Top tier tiles – faux or refreshed

From the Resene decorating blog

The right tiles in the right space can lend your home interior a durable elegance. However, they can be expensive and, like any surface, can start to look dated or tired after time.

One inexpensive way to get all the creativity, colour and elegance of a tiled or paved surface can be to paint your own tiled-like repeating pattern in a section of floor or wall (or even on an upcycled piece of furniture), using a basecoat colour, your choice of stencils or special effects using Resene products.

A classic checkerboard look

A classic checkerboard look is a simple way to jazz up a plain floor.

Floor stained in Resene Colorwood Bleached Riverstone with squares painted in Resene Quarter New Denim Blue. Wall in Resene Iron, bookcase, cabinet wall shelf and hooks in Resene Rhino, cabinet top in Resene Grey Chateau, handles in Resene Iron, plant pot and small baskets in Resene New Denim Blue and hamper in Resene Casper. Baskets, laundry supplies and towels from Father Rabbit. Project by Melle Van Sambeek, image by Bryce Carleton.

A masked grid of faux tile

This masked grid of faux tile creates an elegant, interesting backdrop to an achromatic bathroom.

Upper wall and bath mat painted in Resene Alabaster with floor, dado line and faux grout in Resene Double Stack. Marble base in Resene Alabaster with Resene Eighth Stack, Resene Half Stack and Resene Half Baltic Sea, wall shelf in Resene Invincible, pot in Resene Half Stack and stool in Resene Eighth Stack. Bath and tapware from Plumbline, towels from Father Rabbit. Project by Melle Van Sambeek, image by Bryce Carleton.

Technical tips

Resene Paint Experts Jay Sharples and Craig Hilliar have some tips for creating your own faux tiled space or refreshing your existing tiles:

The right preparation and correct adhesion primer will be the key to success if you are looking to paint floor or wall ‘tiles’. The type of primer you should use will depend on the type of flooring or surface you are painting. Is it timber, lino, particle board, concrete, existing tiles? Make sure you get the best-recommended primer for your surface. Ask at your Resene ColorShop for the best products for your surface.
For painting a tile-like pattern on the wall, you’ll need good masking tape, and a small amount of the current wall colour. Tape up the wall with the tile pattern, then brush over the tape on the side you will be applying the new colour to using your existing wall colour. This helps prevent any colour bleed through the tape. When dry, apply the new colour. When that is touch dry carefully remove the tape.
You can use any gloss level for your tiled effect, from low sheen or high gloss.
In damp areas like kitchens and bathrooms you may want to use Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen Kitchen & Bathroom, a waterborne enamel or choose Resene Lustacryl Kitchen & Bathroom for a semi-gloss finish. Both have a mould inhibitor and are easy to wipe clean.
If you are painting your tile design over an already-painted surface, look for any signs of flaking or peeling in the existing surface. You may need to sand, clean and repaint the existing basecoat before you start your tile design.
If you are painting over existing tiles start with Resene Moss & Mould Killer to treat any moss or mould.
Some tiles can be sanded before painting to help paint adhere.
If you are painting over interior tiles, apply Resene Waterborne Sureseal first. This is an adhesion primer so needs a thin coat over all areas. You’re not trying to achieve full coverage; you’re just applying an anchor coat for the topcoats to adhere to. You may also want to apply a coat of Resene Quick Dry primer at this stage to help achieve a uniform white base.
If you’re using a stencil, use low-tack masking tape to keep it in place and sponge your colour on so you don’t use too much. This will help to avoid the colour bleeding.
Avoid painting over tiles where the water ponds or inside shower areas. Decorative paints aren’t designed for these areas.

top tip Painting tiles may not last as long as the original tile finish but it can be a good way to refresh old tiles while you’re saving or waiting for a more permanent renovation.

A colourful checkerboard floor

A checkerboard floor effect doesn’t need to be limited to classic monochrome.

The floor is painted in Resene White Pointer and Resene Dawn Glow. Walls in Resene White Pointer, black lightshade in Resene Dawn Glow and Resene Yogi. Bed and ottoman from Mocka, chair from Danske Møbler, bedding from Foxtrot Home, floral pillowcases and sheepskin from Allium Interiors, shell cushion and wall art from Little Whimsy, diary and bag from Father Rabbit. Project by Amber Armitage, image by Wendy Fenwick.

