Bringing the outside in is a popular trend, as is taking the indoors out. The blurring of lines between the house and the garden lets you maximise living and dining space. Expanding your home into the garden is not only a great way of creating extra space, allowing you to extend your living area during the summer months, but it also enables you to enjoy your garden, and the weather, at its best.
One of the best ways of blurring the lines between the exterior and interior is by creating a cohesive look between the two, and on-trend seamless inside-out tiling, where the floor tiles used indoors are continued outdoors, is one of the most effective ways to do this as it creates flow and visual continuity.
‘Inside-out tiling feeds into the outdoor living trend where people are aiming to create alfresco rooms for sitting and dining, and integrate their gardens into their home,’ says Hamish Smith, Managing and Creative Director of Artisans of Devizes. ‘Used correctly, it can make a house seem much larger than it really is. It creates the feeling that the room is outdoors and makes your space feel larger and more open. For example, if your flooring runs from inside to outside through open French doors, your patio or terrace will seem like a part of the room.’ Using the same flooring creates an uninterrupted view. In addition, if you choose pale coloured tiles, it can also enhance the light and airy feel.
The best areas to use inside-out tiling are in spaces that face the garden and lead onto a patio. It works well in kitchens and is also effective in conservatories or dining rooms where it evokes an alfresco feel in the summer months.
One of the most important things to consider when choosing tiles to use for inside-out tiling is slip resistance. ‘Many interior tiles simply aren’t grippy enough to be safe to walk on when wet,’ says Hamish. ‘We would recommend a slip resistance of R11 or PTV +36 for external paving, which would be suitable for a pool area too. However, inside this may be too grippy to be easy to clean; smoother is better for indoors. It’s best to get a sample that you can feel.’
The other difference between indoor and outdoor tiles is that outdoor tiles need to be thicker to withstand the weather. To make the seamless tiling all the more effective, you need to consider the height difference between the patio and your room. The smaller this is, the more seamless the look becomes. It’s also important to think about the doorway that leads to your outdoor space. Large bifold doors that open onto the garden mean you can draw the doors right back and leave the wall open, creating the feel of one room and allowing you to move easily from one area to the other. If there’s a low door threshold and no frame, inside-out tiling is particularly effective.
When it comes to choosing the type of tile, both porcelain and natural stone are good options.
Porcelain is probably more practical as it is easier to keep clean and won’t wear like a natural stone. Many porcelain tiles are available with matching smoother indoor versions and textured outdoor versions. However, you need to make sure you use porcelain tiles outside that are specifically for exterior use. Porcelain tiles are fade resistant and scratch proof, and as they don’t absorb water, they won’t crack or freeze when there’s a frost. They’re low maintenance as they’re easy to clean - you simply need to sweep away any garden detritus and wash with a suitable cleaning product. Porcelain tiles that replicate the appearance of natural stone mean you won’t need compromise on the look.
Stone, however, has its own natural beauty with each tile being unique because of its natural colouring and veining. It’s extremely durable, as well as being sustainable. ‘Limestone or sandstone are the best natural stones to use for areas that receive traffic,’ says Hamish. ‘For natural stone seamless inside-out tiling, you may need to mix two finishes due to the suitability of each one, however several options are available.’ Because natural stone is porous, some more so than others, interior stone tiles require sealing. They should be sealed just after they are installed and then they simply require regular cleaning. As long as you are cleaning your stone floor with the correct PH neutral product, your tiles should last a few years without the need for resealing. For outdoors, you should choose a natural stone recommended for external use, as well as one that is frost-resistant. Exterior stone tiles are relatively easy to look after too. You can seal them, but the weather does tend to break down the sealer quite quickly. The best way to look after them is by giving them a pressure wash in the spring, being careful that you don’t blast the stones too close or with too high a pressure, then let them dry out for a few days. Make sure the temperature is above 5 degrees outside and then finish off by applying another coat of water-based sealer.
Most tiles are available in both ranges. ‘We’ve seen a rise in people asking for matching indoor and outdoor tiles, for example our Wychwood limestone and Nimes Porcelain collections,’ says Hamish. 'When it comes to the best size tile to use, rectangular tiles tend to be more versatile for all types of property. The traditional size for paving is 60cm x 90cm or 60cm x random lengths; although larger square formats such as 90cm x 90cm or 120cm x120cm work better for contemporary properties as they create a minimalist grid effect.'
‘For a large area, it is always best to stick with tiling that’s more neutral that won’t age too quickly,’ says Hamish. ‘However, any brighter, white tones are not always a good option for outdoors unless you have some shade; as direct sunlight will reflect too much light into your eyes and can become almost blinding. If you’re south facing and have a lot of direct sunlight then it is best to stick with a soft grey or beige tone.’
Choose your tiles according to what look you want to create. For instance, for a rustic aesthetic, opt for a tile that has a more aged finish, such as a tumbled-edge limestone with a lightly textured surface or a porcelain with a rounded edges and an antique stone effect look. You should also select darker tones; browns, warm beiges, and greige as they have a more authentic feel. On the other hand, for an urban, slightly more contemporary look, choose smoother, straight edged tiles in lighter tones.
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