When it comes to flooring there is an abundance of options, usually it boils down to two main contenders, tiles or wood. In this post we discuss the pro’s and con’s of both options and offer a solution that might just give you the best of both!

Wood flooring

Wood flooring has become increasingly popular over the last decade, with more and more people opting to have it throughout their home, but is it the best option for you?

Pro’s

– Affordable
You can pick up a wood floor from B&Q for very little money nowadays, however be aware that the cheaper you go the higher potential for poor quality.

– Available in lots of colours, grades and sizes.
This is great as it enables you to create exactly the look you are after.

– Easy to maintain
Most wood floors need very little maintenance and up-keep, making it great for busy family life.

Con’s

– Can dent and mark
If you like to wear stiletto heels or have pets, then wood floors might not be right for you as typically the wood will dent and mark over time.

– Will need work over time
Overtime your wood floor will need some work as the natural finish begins to wear, this can be timely and adds to the expense.

– Susceptible to water damage
Be careful if you spill anything on your wood floor, they can be very susceptible to water damage, meaning if you don’t clean up that spill straight away the floor could be damaged permanently.

Tiles are a very traditional flooring option and offer a great range of styles and designs to suit all tastes, here are the pro’s and con’s.Tile flooring

Pro’s

– Wide range of styles
The sky is quite literally the limit when it comes to tiles, with a full range of colours and sizes you are bound to find the right one for your home.

– Affordable
Tiles don’t have to cost an arm and a leg. You can pick up great quality tiles for really reasonable prices.

– Hard wearing and low maintenance
Tiles last for years and years, with most tiles offering no maintenance at all. Some tiles such as flagstone and sandstone may need re-lacquering every 5-10 years.

Con’s

– Can be cold under foot
Tiles can be cold underfoot, however most new homes now have underfloor heating meaning the tiles are toasty warm!

– Harder to lay
Tiling a floor can be tricky to lay if you haven’t done it before, however help is always at hand.

– Bumps hurt slightly more
If you have little ones then the tumbles they have might hurt slightly more on tiles than on wood, but this is nothing a few strategically placed rugs can’t sort!
Yup this is one decision you don’t have to compromise on, there really is a best of both option, wood effect tiles!

The best of both

Wood effect tiles take the pro’s from both the wood and tile options and combine them to produce a beautiful, hard wearing, low maintenance, easy to clean solution.

There is no compromise on style either, the wood effect tile looks just like a wood floor and are available in a full range of colours, sizes and styles.

Take a look at the wide range of tiles available at The Tile Warehouse, just pop in to our large showroom and one of our friendly team will help you find the right option for you.

Can’t get to the showroom? Not a problem with our Home Selection Service, we bring the tiles to you, all for the small cost of a cup of tea!

Hallways are often a room that get completely forgotten about, they are a space for coats, muddy boots and the occasional bike! But this is the space that welcomes you, your family and your guests into your home and should be a showstopper. Now, obviously we’re not suggesting you go and hang a crystal chandelier and paint the walls gold, but in this post we’re going to show you how the use of beautiful tiles can transform your hallway.

Patterned v’s Neutral.

Now much of this decision will depend on your own taste, however, another key decider should be the durability and maintenance of the tile, some tiles such as natural stone will need to be resealed periodically for example. If this is not up your street then ceramic tiles can make an easy clean alternative, talk to an expert to discuss the best option for you.

Patterned tiles are a great way to make a statement, and because you don’t spend a huge amount of time in your hallway you can afford to be bold without the worry of the space feeling small or overbearing. However, there is a balance to be made between pattern and colour, for example the picture below shows a beautiful design made using just two colours, the Victorian style design is classic and elegant and the tile used is durable and hard wearing.

The other way to add pattern to your hallway is to use a patterned tile (rather than creating the pattern with the tile.) With patterned tiles you can be really bold, using a geometric design, for example, can give a sense of space if your hallway is particularly small, or give your hall an uber modern feel. We love the bold design of the tile in the picture below and how it makes this hallway look longer.

Neutral tiles are a classic way to give your hallway a bit of grandeur, using large square tiles can give the feeling of extra space. Sandstone and flagstone floors as an example, are also very hard wearing and easy to clean, the colours of these stones are also stunning and in addition to their wonderful natural texture.

Another great thing about natural tiles in the hallway is they can easily be carried on throughout the rest of the house, many people choose to have the same flooring in their hallway and their kitchen to give a real sense of continuity and flow to the home.

No matter the house, no matter the size, your hallway is a space that should be given the wow factor, a space that really sets the tone for the rest of your home. Give it the face-lift is deserves with some beautiful tiles! Take a look at our range of floor tiles here, or if you’re really not sure where to start, contact one of our tile experts to find out more about our Home Selection Service where we bring the tiles to you.