When Bigger Is Better: The Dramatic Look of Large-Format Tiles
With fewer grout lines, this versatile material brings a smooth appearance to walls and floors
Barbra Bright
November 25, 2016
Houzz Contributor. San Francisco-based designer.
http://www.barbrabrightdesign.com/
Houzz Contributor. San Francisco-based designer.
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Typically, when selecting tile options for a new project, I borrow a sample from the showroom and present it to my clients for them to consider. But lately, we’ve been taking more field trips to the showrooms together because my clients have been selecting tiles as large as 2 by 4 feet — and that size won’t fit in my tiny car. Maybe it’s time to consider a SUV.
Large-format tiles — originally limited to commercial venues like hotels and restaurants — have crossed over and are now being used in residential settings. Thanks to their large size and minimal grout lines, they create a smooth look and a feeling of spaciousness, bringing unexpected drama to your home. Side perk: less grout to clean!
Large-format tiles — originally limited to commercial venues like hotels and restaurants — have crossed over and are now being used in residential settings. Thanks to their large size and minimal grout lines, they create a smooth look and a feeling of spaciousness, bringing unexpected drama to your home. Side perk: less grout to clean!
What Are Large-Format Tiles, Exactly?
Large-format tiles offer a clean, sleek, modern aesthetic, but they can also work well with traditional decor. They are available in a variety of materials, including natural stone, glass and porcelain. Thanks to advances in digital printing, porcelain tiles can be made to look like natural stone, concrete, metal, wood and even fabric.
Large-format tiles offer a clean, sleek, modern aesthetic, but they can also work well with traditional decor. They are available in a variety of materials, including natural stone, glass and porcelain. Thanks to advances in digital printing, porcelain tiles can be made to look like natural stone, concrete, metal, wood and even fabric.
Large-format tiles can be installed on both walls and floors. When used on a wall, they can be a durable alternative to paint or wallpaper. There’s no repainting or worrying about staining the wallpaper in your future. Since it’s tile, you can just wipe it clean.
Tiles are considered large format when one edge is greater than 15 inches. In the past, 12-by-24-inch rectangular tiles were the most popular large-format size. Today, 18 by 36 inches is common, though, thanks to new technology, tiles are being manufactured as large as 5 by 10 feet.
Things to Consider
The benefit of using large-format tile is reduced visual interruption — a particular consideration for homeowners choosing patterned tiles. Larger tiles also mean fewer grout lines. Fewer grout lines require less grout cleaning, which in my book means more fun. Hooray!
One consideration when purchasing large-format tiles is that installation could be more costly than for traditional tiles. This is because of sheer size, which means that special care must be taken during transporting to ensure minimal breakage. Labor costs may be higher since some tiles could require two people not only to lift, but also install them.
Things to Consider
The benefit of using large-format tile is reduced visual interruption — a particular consideration for homeowners choosing patterned tiles. Larger tiles also mean fewer grout lines. Fewer grout lines require less grout cleaning, which in my book means more fun. Hooray!
One consideration when purchasing large-format tiles is that installation could be more costly than for traditional tiles. This is because of sheer size, which means that special care must be taken during transporting to ensure minimal breakage. Labor costs may be higher since some tiles could require two people not only to lift, but also install them.
Another consideration is that walls and floors must be perfectly flat to accommodate large-format tiles. A maximum one-eighth-inch discrepancy over 10 linear feet is acceptable. If there is a greater discrepancy, lippage — meaning that one edge of a tile is higher than the adjacent tile, creating an uneven surface — may occur.
So before you commit to this dramatic tile size, have your contractor assess the viability of installing them based on your floor conditions. Some floors may to be too irregular and out of level for a large-format tile to be considered.
So before you commit to this dramatic tile size, have your contractor assess the viability of installing them based on your floor conditions. Some floors may to be too irregular and out of level for a large-format tile to be considered.
Where Large-Format Tiles Work Best
Large-format tiles look great in open spaces. The larger tiles give the eyes relief from distracting grout lines. Imagine this same room with 12-by-12-inch square tiles — the amount of grout lines would quadruple, and the eye would find it visually busy.
