Sarasota Wall tile

Walls are where tile gets to show off: color, glaze, pattern and texture, from shower walls and backsplashes to feature walls and fireplaces. See them side by side in the Oracle Flooring & Design showroom in Sarasota.

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What should you plan for on a wall?

Light decides how a wall tile looks. Gloss and glass bounce it around the room, matte tile and stone soak it up, and relief tile throws shadows that move as the sun goes across the room.

Then there's the grout. A matching grout lets the tile read as one surface; a contrasting one draws the pattern. Calm, light walls suit most rooms, and bold pattern works best on the one wall that earns it.

Choosing your wall tile

What works on which wall?

How are the edges finished?

Wherever tile stops, at a window, an outside corner or the end of a backsplash, the edge needs a finish. Some tile lines come with matching rounded edge pieces; otherwise a slim metal or color-matched trim does the job, and thick porcelain can be cut at an angle so two pieces meet in a clean corner. Plan the edges with the tile, not after it.

Where does a feature wall work?

  • Behind the vanity, where the mirror and the lights already draw the eye.
  • The back wall of the shower, seen through the glass, with the side walls kept quiet.
  • Behind a bed, in a stone look, a marble look or a wood-look tile at full height.
  • A TV wall, with the tile at full height and built-in shelves or a floating console made to measure. We've worked with custom cabinet makers for years, from budget-friendly to high-end, and our own custom cabinetry shop opens soon.
  • Around a fireplace, in stone or a full-height slab look.

What about niches and outlets?

A shower niche looks best when its edges line up with the tile joints, so its place gets settled with the layout. On a backsplash, outlets and switches are cut around, and with big panels those cuts are planned before the panel goes up, one more reason they need experienced hands. More on backsplashes: backsplash tile.

Questions we hear

Can floor tile go on a wall?

Usually, yes: tile made for floors works on walls. It doesn't go the other way, since tile made only for walls isn't meant to be walked on.

Should the grout match the tile?

Matching grout lets the tile read as one surface, which suits most walls. Contrasting grout outlines every tile, so save it for a pattern you want to show off.

Does wall tile need sealing?

Glazed tile doesn't. Natural stone does, and so can cement grout; the maker's care guide says how and how often.

Can big porcelain panels go on a wall?

Yes, on a flat, solid wall and in experienced hands, since the panels are large and heavy. Certified installers who work with us regularly put them up.

Can tile go on a painted wall?

In a dry room, often yes, over a solid, flat wall your installer has checked. In a shower, the tile goes over a water-resistant board with a waterproofing layer behind it.

Can tile go around a fireplace?

Porcelain can. It doesn't burn, it takes the heat and it doesn't soak up soot, so a big marble-look panel makes a fireplace wall with hardly a joint in it. The wall behind it has to be solid and flat, and the fireplace's own clearances still decide how close the tile can go.

Ready to plan it?

Bring your measurements and a few photos to the showroom, or have us come out for a free estimate in your home.

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