Design Tips

Vinyl Tile

• With all the different styles of vinyl tile available, it can be used to achieve almost any look you want. It is particularly useful for capturing the look of stone or ceramic tile, but at a lower price and without some of the challenges of natural materials.

• Before you install vinyl tile, consider laying it out on the diagonal as opposed to in the standard grid to add visual interest to a room.

• Vinyl tile lets you mix it up!  You can create unique looks using two different but complementary designs, or, a single design in two different colors, or, a single design laid in different directions.

• Some vinyl tiles have a directional pattern. You can create more than one look with this design characteristic. Laying the tiles with the pattern running in one direction creates a monolithic look.  A lternating the direction of the pattern 90 degrees from tile to tile, or even every few tiles, creates a different look.

• A brick- look tile brings a bit of the outdoors inside, particularly in a room with lots of windows or sliding glass doors.

• Checkerboard squares in black and white vinyl tiles are a classic, but, there are many other color options. In a game room, for example , red and black can be a playful and handsome choice. In a playroom, kids will be attracted to bright colors.

• If you plan to use area rugs over a portion of your vinyl tile floor, choose a look that works with the floor's pattern. Stick with similar themes and design scales for the best pairing of vinyl and carpet.  

Professional Designers Love Vinyl Tile!

Flooring is the foundation of the home. From there, everything else is built. The flooring's impact is both visual and tactile. The pleasure of looking at a beautiful floor is only equaled by the sensation of a well-finished floor underfoot.
~Penelope Irwin

A floor is an important aspect of a room's décor. I choose it as I do all the other decorative elements, by making sure they are all synthesized. A serene room may have a clean, natural look, while an adventurous floor may incorporate interesting accents against a more earthy, textured material.
~Chris Madden

The first step is for an owner to identify her "design personality" – Adventurous, Romantic, or Serene— which will influence the overall look of a room, including the flooring. Go ahead and choose flooring to be a fashion statement, whether it is a checkerboard grid, inlaid pattern or a luxurious natural material such as wood. Also, look at the architecture of a room and the design of the home, making sure that any flooring selection is well suited to both. And, very importantly, determine the main function of the room - whether it is for relaxation or a social "hub" with high traffic, and if there are kids, dogs (my three Westies are definitely an influence!) or any other considerations to be made in choosing a floor.
~Chris Madden