Creating a minimalist bathroom

Minimalism is bang on trend and there are a number of ways you can achieve this in your bathroom. The bathroom is a place that seems to harbour lotions and potions cluttering the shower and vanity top. Apart from having a good clear out and putting things away, there are a number of ways to create a striking minimalist bathroom using tiles that would fit right into the latest Homestyle magazine.

Stick to a neutral palette

In the context of interior design, neutral means without colour. Neutrals such as beige, ivory, taupe, black, grey and shades of white. By sticking with a neutral palette, it allows the bathroom to feel open and bright and enhances any natural light.

Create sleek and simple storage options

By ensuring you have enough storage in the bathroom will give you plenty of options of where to hide your tooth brushes, hair products, face creams and ointments. Giving you a cleaner more aesthetically pleasing look when everything is away in its rightful place. The key to really achieving the minimalist look is to have a clutter free area and ample storage provides just that.

Create contrast

While still sticking with your neutral palette, create contrast with your lights and darks to make a bold statement. This could mean keeping the walls fresh and light while adding sleek black hardware.

Add a striking mirror

Mirrors are a necessity in any bathroom and picking the right size and shape is crucial to creating a minimalist look. This will help reflect light around the room and create the feeling of more space.

Let there be light

Light is key to a minimalist design, this applies to not only natural light but also artificial light that will help create space and interest in any bathroom. Use pendants, spot lights and LED strip lighting to create a moody minimalist aesthetic.

Stick to simple materials

Along with the perfect tile choice, stick to other natural simple materials like wood and concrete to add warmth and texture but all while keeping to a simple aesthetic.

There are a few tips and tricks to create the perfect minimalist bathroom space, head into our showroom and chat to our friendly staff who can find the perfect tile choices to really make this look come alive.

Entrance way inspiration

We all know first impressions count, and this shouldn’t be any different for your largest asset – your home. Tiles are not only a stylish option but also practical, durable and easy to clean; which is perfect for an area of your home frequented by dirty shoes and paws.

Greet your guests with something extra special and make a real statement with personalised tile choices. The options are endless from shapes, sizes, patterns, textures and tones – creating an entrance way customised to you.

Below we’ve featured some entrance way inspiration to get the ideas flowing, all thanks to Pinterest.

STAFF PICKS: Spring

Spring is in the air and now is the perfect time to start that renovation project you’ve been putting off all winter. Tiles are a great way to easily update that kitchen, bathroom, entrance way or outdoor area all ready to enjoy this summer during the warmer months.

Our staff have put together some spring tile inspiration for you to get the ideas flowing. These are drawn from colours, patterns and textures of nature and the outside as well as the ever popular natural earthy tones.

Image: Pinterest

Image: Pinterest

Dakota Tiles: Burleigh 490mm x 990mm

Dakota Tiles: Fairton Vestige 600x600

Dakota Tiles: Kaituna Plank

Dakota Tiles: Moroccan Flair mosaic 300x300

Dakota Tiles: Waitaki Tiles

Dakota Tiles: Lake Sumner Sea 100x300

Image: Pinterest

Image: Pinterest

Dakota Tiles: Waimairi mud Matt 75x385

Dakota Tiles: Celeste Series Gloss 112x224

If you have a new build underway or are about to start that renovation project, do pop into our showroom and chat to our friendly staff. They are full of ideas and we can help you find the perfect tile for your project.

Bathroom tile inspiration

Whether you favour bold brights or sleek neutrals, we have something for everyone at Dakota Tiles. When it comes to any bathroom, tiles are the perfect option for both the floor and the walls. Tiles are not only the practical and functional choice for this wet area but also allow you to really add your personality with such a wide array of choices to help you create your dream bathroom space.

You can go for the ever-popular minimalistic trend or amp up your otherwise boring bathroom with a splash of colour or a fresh new pattern.

There are so many tile colours, patterns, textures, shapes and sizes to pick from; and the versatility of this material makes it easily customisable and unique to you.

Below we’ve featured some bathroom inspiration to get the ideas flowing, thanks to Pinterest.

Above are just a small showcase of what you can do in the bathroom with tiles. Pop in and chat to our friendly staff who have plenty more ideas and can find the perfect tile for your space.

