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TILE DESIGN TIPS
When planning your tile layout , think color and pattern and coordinate the whole room , floors , furniture , walls , accessories . Consider your whole design scheme at the same time . The more powerful your tiling décor is , the more restrained your other elements should be .
This is a good time to consider how thick or thin , how dominant or restrained you want your joints and grout lines to be . Unless you want joints to be a dominant part of your pattern , they should be as tight as possible , with no grout lines , or use lightcolored grout .
Assess the size and scale of your tile , its individual design and the overall pattern — as well as your layout — within the context of your room .
A busy border around a busy field of tile can be confusing and distracting . However , a strong frame around a plain field makes a more tasteful , significant and chic statement .
Thick or multiple borders will help reduce the spacious feeling of a large room .
Skip borders around the room if you intend the installation pattern to run through a doorway .
The key to selecting grout color is to determine if you want to match the grout to the tile so it blends and makes the area you ’ re working in look larger . Light grout colors will help , too .
Grout is the material that fills in the spaces between tiles . A good grout job is seamless ; you don ’ t even think about it . A bad grout job is an eyesore and jeopardizes the entire installation . Grout comes in many colorways ; your choice is determined by the design and use . If you are looking for a consistent color field , there are grout colors that will blend with your tile . Choosing a darker color grout in areas that will be exposed to heavy foot traffic or soiling potential makes for headache- ( and scrub brush- ) free maintenance .
For thousands of years , tile grout was a mixture of water , cement , sand and , more recently , a color tint . The evolution of grout has kept pace with the technology advances in tile installation products . ■
Background : Kerala from Florida Tile .
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