When it comes to home remodeling in Minneapolis, few materials offer the combination of versatility, durability, and style that tile does. Whether you’re upgrading a bathroom, revamping a kitchen backsplash, reimagining flooring, or creating an elegant bar area, tile can be the perfect finishing touch.
Not only is it incredibly functional—resistant to water, stains, and wear—but it also provides endless aesthetic possibilities. With a wide range of colors, textures, patterns, and materials to choose from, tile allows homeowners to balance practicality and beauty in every space.
At Great Northern Builders, we make use of a variety of tile types to finish our projects, creating beautiful backdrops that are sure to catch your eye. Start thinking about how tile could transform these different parts of your home.
Different Tile Types Can Fit into Any Kitchen Remodel in Minneapolis
Tile is a practical and stylish solution for a new kitchen floor. It’s durable enough to withstand high traffic and frequent spills while being easy to clean and maintain. Tile types like porcelain or ceramic tile are both water-resistant and available in a variety of colors and textures, allowing you to match the look of your room.
A tile backsplash is not only practical but also a design element that adds texture, color, and depth to your kitchen while protecting the walls from water splashes and soap stains. You can choose to continue the pattern across the whole kitchen wall or leave the area behind the sink as a unique focal point with its distinct look.
Installing tile behind and around the stove provides a heat-resistant shield while adding aesthetic appeal to your cooking area. It’s an opportunity to create a standout statement with bold colors, striking patterns, or even a custom design.
Heat-safe materials like ceramic or porcelain are ideal for this application, as they combine functionality with striking visual impact. A well-chosen tile stove backsplash can act as the centerpiece of your kitchen remodel, drawing attention and tying the entire space together.
Tile Sets the Tone for a Bathroom Remodel in Minneapolis
A bathroom remodel is another excellent opportunity to embrace different types of tile. For bathroom and shower floors, tiles offer durability, water resistance, and an array of styles to suit any theme. Adding heated flooring beneath your tiles can also turn an ordinary bathroom into a luxurious spa-like retreat.
For bath and shower surrounds, tiles provide a clean, moisture-resistant surface that can define the design aesthetic of the room with several tile types. Grout lines can be sealed to prevent mildew, ensuring functionality without the headaches of detailed cleaning.
Shower niches, often overlooked in bathroom design, are an ideal spot to incorporate tile. Not only do they offer a practical space for storing toiletries, but they can also serve as a design highlight like the contrasting tile types in Ellie’s House above..
Other Places to Incorporate Types of Tile in Your Home
Tiles are a versatile design element that can enhance various spaces beyond kitchens and bathrooms. With resistance to water and heat, different types of tile can find their way into many parts of your home.
Mudrooms are prime candidates for tiling, especially for home remodeling in Minneapolis. With our long and wet winters, exposure to dirt and moisture is a guarantee for your mudroom. Durable and easy-to-clean, wide tile flooring, like in the entryway of our Highlight of Highland, ensures that this area remains functional and appealing, even with heavy use.
Fireplace surrounds like the intricate chevron installation below are another excellent spot for tile given their ability to withstand extreme heat. Different types of tile around the fireplace can create a stunning focal point with many types of tile to define your aesthetic.
Decorative tile walls throughout the home can also make a huge impact on your home’s design. From geometric patterns to mosaic artistry, an accent piece made from tile is sure to catch the eye of all of your guests.
A home bar, like in our Birchpond Basement, provides another opportunity to incorporate a tile backsplash behind to add character and sophistication while protecting the wall from spills and splashes. Whether you choose types of tile with a bold statement or a more neutral design, it will enhance the ambiance of your bar setup, making it a stylish spot for entertaining guests.
Tile Types to Use in Your Home Remodeling in Minneapolis
Type of Tile #1 Mosaic
Mosaic tile is a versatile and visually striking choice for any home remodel. Composed of small pieces of glass, stone, ceramic, or other materials, mosaic tiles are often arranged in intricate patterns or designs.
They are perfect for creating accent walls, backsplashes, or decorative inlays that make a bold statement. Available in a wide variety of colors, textures, and finishes, mosaic tile offers endless opportunities for customization, allowing homeowners to express their unique style.
Type of Tile #2 Penny Tile
Penny tile is a timeless and charming option that brings a touch of vintage elegance to any space. Named for its small, round shape resembling coins, penny tile is typically made from ceramic, porcelain, or glass.
The compact size of penny tile makes it ideal for creating intricate patterns or adding subtle texture to floors, walls, or backsplashes. With its ability to blend seamlessly into modern, traditional, or eclectic interiors, penny tile remains a popular choice for homeowners looking to add personality to their remodel.
Type of Tile #3 Subway Tile
Subway tile types are classic and versatile options that have been a staple in design for over a century. Featuring a rectangular shape, typically in a 3×6-inch size, subway tile is known for its clean, simple lines that create a timeless aesthetic.
Originally used in subway stations, this tile style has evolved to become a popular choice for interior spaces such as this Second Generation kitchen remodel in South St. Paul. Available in a variety of materials, colors, and finishes, subway tile can be installed in traditional horizontal patterns or more modern arrangements such as herringbone or vertical stacking.
Type of Tile #4 Hexagonal Tile
Hexagonal tile types are geometric and stylish choices that can add a touch of modernity or vintage charm to any space. Available in a range of sizes, from small mosaics to larger formats, this six-sided tile is versatile and can be used for floors, walls, or backsplashes.
Its distinctive shape allows for unique patterns and design possibilities, whether arranged in monochromatic tones or vibrant color combinations. Hexagonal tile is made from materials such as ceramic, porcelain, or natural stone, making it a durable and visually striking option for both contemporary and traditional interiors.
Type of Tile #5 Moroccan Tile
Moroccan tile is an intricate and artistic choice that brings a sense of exotic elegance to any space. Known for its rich patterns and bold colors, this tile style often features hand-painted designs that reflect centuries of craftsmanship and cultural heritage.
Moroccan tiles are typically made from ceramic or cement and are ideal for creating stunning accent walls, backsplashes, or flooring. Their vibrant and detailed aesthetics make them a focal point in both traditional and modern interiors, adding warmth and texture to the overall design.
A beautiful, deep blue is common with Moroccan-style tiles. The stove backsplash in our Tear Down These Walls kitchen remodel showcases the more intricately patterned version of Moroccan tile, while the solid azure of our Into the Blue bathroom remodel embodies a more simplified aesthetic.
Type of Tile #6 Large Format Tile
Large format tile has become a popular choice in contemporary design due to its sleek and seamless appearance. Made from materials such as porcelain, ceramic, or natural stone, this style of tile creates a clean and modern look with fewer grout lines to interrupt the visual flow of a space.
Ideal for open areas like living rooms, kitchens, and bathrooms, large format tiles can make a space feel larger and more cohesive. Their larger surface area also provides practical advantages, such as easier maintenance and a durable finish that holds up well under heavy use.
In Ellie’s House bathroom remodel, large format tiles line the shower for a tidy look that is easy to clean. The same tiles were also used on the floor for a consistent look throughout the room.
Time to Make Use of Tile in Your Home
Tile is a timeless material that combines durability, beauty, and versatility, making it an invaluable asset for any home remodel. Whether you opt for the modern geometry of hexagonal tile or the intricate artistry of Moroccan designs, the many types of tile offer endless possibilities to elevate your space.
For many of our projects, we partner with Minnesota-based Kate-Lo Tile and Stone to find the right tile types for each home. Many home remodelers in Minneapolis can make use of the huge variety that Kate-Lo provides.
Reach out to GNB for home remodeling contractors that can incorporate these many tile types into your home remodel.
