Floor tiles for the kitchen - a practical and aesthetic solution

The obvious leader among finishing materials for facing the kitchen floor is ceramic tile. And there are several reasons for this - ceramics have sufficient wear-resistant qualities, are environmentally friendly and durable, not to mention the high aesthetic characteristics of the material, a rich selection of colors and textures.

Among the advantages of floor tiles are the following:

• durability - with proper use, ceramic tiles or porcelain stoneware can last at least 15 years;
• wear resistance. Kitchen space - a room with high traffic, under the influence of moisture, temperature extremes and various types of mechanical influences. For cladding floors in such a space, a material with high wear resistance characteristics is required;
• high strength properties - if the tile is installed correctly, the surface can withstand high loads, not collapse when heavy objects fall;
• fire resistance - a tile coating can resist high temperatures;
• environmental friendliness - the material is safe for humans and the environment, non-toxic, does not cause allergic reactions;
• resistance to chemicals - the floor of the kitchen will often be cleaned using cleaners containing harmful, chemically active substances, it is important that the material does not lose its aesthetic properties after exposure;
• resistance to direct sunlight - color, ornament do not fade for a long time;
• a wide selection of colors and textures, the ability to simulate stone and wooden surfaces;
• affordable cost of the material itself.

But, like any other facing material, porcelain tile or tile has drawbacks;

• the complexity of self-assembly without mastering certain skills and, as a result, an increase in the cost of paying for the services of specialists;
• the need for concrete screed floors - if there are voids between the floor surface and the tile, the material will be susceptible to fragility when heavy objects fall and the tile may collapse;
• some types of tiles may be slippery for flooring;
• cost more than laminate and linoleum.

Ceramic tiles have another controversial property, which can be attributed to both advantages and disadvantages - this is thermal conductivity. The possibility of installing a “warm floor” plays into the hands of such a coating, but at high temperatures the tile itself is very hot. About what advantages outweigh the minor disadvantages of the finishing material, it is up to the owners of the apartment or homeownership to decide.

From the point of view of the manufacturing process, tiles are divided into two types:

1. Pressed. The plastic mixture, which is based on clay and a mixture with various additives, is pressed, then calcined at high temperature and divided into tiles. The result is an excellent version of the finishing material for the kitchen - practical, resistant to moisture and high temperatures.
2. Extruded. The ready-made plastic mixture is extruded in a special apparatus and is also fired and cut into products.

By the type of surface of the product can also be divided into 2 types:

• glazed - smooth surface structure with a glassy coating (gloss), has high strength and moisture resistance properties;
• unglazed - does not slip, due to the high coefficient of friction, but inferior in water-repellent characteristics.

For kitchen flooring, it is better to give preference to glazed tiles. Its technical characteristics are higher, and the surface can be selected with a roughness to avoid slipping.

According to the wear resistance properties, the whole tile is divided into five classes from PEI-I to PEI-5. For kitchen space it is better to choose the class PEI-III or PEI-IV.

It is also necessary to pay attention to the properties of resistance to the effects of chemicals contained in cleaning products. Look for AA marking on the packaging (it will be a tile with maximum resistance to chemistry).

Also on the packaging with products for facing kitchen floors there is information about the coefficient of friction (should be more than 0.75) and resistance to moisture (more than 3%).

One of the most traditional and popular tile layouts is the arrangement of rows parallel to the walls of the kitchen. In this case, there are two options for facing - when the next to the first row goes butt to butt and when the beginning of the second strip falls in the middle of the first and the result is a pattern, like on a brick wall.

By arranging the tile diagonally, you can achieve a visual expansion of the space, the floor surface seems larger, especially if you add a light tone to the layout. But it is important to remember that for a diagonal arrangement you will need a little more finishing material than for the traditional version.

A tile of contrasting colors (white and black, as well as their shades) is often laid out in a checkerboard pattern. The resulting flooring cannot but attract attention and will bring notes of dynamism, contrast and even brightness to the kitchen interior.

One of the layout options for tiles in a checkerboard pattern can occur in a diagonal arrangement. In addition to the obvious contrast, diagonality allows you to visually expand the surface of the floors.

The red tile in combination with light, staggered, will look great with a kitchen set whose facades or countertops are made of wood of a similar, bright shade.

The size of the tile that you choose for flooring depends on the scale of the room. In a spacious kitchen, small items will not look appropriate, but large tiles integrate seamlessly into the overall environment.

