Large vs Small Porcelain Tiles – The pros and cons

Large vs Small Porcelain Tiles – which works best?

Large vs small porcelain tiles – which do you choose for your project? Size of tile is a key consideration along with tile design, colour and finish. Large and small porcelain tiles can make your space feel very different and impact the overall look and design of your home. In our blog we explore tile size helping you to decide which tile size might work best for your new project.

The Basics

Large Porcelain Tiles

What is a large format tile? Tile sizes have increased steadily over the past few years with larger formats fast becoming the go-to for projects large and small. Large format tiles are generally considered to start at a 600 x 600mm size and include tile sizes such as 800 x 800mm, 900 x 900mm, 1m x 1m, 1200 x 1200mm, 1200 x 600mm and even larger sheets for example 1510 x 750mm. These larger than life sizes are chosen because they really can make a room feel more spacious, seamless and expansive. This is because they have less grout lines than smaller tiles – and are all the more elegant for it. They are also great for showcasing tile design, particularly stone and marble effects because they can depict large sweeping, unbroken veins across a single tile. This also helps to ensure spaces feel less busy.

The use of a co-ordinating grout on fewer grout lines means entire ground floors can have an almost seamless appearance.

Small Porcelain Tiles

Small porcelain tiles offer versatility and adaptability and can be ideal where you want pattern or more complex design. They can add texture and decoration to a space, with tiles featuring glossy surfacing, handmade finishes and an artisan feel. Very often these tiles are not rectified and this is part of their charm. Because they are small, these tiles mean there are more grout lines. That can be turned into a feature with a contrasting grout colour. Whilst smaller tiles will require more upkeep because of numerous grout lines, they are easier to install particularly on uneven walls and floors.

Your Project: Where to Use Large vs Small Porcelain Tiles

Luxuriously large porcelain tiles are perfect for:

Open-plan living areas: if you are looking for tiles to work across your ground floor area you will need a tile that potentially co-ordinates with kitchen cabinetry and worksurfacing as well as dining room furniture and possibly even the lounge, snug, boot room and more. Using the same large format tile across these spaces will not only seamlessly connect various rooms, it really can make spaces flow. What’s more, there is no need for thresholds and this makes cleaning a whole lot easier.
Large bathrooms: if you have the space, large porcelain tiles can make a bathroom look majestic with their smooth extensive surfaces. We would add, that even smaller bathrooms can benefit from large tiles – this is a discussion to have with your tiler – very small bathrooms in older properties may have very uneven walls so big tiles can be tricky from an install perspective, but because there are fewer grout lines, larger tiles can make a small space feel less cluttered.
Outdoor spaces: porcelain tiles are non-porous and frost-resistant meaning they can be used outdoors. Large format tiles often work best at filling these expansive outdoor areas especially if you are considering using the same flooring across both inside and outside spaces. Connecting inside and outside with the same tiles really can open up space.

Small Tiles look Stunning for…

Curved spaces – these are the Achilles’ heel of large tiles. Only small tiles will work on these type of projects and make installation a breeze.
Accent walls – small tiles can produce dramatic effects – think geometric designs, handcrafted glossy colourful tiles or textured porcelains to create playful, eye-catching feature walls in your bathroom or kitchen.
Kitchen backsplashes – small tiles can make your backsplash not just practical but add a dash of personality too with their intricate designs or bold patterns.
Niches or recessed areas – think shower niches, shelving or window sills – smaller tiles will fit more neatly into smaller areas.

Mixing Large and Small tiles: the best of both worlds

Of course, there is no need to stick to only one option. Many contemporary designers now juxtapose large tiles on floors with smaller tiles on walls to create elegant spaces or vice versa.

The Pros and Cons of large vs small porcelain tiles

One of the critical differences in large vs small porcelain tiles is the installation process and costs. Considering this might help you decide which format is perfect for your unique space.

Large format tiles

Pros: large tiles are ideal for filling contemporary open-plan interiors. Less tiles are needed to fill the space and this means more tile, less grout.
Cons: larger tiles do need more precise levelling and can be tricker to cut and handle; they require a very flat surface for installation; and they can sometimes feel overwhelming if used in a small interior. Larger tiles can also be more expensive than a smaller tile from the same collection.

Small format tiles

Pros: adaptable and versatile, small tiles can decorate tight spaces, curves and corners which are unsuitable for large format tiles; they are also easier to transport and handle.
Cons: Very small tiles can prove more expensive to install and they also mean more grout lines which can equal more cleaning – although using a grout protector spray really can reduce this need. Installing can take longer due to the complexity of layouts (especially with accent areas); and they can feel busy if overused in a large interior.

Large and Small tiles: design options

The design options for both large and small porcelain tiles are plentiful. Let’s browse four TilePortfolio favourites:

Large tiles

Large tiles are best at achieving a contemporary feel.

Our gorgeous Abode Porcelain tiles in White are beautifully stylish and classic and work excellently for an open-plan design. Simple in design, light in colour they are an ideal canvas tile because they will work across any room.
Our Joy collection of Italian tiles combine grace and elegance with incredibly subtle veining against set against a soft matt background. Joy Light, Sand and Ash in particular are three delightful shades all featuring a 2cm outside antislip tile that co-ordinates for those seeking to run tiles across inside and outside spaces.

Small tiles

Small tiles can create intricate, playful spaces.

These wonderful neo-Victorian Floral Porcelain Coloured Tiles are in three tones and ae perfect for feature walls and floors.
Alternatively, these Bloom Porcelain tiles in Olive would be perfect for the walls or floors of a kitchen – they can be great for zoning an area.

Conclusion: Large vs Small Porcelain Tiles

Clearly, choosing between large or small porcelain tiles is a tough choice. They both have their unique advantages and can look equally stunning in the right setting. Think about the space you are designing for. Large porcelain tiles create expansive spaces. On the other hand, small tiles are playful and decorative. The decision is yours!

Large vs small porcelain tiles - gallery

Arc porcelain feature wall tiles – Aqua

Floral porcelain feature wall tiles – Sky

Bloom green feature tiles – Olive

Poise Porcelain Tiles – Pebble

Aspect Porcelain Tiles – Ash

Fusion Porcelain Tiles – Limestone

Want to know more?

Click the images to head straight to these tiles on our website. Working on a project? We’d love to help! Get in touch and let us start searching for beautiful tiles with you!

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The TilePortfolio specialise in Italian and Spanish Porcelain and Ceramic tiles, in particular large format Porcelains and Porcelain tiles for inside and outside. Our carefully curated, stunning tile portfolios are beautifully presented online and supported by our fuss-free ‘go-the-extra-tile’ service. In addition, you can view our entire tile collection at our Northamptonshire Showroom. Visit our website for unmissable interiors inspiration. The TilePortfolio team are always available to chat, we’d be delighted to help with your project so please do get in touch.

Please note: We strongly recommend using a professional tiler for your project. Installation requirements may vary depending on the tiles you choose, the fixing products used and the specific conditions. Always check with your tiler regards the suitability of the tiles. Please get in touch with us if you have any questions.