Picking a tile you love is one thing. Knowing where it should actually go is another. The wrong tile in the wrong space can mean early wear, safety hazards, or an installation that simply does not hold up. This room-by-room guide tells you exactly which tile category belongs where — and why.
Living Room
Living rooms need a balance of aesthetics and moderate durability. Foot traffic is regular but rarely heavy-commercial. This makes GVT and PGVT the ideal choices — they offer the widest design range and the surface quality to anchor a premium interior.
- Recommended: GVT (matte or satin) or PGVT (for a luxury feel)
- Size: 600×1200mm or 800×1600mm for a spacious look
- Avoid: Step risers, unpolished full body (too industrial)
Bedroom
Bedrooms see light traffic and benefit most from tiles that feel warm underfoot and look refined. GVT in matte or satin finish is the top pick — the understated sheen creates a calm, luxurious atmosphere without the high-maintenance mirror gloss of PGVT.
- Recommended: GVT matte or satin finish
- Size: 600×600mm or 600×1200mm
- Tip: Wood-look GVT tiles add warmth without real wood maintenance costs
Kitchen
Kitchens demand stain resistance, ease of cleaning, and slip resistance. For floors, use GVT with a textured or anti-skid finish. For walls and backsplashes, ceramic or glossy GVT works perfectly — grease wipes clean easily from a smooth glazed surface.
- Floor: GVT anti-skid or textured, 600×600mm
- Wall/backsplash: Glossy ceramic or GVT, 300×600mm
- Avoid: High-gloss PGVT on floors — slippery when wet
Bathroom
Bathrooms require tiles with low water absorption, slip resistance on floors, and easy-clean surfaces on walls. Vitrified tiles for floors (with anti-skid finish) and ceramic or GVT for walls is the standard combination used across residential and hotel bathroom installations.
- Floor: Vitrified anti-skid, 300×300mm or 300×600mm
- Wall: Ceramic glossy or GVT, 300×600mm or 300×900mm
- Slip rating: Minimum R9 required for wet bathroom floors
Commercial Spaces — Offices, Retail, Hospitals
High foot traffic demands maximum hardness and minimal maintenance. Double charge tiles are the industry standard for commercial floors — virtually scratch-proof and able to withstand decades of heavy use without visible wear.
- Recommended: Double Charge, 600×600mm or 800×800mm
- Hardness required: PEI rating 4 or 5
- Hospitals: Anti-bacterial surface finish recommended
Outdoor — Patios, Driveways, Terraces
Outdoor tiles must withstand UV exposure, frost, rain, and significant load. Full body vitrified tiles are the only choice here — their through-body construction means surface wear, weather, and weight do not compromise the tile’s appearance or structural integrity.
- Recommended: Full Body vitrified, textured finish
- Size: 600×600mm or 400×800mm
- Must have: Frost resistance + R10 or higher slip rating
Staircases
Staircases are one of the most safety-critical installation areas. Purpose-built step riser tiles with anti-skid nosing are non-negotiable. Standard floor tiles lack the edge profile and grip rating needed for safe staircase use.
- Recommended: Step Riser tiles with anti-skid nosing
- Slip rating: R11 minimum
- Never use: Polished PGVT or smooth floor tiles on stairs
Quick Reference
| Space | Tile Type | Finish |
|---|---|---|
| Living room | GVT / PGVT | Matte / Mirror |
| Bedroom | GVT | Matte / Satin |
| Kitchen floor | GVT anti-skid | Textured |
| Kitchen wall | Ceramic / GVT | Glossy |
| Bathroom floor | Vitrified anti-skid | Textured |
| Bathroom wall | Ceramic / GVT | Glossy |
| Commercial | Double Charge | Polished |
| Outdoor | Full Body | Textured |
| Staircase | Step Riser | Anti-skid |
