How To: Choose The Right Material For Your Project

When it comes to selecting tiles for your project, design is only part of the story. It’s absolutely essential to choose a material that will work in the space, not just aesthetically but practically, too. With this in mind, we’ve put together a handy guide to help you decide which material is most suitable for your space.

Cement and encaustic

Need to know: Cement (also known as encaustic) tiles are low maintenance and long lasting, making them a solid choice for almost anywhere in the home or outdoors. Please note that these tiles need to be sealed to make them water resistant - you can find everything you need to know about the process here.

Suitable for: Floors, walls, hearth and fireplace surrounds, splashbacks, kitchens, bathrooms, shower walls, shower floors, wet rooms, outdoors, commercial spaces.

We love: Plain cement tiles in different shades of the same colour; patterned cement tile hallways; hexagonal cement tiles on kitchen islands; cement herringbone floors.

Porcelain

Need to know: Porcelain tiles are well-known for their durability and will provide longevity, even in high-traffic areas. As they’re hard and non-porous, they’re incredibly easy to maintain and keep clean.

Suitable for: Floors, walls, hearth and fireplace surrounds, splashbacks, kitchens, bathrooms, shower walls, shower floors, wet rooms, outdoors, commercial spaces.

We love: Soho House Berlin in Porcelain in statement bathrooms; plain porcelain in Brighton Stone in a classic scheme.

Marble

Need to know: Marble is a natural quarried stone that’s incredibly tough - you can expect it to withstand plenty of wear and tear. It’s easy to maintain and works particularly well in bathrooms.

Suitable for: Floors, walls and splashbacks in bathrooms, showers, wet rooms, and kitchens. Not suitable for outdoor use.

We love: Inky black marble showers; marble wall tiles combined with cement tiled floors.

Terrazzo

Need to know: Terrazzo tiles are incredibly durable thanks to the mix of materials used to create them. They are very easy to maintain and keep clean and are a perfect choice for floors in a busy home or commercial project where you’re expecting heavy footfall.

Suitable for: Floors, walls, hearth and fireplace surrounds, splashbacks, kitchens, bathrooms, shower walls, shower floors, wet rooms, outdoors, commercial spaces. 

We love: Fennel terrazzo in calming bathrooms; Coarse terrazzo hallways. 

Terracotta

Need to know: Terracotta is made from baked earthenware clay and has a coarse, porous finish. It’s popular thanks to its hardwearing nature and warm natural colourways, which range from pale peach and earthy orange to deep red and dusky brown.

Suitable for: Floors, walls and fireplaces in kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms and hallways, and outdoor areas. Not suitable for showers.

We love: Reclaimed terracotta pathways and patios; outdoor kitchens with hexagonal terracotta floors.

If you have any questions about materials and suitability, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our Design Team, who will be happy to help.