When tiling any room, the idea of contrast is always something to be considered; it can be as minor as a small border strip or including a differently-tiled recess or splashback panel. Combining large and small tile formats, in different shades and textures will add interest and zing to your schemes! Here’s some inspiration to get you started…
Just One Wall
This is most definitely a ‘feature wall’, splendidly bold in Black Slate Split Face Mosaic natural slate tiles, which measure 300mm x 150mm (and require sealing with our Fila Stone Plus Colour Enhancing Stain Protector. The contrast of large and small tiles works extremely well in a simple layout such as this – for large-format floor tiles, try our Carrara White Marble Effect polished porcelain tiles, 800mm x 800mm; definitely a subtle and striking combination of large and small. If you’re unsure about installing large format tiles, or even smaller mosaics, there’s loads of advice available here for floors.
Subtle Combinations
This scheme is a clever combination of large and small formats, exuding sophistication and subtlety. The whole splashback area behind the working area features our Metal Silver Rect Porcelain Mosaics (also available in Iron and Rust), with the mosaic sheets measuring 300mm x 300mm. All formats have rectified edges, meaning that grout lines will be crisp and clean, and the porcelain construction is tough and virtually indestructible – just what’s needed for a busy family kitchen. The large wall tiles are our Metal Silver Rect Porcelain wall and floor tiles in a 600mm x 300mm format, paired beautifully with the larger 600 x 600mm variant. In this case, big is definitely beautiful…
Black to Basics
Planning a brand new room scheme? If you’re starting with an empty space that needs top to toe attention, make the flooring decision as soon as you can. Fairly plain floor tiles can become a base upon which to build several colour schemes, whilst still allowing flexibility for future additions and changes. Here, our large format Muse Dark Grey Matt porcelain floor tiles make the room appear spacious and seamless. Team with smaller format wall tiles, which are our Grey Marble Split Face Mosaics for added interest and contrast.
Large Scale Plans
As mentioned, starting with large-scale format tiles for the floor is a good design decision, allowing options for smaller-scale tiles for splashbacks and feature panels. Our Cumulus range of porcelain tiles come in Anthracite and White as well as the Grey shown here, and measure in at a whopping 800mm x 800mm. Designed to look like a contemporary concrete floor (but without the hassle and upkeep required of the genuine article!). Add some bright accessories for a modern, zingy look, or keep it subtly low-key with minimal clutter.
Large & Medium Combos
Ok, we’re slightly cheating on the large & small format theme here, but couldn’t resist showing you a recent addition to our range; Coast Perla Gloss. This design is an interesting combination of Coast Perla Gloss floor tiles, measuring 450mm x 450mm, and for the decorative wall panels, Coast Ondas Perla Gloss Wave Feature tiles are a slightly smaller 330mm x 530mm. Never mind the logic of the maths, these are beautiful tiles and a welcome new addition to the collection!
Smart Small Formats
From left; For a perfectly pink scheme, try our Village Rose Gold ceramic wall tiles in two small formats, 65mm x 200mm and 132mm x 132mm (shown here). Then we have the gorgeous Comet Rose Square Stone Mosaic which come in a perfectly manageable 300mm x 300mm sheet format, but have the appearance of lots of tiny tiles painstakingly set together. Lastly, Village Royal Blue wall tiles also come in 132mm x 132mm square format as well as a 65mm x 200mm rectangular small format. Just right for smaller bathrooms, border patterns and splashbacks.
Combining Indoors & Outdoors
Looking for a large format tile to run through from indoors to outdoors? Try our Maddox Grey Porcelain Tiles. They measure a whopping 750mm x 750mm and replicate weathered concrete, so are very suited to a contemporary kitchen scheme or perhaps a more industrial look. Whatever you choose, these tiles are a good large-scale choice to team with smaller formats elsewhere.
The Ultimate Combination
This is one of the best combinations of differing format sizes that we’ve seen! It’s a perfect storm of Strauss Black Porcelain wall and floor tiles in three different options. For the floor tiles, choose the 600mm x 600mm square format, for the walls consider the 300mm x 600mm format, with a shower panel inset of Strauss Black Porcelain Mosaics, which come in 300mm x 300mm sheets. Very sleek and stylish, and the Strauss range also comes in White too. For advice on installing all sizes and formats, hop over to our Help Centre section and click the Installation Advice tab.
Will you be combining large and small formats in you next interior revamp? If so then don’t forget to send us your pictures of your finished projects – share your pics with us over on Twitter tagging @TileMountainUK or on Instagram!
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Linda has worked as a freelance interiors writer and blogger for many years; she has written for most of the major home and design magazines, including KBB Magazine, Grand Designs, Homes & Gardens, House Beautiful, Period Homes and Good Homes. She made the break and moved from London back to her home town of Shrewsbury three years ago and has just finished renovating her house. She also works in an interior design studio, produces copy for brochures and website, tries to tame her garden, aims to finish all the home furnishing projects she has on the go … and loves walking.