Can Tile Size Enhance the Space Visually?

Tile Sizes

• The most common tile size used is a 4 1/4-inch square wall tile. Tiles, however, such as mosaic tiles, can be as small as 1-by. Other common tile sizes are 4-, 6-, 12- and 18-inch.

Effect of Small Tiles

• Using small tiles in a large space can overwhelm the space by making it look too busy. Small tiles, therefore, work best in a smaller space, such as in a small bathroom. The best way to use small tiles is to use them as an accent rather than throughout an entire space. Some ways to use small tiles are as a border for a kitchen backsplash or to create a mosaic on a bathroom wall instead of covering an entire wall and floor with small tiles.

Effect of Large Tiles

• Large tiles can make a room appear more spacious because they have less grout lines so they work best in a small space. For this reason, large tiles, unlike small tiles, work well when used to cover both the walls and floor of a bathroom. Large tiles work better in a large space because small tiles will look busy.

Other Considerations

• Aside from the size of the tiles that you use, the color of the tiles that you use can also enhances a space. Lighter colors make space appear brighter, larger and more spacious. Darker tiles can add warmth and enclose space. Therefore, if you want to make the space appear larger, use light-color tiles and if you want to make a large space appear smaller, use darker tiles.