Using Tiles to Make a Small Room Look Bigger – New Image Tiles (2024)

As leading tile experts in the UK, we’re often asked which tiles are best suited to give the impression of increased space! Read on to discover our design experts’ top tips on how to selected the perfect tile to make a small room look bigger.

Tile Size

Many customers shy away from selecting large format tiles whilst carrying out renovations on a small kitchen or bathroom. This is usually a result of the common misconception, that large tiles will dominate the space and can potentially make a small room feel even more compact. However, this is far from the truth! Instead, large format tiles can help give small rooms the impression of increased space by reducing the number of grout lines. When aiming to make a small room look bigger, we would recommend avoiding smaller tiles where possible as too many grout lines can make a room look cluttered and draw in the eye.

However, if you’ve set your heart on small format or mosaic style tiles, don’t worry, there are a number of ways to incorporate them into your kitchen or bathroom renovation project. For an eye-catching design that suits both traditional and timeless bathrooms, we recommend using a variety of tile sizes in different areas of the room. For instance, you could use large tiles on the floor and walls and small tiles in decorative alcoves. For further help in creating a bespoke tile pattern to make your small room look bigger, we recommend booking a FREE design appointment with our expert design team.

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Tile Colour

Choosing the right colour of tile is extremely important when attempting to make a small room look bigger. Whilst bold or rich colours are extremely modern and help to create depth, we would recommend that you use bold tiles sparingly when trying to create the impression of increased space.

We recommend opting pale or neutral tile shades, such as white, cream, beige or grey which reflect light and make a small room look lighter and brighter – and therefore, larger! Our expert designers at New Image suggest that the best way to complement a neutral tile shade, is by picking a grout in a shade that is closely matched to the colour of the tile!

The similar tones of both the tile and the grout provide an extremely sleek, monochromatic look. Similarly, using the same tiles for the wall and floors or throughout multiple rooms in a house can give the perception of space, because it’s difficult for the eye to distinguish where one room stops and another starts. New Image stock a vast range of grout in various colours that can be paired with any wall or floor tile. What’s more, if you can’t find the perfect grout or tile in the colour you’re searching for – simply get in touch as we may be able to order a specific product for you!

Tile Laying Pattern

Recent changes in contemporary interior design has brought innovative laying patterns in the mainstream. Vertical brick, chevron, herringbone and basket weave are all becoming increasingly popular, but you may be left wondering which arrangement is the most effective at making a room look bigger?

Diagonal and Diamond Arrangement

Our selection of approved tile fitters will be able to suggest the tile laying pattern that will best suit the specifics of your room! That being said, we’d often recommend laying tiles in a diagonal or diamond arrangement when trying to make a small room look bigger. Not only do diagonal or diamond tile patterns help create a statement feature wall, but they will also help break up any harsh lines. As the boundaries and harsh-lines are less defined, this subtle arrangement tricks the eye into perceiving the space to appear much bigger than it is!

Low Ceilings? Go For Vertical a Tile Arrangement!

Another common trick of the trade when trying to increase the look of space in a small room – is to lay tiles vertically, which works especially well if you have a low ceiling and are wishing to give the impression of height! Our popular Karndean floor tile range works especially well when using the vertical tile arrangement – we think these tiles are especially effective in making a narrow hallway look a lot bigger than it is.

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Using Tiles to Make a Small Room Look Bigger – New Image Tiles (2024)

FAQs

What size tile makes a small room look bigger? ›

Larger Tiles Make Small Rooms Appear Bigger

Because grout lines are thinner and fewer as part of the layout, smaller rooms appear bigger when using larger tiles. Large-format tiles make floors look more streamlined – therefore, creating the illusion of more space.

Which way do you lay tile to make a room look bigger? ›

Diagonal and Diamond Arrangement

That being said, we'd often recommend laying tiles in a diagonal or diamond arrangement when trying to make a small room look bigger. Not only do diagonal or diamond tile patterns help create a statement feature wall, but they will also help break up any harsh lines.

What floor pattern makes a room look bigger? ›

Draw Diagonals with Flooring Patterns

The key to making rooms look bigger with flooring starts with the diagonal rule. Diagonal lines work to create the illusion of more space.

