Black Friday season is officially here, and our website is filled with some of the most impressive tiles you will see all year, many of them at beautifully reduced prices. It is an exciting moment, and we know how tempting it can be to dive straight in and start adding samples to your basket. A sale has a way of speeding up decisions, especially when you spot something lovely at a price that feels too good to miss.
But here is the thing. Choosing tiles is a decision that shapes the feeling of your home for years to come. It deserves a little time, a thoughtful approach and the same care that an interior designer brings to every project. We sat down with our Founder and Interior Designer Lesley Taylor to get her top tips for choosing tiles with confidence:
Step 1. Begin With A Mood
Every great interior starts with a feeling. Before you look at a single sample, ask yourself what you want the space to feel like. Calm and airy? Rich and cosy? Rustic and Mediterranean? Clean and contemporary? It's all about getting a clear idea of the end result before you start.
One of the simplest ways to uncover your style is to gather inspiration. "Spend a little bit of time getting cuttings from magazines, or go onto Pinterest and create a couple of boards" Lesley says, "and what you'll find is over a period of time, a certain style is going to emerge".
Save the images that speak to you and revisit them after a few days. You will soon notice patterns emerging. Perhaps it is the soft chalky tones you love, or maybe the handmade texture of crafted tiles, or even a hint of boutique hotel glamour. "Get together samples of that look, and use that as a point of reference when it comes to choosing your product" Lesley informs us.
Once that central mood becomes clear, treat it as your compass. This will help filter out tiles that are beautiful but not quite right for your vision.
Step 2. Always Order Samples
Lesley is firm in her stance on this point, "It's really hard to order anything with confidence when you are looking at it on a screen, because everyone's screens are slightly different".
Sampling is an important element of the tile buying process, but it's not just about ordering samples and calling it a day; it's just as important that you view those samples in a way that is representative of how you will live with them. "Get your samples in, and when you unpack them, don't be tempted to look at them at close range. Put them into the room you are going to use them in, and step back, viewing them from the distance you will actually see them day in day out." Lesley states. It's also important that you hold them up against cabinetry, paint swatches and flooring, to see how every element of your scheme will link in together.
Lesley also has a great point about lighting - "Also look at them in natural daylight and evening light, because it will be surprising how much colours and textures will change and reflect based on the type of lighting you have"
Step 3. Think About Finishing Touches
People often believe that choosing a tile is the biggest decision. In truth, the magic often lies in the details. Grout colour, trims, layout patterns and installation choices all play a huge role in how your finished room looks and feels.
"Don't just think about this as buying a tile, Baked Tiles are here to help you make the other really important decisions" Lesley says. Before talking about some of the many finishing touches that Baked Tiles offer.
With over 50 grout colours and a wide selection of tile trims, you can create a scheme that looks beautifully finished, with every detail fully considered. To help you pick elements that work well together, our designers have curated 'Perfect Pairings', moodboards that bring together products with our suggested grout colours and trims. These can be found on product pages across our website. If you are still unsure, you can use our Perfect Pairings Design Serivce to get pairing and project advice from our designers over email.
"We have everything here that will allow you to brief your tradesperson and end up with a room that you are so proud of, and is bang on point from a design point of view!" Lesley closes.
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