Porcelain Floor Tile Design - Be Inspired with the Variety and Beauty of Porcelain Flooring Tiles

Choose a porcelain floor tile design that takes advantage of both the durability and beauty of these versatile flooring tiles. Porcelain tiles are made from a mixture of clay and minerals which have been shaped and fired at high temperatures.

The resulting hard surface can be glazed for a smooth satin finish or left untreated with a weather worn texture.

Laying lighter colored tiles in a small room makes it appear larger while darker tones absorb light and create a more intimate environment. Install neutral tone-on-tone floor tiles in beige, green, gray and white for a sophisticated touch. The floor should complement existing design elements and be a backdrop to the overall look.

Add decorative accents to porcelain floors with transition pieces and coordinating trim. A combination of small and large squares, rectangles and colorful mosaic pieces make each floor unique. Mix colors and designs to create patterns in the middle of the floor and around the edges.

The Porcelain Enamel Institute (PEI) has a system of rating porcelain floor tile using numbers 1 through 5, with one being the least durable and five the most. Group 1 tiles are best suited for residential bathrooms where soft footwear is usually worn. Group 2 works well where there is general residential traffic like the living room and dining room.

Rooms that get a lot of traffic, such as the entrance way and kitchen require ceramic tile with a rating of 3. They are also suitable for commercial use in offices, reception areas and boutiques where traffic is light.

Tile in the fourth category is best installed in commercial areas where there is a medium amount of traffic such as in restaurants, hotels and hospital lobbies. Heavy duty porcelain tile rated 5 is necessary in places like exterior walk ways, building entry ways, shopping centers and swimming pools.

Top quality porcelain floor tile is not necessarily the most durable and some of the most lavish tiles are rated as 1 or 2 for durability so when choosing your flooring material, keep in mind price and quality as well as durability. You will be able to find a variety of porcelain floor tile suitable for commercial or residential use from these online merchants.