3 facts you probably didn’t know about tiles

When it comes to decorating the bathroom, there are few materials that can instantly transform the create a beautiful, functional space like tiles. The versatility and practicality of tiles is not only stunning, but offers a wide variety of patterns, colours and designs to choose from too. They’re also incredibly easy to maintain, durable, and waterproof. So, if you’re looking for the perfect material to revamp your luxury bathroom or wet room, tiles are definitely worth considering!

At NPM Bathrooms, we’ve got over 30 years of experience in designing and supplying bathrooms with a focus on both quality and value, and we know exactly what it takes to create the perfect luxury bathroom. Many of our designer bathrooms and customer bathrooms feature stunning tiles. So we thought it would be interesting to take a closer look at tiles this week and share a few interesting facts about them that may just surprise you!

The history of tiles

Using tiles to decorate the home isn’t exactly a new trend. In fact, tiles have been used to decorate buildings for centuries, both inside and outside. Ceramic tiles have been treasured and revered for thousands of years because of their outstanding beauty, versatility, and stunning art they can create. The earliest decorative tiles we currently know date all the way back to ancient Egypt, to around 4000 BC. But the ancient Egyptians weren’t the only ones who utilised tile for their aesthetic creations. The Romans and Greeks also held tile in high regard, producing stunning murals and mosaics that still inspire decor even today.

Tiles are environmentally friendly

When it comes to tiles, a fact that’s often overlooked is how environmentally friendly they are. Ceramic and porcelain tiles are made entirely from plentiful natural materials like clay (sometimes other ingredients). But tiles can be made from all sorts of natural materials like sand, glass, quartz and many more. They can also be recycled and cleaned without the need for any toxic chemicals! So not only are they stunning, durable and long-lasting, but they’re sustainable too! It’s for this reason that tiles remain so popular today amongst homeowners and businesses alike.

Tiles have made their way into space

Ceramic technology and tiles have even found their way into the aerospace industry, most notably in rockets and space shuttles. For instance, ceramic tiles insulate space shuttles from the high temperatures generated during re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere, proving they’re much more than just a decorative tool! Thee tiles are constructed from silica fibres, which are made from high-grade sand. This makes the life of the tiles in your bathroom seem quite easy by comparison!

Tiles are efficient, versatile and beautiful. They’ve had many uses throughout history, but here at NPM, our favourite place is to see a tile on a designer bathroom wall. So, if all this talk of tiles has left you thinking it’s time to give your bathroom a refresh, that’s where we can help! If it’s inspiration you’re looking for, why not check out our gallery of customer bathrooms? Or, if you’re ready to talk to a designer, get in touch with us today by calling our experts on 01282 697717 or by email at info@npmbathrooms.co.uk. We’re always on hand to help!