Starting a home renovation project can be overwhelming.
With all the costs, making sure that the design and final project are exactly how you want them to be is something that can stress you out.
In this blog post, we want to put together some of the top advice we often give people who want to design their home the way they like it. 
Begin by Conceptualising
Whether you are building a house or just renovating your current place, start small by putting together your ideas and creating a vision of what’s about to be done.
There are tons of web pages, magazines and videos on the internet that can help you get ideas.
Using a mood board can help, and you have probably heard of them.
Mood boards can be of great help, especially in the early stages.
What is a mood board?
A mood board is a collection of your ideas, inspiration and concepts that together bring about a mood and feeling of the design.
Putting together a mood board will help you visualise your ideas. You can do it digitally or on a table.
Websites like Pinterest and Instagram are perfect platforms for collecting images.
When making a mood board try to be as visual as possible. If you have an idea, use an image to see it for yourself. Look at projects and concepts that are similar to yours and see if it fits your vision.
Choose a Colour Palette
You can look at colour palettes on the internet or choose colours you like.
A colour palette will guide you in choosing your materials and design. Try to limit your colours. As a general rule, try not to have more than three to four colours. All these colours should have harmony as well.
For instance, if you are choosing blue, have a light blue and darker blue. Then choose one colour as an accent that will stand out in your design and give it more character.
Choosing Your Materials
Consider Functionality Above All
When choosing your materials consider how useful they are, besides their look. Don’t forget you are going to live in your house and you don’t want to spend heaps maintaining it or having to replace it.
Every material will have its unique features, and its pros and cons. Do your research and find the most suitable material. Consider factors such as how different parts of the house will be used, and how slippery you want the tiles to be.
Here we just want to give you a very brief overview of some of the options available:
Ceramic and porcelain tiles today have become extremely popular (and for a good reason). They are easier to maintain and are much cheaper as well.
You can clean them with abrasive products and detergent and don’t need to worry about the tiles being damaged, whereas natural stones, for example, are more delicate.
Another reason for Porcelain tiles' popularity is their versatility. Nowadays they come in lookalikes of all other materials. For example, if you like the timber or natural stone look but you can’t afford them or they are difficult to maintain, you can get porcelain tiles that look exactly like stone or timber.
Natural stone pavers are very popular for the outdoor and poolside areas where slip rating becomes an important factor and the natural material looks a lot better outside.
Also, many love the marble countertop for its elegance. However, there are maintenance catiouns to be considered.
Some natural stones (such as limestone and travertine) tend to be porous, and therefore, not highly recommended for bathroom areas.
Lastly, natural stone requires more expertise in installation as well. They are more difficult to install and you should definitely consult a professional before installation.
However, arguably, nothing compares to the elegance and tone of natural stone for home design. There is a reason why they have been used in constructions for centuries and have not been irrelevant or obsolete.
Natural stones come in slabs, tiles and mosaics. Some of the mosaics are really beautiful options for kitchens and bathrooms.
Terrazzo tiles have a very long history. They are made up of small pieces of materials such as granite, marble and glass and put together with precast or cement.
They used to be really “in” during the 70s and 80s. Then they were not as popular for some time. And now they are back in style!
There are lots of designs and colours to choose from. There are many benefits to choosing terrazzo tiles. You can read all about terrazzo and its benefits here.
However, you must also consider that terrazzo tiles are not considered cheap materials for renovation but there are advantages that come with using terrazzo tiles. They are high quality, easy to maintain and eco-friendly.
Diversify Your Materials
Diversify your materials to bring more depth and richness to your design.
Try to keep things practical by choosing the most functional material for each part of the house while also keeping it stylish and beautiful.
Choose from a few materials within your colour palette for different parts of the house.
Or add a layer of different materials to your design for contrast.
When designing your tiles always consider how the aesthetic flow of the place looks with the tiles installed.
You want the tiles to catch the eyes and seem unique in their place but it is important for them to fit in with other elements of the design.
Paying attention to the flow will help you design the tiles so that everything is in harmony.
When choosing different products ensure that they have good compatibility, especially in areas where different elements meet.
Make a Statement with Colour Tones
Now, you might be saying “what the heck is this guy saying?!”
Yes this point kind of goes against the previous one, but that is the art of designing. (Don’t forget you can always ask us for a consultation!)
However, here we are talking more about colour tones rather than materials.
The idea is simple: if you have a design that looks kind of flat, add a contrasting colour tone to bring out character. You can see some examples below.
This is usually a good idea for bathroom and kitchen areas.
It’s important not to go over the top and keep it simple because simplicity in designs gives it real class and elegance.
Bringing Grout into the Design
Many people forget about the role of grouts in their tiling design. Make sure you consider what the finished design looks like with the grout.
The most common colour for grouts is white or creamy white. But, just like tiles, there are many colours of grouts you can choose from.
You can choose a contrasting colour like dark grout on bright tiles, or a harmonising one to fade in with the tiles.
Here you can read more about how to bring grout into your design.
Pay Attention to the Tiles Layout
Lastly, make sure you think about the way the tiles are placed. Tiles can have different layouts and shapes. This will affect the way the design will look.
And the same shape of tiles could be laid in different styles. For example, rectangular tiles can be laid like this:
Or like this:
They will affect the overall look and flow of your design. Make sure you consider this before choosing your tiles. Most tiles come in rectangular shapes, but there are different ways you can lay them.
Renovation Tips
After all the hard work you put into your design, and gathering all the materials, it’s time to actually make it happen!
We all know how hasty the execution could be. Sometimes it’s very frustrating and sometimes not. It really depends on how professional your tilers and builders are. You can take over DIY style as well!
We have a few blog posts on DIY stuff. You can check them out here.
Here, we want to share some of our top advice on how to install and do the execution.
Avoid Unnecessary Cutting of Tiles
It is recommended to buy 10% extra tiles than what you actually need. This is to cover any wastage and tiles that are to be cut during installation.
You will have to cut tiles. There is no avoiding this, but you can avoid unnecessary cutting of tiles.
To do this, you just need a bit of planning. If you are working with a tiler, make sure you talk to them about this. And if you are going DIY, you can always place the tiles before installation to see the floor plan.
The ideal scenario is that you only cut tiles for installing corners. If you are using ceramic tiles, some of the tiles might easily break when carrying them. You can use these tiles for corners first (considering they are not completely wasted), and then if you have to, start cutting other tiles.
Save Money, Buy High-Quality Products
When choosing your materials, try to avoid buying cheaper, low-quality products. This will actually help you save money.
High-quality products tend to last longer and require less maintenance. Therefore, you are doing yourself a favour by investing in them. Renovations are not something you do too often anyway, so might as well you do it right.
Here, at Stone and Tile Projects we offer some of the best prices for high-quality products in the Australian market.
Full Tiles Should Catch the Eyes
Another point to remember when installing tiles is to place the full ones in the centre. As mentioned earlier, you will have to break and cut some of the tiles to fit the corners.
A common mistake people make when installing tiles DIY is to start from the corners with the full tiles.
Full tiles should be placed to catch the most attention. Placing them in the most prominent place of the project will make the entire place look better.
