With DIY tile design being more popular than ever, a lot of people are starting to question how certain things are achieved and what they need to do to get the best results with their tile design. At Tilemall, we are one of Australia’s leading tile distributors and providers, and that means we see a lot of tile design questions coming through. So, when we get the chance, we thought it would be a good idea to take some of those topics and put together some brief, quick guides, which we can then elaborate on in future articles.
So, let’s take a look at tile design ideas and what you can incorporate into your own bathroom or kitchen.
What is Tile Design?
This is a fair question, as tile design can refer to a few different things in interior decor, such as the actual design process for making a tile. For our purposes, however, tile design is how you utilise tiles to create beautiful designs for your floors and walls. A tile design can be practical or purely decorative, with the only requirement being that it uses tiles to achieve its finished look!
With that out of the way, let’s take a look at a few tile design requests that people have had and where you can start with your own tile design projects.
How to Design a Mosaic Tile Pattern
Mosaic tile patterns have been a stable of bathroom tile designs for a very long time, and even with the more minimalist approach to design we see now, it has still held its place as a beloved style choice. A mosaic tile pattern uses, shockingly, mosaic tiles to create a decorative design, which can be created out of a wide array of shapes and materials.
As you can see through the link above, we at Tilemall have a wide selection of mosaic tile options to choose from. With that said, before you decide to start buying, it’s important to know what type of mosaic design you’re going to be trying to make. For this, it’s best to work out your basic design and then see how it translates to the basic shapes and grouting that will be required to make it into a reality. That way, you’ll start to get an idea of what shapes you will need and what amounts of each will be required. Also, keep scale in mind throughout this process, as you don’t want to end up with a design that is too big or too small for your ambitions.
From there, the process is the same as any other DIY tiling job, as mosaics can be done on practically any surface. As far as bathroom tile styling ideas go, mosaic tiles are an absolute must for those that want that little extra personality and creativity in their spaces. If you’d like us to go a little more in-depth with a guide to designing your mosaic tile pattern, let us know, and we’ll do a full article on the subject.
How to Design a Bathroom Tile Layout
When you’re designing a bathroom tile layout, planning is the most important thing in the world. Each bathroom is different and will therefore offer slightly different advantages and disadvantages in terms of tile choices and layout options. Pay close attention to features such as sinks and showers that may get in the way of your design, as these will have to be taken into account during the buying process.
The next step is to ensure that you are getting the right size of tile. This is something that is very easy to gloss over in the buying stage, as people will often think about scale compared to other tiles whilst neglecting scale in comparison to the bathroom itself.
You will also have to pay attention to the style of your fittings when designing a bathroom tile layout. Just remember that your final design will not exist within a vacuum, and the choices that you make will benefit from being cohesive with the rest of the bathroom. With that said, if you do have a vision for your bathroom tile design that directly clashes with your fittings and fixtures, just remember that you always have the option of replacing them too. There’s an abundance of beautiful vanities and mirrors on the market, as well as various types of bathroomware to choose from. So, don’t feel like you’re limited by your bathroom’s existing design, but do be aware that it is a factor.
How to Design Floor Tile Patterns
With tiles being an excellent way to visually stretch out a space, patterned floor tile designs can bring a lot to a room. This is often where creativity truly shines in a bathroom design, with many designers opting for simpler wall patterns to offset the designs of the floor. So, if you’re looking to design the perfect floor tile pattern, consider a stylish repeating geometric pattern that will make your space feel loftier than it is, but try to avoid making it too busy. Remember that, when discussing smaller bathrooms, there’s a finer line between garish and gorgeous, and towing that line is a great way to make your floor tile patterns stand out.
How to Paint Designs on Ceramic Tiles
If you’re looking to paint your own designs to really make your tiles one-of-a-kind, you’re in luck! There are a number of paint varieties that are specifically formulated to work well with tile materials like ceramic. Plus, we’ve actually written an entire article on painting kitchen tiles which will give you a lot of the information you’ll need to make excellent choices with your ceramic tile painting.
That said, it’s important to remember that the process of painting tiles is most effective in areas that don’t have a lot of water or foot traffic. So, keep that in mind when it comes time to start planning out your design if you want to avoid a blending, bleeding mess of tile paints down the line.
How to Design a Tile Splashback
Designing a tiled splashback is a great way to create a focal point within your kitchen space, not to mention a practical way to keep things easy to clean. You can read up on which tiles are best for a kitchen splashback to learn about the particular styles and materials which will give you the highest quality splashback tile designs. That said, the actual process is quite similar to creating a ceramic design. Simply map out your preferred pattern on paper or on your computer, and from there, you’ll be able to find tiles that correspond to the needs of your design.
~ These are just a few of the questions and topics we’ve seen pop up in terms of tile design, and we’ll be sure to create more articles on these particular topics as time goes on. To stay up-to-date with all of our tile articles and bathroom design content, explore the Tilemall tile blog today. We post a few articles each month, so there’s always something new to try and explore.
