skip to main content
SEATING SALE
0
Your shopping cart is empty.
Sign In
Join as a Pro
History of Houzz
GET IDEAS
PHOTOS
Kitchen & DiningKitchenDining RoomPantryGreat RoomBreakfast Nook
Bed & BathBathroomPowder RoomBedroomStorage & ClosetBaby & Kids
LivingLiving RoomFamily RoomSunroom
OutdoorLandscapePatioDeckPoolBackyardPorchExteriorOutdoor KitchenFront YardDrivewayPoolhouse
WalkwaysStaircaseEntryHall
Bar & WineHome BarWine Cellar
UtilityLaundryGarageMudroom
More RoomsGame RoomHome OfficeBasementCraftLibraryGym
Popular Design IdeasKitchen BacksplashFirepit
FireplaceDeck RailingPergolaPrivacy FenceSmall Closet
MAGAZINE
Stories and GuidesPopular StoriesRenovation Cost Guides
DISCUSSIONS
Get AdviceDesign DilemmasBefore & After
HOUZZ TV
HOUZZ RESEARCH
FIND PROFESSIONALS
PROFESSIONALS
DesignArchitects & Building DesignersKitchen & Bathroom DesignersInterior Designers & DecoratorsDesign-Build FirmsLighting Designers & Suppliers
RemodelingKitchen & Bathroom RemodelersGeneral ContractorsHome BuildersTile & Countertop ContractorsMasonry & Concrete ContractorsExterior & Siding ContractorsStair & Railing ContractorsFireplace Contractors
RenovationCarpentersCabinetry & Cabinet MakersFlooring ContractorsWindow ContractorsDoor ContractorsGlass & Shower Door ContractorsCarpet Contractors
OutdoorLandscape Architects & DesignersLandscape ContractorsDeck & Patio BuildersFence ContractorsDriveway & Paving ContractorsSwimming Pool BuildersHot Tub & Spa Dealers
ServicesPaintersRoofing & Gutter ContractorsOrganizers & Closet DesignersHome StagersGarage Door ServicesWindow Treatment ServicesPaint & Wall Covering Dealers
Appliances & SystemsAppliance Sales & ServicesHVAC ContractorsHome Theater & AutomationOutdoor Lighting & AV SpecialistsSolar Energy Contractors
All ProfessionalsAll ServicesFor Professionals
SHOP BY DEPARTMENT
KITCHEN & DINING
Kitchen & Dining FurnitureSinks & FaucetsKitchen AppliancesTabletopCabinets & StorageKnobs & PullsKitchen LightingTileCookware & BakewareTools & GadgetsView All
FURNITURE
Living RoomKitchen & DiningHome OfficeOutdoorBedroomStorageBathroomView All
BATH
Bathroom VanitiesShowersBathtubsBathroom LightingFaucetsBathroom SinksTileBath AccessoriesBath LinensMedicine CabinetsView All
DECOR
RugsMirrorsWall DecorDecorative AccentsArtworkPillows & ThrowsHoliday DecorView All
BEDROOM
Beds & HeadboardsBeddingDressersNightstandsBenchesBedroom DecorLampsCloset StorageFutonsChaisesView All
HOME IMPROVEMENT
HardwareTileBathroom FixturesKitchen FixturesHeating & CoolingBuilding MaterialsTools & EquipmentView All
LIVING
Coffee & Accent TablesRugsSofas & SectionalsArmchairs & Accent ChairsTV Stand & Media StorageHome DecorLampsArtworkBookcasesFireplaces & AccessoriesView All
OUTDOOR
Patio FurnitureOutdoor DecorOutdoor LightingPool & SpaLawn & GardenOutdoor StructuresOutdoor CookingView All
LIGHTING
ChandeliersPendant LightsFlush-MountsBathroom & VanityWall SconcesCeiling FansTable LampsFloor LampsKitchen & CabinetOutdoor LightingView All
MORE
Storage & OrganizationHome OfficeBaby & KidsHome BarCleaning & LaundryPet SuppliesHoliday DecorView All
Looking for the perfect gift? Send a Houzz Gift Card!
SALE
ON SALE - UP TO 75% OFF
Bathroom VanitiesChandeliersBar StoolsPendant LightsRugsLiving Room ChairsDining Room FurnitureWall LightingCoffee TablesSide & End TablesHome Office FurnitureSofasBedroom FurnitureLampsMirrors
SEATING SALE
Free Shipping
Counter Stools by Style 
Up to 50% Off
Bestselling Living Room Seating 
Up to 65% Off
Bar Stools With Free Shipping 
Up to 55% Off
Bestselling Dining Chairs 
Tile
Tile
New This Week: 4 Visual Tricks With Bathroom Tile
Top Ideabooks
New This Week: 4 Visual Tricks With Bathroom TilePorcelain vs. Ceramic Tile: A Five-Scenario Showdown6 Home Design Trends on the RiseLove a White Backsplash but Not Subway Tile? Try One of These
Appears in
Materials
Decorating Guides
Decorating Guides
How to Decorate a Small Living Room
Top Ideabooks
How to Decorate a Small Living Room10 Top Plants to Grow Indoors36 Home Design Trends Ready for Takeoff in 202110 Ways to Add Warmth and Personality to Your Bathroom
Appears in
Latest From Houzz
See also
LightingColorOrganizingSmall SpacesFurnitureArtHouseplantsHolidaysDIY ProjectsAccessoriesWall TreatmentsDecorating StylesPatternGreen DecoratingEntertainingTastemakersBudget DecoratingRoom of the DayWorking With an Interior DesignerDecorating 101