What size tiles for a small room? ›

Tile Layout

Another way to make small bathrooms look bigger is to use rectangular tiles, like a size 30×60 cm. If you lay rectangle tiles horizontally or on their side going up the wall or along the floor, this will give the illusion that the walls are wider than they actually are.

What pattern makes a small room look bigger? ›

Vertical stripes, ones that go up and down, will help to stretch a room and make it feel taller than it is. Fun fact, that's one of the tricks behind Walt Disney World's Haunted Mansion pre-show. Striped wallpaper that runs horizontally, on the other hand, can make a room appear wider than it really is.

Does dark or light tile make a room look bigger? ›

How to choose tile patterns to make a room look bigger: Light Colored Tiles. As most designers and experts will suggest, one of the best ways to give the illusion of more space, is to use light tiles. Lighter tiles also afford an airy feeling while reflecting light as opposed to absorbing it.

Does glossy tile make a room look bigger? ›

Allowing natural light into a space opens up the interior, and gloss tiles can help with just that. The smooth and shiny finish of gloss tiles, such as those from our Marmi and Bookmatch collections, reflect light of their surface. As the light bounces from tile to tile, the room appears brighter and larger.

What color tile makes a shower look bigger? ›

Use Light Coloured Tiles Throughout

Utilising light shades of bathroom wall tiles and bathroom floor tiles will reflect light and will visually open up space. The opposite can be said of darker tones, which will absorb the light and make your bathroom feel considerably smaller.

How do interior designers make small rooms look bigger? ›

  • Use large artwork to create an illusion of grandeur. ...
  • Mirrors are the most effective way to trick the eye and open up a room. ...
  • When choosing paint shades for a small space, look for colors with an LRV of 50 or higher. ...
  • Floor-to-ceiling curtains make your walls look much taller.
Apr 24, 2024

What color makes a room look bigger? ›

A: The lighter your colors are, the bigger the room will feel. Stick to shades of white and cream, pastels and light neutrals in gray and taupe.

How do you visually enlarge a room? ›

8 Ways to Make a Space Feel Larger
  1. Accentuate the vertical. Draw the eye upward so a room looks more spacious. ...
  2. Consider “see-through” furniture. ...
  3. Lighten up surroundings. ...
  4. Go big with accents. ...
  5. Get away from the wall. ...
  6. Simplify the color scheme. ...
  7. Skip the curtains. ...
  8. Bring nature indoors.
Sep 9, 2020

Which tiles make a room look bigger? ›

A 16″ or 18″ tile will generally give a room a larger feeling than a 12″ tile. One of the main reasons for this is the lack of grout lines. The less grout lines, the less busy your floor is and the more expansive it appears. This expansiveness naturally will make your room appear larger.

How many floor tiles do I need for a 12x12 room? ›

For example, if the square footage of the space is 120 square feet and each tile is 12 inches by 12 inches, the calculation would be 120 square feet / (12 inches x 12 inches) = 120 square feet / 144 square inches = 0.83 tiles.

What is the best tile for a small house? ›

Use Large-Format Tile

Large-format tiles require fewer grout lines, which can make a small space feel larger.

Are big or small tiles better for a small area? ›

Do large tiles make a small room look bigger? Contrary to popular belief, using larger tiles creates greater space in a room. Large tiles have straight manufactured edges, so they can be laid closer together to create a more seamless look. Fewer lines breaking up the visual space produces an overall calmer feel.

How do I calculate what size tile I need for a room? ›

This is simply the square footage of the space divided by the area of each tile. For example, if the square footage of the space is 120 square feet and each tile is 12 inches by 12 inches, the calculation would be 120 square feet / (12 inches x 12 inches) = 120 square feet / 144 square inches = 0.83 tiles.

What tiles make a small bathroom look bigger? ›

Using larger floor tiles is a great way to trick the eye and make a room look bigger than it actually is. Larger tiles used throughout the bathroom look a lot less 'busy' than with smaller tiles, which therefore make the room appear larger; the lack of grout lines also makes the whole space appear more expansive.

Which tile size is best for room flooring? ›

Like with all tile, floor tile size varies widely. Options such as 12 by 12, 12 by 24, and 18 by 18 inches are popular for smaller kitchens and living areas. More spacious areas may benefit from 24 by 48, 36 by 36, and 48 by 48 inches.

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