Perfect Feature Wall Tiles Guide

Choosing the right feature wall tile transforms your kitchen or bathroom. Focus on balancing style and function. Follow these key steps.

1. Consider Your Overall Design Style

First, decide on the design style for your space. Popular styles include:

Your chosen style guides your tile selection. It reflects personal taste.

Colour sets the mood. Consider these effects:

White: Creates brightness and simplicity. Makes small spaces feel larger. Works with many styles.
Black: Adds boldness and luxury. Ideal for contemporary or industrial looks. Needs good lighting.
Brown: Brings warmth and an earthy feel. Perfect for rustic or farmhouse styles.
Grey: Offers sophistication. Light grey feels calm. Dark grey adds drama. Pairs well with blues, greens, or beige.
Blue: Gives a calm, serene feeling. Light blue suits spa-like bathrooms. Deep navy adds elegance.
Green: Connects to nature. Soft sage is subtle. Emerald green is bold. Pairs with wood or beige.
Beige: Provides a soft, neutral backdrop. Good for spa or coastal styles.
Look at colour trends for ideas. Resources like the Dulux Colour Forecast offer current palettes.

Size and shape impact the space:

Large tiles (600x600mm or bigger) make small rooms seem larger. Ensure wall tiles are not bigger than floor tiles.
Smaller tiles suit splashbacks in kitchens, laundries, or vanities. Examples are subway tiles or mosaics.
Linear tiles (like horizontal subway tiles) add depth.
Small tiles have more grout. This means more cleaning. Large tiles need less maintenance. Think about cleaning if tiles go into a shower.

The finish affects cleaning:

Smooth finishes (like gloss, polished, satin) are easier to clean.
Textured finishes (like matt, honed, structured, tumbled) may need more effort to clean.
Understand edging types:
Rectified Tiles: Cut precisely after firing. They have sharp edges. Allow minimal grout lines. Create a sleek, modern look. Often cost more.
Unrectified Tiles (Cushion Edge): Have slightly rounded, natural edges. Need wider grout lines. Give a more traditional look. Usually cost less. Choose the edge type that matches your style and budget.

Select a tile design that fits your chosen design style:

Hamptons Style: Use whites or light greys. Choose subway or mosaic tiles. Consider traditional or herringbone patterns. Examples: Heritage Aster Blue, Richmond Swan, Heritage Aster Green, Richmond Brighton tiles ($60/m²).
Traditional Style: Opt for patterned tiles. Examples: Richmond Clifton, Richmond Highett, Richmond Buckingham tiles ($60/m²).
Mid-Century Modern: Look for splashes of colour, matte finishes, or retro designs. Examples: Richmond Burnley, Luxello Black ($55/m²), Richmond Church tiles ($60/m²).
Contemporary Style: Experiment with modern patterns or layouts. Examples: Hexia Rothko ($9.95 each), Hexia Rapsodia ($9.95 each), Garden Green Feature Tile ($9.95 each).
Industrial Style: Choose aged, distressed, or grungy looks. Examples: Terrazzo White Matte ($60/m²), Paradigm Grey Matte ($45/m²), Vogue White Matte ($55/m²).
Minimalist Style: Select large, plain tiles in whites, beiges, or light greys. Examples: Charm Vanilla Gloss ($50/m²), Arabescato Grey, Richmond White ($60/m²).
Urban Style: Use tiles with raw, unfinished looks like concrete. Examples: Essential Stone Grey ($45/m²), Matang Mid-Grey ($40/m²), Vogue White Matte ($55/m²).