The world of tiles is big and broad! Here is a starting guide to the various types of tiles available on the Australian market, and why each different type may or may not suit you and your home.

Natural stone

As one would expect, certain natural tile materials will cost more than standard ceramic or porcelain finishes but can be an incredibly worthy investment. Natural stones such as marble, slate or terrazzo will all fall on the higher end of the pricing scale due to their extensive mining and preparation process as well as the product’s scarcity, but can create the perfect, elegant touch to a design. You’ll find their luscious beauty and charm offers timeless appeal to any room or project.

Ceramic and porcelain

Man-made materials such as ceramic and porcelain tiles are generally much more cost effective than natural products, with ceramic tiles often being the most economical choice of the two thanks to their lighter density and weight. Ceramic pieces are most often used as wall tiles, allowing a less labour-intensive finish thanks to their lighter and softer structure making them easier to work with, whereas porcelain tiles will fetch a higher price tag (both to purchase and to install) as they are much thicker and denser, making them an ideal wall and floor tile choice thanks to their increased durability, longevity and strength.

Handmade tiles

Handmade tiles will often incur an additional purchase cost with consideration to the added labour involved in their creation as well as the specific skill and artistic quality of the finished product, but they can create stunning bespoke and highly personalised spaces. If possible, try to favour products that are entirely made and glazed by hand right here in Australia, meaning you not only support local businesses, but the tiles can be custom made to specific requirements. In particular, at Melissa Lunardon we adore porcelain tiles that have been printed with the use of digital technology. This allows for a crisper, varied and overall more realistic finish, and an incredible quality result that truly captures depth and character-filled variation.