Tips for Choosing Tile on a Budget

Tile on a Budget: 7 Tile Options Under $15 a Square Foot

 

Recently we have had about 6 projects going simultaneously that all needed tile schemes. We have seriously looked at every tile option under the sun! It can be a challenge to create interesting tile combinations for a number of rooms in a home without breaking the bank. Most people have no idea what tile costs and are usually very shocked and disappointed to learn that a lot of those beautiful Pinterest and Houzz images are using tile that is quite a bit more than they have budgeted for. So today I thought I’d share some of our favorite tile on a budget options, most under $10/sf and all under $15. Plus, some photos of the tiles installed for your viewing pleasure!

1. Asian Statuary 3×6 Marble Tile-$10.35/sq ft

 

2. Matte White Porcelain Hex Tile – $6.95/sf

 

3. Carrara Bianco Polished Basketweave Bardiglio Dot Mosaic – $11.75/sf

 

4. Arabesque Lantern White Porcelain Mosaic $3.79/sf

 

5. Hexagon 8” Oriental White Honed-$4.99/per piece $13.47/sf

 

6. Carrara Bianco Honed 16×16- $8.95/sf

 

7. Leonia Silver Porcelain Floor Tile- $2.48/per piece

 

Our general philosophy when working on tile schemes for a home, especially working with tile on a budget, is to get creative with porcelain and ceramic options in the kid’s bathrooms, laundry room, etc. and use the savings toward creating something absolutely swoon worthy in the master bath. Most people assume that means the kid’s bathrooms are boring but I find that the color options and huge range of sizes in porcelain and ceramic tiles gives us so much creative freedom. You can do so many things with penny rounds and hex’s, not to mention subway tile-which I haven’t even included here!  Think stripes in fun colors, interesting in-laid patterns…honestly the sky is the limit- be sure to check with your tile installer before committing-to make sure the savings on materials isn’t going to get gobbled up by expensive installation labor fees…been there!

Three tips for planning a tile scheme:

1. Not all Carrara is the same so if you’re ordering multiple sizes of field tile for a shower, for example, make sure to get samples and, if possible, order from the same lot. You’d be surprised how gray some Carrara is versus how white other lots can be.
2. Strive for a mix of sizes. If you go with a smaller basketweave on the floor, switch to something larger for the shower walls. The contrast is what keeps it interesting and keeps your eye moving around the room.
3. If budget allows, tile the wall over the vanity-take it up to the ceiling- and mount your mirrors and lights over top. The effect is spectacular and it could cost a couple of hundred dollars extra to create something really unique.

For more inspiration follow our Tile Affair Pinterest board.

 

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