The Rise of Indoor-Outdoor Living
Over the past few years, there has been a definite change in the way people view their houses and gardens and the lifestyle choices they make. This is particularly prevalent in the rise in indoor/outdoor living and in this, the advent of inside out tiles has proved to be a game changer.
This change in lifestyle has definitely been helped by the warmer summers that we’ve been having and the shift to alfresco eating that is driving design decisions that bring the garden in, or the kitchen out! If you are thinking about an extension or renovation at the back of the house, the chances are that bi-fold doors will be considered to open up the kitchen to incorporate eating and living spaces outside and this is where we come in. We have a number of ranges that have indoor and outdoor versions of the same tile, which will give you a seamless transition from the kitchen to the garden.
The Best Materials for these Seamless Designs
Porcelain is without doubt the best material to withstand the rigours of being laid outside. It is doesn’t need sealing as real stone would and is incredibly durable. With frost, scratch, stain and heat resistance as part of the package it really is low maintenance. In fact the only thing you will need to do to get it ready for the summer is a high pressure wash with water to get rid of any dirt or build-up from the winter and it really will look as good as new, year after year.
Real stone or wood simply does not have this versatility or longevity. Both require significant levels of maintenance but even when you look after it, the degradation over time will mean that it won’t last as long or look as good as the porcelain tiles that mimic it. With porcelain, the outside versions of these tiles have an anti-slip (PTV) rating of +36 meaning they will stay safe regardless of the conditions or weather.
The technology and development of the tile ranges that give you both inside and outside versions, has come on in leaps and bounds over the past few years. So you can get wood-effect, limestone-effect, traditional, modern, in fact pretty much any sort of style that you can think of to create the look that you want. And by using the same tile both inside and out, you can create a look that gives the illusion of space even in relatively small areas, a feeling of flow from inside to out ending up with a beautiful outside space that is essentially another room in your home.
Design Strategies for Cohesion
By using the same tiles in both the kitchen/living area and the patio the look you create will be clean and create functional flow from inside to out. The patio will look and feel like an extension of the kitchen drawing the eye out and creating a sense of space. By
matching the grout lines, tile sizes and layout direction, that feeling of length and space will be enhanced. The bigger the tiles, the fewer the grout lines so less cleaning (always a bonus!) and a more seamless feel.
The feeling of space leading from inside to outside will be encouraged by using a natural palette of colours that are reflected in the garden or patio. Neutrals or earthy tones for a more traditional look and feel or paler whites and modern monochromes for a more contemporary design. And not delineating too clearly where the boundaries are will extend the inside room further if the same tile is being used outside.
Large Format v. Smaller Format
I’ve mentioned briefly the use of large format tiles in practical and maintenance terms. The bigger the tile laid, the fewer grout lines will be needed, instantly creating space even in smaller rooms. The old adage that small rooms need small tiles, simply no longer applies – they are expensive and fiddly to lay and difficult to keep the grout lines clean, so think big when you are making plans.
For continuity, the level that your tiles are laid at is a major consideration, as most outside tiles are 20mm thick and most inside tiles vary between 6 and 10mm. So that difference needs to be neutralised when they are laid – just something to take into account at an early stage to ensure alignment.
Technical Considerations
One of the most important things to consider when thinking about what tiles to lay outside is their slip-resistance. All our outdoor tiles have an R11+ rating and many a PTV rating of 36+ making them suitable for commercial use. If you have decided on a porcelain tile, you won’t need to worry about any maintenance beyond an annual clean, as there will not be any expansion and they are frost and heat resistant so regardless of what the weather throws at them (or you for that matter!) they will still clean up and look good.
It is absolutely worth talking to one of our expert team about adhesives, grout and what you should lay your tiles on, so that the ground is properly prepared, even and at the right level if you are having the same tiles inside and out. Having a professional and experienced tiler will help with all of this, so any recommendations from friends is always a great start point when it comes to finding a good tiler.