Tiles have been used throughout history to add aesthetic architectural details to all kinds of structures. Traditionally, tiles are the wall and flooring material of choice in China and Mexico and anywhere with a generally warm climate, although they are also closely associated with Middle Eastern, Mediterranean and Asian building styles. So if you're looking to add some Old World or exotic flair to your property in the Land Down Under, using tiles would be an excellent way of achieving the desired effect.
Your home's outdoor areas are exceptionally suited for fitting with different styles of tiles. To help you discover how best to use tiles in specific areas of your property, check out the brief guide provided below.
Deck out your decking
If your aim is to give your timber decking a look similar to your interior parquet floors, tiles would be the best materials for the job. Tiles specially made for this area are square wood planks that can be laid straight onto the existing wooden deck (just make sure that the existing deck is still structurally sound). The DIY enthusiast's dream, deck tiles provide quick and easy-to-install solutions for providing a fresh look to decks with scratches, cracks, stains and other signs of age and damage.
Modern, Asian or tropical designs on balcony or rooftop decks can be created with deck tiles. These are typically made of various hardwoods or composites and can be laid out in a parallel or crisscross fashion to create lovely patterns.
Create impressive exterior walls
Outside of the home, tiles can be used to create all kinds of magnificent accents. It helps that tiles can come in countless colours, designs and textures, which means that the possibilities for using them to improve your outdoor areas' aesthetic appeal are endless.
Feature exterior walls can display tiles in creative mosaic patterns to serve as a focal point for the space. The same tiles can also be used for tabletops that hardly require centrepieces to become attractive anymore — they are a conversational decor piece on their own. Likewise, if you have outdoor kitchens, tiles make great materials for backsplashes and workspaces (make sure the tiles are heatproof and stronger than those used indoors). And if your backyard has a pool, the accompanying bathroom can sport tiles in cool hues and refreshing designs to mirror the water and reflect light.
Highlight the pool area with tiles
It goes without saying that tiles, particularly in the many shades of blue, are effective in creating that wonderful resort feel, whether the pool area is in a public park or in your backyard. Ceramic tiles are especially suited for this purpose as pools require properly treated tiles to withstand cold and freezing temperatures that they are exposed to. Homeowners can use tiles of different shapes to create patterns on the pool floor, or simply pick solid-coloured tiles to produce a dark-bottom pool. Additional water features, like fountains, also incorporate tiles.
Pick the right tiles for a pretty patio
Unglazed clay is the material that is best suited for use in patios. Red clay is the most commonly featured tile in these outdoor entertaining spaces, although white, black and gray clay are also quite popular, as long as they are dense and hard as a result of better firing (to ensure durability). For accents, glazed tiles are more preferred along edges. Most residents like to create rug-like patterns on the patio floor to amp up the outdoor space.