Trends can be a wonderful starting point. They introduce us to new colours, textures and possibilities. But when you’re choosing tiles, it pays to look beyond the moment. Unlike paint or furniture, tiles are a finish you’re likely to live with for many years. The question is less “Will this always be fashionable?” and more “Will this still feel right for my home?”. At Myaree Ceramics, we believe lasting design leaves room for personality. A richly coloured ceramic or expressive patterned floor can be just as enduring as a quiet stone look. What matters is how the material works within the space and how much you love it.
Begin with the material
Before thinking about a particular style, consider what draws you to a surface.
It might be the movement of marble, the warmth of terracotta, the texture of limestone or the depth of a ceramic glaze. Materials with a long architectural history offer a useful starting point, whether you choose the original material or a tile inspired by it.
For stone-look porcelain, look closely at the quality of the interpretation. Consider the variation between pieces, the scale of the pattern and how the finish looks across a larger area.
Variation can bring depth and character, while a more uniform surface can create a beautifully calm backdrop. Neither is inherently more timeless; the right choice depends on the effect you want to achieve.
A useful question is: Would I find this surface beautiful even if I hadn’t seen it in a recent interior space?
Make colour personal
Choosing for longevity doesn’t mean choosing beige.
Green, blue, terracotta, ochre and deeper shades can all have a lasting place in a home. Rather than following a list of supposedly timeless colours, consider the colours you’ve consistently enjoyed living with.
Then look at how they behave in your space. A green tile might feel soft and muted in one room and much more vivid in another. Its glaze, the natural light and the surrounding materials all influence the result.
If you’ve loved a colour for years, that is a stronger reason to choose it than its current popularity.
Let the architecture guide you
Think about the character of your home: its proportions, light, existing materials and architectural details.
A mid-century home might invite terrazzo, mosaics or a confident use of colour. A Mediterranean-inspired interior may suit warm stone, terracotta and textured tiles. These are starting points, rather than rules.
Contemporary tiles can work beautifully in an older home, just as traditional materials can give warmth to a new build. A considered contrast can be as successful as a close match.
The aim is to understand how your choices relate to the building and the atmosphere you want to create.
Consider pattern, scale and layout together
A tile's size, layout and grout colour can change its character completely.
A small ceramic tile with contrasting grout creates a graphic and bold surface. The same tile with a closely matched grout feels quieter. A large-format tile may emphasise continuity, while a mosaic introduces detail and rhythm.
Checkerboards, herringbone and geometric patterns have long histories, but that alone doesn’t guarantee they will suit every home. Look at the scale of the pattern, the colours involved and how it sits alongside other finishes.
There’s no need to reserve expressive tiles for small spaces. A patterned floor can anchor an entire room when the surrounding palette gives it room to breathe. Equally, a tiled splashback or powder room can be a lovely place to introduce something distinctive.
Think about the finished surface, rather than the individual sample.
Build a complete palette
Tiles sit alongside cabinetry, benchtops, timber, tapware and paint. Those relationships matter as much as the tile itself.
Bring your samples together and look for connections in tone, texture and undertone. A limestone-look tile may appear warm on its own but cooler beside a particular timber or paint colour.
View the combination in your home, in daylight and under the lighting you’ll use in the evening. Where possible, look at several tile pieces to understand the variation.
You don’t need every finish to match. You do need them to feel comfortable together.
Choose for everyday life
A surface needs to suit both your design and the way you live.
Check that the tile is appropriate for its intended application, including floors, wet areas, outdoors or pools. Consider grout, slip resistance, cleaning, maintenance and any sealing requirements.
Be realistic about what you’re happy to maintain. You may love the character of natural stone and welcome its care requirements, or prefer porcelain tiles for your particular space.
Practical suitability is part of lasting beauty.
Give permanent finishes time and attention
Replacing a tiled floor or bathroom can be costly and disruptive. These are decisions worth taking time over.
If your budget is limited, prioritise suitability, quality and careful installation in the areas that are hardest to change. Paint, furniture and styling can evolve around a well-considered foundation.
That foundation can be colourful, textured or bold. It simply needs to feel right for the home.
The goal isn’t to create a home that belongs to no particular era. It’s to create one that remains considered, cohesive and distinctly yours.
Explore your options at Myaree Ceramics
Tiles are tactile. Their colour, texture and finish are best understood in person. Visit our Myaree Ceramics showroom in Perth to explore displays, compare samples and bring your material palette together. Or, book an appointment, bring along your plans and samples of cabinetry, benchtops, timber or paint so we can consider the scheme as a whole.
Our team can help you work through colour, format, layout and practical suitability to choose tiles you’ll love living with for years to come.
