Living Room Tiles — Large Format, Marble and Wood Effects
The living room is the one space where traffic is low enough that appearance can lead the decision outright. Nothing here will wear a tile out, so the whole decorative range is genuinely available — which makes this the room where format and layout matter more than body type.
Format changes the room more than colour does
A floor laid in 300x300 mm tiles reads as a grid. The eye counts the joints, the pattern repeats every foot, and the room feels chopped up. The same room in 600x1200 mm with 2 mm rectified joints reads as a single surface, and it feels appreciably larger — not because the tiles are bigger but because there is nothing dividing the floor into units.
That is why large format is worth the extra cost and the extra care in laying. It needs a flatter substrate than a small tile does, because any dip in the screed shows as lippage between two large rigid pieces, and it needs a setter comfortable with the format. But the result is a different room, not just a different floor.
Wood-effect planks are the other direction worth considering. At 200x1200 mm they give the visual warmth of timber with none of its problems — no swelling, no refinishing, no worry about a spilled drink — and laying them in a brick or herringbone pattern gives the floor direction, which is useful in a long room. The plank layout draws the eye down the length of the space.
For gloss versus matt in a living room: gloss. There is no slip risk to speak of, and a polished PGVT bounces light around a room in a way that makes a real difference in spaces with limited natural light.
What to specify
Format
- 600x1200 mm large format
- 800x1600 mm for open plan
- 200x1200 mm wood plank
- 600x600 mm for smaller rooms
Finish
- High gloss PGVT
- Satin GVT
- Wood-registered emboss
- Matt for a contemporary look
Design
- Marble and book-matched marble
- Travertine and limestone
- Oak, walnut and teak plank
- Concrete and terrazzo
Details
- Matching skirting
- Rectified edges, 2 mm joints
- Grout matched to tile tone
- Feature wall in the same decor
Layout decisions worth making before ordering
- Run the long dimension along the long wall — it stretches the room visually. Running it across does the opposite.
- Match the grout to the tile — a contrasting grout reinstates the grid you paid to remove. Tone-matched grout makes the floor continuous.
- Set out from the focal point — full tiles where the eye lands, cuts at the edges and under furniture.
- Carry the floor through openings — the same tile continuing into the hall or dining area makes both spaces read as one.
- Consider a feature wall in the same decor — a book-matched slab behind a television or fireplace ties the room together.
- Order 10 per cent extra — for cuts, breakage and a future repair that will not shade-match if bought later.
Frequently asked questions
What size tiles are best for a living room?
600x1200 mm for most rooms and 800x1600 mm or larger for open-plan spaces. Fewer joints make the floor read as one continuous surface, which makes the room feel larger. Wood-effect planks at 200x1200 mm are the alternative where warmth matters more.
Should living room tiles be glossy or matt?
Gloss works well here. Traffic is low and there is no slip risk, and a polished surface reflects light around the room — a real advantage in spaces with limited daylight. Matt is a valid stylistic choice for a contemporary scheme.
Do large format tiles need a special substrate?
They need a flatter one. Any dip in the screed shows as lippage between two large rigid tiles, so the floor should be levelled properly first and the tiles laid with a levelling system. This is worth insisting on with the contractor.
Can wood-effect tiles pass for real wood?
At a glance, yes — particularly the ones with surface texture registered to the printed grain, so the tile feels like timber under the hand. Up close, a joint every 1200 mm gives it away. What you gain is a floor that is unaffected by water, needs no refinishing and will not scratch.
Request living room tile samples
Tell us the look you are after and the room size. We will send the matching decors and quote them.
Browse the full range
Buying Guides
- Tile Buying Guide
- Full Body vs GVT Tiles
- Step & Riser Tiles Guide
- GVT vs PGVT
- Tile Size Guide
- Laminate Guide
- Porcelain vs Ceramic Tiles
- What Are Vitrified Tiles
- Types of Tiles
- Tile Thickness Guide
- Glossy vs Matte Tiles
- How to Clean Tile Floors
- How to Remove Tile Stains
- How to Fix Cracked Tiles
- How to Clean Marble Floors
- Bathroom Size Guide
- Powder Room Guide