An eye-catching tiled effect

Simple squares and circles cut from MDF make an eye-catching tiled effect in this retro-inspired space.

The rear wall and floor are painted in Resene Spanish White. The coffee table and lamp base are in Resene Toffee, lampshade in Resene Toffee and Resene Tussock, wood tiles in Resene Spanish White and tealight holder is Resene Tussock. Sofa from Nood, mustard cushion from H&M Home, patterned cushion from Farmers. Project by Vanessa Nouwens, image by Bryce Carleton.

Creative ideas

Classic check: Try a classic black and white checkerboard floor for a touch of art deco flair. Keep it simple by painting your whole floor in two coats of a white like Resene Alabaster then carefully measure and mask off your contrast squares in Resene Black. This look doesn’t need to be restricted to black and white, though. Try a beige like Resene Parchment with a deep teal like Resene Tarawera or burnt orange Resene Vesuvius. You could even work out a check pattern that makes use of all three. For a bolder statement try something unexpected like deep red Resene Aroha with a softer pastel like Resene Duck Egg Blue.

Tile templates: Create a tile template from card for common tile shapes like a hexagon or curved fish-scale or use a single tile to outline simple repeat designs. Use a gradient of similar shades like Resene French Grey, Resene Shady Lady and Resene Monsoon against a neutral like Resene Pearl Lusta for a tonal effect. Or emulate a bold Gaudi-style mosaic with saturated shades like Resene Now Or Never, Resene Adrenalin and Resene Ocean Waves. To get even faux-grouted spaces between your tiles, paint the whole surface in a neutral background colour first then carefully outline your shapes in pencil or mask them off, to be filled in.

Stencilled style: For more intricate faux-tiled patterns you can find a range of printable designs online including some downloadable from Resene or create your own. Use a sharp craft blade to carefully cut out your pattern. As with other faux-tiled designs, paint your entire surface in your base colour first then leave to dry before carefully placing, taping and sponging your tile design in your chosen topcoat. Don’t be afraid to veer away from a white or neutral as your base colour. Experimenting with light and dark shades of a similar colour can be particularly impactful. Try blues like navy Resene Madison with cornflower Resene Havelock Blue for echoes of Morocco and the Mediterranean or try botanical greens like Resene Paddock with soft Resene Green Spring.

Concrete refresher: Update concrete pavers or tiles outdoors with Resene Concrete Stain, which comes in shades like Resene Autumn Leaves and Resene Red Terracotta. It can be an excellent way to extend the life of older concrete surfaces or use different shades on smaller pavers to create a patchwork effect. For subtler colour changes try Resene ConcreteWash which comes in a range of muted neutrals like Resene Greigewash and Resene Blondewash. Or for a painted non-slip finish, use Resene Non-Skid Deck & Path.

Affordable marble: For a sophisticated marble look without the expense start by painting your wall in a dark, stony grey like Resene Double Stack. When dry, section your ‘tiles’ with masking tape and apply a basecoat of a pale neutral like Resene Alabaster or Resene Sea Fog. Apply dabs and streaks of Resene Eighth Stack, Resene Half Baltic Sea and Resene Half Stack over the wall using a sponge and/or a brush to get the veined marble look. Leave to dry before carefully removing the tape.

Wallpaper tiles: Wallpaper can be a fast and fun way to add the look of tiles to walls, shelves and other decorative surfaces like bedheads. The simplest way is to use a minimalist tiled-style repeat pattern like Resene Wallpaper Collection 33971 or the mosaic style of Resene Wallpaper Collection DGILA202. Another, bolder option could be to cut squares from your chosen wallpaper design and place them in a checkerboard pattern over a contrasting, or matching, painted wall colour. For example try the lush botanical design of Resene Wallpaper Collection 33304 in square tile shapes against a background in warm teal Resene Boost.

top tip When experimenting with different tile designs, test your looks out on a piece of card or spare plasterboard first to get your measurements and techniques right.

Colours mentioned in this blog...

Top tier tiles – faux or refreshed

Technical tips

Creative ideas

Resene Paints Ltd – www.resene.com