Large-format tiles look great in open spaces. The larger tiles give the eyes relief from distracting grout lines. Imagine this same room with 12-by-12-inch square tiles — the amount of grout lines would quadruple, and the eye would find it visually busy.
Matching the grout color to the tile visually expands a room and makes it feel more spacious by giving it a cohesive appearance since there is less contrast.
Conversely, a contrasting grout color can make a large room feel disjointed and choppy. That said, if you would still like a hint of contrast, select a grout color that is just slightly darker or lighter than the tile, as in the prior photo with gray tile and grout, white sofa and walls.
Conversely, a contrasting grout color can make a large room feel disjointed and choppy. That said, if you would still like a hint of contrast, select a grout color that is just slightly darker or lighter than the tile, as in the prior photo with gray tile and grout, white sofa and walls.
Don’t be afraid to use large-format tiles in small spaces. Using the same tile on the floor and the wall creates a unified look and visually elongates the room. Another optical illusion to enlarge a small room is to paint the walls a similar color to the tile, which creates the feeling of one continuous space.
Keep in mind that busy patterns can make a small room feel smaller, and that lighter-colored tiles reflect more light and can make a room appear larger.
Keep in mind that busy patterns can make a small room feel smaller, and that lighter-colored tiles reflect more light and can make a room appear larger.
Small areas can appear larger with the right size tile, but be careful to get the proportions right. If the tile is too large, it can overwhelm a room.
Consider a tile too large when there are too many undersized cuts (less than a half tile) needed to make it fit the room. If this is the case, it’s time to downsize your tile size.
Consider a tile too large when there are too many undersized cuts (less than a half tile) needed to make it fit the room. If this is the case, it’s time to downsize your tile size.
Large-format tiles can easily be cut into custom shapes and sizes, creating a one-of-a-kind tile installation when an ordinary rectangle or square won’t do. This photo provides a great example of a large-format tile cut into a custom triangular shape. The tile slopes toward the drain in this wet bathroom.
Again, a benefit of this material is that it comes in so many finishes and looks. Here, bronzed porcelain tile adds a dramatic accent to the fireplace. Each tile is 24 by 48 inches.
In this great room, the large-format tile creates a spacious, seamless and cohesive backdrop that pulls the different areas together as one, lending a contemporary feel to the room. Think about how different the room would look with much smaller, alternating black-and-white tiles — these would chop up the space and make it look smaller.
The average cost runs between $7 and $30 per square foot, which is comparable to regular-sized tiles. Maybe they’ll be the right way to bring drama and unexpected glamour to your next home project.
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I agree that large format tiles have more installation requirements, but it is worth the ultimate look. Look at all the possibilities. Cement look, marble look, wood look and fabric look.
http://importtilecenter.com/product-category/porcelain/concrete-look/one/
Does large-format subway tile make a shower look like a prison cell? I am planning to use 12x24 porcelain tiles for our shower surround to match the 18x18 floor tiles (outside the shower). I needed to visualize the layout so I drew a 3D sketch of the shower with the tiles in a running bond, "subway" pattern and now I'm concerned that the tiles will look reminiscent of cinder block. The color and texture will be different of course and I doubt that prison showers have frameless glass doors, a bench and niches for shampoo bottles; but this was my impression when I drew it out and then came back later and looked at it.
I like traditional 3x6 subway tile but decided long ago to go large-format for ease of cleaning. However now that grout is generally sealed (if not self-sealing) I'm wondering if the cleaning factor will be moot. I like rectangles over squares on walls, and I prefer going horizontal over vertical so I don't want to change the overall layout, just possibly the size of the tile. Has anyone noticed a "prison" vibe in their shower due to tile selection/pattern?
Not at all! We used large scale tile in all of our bathrooms and they feel spacious. Much easier to clean than small tiles. Here are photos of our son’s shower with 18” floor tile and 12x24 surround. Also frameless class. His surround is verticals but we did our daughter’s and the master bath surrounds horizontally. I’ll look for some photos. Our master bath tile and tile used throughout our mudroom, laundry room, powder room and mud bath is 18x36 and I absolutely love the large scale.