One of our local clients is replacing all of her downstairs floors this fall and requested a porcelain wood tile. As I’ve been looking around for her, I’ve been floored (ha! pun.) by the amazing options available right now! Wood tile has come SO far the past few years.
I do love the softer feel and warmth of real wood underfoot, but sometimes it really makes sense to use a wood tile instead. Because tile is completely waterproof and scratch resistant (I wish I could say the same for my wood floors we put in only two years ago…), it is a super smart option for homes built on concrete slabs and for pet owners. Also, since the tile can be installed in kitchens and bathrooms without worry, it’s a great option for more open concept homes. It’s nice to be able to install the wood tile everywhere without transitions.
I picked up these samples from my local Floor & Decor – they had two full rows of just wood tile options. Each of these are under $4.25/sq foot! Insane pricing!!
If you’re thinking of wood tile for your home, here are my best tips:
1) Choose a tile with a more subtle wood texture and a pattern made by an inkjet with a lot of pattern variation. Some of these tiles have as many as ten different pattern variations in each colorway.
2) Since there are pattern repeats, be sure to rotate the orientation of the tiles often to help break up the overall look. You don’t want to be able to spot the same pattern in one glance!
3) Choose a tile with a rectified edge rather than a pressed edge. You can get much tighter grout lines with tile that has more exact edges.
4) Wood-look tiles come in a few different forms – ceramic, porcelain and concrete. Porcelain is considered the best choice. It’s super hard-wearing and affordable.
5) When you’re choosing a grout color, find the darkest color in your tile and chose one shade deeper for your grout color. This tricks the eye into thinking that the grout lines are shadow around the “wood planks” especially if you have a rectified edge tile and really small grout lines. Floor & Decor sells a great line of pre-mixed super stain-resistant grout that comes in a million different colors. It’s so easy to find a shade that works best!
6) Generally I like wood tile planks to be at least 40″ long, but 48″ or longer is ideal. The shorter planks can be a give away and make it harder to trick the eye into thinking the tile is actually wood.
7) If you’ve found a wood tile that you really love, but it only comes in 24 or 30″ planks, like many of them do, try a herringbone pattern with the shorter planks. The proportions will be just right!
8) Sometimes people think it’s a good idea to lay wood tile in a stacked, geometric tile pattern (like a running bond pattern), but that’s another give away that your flooring is not actually wood. Laying the tile in a very random order, just like real wood, helps trick the eye.
Those are my best tips for choosing a great wood tile! Do you have any to add? One of my friends is putting this tile in her house in a herringbone pattern and it is looking amazing! I’m thinking something similar would be great for my client’s home.
A big thanks to Floor & Decor for sponsoring this flooring series! Check out my last post on decorative tiles here.
This is a dumb question: wood tiles aren't pergo, are they?
No. Pergo is a laminate product. A better term for this product above would be wood-grain tile, (or wood-grain porcelain tile, or wood-grain ceramic tile.) It simulates a wood look using ceramic or porcelain material.
Hey Adrianna!
Pergo is a laminate product and wood look tiles are ceramic or porcelain tiles with a wood pattern on top. Much more durable!
Hope that helps! xo
I would think that most people would own the wood tile look, isntead of trying to pass it off as real wood floors. That herringbone pattern with the lighter tile is my favorite, and I've seen a lot of it recently- you know when you're standing on it that it's tile and not wood, but it still looks lovely.
lots of great tips!
We just put this in our guest bath-and I love it! We have a beachy theme, and I did a light grayish color tile that looks amazing.
What options can you recommend for stairs? I want to replace the flooring throughout my townhouse with either this product or vinyl plank flooring but it's a 2-story unit and I don't know how to handle the stairs.
You mentioned the preferred edge. Does the box of tile provide the edge description? Or do you need to look at it to determine what type of edge the tile has? I'm asking because I don't think I can tell the difference.
Why wood the porcelain tiles be a better choice over the nice vinyl wood planks they have now? Aren't the vinyl easier to install? Are the porcelain more durable? Just curious because my in laws are about to use the vinyl planks. This is a great post!
The porcelain tiles are very hard so they prevent scratching. People like me that have 2 big 100lbs dogs will scratch real wood and the vinyl planks. This is why porcelain/ceramic/concrete tiles are better.
Thanks for putting this together, it is great info! I've been hesitant to consider wood tile, because usually my rule of thumb is anything faux is going to look outdated much faster than the real thing, but your tips would help it to not look too trendy. One suggestion–I'd love to save this post to my 'Flooring' board on Pinterest, but I am not finding a button to do so…
So happy you posted this! We have wood tile in a bathroom and when we bought the house, I thought "What were they thinking, putting wood in this bathroom!!"… until after we moved in and I found a couple extra tiles! Totally fooled!
