Want to see how textured tiles can transform your home? As any interior design expert will tell you, a key element of designing is textural contrast. Layered materials where raw meets refined, polished meets matt or rough meets smooth. These different finishes are an essential part of creating a balanced space and the tiles you choose are very much a part of this. Flooring covers such large spaces so getting the right tile in the right finish for walls and/or floors is critical to the overall look and feel you want to create in your room.
All tiles have a finish or a texture whether it be matt, polished or antislip to name a few. In very simple terms, a polished tile will bring more light reflectance to a space and can make a room feel cooler. A matt tile will absorb more light and can make a space feel warmer. But it is more complicated than that because tile finishes have developed in leaps and bounds over the past few years adding new heights of tactility and character to walls and floors. This is clever stuff and leading manufacturers are harnessing new techniques to deliver tiles that are unique, groundbreaking and beautiful.
For example, there are tile finishes now where a neat alignment of pattern and texture brings new levels of realism to tiles. Take our Serenity wood effect tiles where you have gorgeous design and the beautifully textured feel of real wood.
There are also textured tiles with finishes that provide added grip for floors, achieving an R11 A+B+C rating and have been specifically designed so they are easy to clean.
Then there are patterned tiles that feature both matt and gloss surfacing in the same tile.
All this makes the latest textured tiles a true ‘win win’ when it comes to interior design.
At The TilePortfolio our tiles include a whole spectrum of finishes including soft, antislip soft , matt, natural, gloss, polished, antislip or contour – all of which bring something unique to the table. With tiles mimicking everything from wood, marble, terrazzo, concrete, cement and limestone this isn’t just about tile design, it is also about that unique combination of design and surface finish.
So let’s explore some of our collections and understand more about how textured tiles can transform your home.
Wood effect porcelain tiles are specifically designed to look like real wood. The degree to which they do this depends on the technology used to create the tiles. The latest wood effect tiles are aligning design and texture to produce tiles that not only look like wood, they feel like wood featuring all the natural knots and gnarls that make this material so beautiful.
The beauty here is you get all the benefits of porcelain tiles, which are hardwearing, water-resistant and easy to clean, with a richly textured wood look and can achieve that rich, warm, cozy feeling which the Danish and Norwegians call hygge.
Unlike real timber, porcelain tiles won’t warp or bend with moisture, don’t need sanding or sealing and are not susceptible to water marks, scratching or staining. This means wood look tiles in porcelain can be used across the home with ease including that most humid of rooms, the bathroom. You can also mop to your hearts content in the kitchen and don’t need to worry about food and drink spillages staining your tiles.
It’s not just design and tile texture though. This is also about the number of patterns. Gone are the days of just one or two patterns per tile. For ultra realism leading manufacturers are designing tile ranges with 30, 40 or even 50 different patterns so even across large open plan spaces pattern repeat is a thing of the past.
Here are three wood effect tiles we currently love for creating that hygge feeling:
Our Serenity Porcelain tiles mimic the intricate shades, knots and gnarls of real timber in a collection of gorgeous shades. They are perfect for creating a natural, warm feel across the home and the R11 A+B+C antislip soft finish means they can be used in a wetroom too.
For that Scandi feel try Knot. This is a lovely, light tile collection in 5 deliciously light shades and a lovely large format. Again, the surfacing of these tiles is beautifully tactile which just adds to their appeal.
Or if you prefer more pattern, take a look at Louis. This marquetry wood porcelain tile is in a large 900 x 900mm format and the natural finish brings the most subtle light reflectance to spaces. This is a warm, tactile tile that adds character to spaces without being overbearing.
Cement effect tiles bring a contemporary look and feel to spaces and can make a brilliant canvas that works across open plan spaces. The texture of these tiles can really transform a room.
