Decorating Hints

Selection When selecting ceramic floor tiles for home interior decorating, size does matter. For instance, larger tiles will make a room seem smaller, and the opposite is true for small tiles. Darker color tiles will also make a room seem smaller, while light color tiles can open up a room. Tesoro has a wide array of designs, colors, sizes and textures for you to choose from. Remember these important points:

For a formal look, use a marbleized or glossy finished glazed tile. For a more casual look, consider a textured or stone tile. Unless you have very specific tastes, or are trying to achieve a specific “look”, avoid loud, strong or definitive colors, including your grout color. Think Long Term.  Tile helps to increase the value in your home. If the tile you choose might pose a challenge for the next owner to decorate around, it may be a challenge to sell later on. Be Personal.  Just like any other design element in the home, your tile should reflect your lifestyle and tastes.

Isla Colosseum

Design Color and texture: These are the most critical factors when installing tile. Again, this is largely a question of taste. In general, the lighter the tile, the bigger a room will look. In contrast, a dark tile will “close” a room, although for certain applications, an earth-tone may be very appropriate. Work with a designer, or consult some reading material to understand how color balance will work in your particular situation. As for texture, always consider your living situation. For an active family lifestyle, you may want to avoid a high gloss tile, as it can become slippery. In addition, if the tile is in a high-traffic area, it can become more work, as high-gloss tile shows day-to-day wear a bit more than textured tile. This is a perfect scenario for a Tesoro stone or stone-look tile, with subtle texture and clefts. Accessories: Tesoro features many borders, accents and medallions to enhance the design of your room. These are especially wonderful in the bathroom, and along long walk edges in an open room.

Installation Always contact a qualified installer, or if you’re using a designer/decorator, trust their recommendation. Tile installation is a valuable skill, and not always easily handled by the do-it-yourselfer. Also, it requires very specific tools and talents. Choose whether you want a straight (right angle) or 45-degree installation. Remember the size factor when you were selecting tile… if you install tile that’s too large in a small area, it may overpower the room, and you may not gain a full appreciation for the tile or color you have chosen. As a general rule, the larger the tile, the larger the overall look. With fewer grout lines and joints, the pattern will appear more simple, giving your eye a chance to “take in” more of the room. A handy side-effect of this rule is that cleaning is easier with less grout.

Traffic There are several groups of traffic ratings for tile use. They range from light traffic (such as a bathroom, for instance) to heavy, even commercial, traffic. When selecting your tile, be sure to accurately assess the amount of traffic in the room you’re tiling, and ask your Tesoro retailer to recommend a tile that can handle the load. For more information on Class ratings, click here.