STAFF PICKS: Winter

Many people think that tiles are a great choice for warmer weather but view them as ‘cold’ for the winter months – this is quite the contrary. Tiles are the perfect winter floor and wall covering option. Tiles are naturally great conductors of heat, so when paired with underfloor heating they work an absolute treat. There’s something so nice about stepping onto tiles that are warm underfoot. They not only heat up quickly but they also retain their heat making it a cost-effective home heating alternative.

Given the cooler months are upon us our staff have hand-picked some of our muted moodier tones and textured tiles to compliment the elements while also staying bang on trend.

Dakota Tiles: Vancouver Chevron Black, White or Grey 52x186

Dakota Tiles: Highbank Beige 600x600

Dakota Tiles: Vancouver Hex Black White or Grey 107x124 and Vancouver Chevron Black, White or Grey 52x186

Dakota Tiles: Coopers Creek Claret 150x900mm (also available in Ash & Mud)

Dakota Tiles: Dante green deco 200x200

Dakota Tiles: Motueka Décor 220x850

Dakota Tiles: Valora Silver 202x595 (upper wall) and Fairton Flower 592x592 (floor)

Dakota Tiles: Wanaka Smoke Matt 600x600

Make a statement with 3D tiles

If you are wanting the perfect statement tile that will make people want to reach out and touch, then 3D tiles are the right choice for you. 3D tiles give a wonderful sense of shadows, light, texture and interest to any space. Although a clean-cut monochrome design is still bang on trend, so is this 3D look which portrays small artistic explosions reflecting your own personal style and personality. It’s a dynamic way of making a room pop and create interesting patterns that appear to be jumping off the wall. 3D tiles aren’t restricted to square and rectangular tiles either. They come in all shapes which showcases a range of colours and sizes.

3D tiles are turning kitchens, bathrooms, laundrys, entrance ways and living rooms into works of art.

Add that wow factor that will make all your friends go WOW.

Here are some brilliant examples of how 3D tiles can be used to make the perfect statement – all thanks to Pinterest.

Come by and chat to our staff, we have plenty of 3D tiles in-store for you to pick from. You’re bound to find the perfect tile to make that room pop!

Kitchen splashback inspiration

Whether you’re building, renovating or just wanting something to update your kitchen. Tiles are a quick and cost effective way to add real impact and make that design statement. They are not only a practical choice in this messy, wet area but also offer a wide variety of colours, textures, shapes, sizes and tones to suit every taste, budget and style. 

Here we have a bunch of kitchen splashback ideas to inspire you into action.

The seemingly endless options can feel overwhelming, pop in and chat to our friendly staff who are full of ideas and inspiration of how you can make the most of your kitchen splashback – we’ll get you sorted!

STAFF PICKS: Autumn

Autumn is well and truly in full swing now and it seems the cooler weather has arrived with it. Now is a perfect time to hunker down and start thinking about that home reno project you’ve been looking at all summer.

With autumn, nature brings an array of beautiful tones. This is where our staff drew inspiration from with a focus on natural, earthy, muted colours and textures.

Here are just a few of our favourite staff picks.

Dakota Tiles: Waikuku wood look tiles

Dakota Tiles: Flaxmill 300x400 sheet (Colour: Stone & Gravel)

Dakota Tiles: Kaituna Shadow, Sand and Cloud Matt 100x700 Plank

Dakota Tiles: Celeste Series Gloss 112x224. Available in four colours/eight patterns.

Dakota Tiles: Kumara Series 450x900

Pop in and chat to our friendly tile experts, maybe this autumn will inspire you to tackle that home build or renovation project.

Why tiles are a great flooring option

Choosing flooring for your home can seem like a daunting process. You need to decide between practicality, style, function and personal preference. Here we outline why tiles are a great option and NEED to be considered.

Tiles are a popular choice for any home floor covering, and for good reason.

Durability and maintenance

Tiles are incredibly durable and withstand most types of wear and tear, even in heavy traffic areas. They are an excellent choice as they look great when they are first laid and will continue to for some time with little maintenance.

Image: Pinterest

Comfort in the winter and in summer

Tiles provide both coolness in the summer and warmth in the winter. Depending on your environment and your home temperature needs, if your home tends to hold its heat then tiles are a great choice as they will remain cool underfoot. On the other hand, if warmth is what you’re after then tiles are incredible conductors of heat and when used with underfloor heating they can provide a lovely ambient warmth perfect for the cooler months. 