Here are three cement effect tiles we recommend:
Blend Porcelain tiles are mimicking cement-resin creating a beautifully unique tile collection in a superbly well specified colour palette. It’s the finish that makes this tile what it is. Designed with a highly refined matt finish, Blend is superbly elegant and a great example of stylish Italian design. They have a co-ordinating 20mm thick outside tile meaning they are perfect for creating a sense of flow from your living room to your garden.
Our Docklands Cement Porcelain tile collection is a top pick. This is a brilliantly versatile collection that is in 3 tile sizes and 4 super useable colours. It is practical, beautiful and with a tile texture that is highly tactile and brings an industrial feel to this collection. The finish is called antislip soft because it cleverly combines a soft feel with an antislip finish and achieves an R11 A+B+C rating making it great for use across the home.
Tone Porcelain tiles bring an organic look to spaces. Superbly simple in design, just like Blend, these tiles also feature a very fine surface texture elevating them to deliver an air of sophistication. They work so well for those seeking a streamlined, architectural look and feel to spaces.
Cement effect tiles bring a contemporary look and feel to spaces and can make a brilliant canvas that works across open plan spaces. The texture of these tiles can really transform a room.
Here are three cement effect tiles we recommend:
Blend Porcelain tiles are mimicking cement-resin creating a beautifully unique tile collection in a superbly well specified colour palette. It’s the finish that makes this tile what it is. Designed with a highly refined matt finish, Blend is superbly elegant and a great example of stylish Italian design. They have a co-ordinating 20mm thick outside tile meaning they are perfect for creating a sense of flow from your living room to your garden.
Our Docklands Cement Porcelain tile collection is a top pick. This is a brilliantly versatile collection that is in 3 tile sizes and 4 super useable colours. It is practical, beautiful and with a tile texture that is highly tactile and brings an industrial feel to this collection. The finish is called antislip soft because it cleverly combines a soft feel with an antislip finish and achieves an R11 A+B+C rating making it great for use across the home.
Tone Porcelain tiles bring an organic look to spaces. Superbly simple in design, just like Blend, these tiles also feature a very fine surface texture elevating them to deliver an air of sophistication. They work so well for those seeking a streamlined, architectural look and feel to spaces.
It seems that marble will never fall out of fashion. That’s because its elegance is a truth universally acknowledged. Marble just works – on its own or in combination with other designs like concretes and cements. The real beauty of porcelain effect marble tiles is all that gorgeous design with the durability of porcelain. Here are three of our favourites each with a different texture:
Carerra Oro and Argent are both large format marble effect porcelain tiles featuring a soft white background and warmer and cooler veining. It’s the finish of these tiles that makes them a winning collection – whilst called natural, it really is almost like a silk and sits between a matt and a polished. This brings a gentle diffusion of light across the tile surface so there is none of the harsh glare you might expect from a high gloss and none of the complete light absorption by a more matt tile.
The intricate web of veining of Belleza Porcelain tiles cannot be beaten. It is our go-to marble effect tile for creating drama and sophistication in a standout space. The polished finish absolutely highlights the incredible colours in this tile from inky blues, taupe tones, charcoal notes and more.
Macchia Vecchia features nutmeg tones, subtle grey veining and a soft white background. The natural texture of these tiles aligns with the veining to create a tile that not only looks like the real thing, it feels like it too. This tile finish elevates this tile making for a refined look and feel.
The various textured finishes of porcelain tiles offers you style as well as performance. Texture is not just about look and feel, it is also about safety. Choosing the right tile finish is important especially in spaces where water is present. You can read more about slip ratings here.
Textured tiles therefore offer a versatile solution when it comes to designing kitchens, bathrooms and living areas – and, as we have seen, many also have outdoor options allowing for seamless indoor-outdoor design.
Continue to explore the our collections via the images and links below and find textured tiles you will come to love and cherish – from the wonders of wood, to the marvels of marble and more.
Louis porcelain tile that looks like wood – Mocha
Belleza White Marble Effect Tile
Utopia large format marble tile – Macchia Vecchia
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!
If you would like to know more, please get in touch...
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.