We are now considering replacing the (20 year old, UGLY) tile in our kitchen and the carpet in the dining room with wood tile. My only concern is that tile is such a hassle to tear out down the road.
One of my clients used wood tiles in her dining room. Looks amazing! Great tip for picking grout colours!
Thanks for sharing!
xo,
Ivy
I love this look and have contemplated it for years – but tile is a commitment! I'm scared it will look VERY dated in just a few years. Do you think so? Or do you think it will become mainstream the way Pergo/engineered hardwood floors have?
Those are great options. They sure have come a long way. I just used 'wood' vinyl for a client in a room coming off of their pool and I have to say it is very hard to tell the difference. It's so nice to have good looking durable options for spaces where wood might not be the best choice.
Sheila – You have a couple of options for your stairs. I've seen a few people recreate treads with the tiles, but it looks super tricky. I think the best (and sadly more expensive route) is to buy solid wood treads in the species of wood that your tile is mimicking and stain the treads to match. The easier option would be to paint your existing treads black with white risers. You could add a runner to help too!
Mary – it will say right on the box if the edges are pressed or rectified. At Floor & Decor they have big poster board signs that tell you.
Jenbeth – my parents had vinyl for years before we recently did their remodel. I think there can be pros to almost any type of flooring. It's nice that vinyl is also water resistant. I know my mom felt like it scratched a lot though. The nice thing about these wood tiles is they can take a beating!
Hi LIsa! When you hover over my photos, a Pin It button should appear!
Kim, I know what you mean! But I think wood look tile will only be here to stay. I think it will continue to improve in look, feel and style, but I can't imagine that we won't be using something similar in ten years! There are so many down sides to real wood, I think there will always be great wood alternative products out there.
xo
Hmm… I swear I've pinned from your site before, but am not seeing the button when I hover over the pictures this time around. No need to trouble yourself further, I just thought I'd give you a heads up in case that function had been turned off (but it may very well just be my computer). Anyhow, thanks for the response, Jenny. I've read your blog here and there over the years and am never disappointed!
I am sure if i ever buy a place i will add some dark wooden (or wooden looking) floor <3 they look beautiful and warm in whatever pattern you go for!
But feel cold to the feet
But feel cold to the feet
But feel cold to the feet
I am about to install wood tiles in my bathroom. I am trying to pick between several colors in the Italgraniti Scrapwood range- apparently they are made by a computer algorithm where no two tiles are replicated- they each have their own scrapwood characteristics! Im so excited, but just can't decide on color! THey are all quite pretty! .
Thanks for the extra tips!
Jenny,
Lisa is right… No pin. Must be off on your end!
I love this post and have been trying to find a wood tile that i love and you posted several that i am really interested in using in my home. I want to lay the tile in a different pattern than what is traditional but something that isn't trendy… I would love to hear/see some of your ideas on different ways to lay the wood tile. I'm leaning towards a angled checker board pattern…what do you think?
I put white wood tiles with heated flooring in my bathroom 7 years ago & they still look great. I think it makes the bathroom feel more cozy that obvious porcelain tiles.
I love these detailed materials posts. Sooo incredibly helpful. Have you ever used terra cotta tiles? I'd love to hear your thoughts if you have :)
I love the wood tile in the herringbone pattern!!! Wondering what do you think about wood tile in a kitchen or bathroom where the rest of the house is legit hardwood?
Good share,
"haus-team.de"
Love this loo. Any idea on the manufacturer of the arabesque wall tile?
I’m considering the wood tile for 3 rooms approximate sq foot 540 and was told I need approximately 560+ for installation. The price without tile was $3780 which included carpet removal and furniture moving.
My husband thinks this is expensive – your opinion.
Hi. Found a pattern in 6×24 then in 8×48…..but looking for something in the middle cuz one to small, but other too big *and very expensive” . Do they come in another in between size? Hv u seen the tumbled edge in wood tile planks? Luv it in travertine, but hvnt seen in wood tile. Ur thoughts? Also N/S vs E/W placement?…how do u decide esp if I want to make my small open concept look more spacious cuz pretty tight?
Also…. what name is that tile on your library/office pic w animal rug? I luv it. Size of tile and manufacturer pls.
We did dark charcoal gray would look 24 x 6″ tiles five years ago our house is small dark with low ceilings everyone thought we were insane we also have seven dogs the floors are incredible they still look almost perfect and everybody raves how fantastic
Be mindfull of any herringbone pattern in small spaces. ( or large for that matter) , it can look too busy and one can get tired of pattern after a while. Running it long and random will lenghten the room and mimic wood flooring the dest
I am handicapped and need flooring I can easily move across. I have a large area of real hardwood (which I can no longer properly take care of) and I also have quite a bit of carpeting and tile. I have thought of taking up all existing flooring and replacing it with the wood looking tile. Has anyone done a really large area in one kind of wood tile? How does it look? I would be putting it in my kitchen; I drop things so I’m wondering how it stands up to that? Anyone had to deal with a scratched, chipped or broken tile?
