Traditionally most homeowners have chosen to use carpeting or wood flooring in the living room. However, in the last few years, there has been a growing number of people discovering the beauty of using living room tiles. Living room tiles are gaining popularity because they add durability and a look that traditional options can’t match. If you are interested in having luxurious marble, or pristine porcelain along your living room floors you have come to the right place. We have answers to commonly asked questions about interior tiles for living rooms, so you don't have to search all over the web to find great recommendations.
If you want to get a more modern-looking living room then read on the see which types of living room floor tiles are best, and which types may not be worth the investment. As you explore, take note of which colors, sizes, and shapes are most appealing. Use them as a guide to remodeling your home and create a living room that showcases your personal style.
Many types of tiles make great flooring tiles for living rooms. The most popular type of tiles for living rooms is porcelain because it has high durability. Porcelain tiles are always a great choice and it is also a great investment that will allow you to enjoy a beautiful living room for years. Porcelain floor tiles are also nice because they come in largely slip-resistant which is needed for a high-traffic area. If you have a deck patio, or outdoor pool that adjoins your living room the water resistance and weatherproof qualities of a porcelain floor are amazing. These tiles may even be able to be extended out into those areas to complete the look and provide safe and beautiful flooring.
Other options for living room floor tiles are ceramic, and vinyl which are also hardwearing, but less so than porcelain. If you have the budget for a natural stone ( marble, granite, slate, etc.) then you can choose to have floors in these materials. Marble, slate, and granite tiles are visually stunning options to elevate the look of your living room, however, they can be very high maintenance on top of being expensive.
Yes, tiles are often a good idea for living room flooring, especially in homes where there are children and pets. Tiles in materials like porcelain are more durable than hardwood and carpeting which can be hard to keep up with. Children and pets tend to lead to scratches, staining, and lots of wear which means wood and carpet will be destroyed fairly quickly. Tiles on the other hand can be scratch-resistant, stain-resistant, and slip-resistant making them safe a low maintenance.
Another notable bonus of using porcelain tile for living room floors is that porcelain has many finishes and can mimic other types of materials. Yes, you read that correctly – porcelain can be printed with high-quality ink to resemble wood, marble, granite, etc. Porcelain has many color possibilities so you can go as dark, light, or abstract as you wish.
There is really no tile color that is “best”. A better way to frame this question is to say that there are optimal colors for desired results. For example, if you have a living room that has an abundance of natural light you will want to maximize that feature. You can go with light tiles (e.g. white, cream, beige), or you can go with dark tiles (e.g. black, blue, green). The lighter tiles are going to amplify the room's natural brightness, while the dark tile is going to help tone down the space and make the room look more warm and cozy.
Conversely, if your living room has a low amount of natural light it would be better to stick to tiles in a brighter shade to keep your living room from looking small and dull. The ultimate choice for living room floor tiles comes down to your personal style and desired result. However, these are a good rule of thumb to prevent making a costly mistake when redesigning your space.
The amount you spend retiling your living room will depend on several different factors. You have to take the condition of your existing floors into account. Flooring that is in bad shape will need to be removed completely and possibly the foundation underneath as well before retiling can be done. A floor that is in pretty good condition will need less prep to redo.
Tiles will range in price depending on the material. Ceramic, vinyl, and porcelain will be less expensive than natural stones, with most ranging anywhere from $1 to $20+ per square foot.
Aside from this, you have to factor in whether or not you will need professional help or if your project can be a DIY. Professional installation can be quite expensive so you will need to have a budget that accounts for service work. Professional installation adds an extra $5 to 10 dollars per square foot. If you go the DIY route then be prepared to do your research to avoid making expensive mistakes. If you mess up you will need to call in professionals anyway, so do your homework before you try to put tiles down on your own.
When all is said and done you want your living room to look professionally done so make the decision that will be best for your lifestyle.
Larger tiles are usually better for living rooms. You can go for a mosaic living room floor tile, but most homeowners go for 16x16 size tiles and size greater. These tiles are also called large-format tiles which often include 24x24 tiles giving most living rooms the look of appearing larger and more spacious. Other options for large-format tiles exist and can be chosen based on the layout of your living room.
