Decorating Materials & Supplies

Ceramic and marble tiles are both distinct and popular surfacing materials. Each product is more suitable for certain situations and less so for others. Understanding the differences is important...

Mexican tile, like all glazed ceramic or terra cotta tiles, can be used both indoors and out. The outdoor uses for Mexican tiles are endless: on fountains, building facades, doorway arches, on...

Tile surrounding the fireplace provides a striking design element for a variety of decorating styles. The wide selection of tiles available means nearly anyone can find an option that blends well...

It's the little details in a kitchen that set it apart. A tile backsplash adds a decorative punch above the kitchen counter. The wide range of tiles available lets you customize the kitchen...

Grouted granite tiles and solid granite slabs are two options to consider if you plan to replace your kitchen countertops. Price, selection and the amount of labor you are willing to put into the...

The kitchen backsplash is a great place to infuse color and style into the kitchen---especially in modern kitchens that utilize a lot of stainless steel. When designing a backsplash yourself, it...

Ceramic tile is a very strong building material popular in kitchen and bathroom decorating schemes. If the tile was laid in the 1960s or '70s, it might have a less than appealing color palette....

You can make a kitchen backsplash out of all kinds of materials, but glazed ceramic tile remains the standard. It's tough, waterproof and easy to clean, and is available in just about any size,...

Travertine, a mineral-rich stone with naturally occurring holes all over the face, may seem like the last stuff you'd ever want to use as a backsplash, what with all the moisture and grime likely...

Your kitchen backsplash has an important job--to protect the wall behind your sink--but it also can be a visual showcase for the kitchen. Whether you're creating a unique tile pattern or just...

Mexican tile is a generic term to describe clay tiles handmade in Mexico. It can refer to the colorful, hand-painted glazed tiles popular for decorating kitchens and bathrooms or pattern-free...

Genuine marble tiles are flat and square-cut--as opposed to ceramic and many other styles that tend to be curved--because the marble tile isn't formed in molds but cut right out of the natural...

Generally, the wall behind your sink is either plaster or (in newer homes) sheetrock. Sheetrock is especially vulnerable to moisture damage caused by spray from the sink. Installing a tile...

The purpose of a kitchen backsplash is to protect the wall behind the sink from moisture. But it's also an opportunity to dress up the look of the room. A well-designed tile backsplash should...

Here is a brief summary of our project that allowed us to get rid of popcorn ceilings without scraping it off. We've used polystyrene glue up ceiling tiles. Those tiles could be glued directly to...

Looking for mosaic tile? Mosaic tiles can be a great way to incorporate art into any home project. Mosaic tiles are commonly used to replace bathroom tiles, and kitchen tiles. Here are a few tips...

Many types of hard tiles, such as slate, ceramic, and marble, aren't good for outdoor use, because they can absorb moisture, which can freeze and crack the surface. Porcelain tiles, however, are...

River rock is a creative method of decorating a floor or (more often) a wall, using mounded, natural rocks set in mortar and grout. Today, you can get ceramic representations of river rock, which...

Travertine is a type of natural stone that develops over time when minerals are deposited on the earth's surface by rivers, hot springs and geysers. For example, large deposits of travertine can...

Self-adhesive, or peel-and-stick, tile is inexpensive and available in a variety of colors and patterns. You can find both vinyl and carpet peel-and-stick tiles at a retail outlet, hardware store...

Ceramic tiles are one of the most common types of tile used in residential applications. The glossy, colorful tiles are created from clay and mineral powders, and are formed under pressure and...

Porcelain tile is a specific type of ceramic tile that is structurally modified. While broadly classified as ceramic tile, these tiles are individually referred to as porcelain and non-porcelain...

Wall tiles are a versatile way to redecorate in a variety of styles. You can design a look with wall tiles that reflects the style of your home or your personal style. There are so many different...

Your kitchen floor has to take more abuse than just about any other floor in the house. Moisture, heat, spilled foods and the occasional dropped iron skillet make it necessary to have a good,...