I would very much appreciate any help anyone could give.
We had about 1500sq ft of wood look tile installed a year ago. It has held up very well, even when I have dropped and broken dishes in it. Many people assume it’s wood.
I live in a rustic cracker style home w/ an 8′ wrap around porch. It has a monolithic concrete slab. I found a wood look porcelain tile that I like 6×40 at floor & decor. How would you finish the outside edge of the concrete slab which is about 3 1/2 -4″ thick? The porch area is about 1600 sf. & the outside edge is about 228 linear feet. It has a pressed edge. If we grout, won’t that be a dead give away that it is tile, so is grout a must?
Thanks,
Linda
These wood tiles are really amazing.. Perfect…
Hi , I just read your post about wood tile flooring and found it to be so helpful. I have a small hall entrance to my house. It opens to stairs going up and down ( I have a raised ranch style house) The stairs are covered with a runner but you do see the wood on the sides of each step. My question is do I try to match the color of the wood that is on the stairs and in the rest of my house? Or do I go with something a little darker since I am not sure there will ever be a good or very close match? Also, I do love the herringbone style flooring but was wondering if that would be too busy in a small entranceway and not match the real wood floor and steps that are horizontal planks. Thanks for any help you can give.
We’ve gone with Eleganza Woodland 8×48″ in Maple, which is in the grey family (link: http://www.eleganzatiles.com/woodland.html). Our contractor wants to do 1/8″ minimum grout. Do you have a suggestion for a specific grout brand/color? Thanks in advance.
I ran into your wood tile suggestion and I am remodeling my house to look rustic. I saw in your examples you used different colors in one pattern how did you decide what colors to use, My bathroom and bedroom are going to be grey dark and light and along with my bathroom but the rest od=f the house is going to be the medium to dark rustic colors. What would be your suggestions . Also I want a back splash for my bathroom can u help me?
What color of tile would you recommend if the cabinets are honey oak color? I cannot find anything I like.
I see that they don’t scratch to dog nails (I’ve lived through that) but what happens when a 200# person slides their dining chair back and forth? Do in need felt protectors on all my furniture before I move it. It is my only concern about using this product.
Don’t do a gray wood tile if you are worried about trendiness or longevity; gray flooring is very trendy. Also, buy a few sample boxes and lay out all the tiles. Things that look great when you are looking at one tile or at a small sample board sometimes look very fake when laid in a large area.
When istalling rectified tiles floors need to be extremely flat… 1/16 joint is like setting marble tilea as well need to be flat… Not and easy installation.. Larger tiles may have bows in them so keep that in mind…
We went with TraverkHome Castagno and absolutely love it.
Hi! Sometime ago I wrote asking for some advice on choosing a color for wood tile that would blend with existing wood .. I have received all other replys except to my question?? Do you answer all rewuests or just a few?
I am replacing carpet in the dining room, living area and master bedroom. All 3 connect with carpet. However I have tile in the entry, kitchen and breakfast area. Is it okay to pull the carpet and lay wood look tile in the 3 areas. It will butt up to the tile in the entry snd kitchen. Do you tecommend a divider to give it a more realistic wood look and flow or separation?
I am having the gray wood tiles installed in our bathroom. I purchased the longest length and we will stagger them on the floor. I am also putting them above the shower for the look and also to keep the sheet rock from getting wet. My problem is finding matching bull nose tile floor boards. Should I go opposite solid white? I think gray would be “to much of the same” , and marble look would be to busy? Any help appreciated. It’s a long narrow bathroom.
i am buying a new home which was already built by the builder with 18″ square white porcelain tiles laid straight, not angled. we really wanted wood floors or wood look floors with the new wood look procelain planks. BUT short of lifting the entire floor and starting from scratch do you know of a method whereby a faux painter can create the look of long wood planks on the square floor tiles???
Hi, great post, thank you. Just wondering, do you know where the wall tiles in the first herringbone picture are from? Looking for floor tiles along those lines!
Hi, What color is the floor tile in the picture above (right below the pressed edge example)? Great info here, thanks!
Hello there,
Thanks for the great post!
I kindly want to ask if it is possible to change the tone color of wood tiles, while not hiding the grains ? Do you think the new color will last if I use real-wood paint ?
Unfortunately, I have limited options here of good colors of wood tiles.
Many thanks!