The kitchen is one of the busiest areas in the your home and one area that can have several different kinds of tiles. Choosing and shopping for tiles at Mainland Tile can be overwhelming and challenging. However, you need to remember that aside from aesthetics and design, tiles have different applications. For example, glossy tiles should not be used on the floor as they are not made for walking.

Decide Where it Will Be Installed
According to Freshome, there are many areas in the kitchen where you can use tiles – as a backsplash, countertop and even the kitchen floor.

Know Certain Differences Between Tile Types
Tiles for the kitchen can range from quarry, stone, cork, vinyl, bamboo, ceramic, porcelain and glass. Vinyl, cork and bamboo tiles are most commonly used in flooring. Quarry, ceramic, and porcelain are often chosen to be used for counters and floors. Glass tile is commonly reserved for walls and backsplashes.

Decide on Your Budget
Tiles can be inexpensive and expensive at the same time. You need to decide on how much you are willing to spend and be aware of the prices before envisioning what you have in your head. For example, linoleum tiles are inexpensive but custom-designed ceramic tiles aren’t. You can mix and match them so you can fall within your budget. Stores help you estimate these kinds of budget concerns.

Design Tip: You can mix an inexpensive ceramic backsplash tile with either stone or glass. You can use stone or glass mosaics, cut them into strips and add them to your backsplash design.

Consider your family’s lifestyle
For example, if you have small children, you need to choose a floor tile that is durable and non-slippery, able to withstand heavy traffic, spills, pets (if you have one) and constant cleaning. You should also consider how much of an upkeep to maintain it (whether it needs to be waxed or mopped every now and then). If you choose a wall tile for a floor the coefficient of friction (COF) will be too low, which in turn means it’s too slippery for walking. Instead choose floor tile that has a slight raised pattern, or texture to it to allow for a safer kitchen floor.

For kitchen countertops, consider maintenance and durability. You might be wise to get tiles that don’t easily crack. For example, ceramic tiles are durable and can hold up hear from cooking pans, easy to clean as well. A downside is that its surface is uneven making it crack or chip easily than others.