Wood-Effect Tiles — An Industry Staple

We recently spoke to Tile and Stone Journal about a trend that's taking the tile market by storm - wood-effect. Here, we offer our advice for any house builders, trades people and fixers who want to learn more about this product.

It’s been one of the biggest selling products over the past two-three years. But, rather than being a ‘flash in the pan’ or a one-off trend, it’s actually becoming a longstanding product.

Providing durability and authenticity — with some panels even offering a textured grain — the wood-effect tile is a favourite among self-renovators, designers and fitters alike. Perhaps this can be attributed to its ability to suit any room of the house, alongside any style or design. A rustic kitchen, a shabby chic bathroom or a contemporary living room wouldn’t look amiss with this versatile product.

Planks still a favourite

While wood-effect tiles are available in everything from brick-size to a mosaic style, our customers still prefer the authentic planks that you would expect of traditional wooden flooring. Short and narrow, or long and wide — you’ll find them in panels of all types.

Our Forest Wood tile is just 100mm wide (one of our narrowest) by 600mm in length. This product has been given a distressed, reclaimed feel — thanks to the latest in digital print technology. This results in a mixture of textures, finishes and colours, which can give a room character and a sense of history.

This tile would perfectly complement a bathroom as a feature wall in the shower, for example. The limitless scope of this versatile tile means that it would also look great in a hallway or as a kitchen splashback — especially in a diagonal herringbone pattern or chevron layout. Doing this adds further authenticity to a wood-effect floor.

The choice of grout also plays a role in showcasing this trend. Minimising the gaps between tiles and using a matching colour — rather than just white or grey — can produce a defined appearance.

Cubico has 14 different shades of grout and 15 types of silicone to perfectly complement wood-effect tiles, and help to achieve the customer’s desired look.

Traditional with a hint of Scandi

A traditional home that embraces original beams, authentic/antique doors and a wooden kitchen, for example, can be freshened up with a style that designers are loving.

The trend for light, white-washed wood is Scandinavian-inspired, and looks great in farmhouses or loft spaces alike. Levik is a large-format (1200 x 200mm), matt porcelain tile that replicates this perfectly and could suit an oak kitchen with a white ceramic sink.

Or, if the customer is going for country chic, pair the white Levik on the walls of a bathroom, alongside the black alternative on the floors, to create a contrasting effect.

Pairing mixed materials

While wood-effect tiles have been busy taking centre-stage, there’s also another trend that’s become increasingly popular over the past couple of years.

As Marrakech has become a thriving tourist destination, its relaxed, yet vibrant and exotic style has caught the eyes of interior designers across the world.

We’re of course referring to the geometric pattern, which is seen on many sizes and formats of tiles. This design can liven up an otherwise characterless room.

But while in the past, they may have been styled with simple porcelain or ceramic tiles, a new trend is emerging to pair different materials together.

Getting creative and mix and matching these styles creates an eclectic and detailed, yet considered space. For example, Altar, which is a burnt wood-effect tile, looks fantastic on a bathroom floor alongside glossy, patterned wall tiles.

And yet, the possibilities for this ‘mixed material’ trend are almost endless. This same tile can also be coupled with a Carrara marble or concrete-effect wall — further showcasing its versatility.

Take a look at our range of wood-effect tiles here.