Porcelain tile is one of the most popular flooring tile choices in the modern day home. First you must consider what type of tile would be suitable for your project and porcelain tiles have several types to choose from:

Polished Porcelain

Polished Porcelain has a uniform color from top to bottom and has a glassy top surface that is very appealing for high traffic floors as well as for walls where the slippery surface is not a safety concern. Due to the glassy shine of the polished surface it should be used in floor areas away from water such as showers or kitchen, but are excellent for walls and counter-tops.

Glazed Porcelain

Glazed Porcelain tiles have a top glaze that is different than the rest of the tile and has a bit more grasp than a polished tile, which makes it suitable for almost any project. Perhaps the most appealing aspect of glazed porcelain is that the design aspects are practically limitless. The style can be pinpointed to a designer that has a very specific idea of the design color and style.

Matte Porcelain

Matte porcelain is a very robust tile in that it is less slippery than both glazed and polished porcelain tiles. This makes it very suitable for kitchen areas, bars, bathrooms, and pool areas. It is a great value tile in that it is not as expensive and is very suitable for high foot traffic areas. The design possibilities are just as wide as any other tile.

Lastly, and increasingly more popular:

Wood Plank Porcelain

Wood Plank Porcelain is a newly versatile type of tile. The tile itself is made from porcelain but the top of the tile is meant to mimic the texture and look of wooden boards. Save more money, add more durability, yet get the wooden look and feel you think is more appropriate for your project.

Once you have decided on the type of tile that would most suit your needs, you can choose the style that best matches your design scheme. Even though the styles number in the hundreds and soon to be thousands, most designers have a general idea of the color and style direction they are going in. The best approach is to consider getting several samples of the styles you are considering and try them against the background you are looking for.

If you have never installed tile before hire a professional as they will do a better job and may even be able to give you design tips and insights. The reason porcelain is so popular is because, while it is not a natural stone, it is very durable at affordable places, and the design aspects are limited by your imagination. Some porcelain tile may be customized according to your specifications-although it will be a lot more costly. However, the joy of owning something uniquely yours is priceless.

Happy tiling!