Tile Stores - 6 Rules to Follow When Selecting Kitchen Tile

6 Rules to Follow When Selecting Kitchen Tile

It has often been said that the kitchen is the heart of the home. With that, you want to make it show off your personal style and taste in decor. Whether you need to update a few features or you plan to completely renovate your kitchen, it’s good to know some of the basic rules for selecting the right kitchen tile. Continue reading today’s post to learn our top six guidelines.

At A&E Tile and Marble in Northern Virginia, we’re proud to be your full-service custom tile and marble installation provider. With more than 30 years of experience, we prioritize our client relationships and satisfaction. Contact our family-owned and operated tile and marble company today to discuss your project.

1. Select the Location for the Tile

Before you can jump into the fun part of choosing the new tile for your kitchen, it’s important to think about which surface the tile will be applied to. Tile is incredibly versatile and can be used in a variety of areas in your kitchen, including:

Backsplash
Accent under your upper cabinets
Countertops
Flooring

Once you’ve determined the location of the tile, you’ll be ready to move on to the next step of choosing the best type for durability and longevity.

2. Choose the Type of Tile

Despite what you might think, there are actually a number of different types of tile, including:

Quarry
Stone
Cork
Vinyl
Bamboo
Ceramic
Porcelain
Glass

Given the variety of tile types, you might wonder which ones are best for application in your kitchen. The truth is that choosing the right type of tile is not as difficult as it might seem. For instance, applications like vinyl, cork, and bamboo tiles are typically used in flooring. Ceramic, quarry, and porcelain tiles can be used for either counters or floors, and glass tiles are typically reserved for walls and backsplashes. Now that you have a better understanding of which types of tiles could work in your kitchen renovation, you’ll be able to narrow down the style that appeals to your taste.

3. Determine Your Budget for Tile

When it comes to finding the right tile for your kitchen, you’ll be glad to know that there is a wide range from relatively inexpensive tile to high-end tile. This means that you should be able to easily find a tile that you like and will work well with your budget. Before you find a tile that you can’t live without, be sure to get your budget in place and then shop for the tile that falls within your set amount. At A&E Tile and Marble, our team is here and happy to help you estimate the amount of tile you’ll need for your kitchen project.

4. Consider Your Lifestyle

Do you like to cook gourmet meals every night? Do you enjoy cooking family-friendly dishes on a regular basis? Do you consider your cooking style to be of the frozen dish and microwave variety? The way in which you typically use your kitchen is important to consider, as all tile requires up-keep, but some less than others. You want your new tile to last a long time, which means you should consider how durable it needs to be to match your family’s lifestyle. If you cook a lot or have young kids, the ease of cleaning and maintaining a particular tile is also an important item to think about.

5. Choose a Floor Tile for Your Family’s Habits

When choosing the floor tile for your kitchen, you’ll want to find a tile that is durable enough to withstand high traffic volume, pets, spilled food, and cleaning supplies. There is a big difference in the tile you would choose if you live alone versus the tile you would choose if you have a busy family. When shopping for floor tile, make sure that you look for products that are specifically labeled floor tile. If you accidentally choose a wall tile to use on your floor, the coefficient of friction (COF) will be too low, which will make it far too slippery for walking.

6. Make a Statement With Backsplash Tile

When it comes to selecting the tile for your backsplash, your choices are almost limitless. The great part about your backsplash is that you don’t have to worry about high-traffic areas, which means you can opt for glossy and painted tiles if those match your style. While they’ll still likely need to stand up to hot oil splatters, grease, and daily cleaning, you’ll be glad to know that you have a wide variety of tile types, colors, and designs that can work as your backsplash.

Your Tile Store in Northern Virginia

Whether you’ve just started thinking about your kitchen renovation project or you’re ready to find the right tile, be sure to contact the experts at A&E Tile and Marble in Northern Virginia. Our family-owned and operated business has helped clients choose the right tile for their home projects for more than 30 years, and we look forward to helping you. Reach out to us today to get started.