choosing the best tiles for your living room floor

how to choose the best tiles for the floor in your living room

as you begin to explore tile options for your project, it’s important to remember: there’s no one “best” tile for the living room floor. choosing the right tile will involve weighing a number of key factors, including durability, aesthetics, maintenance, size, color, and finish. let’s go through each of them, shall we?

durability

the living room floor sees a lot of traffic, so durability should be a top priority. not all tiles are created equal when it comes to durability, of course, but many tile materials can offer the type of wear resistance you’re looking for.

porcelain tile, for example, is famously durable, as it’s made from fine clay and fired at high temperatures for exceptional resistance to wear and tear. on the earthier side of things, unglazed terracotta and brick are both hardwearing and can add a sense of warmth to your home. natural stone, terracotta, and cement are also good choices. which one you go with largely depends on the look you’re going for.

and that brings us to…

design and aesthetics

with so many styles, textures, and colors of tile out there, there’s bound to be an option that suits your taste and aesthetic. if you imagine your living room as a warm space where people will gather around the fireplace, you might appreciate the rustic look that unglazed terracotta or brick adds.

want your living room to conjure up a luxurious air? you might be drawn to natural stone, be it marble, travertine, or limestone. our forage terrazzo collection, meanwhile, pairs beautifully with mid-century modern inspired rooms. and if pattern is your m.o., look no further than cement in its many, many designs.

maintenance and care

some tiles require more maintenance than others. glazed ceramic and porcelain tiles (including gauged porcelain tiles) are low maintenance due to their nonporous finish, which gives them impressive stain and water resistance. cement, natural stone, and unglazed terracotta tiles, on the other hand, need periodic resealing in order to help maintain their appearance and prevent staining.

that said, if you are a person who loves patina (and you’re in good company) then you may choose to embrace the lived-in look your tile acquires with time. be realistic about the changes you’re willing to embrace, as well as how much maintenance you’re willing to put into your living space floor. the answers to both questions can help guide your tile choices.

also worth noting: glazed tiles tend to be easier to clean on an everyday basis, while unglazed tiles may need a little more tlc. in all cases, we recommend using a gentle, ph neutral cleaner with a soft scrubber when managing spills and grime.

size and shape

the size and shape of your floor tile have a major influence on the tile’s overall impact. take large tiles, such as those measuring 12 by 24 inches. they tend to make a space appear more open. smaller tiles like mosaics, on the other hand, add visual detail.

square and rectangular tiles are the most common, but don’t overlook the other great options at your disposal. hexagonal tiles add a geometric look, while the classic octagon and bouchon combo nods to tile floors found all over europe. if you’re considering terracotta or cement tile, you may love the romance that stars and crosses bring to a room.

beyond size and shape, there’s layout to think about as well. rectangular tiles can take on so many different personalities, depending on whether you have them laid in a running bond, stacked, herringbone, or basketweave pattern.

color

let’s talk color. if warm earth tones are your thing, unglazed brick and terracotta are natural choice. fancy something bright and bold? we’d point you to cement, which comes in a whole rainbow of colors and patterns (quite literally).

natural stone gives you a neutral-leaning color palette—one that can range from the striking white of thassos marble, to the dark charcoal grey of slate, to the beigey beauty of limestone, to the purple-streaked opulence of calacatta viola marble.

finish (read: slip resistance)

with all of the above in mind, there’s one more factor you mustn’t forget, and that’s the finish. a tile’s finish has a major impact on how much traction it offers for a living room floor.

unglazed and matte tiles tend to offer the most slip resistance, while glossy glazed tiles offer the least. honed stone tile, with its smooth and lightly polished finish, lies somewhere in the middle, though it generally leans closer to the “less traction” end of the spectrum.

if you have your heart set on a very smooth or glazed tile, consider opting for a smaller tile size. smaller tiles naturally have more grouting around them, which adds more traction.

exploring the best living room floor tile options

now that you’re familiar with the key considerations, let’s look at popular types of tile for floors and how they stack up. (hint: they all can work beautifully in the living room.)

ceramic

ceramic is a wildly popular option — it comes in a variety of styles, shapes, and colors to match any decor scheme. even more, it’s exceptionally durable and easy to clean. but there some caveats to consider here.

many types of ceramic tile are not ideal for use on an interior floor, especially in high-traffic areas like the living room. if you want the easy maintenance of ceramic tile for your living room floor, consider porcelain penny rounds. porcelain tiles are made from refined clay and fired at a higher temperature for a denser, more durable result.

one more benefit to opting for porcelain penny rounds is more grouting, which offers increased slip resistance.

terracotta

ah, terracotta — a timeless material that remains a perennial favorite. we love it in its unglazed form for the earthy texture and mediterranean mood it brings to a space. (also see again: slip resistance.) terracotta’s many shades, from burnished orange to rosy pink, are almost neutral as well.

if you have glazed tile on the brain, you’ll likely appreciate authentic zellige tile, which is shaped from natural clay, hand-dipped in glaze, and then fired in ancient bee-hive kilns to create one-of-a-kind glazing and texture. there really is nothing like it, and it adds a transformative quality to any room.

as with all artisanal tile, but most especially zellige tile, be sure to partner with an experienced installer here. zellige tile is hand chiseled, and therefore it can have a few sharp edges. the right installer should be able to get the floor tiles flush with minimal lippage.

marble

for a luxurious look in the living room, marble is a beautiful option. each tile has unique veining, coloring, and texture for a look that’s truly custom. marble tile also happens to be extremely durable and long lasting. as a general rule, it needs regular resealing in order to protect it from stains. but you may also choose to embrace the natural patina it earns with time.

you’re not limited to a white color palette here, either. (though our thassos, dolomite, and carrara tile collections all bring their own flavor of white to a floor.) calacatta gold and viola prove that marble tile can lend color of its own, with deep veins of gray, ribbons of gold, and streaks of purple in the mix.

travertine

lesser known than marble but equally as elegant, travertine has linear veining that echos wood grain and comes in warm and creamy earth tones. it was especially popular in the 1970’s, so it’s a natural choice if your aesthetic is inspired by that era. we love travertine paired with other types of natural stone, as in our strata linea collection — or on its own, as with our lapidary rough-cut mosaics.

travertine provides more slip resistance than most stone surfaces, thanks to its natural holes created from carbon dioxide bubbles. that makes it a great option to consider for your living room floor tiles. with a little sealing support, it lasts a long time with some regular maintenance.

cement

cement tiles, also known as encaustic tiles, may be solid in color or have an intricate pattern that is pressed into the face of the tile. meaning: you have options here. cement tiles have a rustic, artisanal quality about them and work in a variety of living rooms, from the classic to the modern to the eclectic.

as with natural stone, cement tile does require sealing in order to prevent staining and scratches. (though it acquires a lovely patina with time as well.) it can also be more difficult to clean than ceramic tile — something to keep in mind when gauging what everyday maintenance might look like.

terrazzo

we’ve yet to touch on one of the very best tiles for your living room floor — in our humble opinion — and that’s terrazzo. made of cement and bits of stone or glass, it combines the adaptability of solid color with the visual interest of a pattern or texture. it’s an excellent choice for natural stone lovers who want the versatility that comes with cement.

we love terrazzo for the living room because it’s especially durably in areas that see heavy foot traffic. its patterned nature even disguises normal wear and tear remarkably well. as you may have guessed, it typically needs regular sealing as well, though it develops a beautiful patina as it ages.