When Bigger Is Better: The Dramatic Look of Large-Format Tiles

With fewer grout lines, this versatile material brings a smooth appearance to walls and floors

Barbra Bright
Barbra BrightNovember 25, 2016
Houzz Contributor. San Francisco-based designer who writes about TV kitchens in her spare time. http://www.barbrabrightdesign.com/
More
Print
Embed
Facebook
Twitter
Email
Typically, when selecting tile options for a new project, I borrow a sample from the showroom and present it to my clients for them to consider. But lately, we’ve been taking more field trips to the showrooms together because my clients have been selecting tiles as large as 2 by 4 feet — and that size won’t fit in my tiny car. Maybe it’s time to consider a SUV.

Large-format tiles — originally limited to commercial venues like hotels and restaurants — have crossed over and are now being used in residential settings. Thanks to their large size and minimal grout lines, they create a smooth look and a feeling of spaciousness, bringing unexpected drama to your home. Side perk: less grout to clean!
UED Studio
What Are Large-Format Tiles, Exactly?

Large-format tiles offer a clean, sleek, modern aesthetic, but they can also work well with traditional decor. They are available in a variety of materials, including natural stone, glass and porcelain. Thanks to advances in digital printing, porcelain tiles can be made to look like natural stone, concrete, metal, wood and even fabric.
Minosa | Design Life Better
Large-format tiles can be installed on both walls and floors. When used on a wall, they can be a durable alternative to paint or wallpaper. There’s no repainting or worrying about staining the wallpaper in your future. Since it’s tile, you can just wipe it clean.
Tiles are considered large format when one edge is greater than 15 inches. In the past, 12-by-24-inch rectangular tiles were the most popular large-format size. Today, 18 by 36 inches is common, though, thanks to new technology, tiles are being manufactured as large as 5 by 10 feet.

Things to Consider

The benefit of using large-format tile is reduced visual interruption — a particular consideration for homeowners choosing patterned tiles. Larger tiles also mean fewer grout lines. Fewer grout lines require less grout cleaning, which in my book means more fun. Hooray!

One consideration when purchasing large-format tiles is that installation could be more costly than for traditional tiles. This is because of sheer size, which means that special care must be taken during transporting to ensure minimal breakage. Labor costs may be higher since some tiles could require two people not only to lift, but also install them.
Moda Interiors
Another consideration is that walls and floors must be perfectly flat to accommodate large-format tiles. A maximum one-eighth-inch discrepancy over 10 linear feet is acceptable. If there is a greater discrepancy, lippage — meaning that one edge of a tile is higher than the adjacent tile, creating an uneven surface — may occur.

So before you commit to this dramatic tile size, have your contractor assess the viability of installing them based on your floor conditions. Some floors may to be too irregular and out of level for a large-format tile to be considered.
Where Large-Format Tiles Work Best

Large-format tiles look great in open spaces. The larger tiles give the eyes relief from distracting grout lines. Imagine this same room with 12-by-12-inch square tiles — the amount of grout lines would quadruple, and the eye would find it visually busy.
Michael Abrams Interiors
Matching the grout color to the tile visually expands a room and makes it feel more spacious by giving it a cohesive appearance since there is less contrast.

Conversely, a contrasting grout color can make a large room feel disjointed and choppy. That said, if you would still like a hint of contrast, select a grout color that is just slightly darker or lighter than the tile, as in the prior photo with gray tile and grout, white sofa and walls.
MAS PROVENCE
Don’t be afraid to use large-format tiles in small spaces. Using the same tile on the floor and the wall creates a unified look and visually elongates the room. Another optical illusion to enlarge a small room is to paint the walls a similar color to the tile, which creates the feeling of one continuous space.

Keep in mind that busy patterns can make a small room feel smaller, and that lighter-colored tiles reflect more light and can make a room appear larger.
B•D•G Design Group
Small areas can appear larger with the right size tile, but be careful to get the proportions right. If the tile is too large, it can overwhelm a room.

Consider a tile too large when there are too many undersized cuts (less than a half tile) needed to make it fit the room. If this is the case, it’s time to downsize your tile size.
Charlotte Conway Design
Large-format tiles can easily be cut into custom shapes and sizes, creating a one-of-a-kind tile installation when an ordinary rectangle or square won’t do. This photo provides a great example of a large-format tile cut into a custom triangular shape. The tile slopes toward the drain in this wet bathroom.
My House Design/Build/Team
Again, a benefit of this material is that it comes in so many finishes and looks. Here, bronzed porcelain tile adds a dramatic accent to the fireplace. Each tile is 24 by 48 inches.
User
In this great room, the large-format tile creates a spacious, seamless and cohesive backdrop that pulls the different areas together as one, lending a contemporary feel to the room. Think about how different the room would look with much smaller, alternating black-and-white tiles — these would chop up the space and make it look smaller.

