It’s that time of year when, dreaming of warmer weather, we start pondering ways to rejuvenate our winter-worn gardens. If your outdoor space looks like it needs more than a few industrious days spent clearing and planting to freshen it up, then it might be time for some new outdoor tiles.
Whether a city courtyard or a large and leafy plot, outdoor flooring can make or break a space. Our outdoor tiles collection comprises some beautiful natural stone options, but if you’re looking for an affordable, low-maintenance alternative, then we have a vast array of porcelain designs that closely mimic the real thing.
Just as with their natural stone counterparts, the colour and texture of the porcelain tiles you choose have the potential to shape the rest of the garden, and even impact your interior too. For shady spots, why not consider stone-effect tiles in a pale shades to lift and brighten the area? If you’d like to give your garden a little more character, perhaps opt for rugged flagstone designs.
To bring softness to a garden or patio, consider pairing your porcelain tiles with pea gravel for a Mediterranean feel. The gravel is a really effective way break up swathes of paving if you’re working with a large area, but if you want to pack in as much green as possible, you could plant creeping ground cover between your pavers instead.
Whatever your preference, or the style or size of your garden or terrace, we’re sure to have both wall and floor tiles that suit in our extensive outdoor porcelain range. We’ve compiled a few favourites below.
1. Inject some personality with patterned tiles
If you’re working with a small or awkward outdoor space, a garden that lacks light or a limited budget, then patterned outdoor tiles are an easy win. Our Casa Grande outdoor range comprises a range of patterned and plain options in soft, neutral shades, so you can effortlessly combine designs if you’d rather err on the side of simplicity. We love the Decor 1 motif: a subtle, geometric pattern that works really well in both modern and traditional gardens.
3. Create a seamless transition between indoors and out
There are a few clever design tricks that can help to reinforce a connection between home and garden, and flooring is one of them. Choosing the same floor tiles for inside and outdoors creates an instant visual link between the two areas, resulting in a fluid space that helps to bring the outside in. Many of our porcelain outdoor tiles, such as the Kast range, have been designed specifically for this purpose, and are available in two different thicknesses, allowing them to be used as exterior and interior flooring.
4. Embrace country style with rugged flagstones
Given their incredibly convincing surface texture, shade variation and antique-style edges, you might be surprised to learn that these characterful flagstones are, in fact, made of porcelain. Combined, these qualities make our Wexford range a highly realistic match for traditional Yorkstone paving slabs, and mean they’re a great fit for country gardens and period homes. The collection also includes indoor tiles, so you can recreate the feel of farmhouse flagstone floor that looks like it’s been in situ for years.
5. Create a holiday feel in your own home
While we can’t guarantee you a sun-drenched staycation that lives up to the dream of a southern French summer, we can suggest ideas to help recreate that holiday feel at home. These Hendre Blanc Porcelain tiles are just one way to brighten your outdoor space, mimicking the tones and texture of natural stone without the need for sealing or maintenance. Available in a range of different sizes, their Provençal feel will bring warmth and character to both modern and more traditional spaces.
6. Choose a Sandstone-effect tile for a rustic edge
If you love the look of sandstone but would prefer a porcelain alternative, our Chiltern Buff Outdoor Porcelain tiles might fit the bill. Cleverly imitating the riven surface finish that gives sandstone tiles their rugged appeal, these realistic alternatives combine the texture of natural stone with the durability of porcelain. And, unlike sandstone, porcelain tiles are also highly resistant to staining, so there’s no need to worry about how they’ll weather over time.
