The mother is the heart of the home, they say, and the kitchen is the hub of the household.
For many, a kitchen is not just a place where we cook our meals. Often it is also used for dining and engaging in quality conversation. After school, the kids would come home and have a glass of milk or a snack, then settle down at the breakfast table to do their homework. This way, they can be close to Mum if they need help with their homework. Mum and the kids can catch up with what happened during the day and at the same time, Mum is prepping supper.
It all boils down to the kind of environment you create. Your kitchen can be homey and informal, jazzed up and trendy, arty or classy. How we choose to style them often depends on what sort of budget and personality we have. Whatever style we choose it is important that everything in the kitchen complements each other.
Where To Start?
Selecting the cabinet and bench top colours should be done with the wall colour in mind so that the resulting look is pleasing. Neutral wall colours are great as they give more freedom in the choice of contrasting shades. But sometimes, the tiles are always overlooked.
When planning for your kitchen renovation, don’t forget to consider the type of tiles you will use. Whether used for bench tops, walls or the floor, the choices can make or break the end result. Tiles used between bench and wall cupboards, or as a splashback can certainly enhance the look of a kitchen.
There are many different sizes, shapes, textures and colours to choose from. Ceramic floor tiles are popular for their good looks and the larger tiles cover big areas quicker when laying them. They are also easy to keep clean. Vinyl tiles are are also easy to clean and has a softer underfoot for those with leg problems. Both are durable and long lasting.
Porcelain tiles are still popular and can be polished for a high shine and water resistant surface. There are also many styles available that look like timber and stone, but without the high prices of genuine natural materials.
Natural stone is hardy, long-lasting and looks fantastic if money is not an issue. It is available in a wide variety of finishes including a polished look, a non-reflective finish and varying textured effects.
While ceramic and porcelain tiles are still popular for splash backs, glass tiles are a stand-out feature in a modern kitchen, and wonderful deep colours are available. The luminous qualities of glass tiles also bring more light to the room, and because they are non-porous, they are easy to clean and stain-resistant.
Wall tile colours can be chosen to blend in or to contrast. Many have feature tiles that are laid at intervals with the main tiles. Some have shaped tiles as features and fit in the same way. As in floor tiles, larger tiles cover wall area much quicker than small ones do, and therefore need less grout. Small tiles do look nice but remember that it takes more time when laying them. Make sure the colour chosen ties in nicely with the surrounding hues.
When selecting kitchen tiles, if you take into consideration the budget, area to be covered, surrounding colours and the look you want to create, you can’t go wrong.
Keeping Your Tiles Spic And Span
Taking care of your kitchen will mean it lasts as long as it should and it remains spic and span for many years of enjoyment and use. Cleaning your kitchen well is vitally important if you want it to remain germ free and rid of unpleasant smells.
One of the areas often overlooked in kitchen cleaning can be the tiles. Tiles are found in many places in the kitchen, splash backs, benchtops and more. Granted, tiling may be wiped over with a cloth on a daily basis, sometimes less, sometimes more – depending on the person.
However, tiles in the kitchen can collect a lot of dirt and grease, particularly in the grout, leaving them a hotbed for germs and stains. Our professional kitchen consultants at Craftbuilt Kitchens can offer you cleaning and maintenance tips for your kitchen tiles. Here are a few of them, to get started:
First, Some Basic Advice
No matter what kind of tile you are working with it’s important to remember the following:
- Don’t use powders or creams that are gritty or abrasive. Using this kind of cleaner will create small scratches, thus making future cleaning harder and it will also damage the surface of your tiles.
- If you clean your tiles regularly you will avoid build up and a bigger job in the long run if you let it go too long.
Tile Cleaning Tips
Use these awesome tips to keep your tiles looking as good as new:
- Stubborn spots and stains can be removed with water and a little bicarbonate soda. Be careful not to scrub too intensely and scratch your tiles as mentioned. This mix is great to use on grouting with an old toothbrush.
- Ensure that tiles are laid properly and well. This is a risk you can run into if you install tiles yourself. Also a risk easily avoided if you have them professionally installed through our team at Craftbuilt Kitchens.
- If you have tiling on your bench tops anywhere, use mats under appliances, et cetera, so they don’t scratch or stain tiles where they are placed. Be careful when moving objects around that you don’t drop anything heavy onto tiles.
- If you are looking for a good natural cleaner, vinegar mixed with warm water works wonders on dirty tiles and is great for removing grime.
Does Your Choice Suit The Purpose?
Kitchen floors are busy areas, so the floor tiles must be robust. Getting the right type of tile at this point will mean you won’t need to replace them for many years, provided they can withstand stains and chipping. They also need to look good for the duration, so a tough but attractive finish is required.
It is a similar story with the tiles for the kitchen walls and splash backs. They are often the first thing that meets the eye, so they need to look good, but still withstand the heat, steam and splashes from preparing and cooking food.
If you are still in a quandary, don’t stress over your tile selections any longer. Our specialist design team are here and ready to help you.
