Tile – It Isn’t Just for Floors

There are plenty of reasons to love tile flooring – it’s durable, eco-friendly, easy to clean, and exceptionally versatile just to name a few. While most people are aware of the many benefits of using tile as a floor covering, there are other ways to incorporate this versatile material into your home in order to beautify your living space. Below are some fun and creative uses for tile that can add a dose of flair to the various surfaces and elements around your home.

1. Backsplash

As any ardent fan of HGTV will readily tell you, tile backsplashes in the kitchen have become all the rage in the home improvement sector these days, and for good reason: Tile can add a visual “pop” to an otherwise nondescript surface in the kitchen, and boost the value of one of the most important rooms in the home when it’s time to sell. Not only does tile provide great aesthetic appeal, but having a tile backsplash will make cleaning off those spots and splatters from cooking that much easier.

2. Tabletop

With a little bit of creativity and some simple tools at your disposal, you can create a tile tabletop that will provide eye-grabbing appeal along with practical functionality. As you can imagine, this job will be much easier when you’re working with a square or rectangular table, because it can simplify the tile-cutting process that much more. If you have your heart set on creating a tile masterpiece with a round table, try using smaller pieces or a funky mosaic pattern to ease some of the measuring and cutting complications.

3. Fireplace Surround

Adding tile to your fireplace surround can provide a touch of character and elegance that can really boost its visual appeal. And it’s inexpensive, too – if you’ve ever checked into prices for masonry work around your fireplace surround, you will quickly see why tile is a highly affordable option by comparison. Just be sure to use tile that has been certified by the Porcelain Tile Certification Agency (PTCA), as this will ensure that you’re working with a tile that is dense and resilient enough to withstand the heat emanating from the fireplace.

4. Mirror Frame

You can turn a somewhat humdrum mirror into a statement piece by surrounding it with a creative tile design. As far as how to go about doing this, there are quite a few methods you can employ: Applying the tile pieces directly to the surface of the mirror, applying the tiles to the wall around the mirror, or creating a tile frame on the wall first and then hanging the mirror inside of the frame. You can choose practically any color or design you want in order to mesh well with the surrounding decor, so you’re really only limited by your imagination.

With all of the possibilities that tile affords, there are countless ways you can use this classic material to add a splash of color and texture to the surfaces around your home. McSwain Carpets and Floors offers an extensive selection of ceramic tile, along with a vast array of hardwood, engineered wood, laminate, stone, linoleum, and vinyl flooring options that can add significant value to your home. So whether you need hardwood flooring in Cincinnati or carpet installation in Dayton, you can trust McSwain Carpets and Floors to deliver the top-quality materials and installation services you need to get the job done right.