Tile Design Tips to Make Small Spaces Look Bigger

In many homes, especially in densely populated areas like Thousand Oaks or Ventura, small rooms are a reality. A tiny bathroom, a compact entryway, or a small laundry room can feel cramped and uninviting. But with the right design choices, a small space can be transformed into a stunning, functional feature of your home. The key is using materials that can create a sense of spaciousness, and no material is better at this than tile.

At Flooring 101, we believe that every room, no matter its size, has the potential to be beautiful. Here are our top design tricks for using tile flooring for small spaces to make your room look bigger.

Using Large-Format Tile in Small Spaces

It may seem counterintuitive, but using large-format tiles in a small room is one of the most effective ways to make it feel bigger:

• Fewer Grout Lines: The biggest advantage of large tiles is that they drastically reduce the number of grout lines. In a small space, a grid of busy grout lines can make the room feel cluttered and claustrophobic. By minimizing these lines, you create a seamless, uninterrupted surface that makes the floor or wall feel expansive.
• Visual Flow: Large tiles create a sense of visual flow, drawing the eye across the space without interruption. This helps to create the illusion of a bigger room.

Choosing the Right Grout Color & Tile Surface

Grout is a necessary component of any tile installation, but its color can have a dramatic impact on the final look.

• Matching Grout: To make a room look bigger, choose a grout color that closely matches your tile. A seamless transition between the tile and grout creates a clean, continuous surface that visually expands the space.
• Contrasting Grout: While contrasting grout can be used for a bold design statement, it’s best to avoid it in small rooms. The grid of lines can make the room feel busy and cramped.

The right tile design features such as tile color and tile finish can help you maximize a sense of space in a small room.

• Light-Colored Tile: Light colors reflect light and make a room feel more open and airy. Choose a light-colored tile in a small bathroom or entryway to help it feel bigger and more inviting.
• Glossy Finish: A tile with a glossy finish will reflect light, making the space feel brighter and more expansive. This is especially effective in a small bathroom with limited natural light.

Going Vertical: Tile Walls

When you can’t go out, go up. Using tile on the walls of a small room is a great way to add visual interest and create a stunning design feature.

• Floor-to-Ceiling Tile: Taking the tile from the floor all the way up the wall can create a seamless, cohesive look that makes the room feel taller.
• Vertical Patterns: Using a tile like a classic subway tile and installing it vertically can draw the eye upward, making the ceiling feel higher.

Using Tile Shape & Tile Pattern in Small Spaces

Beyond size and color, the shape and pattern of your tile can be a powerful tool for visual deception. Long, rectangular tiles, for instance, can be installed in a linear pattern to draw the eye along the longest dimension of the room, instantly making it feel deeper and more expansive. A herringbone or chevron pattern, popular in modern design, also works wonders. These V-shaped layouts create a sense of movement and energy that prevents the eye from settling in one spot, making the entire space feel more dynamic and less confined.

Experiment with these tile patterns for proven ways to add a sophisticated, graphic element that visually breaks up the space without making it feel cluttered. You can also use a small, intricate mosaic tile on a single wall or within a shower niche to create a point of interest that draws the eye and distracts from the room’s small footprint.

Tile Floor Designs for California Homes

At Flooring 101, our experts are masters at helping homeowners find the right flooring solutions for any challenge. We have a vast selection of large-format tiles, light-colored tiles, and glossy finishes that are perfect for your small space project. We provide a complimentary consultation to help you choose a tile that not only fits your design vision but also makes your room feel bigger and more beautiful.

We offer free in-home measurements and estimates, performed by our expert tile team. To experience the peace of mind for your new tile project, contact us today or visit one of our showroom locations today in Oxnard, Ventura, Bakersfield, Goleta, Thousand Oaks, Santa Maria, or Simi Valley, CA!