5 Inspiring Large-Format Tile Design Ideas For A Modern Home
Sponsored Content: This post is sponsored by Casalgrande Padana. As usual, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
In my recent tile trends post for 2023, I talked about how large-format, big-scale tiles are rapidly overtaking smaller-format tiles in popularity. The appeal of large-format is a direct result of contemporary homeowners and renters desiring a high-end, sleek look that is easy to clean and maintain with their busy lifestyles. A large-format tile provides an unbroken surface free of multiple grout lines; making smaller rooms look elongated and avoiding the busy look attained by groupings of smaller-format tiles. Large-format, porcelain stoneware tiles are easy to wash down and as they are available in a wide range of finishes, textures and colours, they are a great way to create visually interesting (yet incredibly durable) areas within the home. If you are planning a renovation or a remodel, you really should consider the luxury design and look of large-format tiles!
Casalgrande Padana’s concrete-effect ‘Metropolis: Silver’ large-format tiles are used here on the walls and floor of this stylish bathroom.
What makes a tile large-format?
According to renowned Italian porcelain tile manufacturers Casalgrande Padana, a large-format tile is considered to be from 20x120 cm up to 160x320 cm, with a thickness of 6 mm or 12 mm (the 12mm thickness was designed to create kitchen and bathroom tops). Casalgrande Padana offers a wide range of large-format tiles across all of the brand's tile collections.
What are the pros and cons of using large-format tiles?
Large-format tiles are quicker to apply to walls and floors than their smaller-scale counterparts. They are easy to clean (Casalgrande Padana tiles offer Bios Antibacterial® - eliminating 99% of the bacteria present on the ceramic surface) and there is a lot less grout to maintain. Large-format tiles come in a range of designs (including natural stone effects - offering a representational alternative to using real marble or stone slabs which are porous and can stain easily). The seamless visual continuity of large-format means that they can make smaller rooms look bigger. However, if you would like to use large-format tiles, you must consider the access to your property: will you easily be able to get these large tiles into the area where they are to be applied? You also need to make sure the surface area upon which you are erecting the tiles is flat (so the large-format tiles are all level when positioned next to one another).
Casalgrande Padana’s stone-effect ‘Era: Bianca’ porcelain stoneware tiles replicate the look and feel of natural stone, but offer the strength and durability required for a busy, modern home.
Mix sizes and laying patterns
Create the look of a home spa bathroom
Get the attractive effect of wallpaper (with durability)
Make a small bathroom look bigger
Extend your living space outside
Mix up the sizes and use an irregular laying pattern
When laying large format tiles, it might be presumed that you use all the same size. However, mixing up your pattern layout with a variation of the same tile in different sizes can produce a captivating and appealing final result. In the image below, three different sizes of Casalgrande Padana’s ‘Nature: Calce’ wall and floor tiles (60x120 cm, 60x90 cm and 30x60 cm) have been used to create this irregular floor pattern:
Three different large-format tiles sizes (60x120 cm, 60x90 cm and 30x60cm) have been used on this floor - all in Casalgrande Padana’s ‘Nature: Calce’ to create an interesting and modern laying pattern.
2. Create a home spa bathroom
According to Pinterest (the inspiration search platform) searches for ‘home spa bathroom’ are up 190% in 2023. Professional spa interiors convey feelings of warmth and wellness and feel incredibly inviting and relaxing, so it is easy to see why there is a current trend to replicate the same tranquil atmosphere within the home.
90x90 cm stone-effect ‘Nature: Creta’ tiles adorn the floor of this luxurious spa-like bathroom. On the walls, concrete-effect ‘Metropolis: Bianco’ 120x278 cm extra-large format tiles provide hard-wearing, water-repelling protection. Both Casalgrande Padana.
A sense of calm is often connected to nature, which is why spas only use earthy colours such as soft browns and warm neutrals (as opposed to anything overly bright). Natural materials and textures (such as wood and stone) work well to duplicate an organic environment, but with spas being high-traffic areas, these raw materials do not have the strength or durability for spa settings as they would stain, fade and warp quickly. Instead, spas mostly use hard-wearing, porcelain stone-effect tiles in large formats to reproduce the same colours, textures and warmth of natural materials. Casalgrande Padana’s English Wood oak-effect porcelain stoneware contains all the markings and colours found in natural oak, while the Petra collection of soft, sandy shades are reminiscent of natural stone. Use the large format tiles from these collections to create an undisturbed, open, low-maintenance and clutter-free bathroom that flows well and clears the mind upon entering. They are especially great to use in walk-in showers.
The warmth of ‘English Wood: Epping’, combined with the sedimentary rock effect of ‘Supreme: Sand’, provides a connection to the natural world in this luxurious bathroom with scenic views.
Casalgrande Padana’s ‘English Wood: Snowdonia’ porcelain stoneware tiles. These large-format tiles replicate real wood planks, but unlike real wood, they do not warp, nor do they require any sealing.
3. Use large-format in hard-working spaces to create a ‘durable wallpaper’ design
Casalgrande Padana’s large-format ‘Atelier’ porcelain tile collection is a great way to inject uninterrupted colour into hard-working spaces that require the ultra-durability that wallpaper or paint just could not provide. From oily and greasy splashes in the kitchen to steamy shower spaces, large-format ‘Atelier’ provides a clear swathe of green, blue, terracotta, oatmeal or cashmere that isn’t broken up by multiple, busy grout lines.
Two large-format size variations of Casalgrande Padana’s ‘Atelier’ tiles in colourful ‘Rubino’ provide a wipe-down, washable wall space in this compact kitchen area. On the floor, large-format ‘Terrazzo: Black’ completes this modern, contemporary design scheme.
Casalgrande Padana’s ‘Atelier’ large-format tiles in a striking deep teal ‘Ottanio’ are used here to create a hard-wearing and durable focal point splashback.
4. Make a small bathroom look bigger
It might be presumed that big tiles can only go in big spaces, but by using large-format sizes in smaller areas you can visually expand a room by playing around with the scale of the tiles. Any natural light that filters into the room isn’t disrupted by lines, corners or edging, and will seamlessly flicker and reflect across the large tile surface. A great tip to create the most uninterrupted spaces is to use a grout which is an exact colour match as the tile you are applying. The grout lines between large-format tiles tend to be thinner than when laying smaller-scale tiles, so by also matching your grout you will be able to achieve a flawless finish.
The shadowy tone of Casalgrande Padana’s ‘Supreme: Dark’ porcelain stoneware tiles - inspired by rock salt crystallisation - elongates this bathroom and visually extends the space, drawing the eye along through to the bath at the end.
5. Make your outside space an extension of your home
Large-format tiles are perfect to use as flooring throughout the home and thanks to Casalgrande Padana’s range of finishes and ‘Grip’ non-slip technology, the same tile can be used both inside and out (creating a continuous, connected layout). Continue the same large format tiles out onto patios, terraces and balconies to extend your living space and provide a hard-wearing, durable outdoor area which is easy to clean and maintain using only a pressure washer.
The aesthetic beauty of Casalgrande Padana’s ‘Supreme: Grey’ flows from inside the home to out to create an extended indoor/outdoor living area.
‘Supreme: Grey’ porcelain stoneware tiles from Casalgrande Padana. The special ‘Grip’ finish provides a non-slip surface to these large-format slabs.
Click here to be taken to the Casalgrande Padana website to view their wide range of large-format tiles and locate a UK retailer. All images used within this post are owned and used courtesy of Casalgrande Padana.
