10 Different Types Of Floor Tiles To Suit Up Your Flooring In Style

First things first, let's understand the main distinction between floor tiles. There are basically two overall options to choose from—man-made and natural stone. The former includes ceramic, porcelain, cement tiles and others, while the latter stone tiles are made of actual natural stone including marble, granite, limestone and others.

Pro-Tip: Check out the different types of tiles for your home here.

One of the most common, and most popular types of tiles available, ceramic tiles are made from talc, clay and sand. Affordability and durability make ceramic the ideal choice for any room in your home, be it the bathroom, kitchen, or front entrance. Usually, ceramic tiles are given a glossy glazed top surface to make them impervious to water and easier to clean but this glazing can also make the tiles slippery underfoot, especially when wet so choose among the glazed and unglazed ones accordingly.

Porcelain is pretty much the same as ceramic, only baked or fired at a higher temperature to make it is more durable and usable for all corners of your home. They are non-porous and scratch-proof, making them easy to maintain and clean, a big plus for Indian homes. Glazed, etched, and texturised—porcelain tiles pretty much have the chameleon effect and can mimic the look of a wooden or natural stone finish, minus the tedious maintenance.

Preferred for outdoor areas like your yard, driveway, or even the sidewalk lining your house, cemented tiles are super sturdy and stay put for decades with minimum maintenance. They are incredibly cooling and gritty to the touch which makes them great for the Indian climate. Being locally available, they are also an affordable option. 

Pro-tip: Looking for bathroom tiles? Particularly for small bathrooms? Check out our curation here.

One of the more expensive natural floor stone types, marble tiles are an elegant and safe choice, as they exude a level of minimalism and charisma that is hard to replicate with other materials. Deeply veined with natural mineral lines, marble is created under immense heat and pressure to make it strong enough for flooring. However, it is still prone to cracks and scratches if not taken care of properly. It is comparatively expensive and might require regular re-sealing and whitening procedures to keep its looks intact and so, not that ideal for overly used spaces like your kitchen and washrooms.

Granite is an igneous rock that consists of quartz, alkali feldspar and plagioclase. It is quite durable as it's much harder and stronger than marble. There's a good chance you have seen granite tiles or even granite slabs in kitchens for countertops or backsplashes, thanks to their moisture and stain-proof properties, which makes them an obvious choice for flooring as well. Not to forget, they look stunning too!

Limestone is another type of natural stone tile that looks absolutely gorgeous and evergreen. Being a porous rock, it is durable but soft so the grouting (the process of filling in the gaps between tiles) must be done with precision, otherwise, it will crack or chip easily. They are quite affordable in India in comparison to other natural stone tiles and an ideal option if you want to give an old-world touch to your floors for a warm look.

Onyx can be both natural and artificial. They tend to feature subtle patterns like cosmic swirls which lends a calming and an evergreen look to the home. While the natural onyx tiles are expensive and require high maintenance, the artificial ones are cheaper and work quite well for Indian homes with constant hustle and bustle. While they are stronger than marble, don't use DIY cleaners using baking soda or lemon and opt for mild detergents while cleaning them for long-lasting tiles. 

Vitrified tiles have become the newest go-to choice for Indian homes as they can be installed in any part of the home. The reasons are many—they are not overly porous which makes them strong enough to not crack under pressure, are resistant to stains, water and even frost, and don't take long for the installation. Also, as they are made by blending together silica and clay into traditional ceramic tile materials, they tend to retain their original sheen even after several years of use. 

Carpet tiles are commonly seen in office spaces but can also be used for homes and are made by cutting large carpet fabrics and piecing various patterns together to create a 'tiled' effect. They are a great choice for kids' rooms and puja rooms as they provide ample soundproofing. They are also non-slip, making them ideal for children and the elderly to walk on. Hand-tufted and handwoven versions are available in a variety of materials such as wool, polyester, and nylon. While they are simple to install, they must be vacuumed on a regular basis to keep them clean and hygienic.

While wooden flooring has a classic and timeless allure, the difficulty of maintenance and the high initial cost is an ick for most Indian homes considering a viable flooring option. Wooden tiles on the other hand are a practical and visually appealing solution to these issues as they offer affordability, durability, and versatility, all in one! Also, they can withstand temperature fluctuations and humidity much better than wooden flooring which only makes us like them even more!