Selecting suitable wall tiles is among the most important aesthetic decisions you will make for your home. Walls offer a canvas for you to communicate using space and artistically display the style that you embody. The combination of textures, colours, prints, and styles forms a mesmerising tapestry. Wall tiles are regularly used in the kitchen and bathroom. That trend has changed, as wall tiles are gradually making their way into living rooms and other spaces in homes.
Let’s take a look at how you can use wall tiles in your living room to make a statement.
Types of Wall Tiles
Wall tiles are a combination of aesthetics and function. Some of the commonly used wall tile types are:
- Ceramic tiles or ceramic mosaic tiles : Ceramic refers to the material the tiles are made of. Due to their excellent properties like hard texture, beautiful color, elegant design, corrosion resistance, fire resistance, and wear resistance, they are the most popular option for most living spaces.
- Porcelain Tiles: A finer version of ceramic tiles, porcelain tiles have higher density. They are the most versatile when it comes to design. However, they are not all about looks; they are also stain and scratch-resistant, making them the easiest to maintain.
- Wooden Tiles: They are sophisticated but not very frequently used. Wooden wall tiles are slightly more affordable than wooden flooring and offer a modern, upstate look for less cost.
- Cement Tiles: Also known as concrete tiles, cement tiles are made from a mixture of cement, colour pigments, and sand. They are durable and available in a wide range of colours and patterns.
- Vitrified Tiles: Vitrified tiles are made from the vitrification of clay and silica. This allows them to have low porosity, which in turn makes them water-resistant. They do not require additional glazing like ceramic tiles. They are available in various finishes, such as rough, textured, smooth, and polished.
- Metal Tiles: Metal tiles are durable and lightweight and provide a rich appearance to your interiors. They can be made of stainless steel, aluminium, copper, or bronze and used for decorative wall finishes.
Benefits of Using Wall Tiles in Living Rooms
- Cleaning and maintenance: As opposed to painted walls, wall tiles are easier to clean and maintain. That drop of coffee stain can be easily wiped out without rubbing out a portion of the painted wall.
- Durability: Tiles offer an extra layer of protection for the walls, making them long-lasting. They are also more scratch-resistant than paint.
- Value for money: I know you are thinking, “Tiles are costlier than paint.” Allow me to change your mind. Paintwork needs to be redone at least every five to six years; however, with tiles, you don’t have that risk. This makes using wall tiles a one-time investment that packs a punch.
- Can withstand high stress: In areas of high stress, a painted wall may chip or weather easily. Most tiles, with the exception of glass and porcelain tiles, can accommodate heavy stress.
- Aesthetics: Tiles come in several shapes and sizes and are a great tool to express your creativity.
Design Ideas for Living Room Wall Tiles
We love wall tiles. Here are our top 5 tile designs:
- French wall tiles: The French use light pastel colours that bestow a modern and sophisticated look to your interiors. You could use complementary pastel colours on adjacent walls or white on all the walls except the one on which you plan to mount the television.
- Persian Wall Tiles: Persians are known for their artistic nature, and their houses reflect this. The grandeur is woven into the tiles with motifs and intricate art. You could use them as a border along white tiles to bring a Middle Eastern look.
- Nature-inspired designs: The blue of flowing water, the green of forests, the white of Himalayan snow, and the lovely pink of flowers bring home serene natural landscapes. You could highlight them with a zen idol, and the entire space would look divine.
- Geometric patterns: Geometric patterns create a three-dimensional effect and are a good way to add a splash of colour to your spaces.
- Rustic Metallic Tiles: When used in enclosed spaces, rustic metallic tiles add depth. This works for home theater setups and warmer climates.
How to Install Wall Tiles in the Living Room
Unlike painting a wall, which you can sometimes do by yourself, The process begins with checking quality tiles that suit your space, ensuring durability and aesthetics. wall tile installation generally involves employing labour.Read on for a step-by-step process of installation:
- Measure the wall: Before installing wall tiles, the first thing you have to do is measure the wall. This will let you prepare for the installation, rationalise the process, and estimate the amount of material needed.
- Levelling the wall: Prepare the wall using a leveller to even out the surface before applying any adhesive.
- Mark Center Lines : The first tile usually needs to be fit into the center of the wall. Therefore, it is important to mark the center of the wall.
- Applying Adhesive : Using a good quality adhesive to seal the tiles is paramount. Once the adhesive is applied, the wall is ready to receive the first tile.
- Start placing tiles: Once the first tile is set on the adhesive, tiles are inserted into their positions.
- Check Alignment: After arranging a few rows of tiles you are required to check whether or not there is some over-lap of different tiles into each other.
- Grouting: A mixture of water, colour and cement is the product known as grout that is used to fill in between gaps of tile. Grouting is done to fill gaps and cover up tile joints to create a seamless surface.
- Excess grout removal: There is a possibility that the grout leaks onto the tiles once it has been used in filling the gaps. This excess can be removed with a scrubbing pad.
- Curing: Curing is a long and complicated procedure. During the curing period, the cement sets through a chemical process. It takes between 24 to 72 hours.
Cost of Wall Tiles for Living Room
Prices of tiles start at a low of 30 INR per square foot for basic/regular tiles, going up to even 10000 INR per square foot for premium tiles.
Maintenance Tips for Wall Tiles in Living Room
Wall tiles are relatively easy to maintain. That being said, they do not take care of themselves. Keep in mind that you follow the instructions given below to maintain the tiles :
- Clean regularly : The tiles need to be inspected and cleaned regularly to ensure there is no staining. Particularly the gaps between tiles that have grout, must be cleaned with water or cleaner fluid.
- Avoid harsh chemicals : You must keep harsh chemicals such as acids away from tiles as they cause eroding of the surface.
- Follow the upkeep methods for the given tile type : Each tile type has its own upkeep method. Say ceramic titles, for example, is water resistant, but wooden tiles are not.
Conclusion
Wall tiles are an excellent investment to enhance the functionality and aesthetic finish of any space. They are wear, scratch, and stain resistant. With their versatility and wide options, they are generally a better option than painted walls.