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Porcelain is more than just a bathroom tile. From colourful backsplashes to modern fireplace hearths, it might actually be easier to discuss what porcelain tile isn’t great for. If you love the durability of porcelain tile or just love the look, you can find many different ways to incorporate this material in your home. It’s incredibly versatile and can be used for so much more than just regular flooring for your bathroom or kitchen.

To learn more about how you can get creative with porcelain tile, continue reading!

1. Outdoor Kitchens

Outdoor kitchens and workstations require certain qualities and specifications for them to function properly. This is especially true for countertops and flooring as rain, grime, and mold can impact the integrity of certain materials. This is why porcelain tile is great for outdoor kitchens., especially if you live in a climate with fluctuating weather conditions. This is because porcelain is non-porous, meaning it doesn’t absorb moisture. When it rains and then gets cold, you won’t have to worry about the tile expanding and cracking. You also don’t have to be vigilant about moss buildup, grime or mold since there’s no way for these nuisances to grab hold of the material. Porcelain tile is also a great option for outdoor kitchen countertops because it’s heat resistant and incredibly easy to clean and maintain.

2. Beautiful Entryways

Embellishing your entryways with gorgeous minimalist porcelain tile is a great design hack that makes your home look sleek and stylish. Since hallways and entryways are sometimes seen as being empty and bare, you can take advantage of the empty space and use it to let your creativity shine through. You can keep the designs subtle and match the colour of your walls while playing around with texture to add complexity. Or, you can find colourful porcelain tiles and mosaic patterns to bring  Mediterranean designs to life. Speak to a tile expert about which tile adhesive is best for vertical or ceiling applications, as some might be better than others.

3. Fireplace Hearths

When was the last time you considered customizing a fireplace hearth? If you have one, why stick to the design that came with your home? Durable and easy to clean, installing a porcelain tile fireplace hearth is a great decision. Again, porcelain tile is resistant to heat and staining, which is great for the fireplace as it will limit accidental burns and any smoke or soot won’t stick. Porcelain comes in many different colours besides white. You can find glossy, black porcelain or porcelain that mimics marble—the possibilities are pretty endless so you shouldn’t have any trouble finding something that matches your aesthetic.

4. Recreate the Look of Wood

Wood flooring adds a lot of texture and warmth, but unfortunately, it doesn’t work in rooms with a lot of moisture. If you like the look of hardwood but can’t have it installed in your home due to certain conditions, then consider porcelain tile. You can find porcelain tiles with wood grain patterns, and they look exactly like the real thing. Consider the pattern you’d like to mimic and whether or not you’d like dark or light colours. You can work with your tile supplier to locate the best brand for you, as they’ll be up to date on who’s offering what. This is a great option for places like kitchens or basements where dampness can be an issue.

5. Heated Floors

Both ceramic and porcelain tile are great if you want to install heated floors into your home, but porcelain is better if you’re worried about water absorption. Whether you want to choose electric or water underfloor heating, porcelain can conduct heat incredibly well while deflecting water from spills or shower droplets. The natural cold from porcelain tile gets removed from the tile, heating it up to about 29°C with time. Heated floors are a luxury that can elevate your home and also increase its value. If you’ve already installed your tile and you’re upset that you didn’t think to make them heated, fear not! You can absolutely have heated floors installed on pre-existing tile.

6. Create Statement Art Pieces

When it comes to tile, not everything has to be about functionality—sometimes it’s just as important to think about being creative and expressive! Having a statement wall with colourful tiles in any area of your home will enhance the overall look and feel. If you live in a small condo or loft and you’re looking for creative ways to divide up the space, tile is an effective way to do this. But if you just want to create a statement wall and make a room in your home more unique, porcelain tile can be used to create colourful patterns and designs. about how you can use tile in a creative way, other than just colourful collages or designs. Can you recreate a portrait? Or what about a famous art piece? Let your imagination run wild and allow your creativity to shine.

7. Recreate the Look of Metro Tiles

Metro tiles have made a resurgence in the past couple of years. They’re thin, rectangular tiles that have beveled edges and a polished surface, and they’re usually stacked in an alternating pattern like bricks. While this is how they commonly appear, you can stack them so that they’re perfectly linear, or you can try and come up with your own designs, like a basket-weaving pattern. Porcelain metro tiles are a great addition to any bathroom, kitchen backsplash or accent wall. You might even be able to find some tiles that have writing on them, offering an even more retro take on this classic.

8. DIY Frames

Whether you have leftover tile that you’re not sure what to do with, or you want to spruce up an old mirror, porcelain tile can help. With the help of tile adhesive, tweezers, and a little bit of patience, you can transform old mirrors and frames into gorgeous art pieces that will elevate different rooms in your home. To help you out even more, you can invest in a few tile cutters. There are tools that offer different ways to reduce the size of leftover tile pieces. You can snip off corners to make the corners round, or you can cut them completely in half so that your designs come out pristine.

9. Bring Back Wainscoting

Wainscoting traditionally refers to wooden boards used to line the bottom half of a wall. The panels could have intricate designs or just consist of minimalist lines that please the eye. While this is usually achieved with wood panels, who says you can’t mimic the design with porcelain tile Wainscotting metro tiles, for example, look lovely in a bathroom. With the top portion of the wall painted a light blue or gray, you can add porcelain white tiles to the bottom of the wall. Not only does it look beautiful, it’s practical and protects your walls from water damage.

10. Kitchen Backsplashes

Lastly, porcelain tile makes for wonderful kitchen backsplashes. Bacteria doesn’t penetrate the material because it’s not porous, it doesn’t retain water, it’s simple to clean with a mixture of vinegar and water, and it comes in a variety of colours or patterns. If you’re not sure which colour or design you should go with, talk with a designer or tile specialist. They’ll be able to guide you on what will look the best in your kitchen and offer different options if you’d like a second opinion.

Get Creative

Porcelain tile isn’t just for bathroom decor—it’s a beautiful and durable tile that can be used both inside the home and outside, on the floor and on the walls! Let your creativity run free with this wonderful material. The possibilities are endless! If you’re in the market for new tiles and want to start getting inspired, reach out to a local tile supplier today. They can not only recommend different colours, patterns and designs, they can offer certain brands that fall within your budget.