browns, shades of green, or terracotta are appearing more often. In addition, larger format tiles are becoming popular.
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.
Marble-Look Tile
With its distinctive milky white tones and sweeping vein pattern, a marble-tiled bathroom is the epitome of timeless luxury. Achieve the look with porcelain tile that looks like marble, such as the Tru Marmi series.
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.
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.
Light Colours
With light coloured tiles like whites or creams, you will open up all the space thanks to the sheer amount of light that will be allowed into the space. Lighter colours also look less busy than dark colours, again helping the room to appear much larger than it actually is.
Large format tile is considered to be square or rectangular tiles larger than 12x12, including popular wood look porcelain planks in sizes like 6x24 and 6x36.