How to match porcelain stoneware tiles with your kitchen décor
By: Alex | Date Posted: June 18, 2023
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Creating a stylish and elegant kitchen design can sometimes seem like a challenge, especially when it comes to coordinating the variety of materials that make up the space. One of the most essential elements, in this area, is kitchen tiles.
Porcelain stoneware, known as “grès porcellanato” in Italian, is a popular choice due to its durability, ease of maintenance, and versatility in design. In this article, we’ll provide detailed guidance on how to match porcelain stoneware tiles with your existing kitchen décor, to create a harmonious and uniform look.
Understanding porcelain stoneware tiles
Porcelain stoneware is a ceramic with a compact, hard, coloured, and non-porous body. It is known for its robustness, aesthetic versatility, and practicality. It is created from a mixture of natural raw materials, including clay. These materials are ground, blended, and then fired at high temperatures to produce a tile that is highly resistant to abrasion, water, and scratches. This resistance makes porcelain stoneware an excellent choice for high-traffic areas like kitchens.
In terms of aesthetics, porcelain kitchen tiles are available in an impressive variety of colours, sizes, finishes, and textures. They can interpret the look of various natural materials such as stone, marble, wood, and concrete, providing the beauty of these resources with the added benefit of porcelain stoneware’s durability and low maintenance. An example? A wood-look porcelain tile can give your kitchen the warm aesthetics of hardwood without the need for frequent sealing and the worry about water damage or scratches.
Moreover, technological advancements have enabled the production of porcelain stoneware tiles with large formats and minimal thickness. These slim, oversized tiles can create a seamless, contemporary look in your kitchen, making the space appear larger and even more open.
When it comes to finishes, porcelain stoneware tiles offer a wide range, from matte and natural to polished and glossy. The choice of finish not only affects the tile’s appearance but also its practical attributes. For instance, a polished finish may be more slippery when wet, whereas a matte or textured finish can provide more grip, an essential consideration for kitchen floors.
Porcelain stoneware tiles are also eco-friendly, as they are made from natural materials and can be fully recycled at the end of their life cycle. In addition, their long lifespan and low maintenance requirements contribute to their sustainability.
Assessing your kitchen décor
Before deciding on the type and paint of your porcelain stoneware tiles, it’s crucial to thoroughly assess your existing kitchen décor. First, it is important to consider the colour of your kitchen cabinets, the style of your kitchen appliances, the design of your kitchen lighting, and the overall colour scheme. Understanding these elements will guide you in selecting the tile dye, texture, and finish that will best complement your kitchen.
Coordinating colours
When it comes to colour coordination, there are a few approaches you can take. If your kitchen décor is made up of neutral tones, you can choose either a similar shade for your tiles to maintain a consistent, minimalist look or a contrasting colour to create a striking, eye-catching design.
On the other hand, for kitchens with bold colours, you can opt for tiles in a more subdued hue to balance out the overall look. Alternatively, you can select tiles in a complementary shade to your kitchen cabinets or countertops.
Balancing textures
Porcelain stoneware tiles come in a variety of textures, including smooth, rough, and even wood-like finishes. If your kitchen décor features smooth, glossy surfaces, consider rough-textured tiles to provide a contrast and add a tactile element to your kitchen design. On the contrary, if your kitchen has many rough or matte elements, smooth or polished tiles can add a touch of elegance and refinement.
Matching styles
When selecting porcelain stoneware tiles, you also need to consider the overall style of your kitchen. For instance, if you have a traditional or rustic kitchen, you can choose tiles with a natural stone or wood-like finish. Instead, for a modern or contemporary kitchen, tiles with a glossy finish or geometric patterns might be more fitting.
Focusing on functionality
While aesthetics are important, the functionality should not be overlooked. For instance, heavily textured tiles can be harder to clean, while light-coloured products might show stains more easily. Think about how you use your kitchen and select tiles that won’t just look good but will also withstand your kitchen activities.
Another useful hint? Before making your final decision, it can be helpful to obtain tile samples. In this way, you can easily place them in your kitchen and see how they look in the space and under different lighting conditions. This step will ensure you choose the tiles that best match your existing décor, adding aesthetic value to your home.
Ceramiche Refin, eco-friendly porcelain stoneware, 100% made in Italy
Ceramiche Refin, a renowned company founded in 1962, crafts porcelain stoneware collections that embody the perfect fusion of aesthetic refinement, technological advancement, and remarkable versatility. These Italian-made porcelain tiles reflect a commitment to eco-friendly practices and sustainability. Drawing inspiration from various natural materials, including wood, stone, and marble, these collections can give a brand-new look to any environment, whether it be outdoor or indoor spaces.
At Refin, the concept of “made in Italy” encompasses more than just style. It embodies a production model that combines work ethics, manufacturing tradition, and Italian culture. Moreover, a core value that underpins Ceramiche Refin is the commitment to environmental preservation, recognizing it as a legacy to be safeguarded for future generations.
Today, the company proposes a broad range of porcelain tiles solutions for residential and project-planning destinations. Drawing inspiration from the captivating history and allure of Venice, Refin introduces an unprecedented collection named Canal Grande. It reproduces the same depth and three-dimensionality of motorboats and Venetian taxis, traditionally made of mahogany. Canal Grande is offered in two finishes, balancing tradition, and modernity: Glossy and Soft.
As concerns Feel, it reinterprets the aesthetic value of a simple material like concrete, conveying a look that is uniform and compact, almost solemn, then revealing a dynamic nature generated by seamlessly shifting earthy surfaces. It boasts an exceptionally contemporary character, minimalist on the one hand but distinguished by a complex materiality achieved through extensive research applied to the surface.
Finally, the Italian company also provides kitchen tiles. Refine tiles come in a multitude of sizes, finishes, textures, and colours. With numerous aesthetic options, they offer a personalized interpretation of the kitchen, allowing for customization of this space within the home to enhance its versatility and sociability.
Thank you for reading!
