If there’s any element of home decor that has stood the test of time, it’s tiles – from the Victorian era, when the rich had an affinity for white ceramic tiles, to the modern day, when every home incorporates tiles in some shape or form, be it mosaics or outdoor slabs. Tiles have remained a home owners favourite because, in addition to their obvious aesthetic appeal, they’re durable, and very easy to clean and maintain.
As with any other decor or fashion item, tiles follow trends, which change periodically. In recent years, for example, most people went with neutral shades, especially in bathrooms, because they could fit in easily with any other design or colour scheme in the home. But now colour is making a big comeback and the clever use of brighter hues is popular in bathroom decor.
Mosaics are also in popularity as people seek to embellish their bathrooms and provide the wow factor. They’re available in all sorts of geometric shapes, colours and materials, and thus provide an infinite number of creative possibilities. They let you create your own series of designs and patterns, not only on the floor, but on the walls as well.
“Don’t design your whole bathroom with the mosaics you have chose. Choose an area where you would like to install mosaics – perhaps a feature wall in your shower – and carry the theme through to a small section above your vanity, to finish off the room,” says Kitty Douglas Jones from Douglas Jones.
There have also been innovations in the tile industry. Some Italian tiles, for example, have exquisite glazes that are applied by hand, while there are Spanish tiles that have a glass-like coating, enabling you to use a vivid print on floors.
“The future is in printed tiles,” says Tile Africa’s Liza Watermeyer. Inkjet tiles by local manufacturer Johnson Tiles are offering home owners exciting options. “These tiles merge with the beauty of wood, stone and concrete with the durability and practicality of tiles,” says Liza, adding that these inkjet tiles have such realistic finishes that they can be mistaken for real marble, slate, or even travertine.
There is also a major trend towards cement-like design – that is, raw cement, screed or polished concrete aesthetics, which in South Africa tend to be warmer hues of grey with a matt finish, rather than some of the extreme-gloss finishes seen in Europe.
The tile industry has evolved, making it possible for bathrooms to look as classy and elegant as any other room in the home. That’s why the only essential considerations, when selecting bathroom tiles, are water absorption and slip-resistance levels. The rest is a matter of taste.
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