Sorry runningplace, I didn't realize you started a thread along these lines! My mistake...

I've had an all white tiled floor in a home in early 90's, I know what you mean.

But even if tiles or counters camouflage crumbs and dirt, it ultimately has to be cleaned anyway. It's just more annoying to look at the stains until you can get to them.

I have made lots of decorating mistakes in my time...the worst one EVER was actually a "function over look mistake." A few years back, I tore all of the wallpaper down in the house, and had no trouble at all till I hit the MB bathroom...the paper did not come down like the others, in sheets, and I ended up damaging the walls big time! So then I had the bright idea to use textured paint on it so the damage wouldn't show as badly....BIG mistake. It was like painting with wet concrete...and it looks awful...well, to me it does- everyone else says it looks like the textured Spanish look. So I will need to fix that someday. Thank Goodness it is a back bathroom that no one but me uses!

Oh, the ridiculous mistakes I've made over the years.

Can you wax it to keep it from showing every stupid little thing? Or use a floor polish?

I'd rather be able to see what needs to be cleaned up. I have a dark grout in one area and I hate it because you can't even see if it's dirty! lol

Even a medium toned floor, say, will show crumbs and stuff so easily. It doesn't have to be real dark or real light.

I already posted my comment about my bathroom floor on arapaho's other thread. If I had known......No way would I have chosen the matte tile. The white color is not the problem. The matte is the problem and that tile can't be sealed (the grout is, but the tiles can't be). Every time it gets walked on - bare feet, shoes, dog paws - it looks grodie. And water spots!
I like the way it looks, but it makes me mad (especially since I agonized for so long over tile choices!)

Does letting DH win count?
We have a piece of furniture called a video cabinet in our bedroom. When you are in bed you cannot view the TV because it is too low. Never should have lived with that (still am since 1994...). Gr...$1600...I need to let it go, don't I?

How about getting ottoman's on no less than 4 chairs in my home, dang they get in the way...

Keeping things that aren't working out because I think they eventually will grow on me?

Open shelves -- I need to hide everything so new house has more cabinets and less shelves!

What's the story with the matte tile??? Are you talking about a very smooth matte finish or one that has a bit of texture of some sort that holds the dirt? Even though a textured surface can hold on to dirt a bit, it is very important on a bathroom floor, for instance, for slipping reasons. A bit of traction is needed there.

I guess I don't understand why a shiny floor wouldn't show footprints and such either. They do to my recollection. Even the hardwoods, with oily pet feet.

Other floors do show footprints,etc. But the matte finished floor tiles are different somehow, it looks dirty all the time and gets grungier as time goes on.. Nothing to do with safety. I'm just saying check it out before purchasing tile for your floors.

Is this a smooth tile but with a matte finish? I'm trying to figure out what tiles do this.

My black/white tiles are perfectly smooth with a matte finish. No shine. I am thinking a glossy finish would be easier to clean even though it would still show dirt/footprints, etc. Water spots on the matte finish are even hard to get off. It's a finish I would never purchase again.