7 Timeless Tile Ideas for the Living Room Floor
Let your drawing room come alive with hard-working tiles high on design and durability
As one of the most well-frequented zones in the home, the living room floor is prone to wear and tear, spills and stains. However, just because it witnesses more than its fair share of fatigue, it doesn’t mean you can’t give it an aesthetic overhaul that delivers on style and substance. Considering factors like ease of installation, durability, economy, appeal and ease of maintenance, it’s important to be mindful of the material before you zero in on a tile. From traditional Athangudi to patterned porcelain, you’ll find a world of designs within these seven categories of hard-wearing tiles for your living room.
2. Ceramic tiles
Ceramic tiles are architectural gems that can be used across a spectrum of environments. Made with a combination of natural clay, minerals, chemical agents, pigments and water, they are baked at high temperatures. Although they are resistant to water and stains, ceramic tiles tend to chip and crack easily. They are not recommended if your living room witnesses high traffic and heavy activity.
Pros:
Cons:
Tip: Since ceramic’s impact cannot be softened with padded underlayments, use layered rugs and carpets to build cosiness into your living space.
Ceramic tiles are architectural gems that can be used across a spectrum of environments. Made with a combination of natural clay, minerals, chemical agents, pigments and water, they are baked at high temperatures. Although they are resistant to water and stains, ceramic tiles tend to chip and crack easily. They are not recommended if your living room witnesses high traffic and heavy activity.
Pros:
- Well-priced and easily available
- Available in a range of custom cuts, shapes, finishes, patterns and designs, enabling bespoke layouts
- Easy to mop off liquids, stains and dirt from surface
Cons:
- Glazed tiles can be extremely slippery (opt for matte-finish tiles instead)
- Presents a cold and hard surface; not the most conducive to stand on
Tip: Since ceramic’s impact cannot be softened with padded underlayments, use layered rugs and carpets to build cosiness into your living space.
3. Porcelain tiles
Porcelain’s hallmark of being stronger, purer, more impervious and more durable than ceramic tiles has earned it a special cachet in the flooring realm. Made with clay and mineral components and heated to very high temperatures, porcelain owes its strength to its elaborate manufacturing process and is a suitable option for busy living rooms.
Pros:
Porcelain’s hallmark of being stronger, purer, more impervious and more durable than ceramic tiles has earned it a special cachet in the flooring realm. Made with clay and mineral components and heated to very high temperatures, porcelain owes its strength to its elaborate manufacturing process and is a suitable option for busy living rooms.
Pros:
- Tough, dense and durable, porcelain can withstand most heavy-duty stresses
- More impervious than other, more porous, types of ceramic
- Naturally stain-resistant, incombustible and very low-maintenance
- Pricier than alternative ceramic options
- Grout can succumb to humidity and moisture, giving rise to discolouration
4. Vitrified tiles
Vitrified tiles, made from clay, silica, quartz and feldspar, and produced through a unique process called vitrification, are noted for their incredibly low porosity. Superior to ceramic and porcelain tiles in terms of strength and endurance, they can be tailored to mirror the look of stones like marble and granite. Owing to their remarkable ability to withstand pressure and movement, vitrified tiles are perfect for busy, bustling living rooms and spaces that host heavy furniture.
Pros:
Vitrified tiles, made from clay, silica, quartz and feldspar, and produced through a unique process called vitrification, are noted for their incredibly low porosity. Superior to ceramic and porcelain tiles in terms of strength and endurance, they can be tailored to mirror the look of stones like marble and granite. Owing to their remarkable ability to withstand pressure and movement, vitrified tiles are perfect for busy, bustling living rooms and spaces that host heavy furniture.
Pros:
- Extremely durable, stain- and scratch-resistant
- Easy to clean and low-maintenance
- Ideal for living rooms that burgeon with activity
- Pricier than porcelain and ceramic options
- Edges around the joints may wear over time
5. Terrazzo tiles
Terrazzo tiles can be an alluring (and durable) addition to the living room. Tracing its roots to the fifteenth century, the design traditionally entails a cement foundation embedded with gleaming marble flecks and smoothed down to a perfectly polished finish.
Pros:
Terrazzo tiles can be an alluring (and durable) addition to the living room. Tracing its roots to the fifteenth century, the design traditionally entails a cement foundation embedded with gleaming marble flecks and smoothed down to a perfectly polished finish.
Pros:
- Luxurious, jewel-embedded look, unlike anything offered by alternative materials
- Highly durable and ideal for high traffic
- Easy to repolish after years of wear and tear
- Presents a cold and hard surface; not the most conducive to stand on
6. Natural stone tiles
Stone can bring rugged, natural charm to a rustic space and help in cooling temperatures during peak summers. Choose from a wide range of textures, colours, finishes and grains to harmonise with your existing decor and palette. With stone, you’ll be spoilt for choice with options like yellow Jaisalmer, red sandstone, white marble and black Cuddapah, all vying for a spot on your floor.
Pros:
Stone can bring rugged, natural charm to a rustic space and help in cooling temperatures during peak summers. Choose from a wide range of textures, colours, finishes and grains to harmonise with your existing decor and palette. With stone, you’ll be spoilt for choice with options like yellow Jaisalmer, red sandstone, white marble and black Cuddapah, all vying for a spot on your floor.
Pros:
- Warm, organic aesthetic inspired by natural materials
- Eco-friendly
- Slate and granite are extremely strong and resistant
- Very porous and prone to staining
- Travertine and Italian marble are susceptible to chipping, breaking and cracking
- Requires regular maintenance and periodic polishing
7. Terracotta tiles
Crafted from natural clay, terracotta translates to ‘cooked earth’. Terracotta brims over with earthy, invigorating warmth, making it a cosy choice for your living room floor, especially if you aspire to an old-world courtyard setting. Spanning a spectrum of colours and cuts, the tile can fit into various aesthetics. For terracotta tiles to endure, however, they must be sealed periodically.
Pros:
Read more:
10 Unique Options for Your Floors
6 Floors That Keep You Rooted in India
Tell us:
Which tile material would be the best match for your living room floor? Tell us in Comments below.
Crafted from natural clay, terracotta translates to ‘cooked earth’. Terracotta brims over with earthy, invigorating warmth, making it a cosy choice for your living room floor, especially if you aspire to an old-world courtyard setting. Spanning a spectrum of colours and cuts, the tile can fit into various aesthetics. For terracotta tiles to endure, however, they must be sealed periodically.
Pros:
- Highly durable, non-slippery, tough and long-lasting
- Inimitable look; available in various shapes and sizes
- Resistant to fungus, mould and bacteria if sealed properly
- Kinder to your feet than most other tiles
- Highly porous and prone to staining, cracking and deterioration if not sealed
- Requires periodic sealing
Read more:
10 Unique Options for Your Floors
6 Floors That Keep You Rooted in India
Tell us:
Which tile material would be the best match for your living room floor? Tell us in Comments below.
Infuse timeless tradition into your living room with Tamil Nadu’s famed Athangudi tiles. These tiles are handmade from a mixture of sand and cement and are crowned by a polished hand-poured surface. Available in a variety of colours, styles and designs – from vibrant hues and mellow blues to floral depictions and simple drawings – Athangudi is a classic marriage of elegance and endurance.
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Tip: Given the unique, handmade properties of Athangudi, it’s worth keeping some spare tiles in reserve in case you need to replace any damaged portions of the floor in the future.