The average cost runs between $7 and $30 per square foot, which is comparable to regular-sized tiles. Maybe they’ll be the right way to bring drama and unexpected glamour to your next home project.

More
How to Get a Tile Floor Installed
Porcelain vs. Ceramic Tile: A 5-Scenario Showdown
Print
Embed
Facebook
Twitter
Email
See 18 comments
Explore Related Topics
TileDecorating Guides
Read Related Stories
New This Week: 4 Visual Tricks With Bathroom TileNew This Week: 4 Visual Tricks With Bathroom Tile
By Mitchell Parker·10
Bathroom Design
Porcelain vs. Ceramic Tile: A Five-Scenario ShowdownPorcelain vs. Ceramic Tile: A Five-Scenario Showdown
By Sam Ferris·319
Most Popular
6 Home Design Trends on the Rise6 Home Design Trends on the Rise
By Mitchell Parker·132
Trending Now
Love a White Backsplash but Not Subway Tile? Try One of TheseLove a White Backsplash but Not Subway Tile? Try One of These
By Erin Carlyle·72
Kitchen Backsplashes
8 Narrow Bathrooms That Rock Tubs in the Shower8 Narrow Bathrooms That Rock Tubs in the Shower
By Bryan Anthony·82
Bathroom Design
Powder Room Patterns: 10 Pretty Looks With Penny TilesPowder Room Patterns: 10 Pretty Looks With Penny Tiles
By Bryan Anthony·18
Powder Rooms
3 Top Tile Trends for 20203 Top Tile Trends for 2020
By Julie Sheer·115
Materials
Designers Share Their Hottest Picks for Kitchen BacksplashesDesigners Share Their Hottest Picks for Kitchen Backsplashes
By Bryan Anthony·45
Kitchen Backsplashes
Powder Room Patterns: 10 Chic Chevron LooksPowder Room Patterns: 10 Chic Chevron Looks
By Bryan Anthony·19
Powder Rooms
How Much of Your Bathroom Should You Tile?How Much of Your Bathroom Should You Tile?
By Kate Burt·37
Bathroom Design
10 Bathrooms With Statement-Making Tile10 Bathrooms With Statement-Making Tile
By Gwendolyn Purdom·15
Bathroom Design
What Grout Color Should You Choose for Your Tile?What Grout Color Should You Choose for Your Tile?
By Yanic Simard·125
Most Popular
9 Tips for Mixing and Matching Tile Styles9 Tips for Mixing and Matching Tile Styles
By Laura Wheat·68
Bathroom Design
10 Reasons to Consider 4-by-4-Inch Tile10 Reasons to Consider 4-by-4-Inch Tile
By Becky Harris·173
Materials
6 Ways to Amp Up Your Kitchen Style With Patterned Tile6 Ways to Amp Up Your Kitchen Style With Patterned Tile
By Neila Deen·36
Kitchen Design
Shop Related Categories
Sofas
Sofas
Wall & Floor Tile
Wall & Floor Tile
Accent, Trim & Border Tile
Accent, Trim & Border Tile
Mosaic Tile
Mosaic Tile
Tile Murals
Tile Murals
Sponsored
Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery
227 Reviews
Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting gallery. 270 locations nationwide!
People who liked this story also liked
New This Week: 4 Visual Tricks With Bathroom Tile
New This Week: 4 Visual Tricks With Bathroom TileFull Story
Porcelain vs. Ceramic Tile: A Five-Scenario Showdown
Porcelain vs. Ceramic Tile: A Five-Scenario ShowdownFull Story
6 Home Design Trends on the Rise
6 Home Design Trends on the RiseFull Story
Love a White Backsplash but Not Subway Tile? Try One of These
Love a White Backsplash but Not Subway Tile? Try One of TheseFull Story
8 Narrow Bathrooms That Rock Tubs in the Shower
8 Narrow Bathrooms That Rock Tubs in the ShowerFull Story
Powder Room Patterns: 10 Pretty Looks With Penny Tiles
Powder Room Patterns: 10 Pretty Looks With Penny TilesFull Story
3 Top Tile Trends for 2020
3 Top Tile Trends for 2020Full Story
Designers Share Their Hottest Picks for Kitchen Backsplashes
Designers Share Their Hottest Picks for Kitchen BacksplashesFull Story
Powder Room Patterns: 10 Chic Chevron Looks
Powder Room Patterns: 10 Chic Chevron LooksFull Story
How Much of Your Bathroom Should You Tile?
How Much of Your Bathroom Should You Tile?Full Story
Sponsored
Superior Scape
5 Reviews
Michigan's Landscape Craftsman Since 1984
  • United States
  • ABOUT
  • CAREERS
  • MOBILE APPS
  • PROFESSIONALS
  • BUTTONS
  • FOR BRANDS
  • SELL
  • Privacy & Notice
  • Terms
  • © 2021 Houzz Inc.