Porcelain Tile or Ceramic? Which one to use for your Kitchen Renovation

Porcelain tile and ceramic options each have very different qualities that make them suitable for different uses. Our guide runs through how you can incorporate the latest porcelain and ceramic tiles in your next kitchen renovation project as well as which option is better suited to different areas of the kitchen.

What is the Difference Between Porcelain Tiles and Ceramic Tiles?

Although porcelain and ceramic tiles are created using the same combination of natural clays, the process of baking these tiles is different. Ceramic tiles are baked at a lower temperature than porcelain tile solutions, resulting in a softer and lighter product. These tile varieties are often better suited to vertical applications due to their lightweight nature which is exactly why you will notice more decorative options available in ceramic tile collections as the tile design process is not affected by the same restrictions as floor tiles where slip resistance and tripping hazards are taken into account. Another factor to consider is that as ceramic tiles are softer than other options, they are a porous product and will require sealing if they are not glazed. Glazed ceramic tiles are baked with paints and glazes applied to their surface prior to entering the kiln, resulting in a highly durable almost glass-like glazed quality across their surface which in turn means that these specific options will not require sealing.

Our elegant Sora porcelain tiles can be used as both a floor and wall tile in the kitchen, allowing you to create a sense of balance in your design scheme with your material selection.

Porcelain tiles on the other hand are baked at a much higher temperature, resulting in a harder and denser product that can withstand the increased wear of flooring applications. As these tiles are popular solutions as a floor finish, decorative features such as raised surfaces or 3D patterns for example are often not seen in porcelain tile collections as these tile design elements can pose a trip hazard. Due to their impressive density, porcelain tiles are a non-porous tiling solution that will not require sealing throughout the product’s lifespan.

Porcelain Tile Solutions for the Kitchen

Porcelain kitchen tiles offer a versatile solution as they can usually be used as both a floor or wall option with some exceptions in specific tile collections. You have the option of using a porcelain product as a floor tile in the kitchen and matching this same tile as your new splashback, creating a well-balanced look in your new design. These tiles will provide an immensely hard wearing solution for both applications being a low maintenance and simple to clean option. As an additional bonus, porcelain tiles are a suitable splashback solution where a gas cooktop is installed within close proximity to your wall; Australian Standards specify that should your splashback sit within 200mm of the nearest gas burner, the material used must be a fire-safe solution and porcelain is the perfect choice!

Featuring bold geometric patterns, our Cube collection is suitable for use as both a floor and wall tile allowing you to create a stunning combination of materials for a stylish statement in your interior design scheme.

Ceramic Tile Options for the Kitchen

Although most ceramic tiles cannot be used as a flooring solution in the kitchen, they can be used to create a splashback that is truly breathtaking! Thanks to the many various decorative ceramic tile solutions of offer, your will find the creative possibilities to be truly endless when putting together your new kitchen with a large variety of different colours or glazes available as well as 3D effect tiles in a range of patterns and much more. Glazed ceramic tiles are an especially popular solution as a kitchen splashback thanks to their sleek glaze that acts as a sealant, providing a low maintenance solution for the home that is simple to wipe clean.

Luxurious, tactile and modern, the Arthouse collection uses advanced tile design and manufacturing technology to create a playful 3D pattern. These ceramic kitchen tiles make for the perfect statement piece in your new kitchen, offering a stunning visual display of light vs. shadow.

When choosing between ceramic and porcelain tiles for the kitchen, it is important to consider each option’s strengths to accurately determine how and where they can be used in your design. If you are after a versatile design solution that offers flexibility, porcelain tiles are an excellent choice for either floors or walls. If instead you are after a decorative feature wall tile, a ceramic tile may be the better fit as there are so many exciting options available to choose from!