Dakota Tiles: Stockholm Hexagon Tiles

Colours, shapes and textures

Tiles give you so many options to create your own personal style in your space. Whether you’re after a classic marble or stone look, or after more of a statement in colour – then the world is your oyster in terms of tiles.

Dakota Tiles: Celeste Series Gloss

Versatility

Tiles can be used just about anywhere; from typical wet areas like the kitchen, bathroom, and laundry to other areas like living areas, entrance ways and lounge rooms. They look great on the floor, wall or as a splash back. The options are endless…

Image: Pinterest

Practicality

Tiles are a great practical option for your homes floor covering as they are durable, easy to maintain and keep your home water tight when there are those inevitable spills. Tiles are also brilliant for indoor to outdoor environments, allowing you to maintain a consistent look without worrying about environmental factors.

Dakota Tiles: Peraki Tiles

Cost

Cost varies greatly from the tiles you choose to the cost of the installation, but when looking at the bigger picture tiles and their installation are fairly competitive when comparing with its carpet, concrete and wood flooring counterparts.

Dakota Tiles: Kaituna Plank

We’re obviously a bit bias but we think tiles are the perfect pick for your home flooring, we challenge you to come in and chat to your friendly tile experts and help them find the perfect tile for your space.

Easily update your laundry with tiles

Gone are the days where laundry areas are a forgotten part of the home, always in a constant disarray with cleaning products galore and mountains of dirty clothing.

Today, laundry’s are seen as valuable and fashionable cleaning command centres. Whether they’re in the garage, kitchen, cupboard nook or have its own dedicated room – it’s becoming more important to make a design statement adding value to your home.

Tiles are an easy way to upgraded and refresh your laundry space. With laundry’s being a wet area, tiles are a practical choice where waterproofing is a must. Spills and accidental flooding are an unfortunate bi-product of the laundry area and tiles are a great choice for both the floor and splash back to ensure your homes bones are protected.

Here are 10 dreamy laundry areas where tiles are not only a practical choice but make quite a design statement.

All laundry images sourced from Pinterest.

Pop in and see our staff for ideas and inspiration of how to update your laundry space.

STAFF PICKS: Summer

With the warmer weather upon us, there’s no better time to take on those home improvement projects that you’ve been contemplating all winter. These summer months give us more daylight hours and fresh inspiration and motivation to take on that reno.

Home renovation projects are fun and rewarding; but the savviest homeowners will also see the value it adds to their property.

Tiles are an easy way to update that kitchen, bathroom, laundry, entrance way or outdoor area. They can add instant impact to your space and add your own personalised style.

Here are some of our summer staff picks.

Dakota Tiles: Newton Tiles

Dakota Tiles: Waitaki Tiles

Image: Pinterest

Dakota Tiles: Wood Look Mayfield Tiles

Dakota Tiles: Lake Sumner Tiles

Image: Pinterest

Pop in and chat to our friendly staff about your project and we will help you find that perfect tile.

10 Tile Trends for 2018

You know the saying ‘New Year, New You’, well the same goes for your home. There’s no better time than the new year to get that reno underway. Tiles are a great way to modernise and update that tired space adding instant impact.

Here are some of the trends we’re seeing for 2018.

Hexagonal Tiles

Geometric hexagonal tiles have been popular the last few years and 2018 will be no different – with the hex tile trend as strong as ever. You don’t need to go for the stock standard white small honeycomb shape; today there are so many sizes, colours, patterns, textures and tones to mix and match to maximum impact to that space.

Dakota Tiles: Stockholm Hexagon Tiles

Terracotta Tiles

We all know that fashion moves in cycles, and that’s certainly true for tile trends also. For many of us terracotta tiles may give you nightmares of the 70’s but this coming year we’re seeing a resurgence of this classic tile finish. Terracotta tiles inject a natural element to interiors bringing warmth to any space. The 2018 Terracotta comeback has taken on a modern twist; think geometric, chevron, herringbone patterns and mixed with pastel tones. They are extremely versatile and fit in with many decorating themes from coastal chic, to Mediterranean through to Moroccan-inspired looks. So, embrace the terracotta and fall back in love with this rustic warmth all over again.

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Glazed Tiles

2018 is bringing bathrooms, kitchens and laundrys covered in glossy glazed tiles. From cashmere tones, to calm pastels through to bright colourful tiles – they’re all looking popular.

