Monday, January 17, 2011

Kitchen And Dining Tile Ideas

White is a classic kitchen tile color.








Tiles are a versatile decorating material, available in a wide range of colors, sizes and styles. Tiling in the kitchen and dining areas can serve as accent pieces, creating a pattern around the border of the rooms or covering entire walls. Base your use of tiles in these rooms on your specific decorating tastes and preferences.








Tile Materials


Don't be afraid to use non-traditional materials when it comes to selecting your tiles. While ceramic tiles tend to be the most widely used in both kitchen and dining rooms, you can also get tiles made of glass, metal or stone. Colored glass tiles can add a modern, artistic look to your kitchen and dining areas. Tiles made from stainless steel or aluminum also create a sleek, modern vibe while ones made of brass or copper lend an old-world feel to the space.


Combined Kitchen/Dining Spaces


Use similar tile patterns in both the kitchen and dining area to tie the spaces together. In some homes, these two spaces are connected, with one merging into the other in an open room. In this case, using the same types of tiles serves the space well. Tiles are traditionally used on floors and backsplashes. Use the same type of floor tiles in a combined space for continuity. To incorporate the kitchen backsplash tiling into the dining area, use a tile border around the room instead of traditional chair rail molding.


Separate Spaces


When choosing your kitchen and dining room tiles, you may want to use two completely different color schemes and material types to create separate spaces. For example, in the kitchen, white is a traditional color that gives a vibe of purity and cleanliness, both desirable in a food preparation area. If you opt for white tiles in the kitchen, spice up the dining area by using colorful tile choices. Pick ones that complement your dining table set, such as deep plum or blue for light-colored woods, and brighter hues of glaze, like apple green or bright yellow, for dark woods.


Colorful Tiles


Instead of plain, monochrome tiles, choose ones with vibrant patterns or colors to give your kitchen and dining areas a cheerful feel. Use tiles that come in different shapes for an eye-catching scene or stick to tiles with patterns or pictures painted directly on the surface. Elaborately painted tiles can also add regional appeal, such as the blue delft tile style originating in the Netherlands.

Tags: kitchen dining, dining area, dining areas, kitchen dining areas, your kitchen