TOP TIPS FROM INTERIOR DESIGNER LESLEY TAYLOR BIID, FOUNDER OF BAKED TILES
There is no denying it, using the same tile internally and externally creates a seamless visual flow that immediately elevates a space. When done properly, it’s not just a stylistic decision, it’s a really practical one.
As an interior designer, I often specify continuous flooring where the inside meets the outside. It’s one of the most effective ways to visually extend a room, making spaces feel larger, calmer, and more connected to their surroundings.
WHY IT WORKS
Consistency in materials removes visual breaks. When your eye isn’t interrupted by bulky thresholds, changes in tone, or competing finishes, the entire space will feel much larger.
This is particularly powerful in:
•Kitchen-diner extensions opening on to terraces
•Garden rooms or orangeries
•Contemporary renovations where glazing plays a dominant role
The result is a quiet confidence, nothing is shouting for attention, yet everything feels considered.
Large-format porcelain tiles tend to work especially well here, enhancing that uninterrupted feel and reducing grout lines both inside and out.
Products Featured: Country House Flagstone Paver, Parterre Square Black & White
THE PRACTICAL REALITY
This approach isn’t as simple as choosing one tile and running with it everywhere. The specification is critical for a successful life-long installation.
For external use, you must be looking at a 20mm thick porcelain tile if it’s being installed on a standard external build-up (such as on pedestals, gravel, or sand). This thickness provides the structural strength required.
The exception is when you are tiling onto a solid concrete slab. In that case, a thinner, frost proof tile can be used with great effect.
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SLIP RESISTANCE VS EASY TO LIVE WITH
External tiles need to be slip-resistant and frost proof. That’s non-negotiable. British weather alone makes that decision for you.
However, the challenge comes when you’re trying to match that external finish internally.
Highly textured, anti-slip tiles might perform beautifully outdoors, rainwater washing over them will help to keep them clean, but inside they can become impractical as they:
•Hold onto dirt
•Are harder to clean
•Feel harsh underfoot
The key is balance.
Some of our ranges come with the same tile in two finishes:
•A higher slip rating for outside
•A softer, more refined finish for inside
Visually, the tiles look identical, whilst being fully fit for their respective conditions.
If you insist on using the same tile in both areas, be very careful about the slip rating, you want something that meets safety requirements externally but doesn’t make everyday living inside unnecessarily difficult.
Products Featured: Marrakesh Terracotta Brick Light, Parterre Square Black & White
THE DETAIL THAT MAKES IT WORK
The threshold between inside and out is also another important element, as it’s what makes the seamless transition work so well.
To achieve a seamless transition between indoors and out, ensure that:
•Your floor levels are carefully coordinated to be as close as possible
•Door thresholds are minimal or flush to enhance the flowing effect
It’s also very important to consider drainage, and how rainwater will run off the exterior area to prevent any leaks internally.
This isn’t something to resolve at the end of a project and really needs to be designed in from the outset.
Using the same tile inside and out is one of those decisions that looks effortless, but it needs to be properly thought through. Get it right, and you create a space that feels expansive, calm, and quietly luxurious.
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