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Patterned Tiles

Still looking popular for 2018 are patterned tiles laid out in a patchwork. The key for pulling off this striking statement is to let the tiles be the hero of the room and pair with simple, streamlined furniture and lighting choices which will create a modern look with added impact and character. 

Dakota Tiles: Cementine Mix Tiles

Black Tiles

Black tiles matched with black grout are looking like a strong trend for 2018. The perfect combination for a sleek and modern splashback, bathroom floor, or around a fireplace. Plus, an added bonus of this colour scheme is you don’t have to worry about cleaning the grout quite as often as you would with a light colour.

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Chevron pattern

The Chevron pattern has been around for centuries and has made a massive resurgence of late due to the popularity of geometric patterns. The great thing about this style is that it suits both period and contemporary homes, and is so versatile that it looks stunning on the floor, wall, splashback or as a design feature. This can also make a narrow space appear wider, perfect for those smaller bathroom or laundry areas.

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Terrazzo

This marble mosaic flooring popularised in 1920s Art Deco architecture is making a comeback in 2018 with a new modern twist. Say hello to gorgeous terrazzo tiles. Today terrazzo tiles are more refined, come in many different colour palettes and bring a sense of luxury to any space. This tile choice is so versatile and looks great on the floor, walls, or as a feature tile.

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Penny rounds

Penny round tiles have been around for what feels like an eternity. These last few years they have re-emerged and 2018 they’ll be as strong as ever. Expect to see more variations in colour, texture and tone and also them being featured across entire walls, floors and even ceilings.

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Metallic  

Metallic tiles are all the rage in interior design today and 2018 we will see even more. Expect to see this tile trend in kitchens, bathrooms, living areas, and entrance ways – metallic tiles are striking almost anywhere. The different metallic tones and textures make them unique and you’re bound to find a favourite.

Dakota Tiles: Peraki Tiles

Large Format Tiles

Bigger is better certainly rings true when it comes to 2018 tile choices. Large format tiles are the perfect choice for a sleek, luxurious, aesthetically pleasing look. We have many large format tiles in-store varying from 600x1200 and even larger. These tiles create a clean and contemporary look to any space.

Dakota Tiles: Lake Heron Gravel Tile

How tiles can revamp that outdoor space

With the warmer months upon us, so is the season for BBQ’s, sipping G&T’s on the patio, and relaxation by the pool. You might be ready to enjoy the longer daylight hours with family and friends but is your backyard?

Through winter we can neglect our outdoor areas but now is the time to focus on turning that outdoor space into a magazine-worthy retreat.

Outdoor patio

Gone are the days of the boring outdoor patio. Tiles are a great way to easily refresh that space, it instantly adds impact and is easy to maintain. They are also extremely hardwearing, durable enough to withstand the elements of nature as well as high traffic entertaining areas. 

Dakota Tiles

Outdoor walls

The addition of walls or half walls can help define outdoor areas and spaces giving a more private and intimate feel. You can go for a more natural look with a brick-look tile or something more eye catching like a colourful mosaic or patterned tile.

Dakota Tiles

Around the pool or spa area

There are many tile options for your wet area but ensure you always go for a slip-resistance tile to prevent any accidents. Natural stone look tiles are perfect for a luxurious resort look and contrast nicely with a bold mosaic internal pool tile.

Photo credit: Pinterest

Outdoor shower

If you’re lucky enough to have a decadent outdoor shower in your backyard, this is the perfect opportunity for you to add a hint of colour, texture and pattern to turn an ordinary outdoor shower into a relaxing oasis exuding luxury.

Photo credit: Pinterest

Walkway or thoroughfare

Come this way! Tiles are an easy way to add impact and style to a drab walkway or thoroughfare to guide guests along the path. You can do this in a uniform fashion or go for something more interesting using tiles and plants – the perfect mix between form and function.

Photo credit: Pinterest

Outdoor kitchen and bar

Outdoor kitchens and bars are becoming more and more popular creating the ultimate entertaining area. Whether it’s a splashback, countertop, or the front of the bar you can easily create a style statement with a bold colour or interesting patterned tile.

Photo credit: Pinterest

The best part about tiles are the countless colours, designs and patterns you can choose from – instantly adding your own personality. By revamping that outdoors space, not only will it help you enjoy your home more but it will also add value to your property.

Need some help or inspiration to refresh your outdoor space? Bring in your plans and chat with our tile consultants, and they will help you find the perfect tile for your project.