Tiles of small sizes and even mosaics will organically fit into the space of a modest-sized kitchen. But in such rooms it is better not to get carried away with the colorful pattern of the mosaic canvas, it is better to give preference to geometrically motifs or a repeating pattern located at some distance.

The original appearance of the floors in the kitchen can be achieved using tiles of the same color and texture, but of different sizes. In order to calculate the required amount of material in this case, it is better to contact specialists in order not to overpay for extra products, but also not to get into a situation where the desired model of the missing tile from "your" party is no longer available.

One of the original ways of laying out floor tiles is with a “herringbone”, when the resulting surface resembles parquet. To create a more effective external image of the floors, it is better to use contrast grout - light for dark tiles and vice versa.

The figured tile is laid according to the drawing and creates an original floor covering. You can use products of the same color or choose different shades. Typically, such a floor cladding requires a slightly larger amount of material and it will take a little more time to clean, but the interesting appearance and notes of uniqueness in the interior compensate for this.

Dark flooring in the kitchen space with a light furniture set is a classic of the genre. This combination helps to visually increase the height of the room.Dark tiles will look luxurious with light grout, but it is important to understand that with such combinatorics you will have to put more effort into cleaning tile joints.

Bright floor tiles visually expand the space and are great for small kitchens. It seems to many homeowners that the lighter the material, the more difficult it is to care for, especially within the kitchen space. In fact, it turns out that cleaning in a kitchen with a light floor is less likely than in a room with dark floors, on light surfaces, among other things, you can’t see traces of water droplets and imprints of bare feet, which cannot be said about black tiles.

White tiles on the floor will look more expressive if you apply a dark grout. Such flooring is easier to care for.

Combined with light finishes, the white flooring creates a clean and even airy look for the kitchen. For many owners of apartments and private houses, it is important to have an image of a kitchen space close to sterility.

All shades of gray and beige are almost universal for flooring. Such products are suitable for flooring spaces of any stylistic direction and will perfectly combine with any of the design options for kitchen furniture and the rest of the room.

Tile with an ornament on the kitchen floor is always an interesting and non-trivial design. Depending on the color combinations, the print on the floor can bring cheerfulness and optimism to the interior of the kitchen, an oriental riddle or bright positive emotions. But it is important with such a bright floor covering to preserve the uniformity of the rest of the room decoration, so as not to lose focus and not turn the kitchen space into a bright, colorful booth.

Black and white ornament as a floor pattern has always been popular and does not lose its relevance in modern interiors. Such a floor will look harmoniously with a snow-white furniture ensemble, as well as for a dark version of the headset. If the kitchen space allows the use of dark facades of kitchen cabinets, then in combination with colorful, contrasting tiles on the floor, such an ensemble will look luxurious.

Even the most neutral kitchen decoration can diversify and “cheer up” patchwork-style tiles. Sometimes, for such a coloring, only shades of two contrasting colors are used, but even in this case, the flooring is very colorful, original and focal.

Using tiles with a pattern or ornament as a layout in the form of a “carpet with a border” allows you to create an interesting design move that will become the unconditional center of attraction for all eyes. Such a floor pattern will most organically look in a medium and large kitchen. If the color of the edging of the flooring coincides with the coloring of the countertops of the kitchen unit, then a balanced and harmonious image of the kitchen is provided to you.

The hexagonal tile, the shape of which resembles a honeycomb, is a popular decoration element in modern kitchen design projects. Most often you can find "honeycombs" that imitate stone tiles of various colors and textures. Such a flooring will not slip and will add an element of originality to the kitchen design. In addition, this material goes well with stone countertops.

A similarly shaped tile, but in the performance of a clinker material with a characteristic reddish-red tint, will organically look in the kitchen space, where a brick wall finish with unpainted surfaces is used.

A classic quadrangular tile imitating natural stone will look great in a country-style kitchen or traditional style. Artificial stone can be organically integrated both into a spacious room and in a medium-sized kitchen.

The tile imitating granite, marble or other types of natural stones is highly versatile.You can use this kind of flooring, both in the classic kitchen and in the high-tech style room. The shade of the tile, the so-called color temperature, is more important.

An interesting image of the kitchen can be achieved by using tiles of the same shade as on the kitchen apron, only larger. Some manufacturers offer ready-made solutions for such combinatorics - ceramics are used for walls, and porcelain tiles for floors are of the same texture and color.