The right tile in a bathroom can give the space a distinct feel with its different textures and colors. Tile can also define a bathroom and when deciding on a type of tile, you are often deciding...

Kitchen tiles are one of the most overlooked aspects of kitchen design. After all, they are on the floor and frequently not in the direct line of sight, so it makes sense that they would be...

Like most natural stone tiles, slate is somewhat porous, which can mean trouble in terms of absorbing stains and moisture. This may not be much of an issue for a slate wall in your study or den,...

Tumbled marble is the most natural-looking of tiles. Its surface is pockmarked with random holes and indentations, giving it the look of a natural stone wall. When using tumbled marble tiles in...

Tiles are perfect for updating a floor or a wall. They look great in kitchens and bathrooms, but can be used in other spaces, too. Choosing the right tile is tricky work; there are thousands of...

Popularized by tiles used in the New York subway at the turn of the 20th Century, subway tiles were a stylish home decorating choice up until the 1930s. What's old is new again as subway tiles are...

Subway tile is a building material used to finish vertical surfaces, such as walls and showers. It was originally used in New York City subways during the early 20th century, which is where this...

Porcelain tile is made from natural clay that is baked at a very high temperature until most of the moisture is removed. Because of its low moisture level, porcelain tile is a fairly strong and...

There are a few ways to go about customizing a stone fireplace. You can come up with the design yourself by researching the materials and techniques that are available in your area; you can bring...

Granite countertops are such a sought-after standard today that they've almost become a cliche. Their popularity is warranted, though. Generally custom-made and installed as one unbroken surface...

Glass tile is one of the best-looking surfaces you can put in your bathroom, and it's surprisingly durable once it's installed. Because it's waterproof, it can be used for any surface in your...

Glass tile is one of the hottest trends in home decor, and it's easy to see why. Glass tile's unique, bejeweled appearance and durability give it great potential that is both decorative and...

Granite is an all-natural stone material that is often used to construct countertops in kitchens and bathrooms. Traditional granite countertops are made from a continuous slab and are fairly...

Imagine a dining room far from the kitchen heat, a reading nook with natural light, a place to restore positive energy, a room with bragging rights. All this could be as close as a backyard. What...

Using tile in the bathroom is an advantage to homeowners. Not only does it look nice, but it is waterproof and simple to clean. Tile comes in an array of colors, textures and styles. No matter how...

Using hard tiles to cover kitchen floors, walls and countertops has a practical purpose (they're durable and easy to clean of grease and grime), but also opens up a huge range of decorating...

Cutting hard tiles--ceramic, slate, marble--isn't as difficult as it sounds, provided you use the right tools and understand the differences between the materials that tiles are made out of and...

Tile is a traditional surface for bathrooms, and you have many, many options. Certain types of tiles are best for specific uses. Unless you already know exactly what you want, look around at all...

There's nothing wrong with the old method of tiling a room in one color. But once you understand the basics of tiling, you can try some different designs. There is a remarkable range of tile...

If you've got a wall or floor that's covered in ceramic or vinyl tiles, and they're in good shape but you're tired of them, there's an alternative to a full-blown ripout-and-retiling project. Even...

Laying ceramic tiles is part art, part construction process. The art is up to you, with options such as using colored mosaic tiles to create designs. But there are standards for property...

A fireplace surrounded by tile is simple, efficient and easy to clean. However, many people neglect their fireplaces. Maybe it is because there are just too many options for tiling a fireplace...

Floor tiles are not just for walking on. There are endless ways to use your floor tiles to decorate your home, both inside and out. Whether you decide to use your floor tiles whole or in pieces,...

A backsplash protects your kitchen walls from moisture, grease and general kitchen spatters. Creating a backsplash can cost as much or as little as you'd like. You can have one installed by a...

Changing the splashboard behind your kitchen stove will change the entire look of your kitchen. It's very inexpensive to do and doesn't take much time. You'll love the new look!

Bathroom tile can add personality, artistic interest and texture to a room often filled with dull white porcelain fixtures. Tile can be applied to a variety of surfaces and pairs functionality...