Ceramic floor tiles are popular among home renovators, as they add a sense of  depth and dimension to a room.

They are sold in a variety of colors, shapes and textures. While neutral colors are always popular, there also are designs that mimic the marble, slate and granite floors that are commonly used in more upscale renovations.

Ceramic tiles are more expensive than vinyl floors, however, making them out of reach for some first time renovators. There are ways to add ceramic tiles and stay within a small budget, however:

·         add them to only one room

·         install them in two adjacent rooms

·         use them only as accents

Ceramic Tiles in One Room

One way to add ceramic tiles economically is to add them in one room or section of the house. This can cost between $100 and $500, depending upon the size of the room, the type of tile and whether you are installing it yourself or hiring a contractor.

By focusing on one room you’re limiting the expense to a certain amount of space, perhaps a 5-foot by 7-foot foyer or powder room. Either space is a key focal point in the house.

The foyer is one of the first places that guests see. An interesting tile can help set the tone for the house and carry a design theme through to surrounding rooms. In a powder room, you can create a luxurious boutique or an eclectic enclave for guests to remember.

As the color and design selections are numerous, look for those that will reflect your vision for the room. A ceramic tile with creamy beige color variations that resembles tumbled marble would create an elegant entrance to a home. A bright white tile accented by black, randomly placed diamonds would set a more contemporary mood.

Using Ceramic Tiles in Adjacent Rooms

In a floor plan that has a powder room adjacent to the foyer, renovators often add ceramic tile in both locations to make the rooms flow together. They could use cream 8-inch by 8-inch tiles and add a border of smaller white tiles. The white tiles then become the main tile in the bathroom and are accented by a border of smaller beige tiles.

When adding ceramic floor tiles to a powder room, consider that large tiles might overpower the room. Also, they often are more expensive than the more traditional 6-inch by 6-inch or 8-inch by 8-inch tiles.

Ceramic floor tiles also can be added in the foyer and adjacent kitchen to bring the look of ceramic to a large area on the first floor.

Tile As Accents

Accent tiles can add just the right touch of design to a room. They can be placed throughout the floor to add extra color or texture or used sparingly to create a more subtle design.

One variation of the accent design is an apron -- a section of decorative tile that starts about one foot from the outside edges of the visible floor space and follows the shape of the tiled area. The apron tile typically is a smaller size tile than the main tile. It can be a different color than the main tile or the same color tile turned on an angle. Often this type of design is used in a bathroom.

In a bathroom with 12-inch tiles, try using a 6-inch tile as an apron near the bathtub or vanity. It creates the impression of a throw rug and adds a lot of pizzazz.

Colored Grout

Another way to add an interesting look to a floor is to use colored grout instead of the more traditional white. This can pull out color from the tile and change the overall look of the floor. For example, try using browns or grays or by picking out some color tones in your tile. Not only is it a nice look, but you're not a slave to cleaning your grout.