Kate's Wood Plank Tile Floor and Wall Guide

Wood plank tile represents a really big trend with customers. For someone who loves the look of wood, and wants the durability of tile, it's a win-win solution. As you might imagine, it's a topic Kate Spencer cares intensely about.

As a result of her conversations on Suncoast View about tile and design trends, she has put together the following guide.

Table of Contents for Kate's Wood Plank Tile Guide

Here's what's included in this wood plank tile guide:

What Makes Wood Plank Tile So Perfect for Florida Home Owners?

The Four Benefits of Wood Look Tile

Creating Patterns with Tile Planks

Fall in Love with Wood Plank Tile Tones and Variations

Additional Resources to Explore

What Makes Wood Plank Tile So Perfect for Florida Home Owners?

With home renovations at an all-time high, what better product to consider than tile, especially in Florida?

Well, we are definitely somewhat biased given Tile Outlets of America's love of tile, however, the product truly offers homeowners many benefits.

When it comes to the wood look, the benefits of wood plank tile are even more impressive because you get the look of wood with the durability of tile. More specifically,

• Easy care (as in, just mop the surface)
• Durability (no need to worry about gouges)
• Versatility (indoor, outdoor, walls/floors, patterns)
• Variety - so many sizes, styles, designs to pick from

>> See  Faux Wood Tile Sophistication

Let's explore each of these benefits in more detail.

The Benefits of Wood Plank Tile

1. Wood Planks Are Easy to Care For

Unlike real wood, wood tile planks don't fear water or humidity. That allows you to install wood tile floors not only in the kitchen but also in the bathroom.

In terms of cleaning, all you need to do is mop.

2. The Incredible Durability of Wood Plank Tile

Next comes the durability of wood tile. Unlike wood, tile can't be scratched by dog claws. It can't be gouged either. That means you don't need to worry about pets or pet accidents. Your floor will last a long time.  

3. Wood Plank Tile is Versatile

With wood plank porcelain tile, you can have the wood look outdoors as well as indoors. It's perfect for extending a wood look throughout your living spaces.

You see, porcelain tile doesn't absorb water which means that it isn't affected by freeze/thaw temperature changes outdoors.

In terms of design possibilities, you can easily use wood planks on your walls as well as your floors as you see in the image below.

4. Inspiring Variety of Wood Plank Sizes, Styles and Textures

This is what makes wood plank tile so exciting: variety! As a result of inkjet printing technology, wood tile successfully captures the warmth of wood while also making a wealth of styles and textures possible.

>> See  How Inkjet Technology Has Transformed Ceramic and Porcelain Tile

Exciting Variety of Planks to Select From

You’ll find exciting plank styles with extreme variation from plank to plank. This can look modern or even rustic.

Simply looking over the images included in this article gives you a feel for the range of possibilities - from dark woods to light ones, subtle patterns to intense contrast. Some styles will be glossy and slick to the touch, others will be so barn wood-textured that you'll wonder whether you're touching wood or tile.

In addition to styles and textures, you'll find an ever-increasing range of lengths and widths, too.

>> See  Five New Wood Looking Tile Planks To Transform Your Home!

You'll also find styles that come in a mix of lengths and widths to help you create a truly customized pattern installation.

Amazing Design Possibilities

This, in turn, means that you have so many design options to choose from so you have just the look you want to express your vision for your space. You'll easily find a look that goes with any style – beach look, modern, rustic, traditional…

And, then, select the installation pattern that’s right for you…

(By the way, Tile Outlets offers many tile patterns for your wood plank tile installation.)

For example, a herringbone pattern as you see in the image below.

Offsets and Mockups

Or, perhaps you prefer a look with a minor offset.

An offset is the difference in overlap between the planks. It’s important to check with the tile manufacturer for the right offset based on the pattern you’ve selected and how long the plank is.

>> See  Managing Lippage: Why Offsets Matter When Installing Tile

When you are laying out a tile pattern like this, it’s a good idea to create a mockup or do a dry layout of the tiles so you get a good feel for how the variation looks and can even rearrange some of the tiles before actually installing them.

>> See  Consider a Mockup for your Tile Installation Project

In contrast, the image below captures a pattern that has less variation from plank to plank. The result can create a more traditional look and feel.

Plank Length and Room Size

Depending on the size of the room you are tiling, you may want to focus on specific size planks. For example, in a large space, a longer 40” plank works well as you see below.

In a smaller space, such as a small bathroom, a 24” plank can work perfectly.

And depending on the direction you install the tile, the length of the wood plank can make a galley kitchen look much bigger.

That said, depending on the look you want to create, you may decide that the long plank is better for that small space. You get to choose.

As an example, the image below is from the recent Tampa Bay Home of Distinction. Notice the long wood plank tile that extends all the way into the shower.

Notice the linear drain and how well that works with the plank format.

>> See  How to Create a Contemporary Urban Look with Porcelain and Ceramic Tile

Creating Patterns with Wood Plank Tile

Although we discussed patterns earlier in this article, it's such a rich topic for wood planks that we wanted to address it further in this section. Yes, you can design and create patterns with many plank size tiles. Here some favorites that you are sure to see as you notice wood plank patterns around you.

1. Herringbone Ideas for Floors and Walls

The herringbone pattern goes hand-in-hand with planks. As you saw earlier in this guide, it looks fabulous on floors as well as walls. It can be used on the entire floor or as a focus point for a room - say as a tile rug in your foyer at the main entrance of your home. Not only does it define the space, but it makes a statement.

With the variation in the planks below, the effect adds character and warmth. The floor looks rich and modern.

With the amazing selection you have available, you can be creative with your wood planks.

Look at the wall feature below. It combines a smaller size plank with mirrored pieces in a foyer feature wall. The herringbone design allows the mirrors to stand out just enough. What do you think?

Why not take your breakfast nook and make a wall art with planks?

Consider doing this with a high-variation plank to give the space more depth.  The very light colors pull in the over-the-top chandelier and light-colored accessories.

2. Wood Plank Tile on the Walls

There's no reason you can't add wood planks to your walls. With wood plank porcelain tile, you can have the wood look outdoors as well as indoors.    You can easily use wood planks on walls as well as floors.

For that matter, there's no reason you can't create wall design with planks - as in marble-look planks - as you see below.

These are the Naos Cararra plank, 9x48 in length.

Getting back to wood looks, check out the image below and how the coral tones in the planks coordinate with the coral pillows.

Talk about having tons of character and depth in design.

Let’s not leave the kitchen out for wood plank tiles on a backsplash.

This tile features a wood plank with a multi plank size design. It appears there are a bunch of little tiles, but actually, the face of the tile makes up multiple sizes to create this look.

Look how warm this all-over wood look appears...

Here's another place where wood planks add warmth and character: in the shower.

3. Wood Planks of the Floors... in Unexpected Places

The closet – the room you enter every day to pick out your wardrobe for the day - deserves a stylish touch.  Why not add flair and make your closet floor stand out?  Here you can go crazy with a unique and different look.

Warren did in  Lessons from Warren’s Master Bathroom Remodel.

Fall in Love with Wood Plank Tile Tones and Variations

As wood planks have become a distinct category in tile, the looks have evolved. You can now find tile designs with multiple tones and variations to create a unique look for your space.

Mix Different Plank Color Tones

As you see below, these tiles can have different color tones mixed together. These soft tan/beige tones change from piece to piece to create a soft but interesting floor.

The Alen Forest Mix pictured below is more rustic looking with dark to light shade variation.    These tiles are blended in a box to create this variation.

Mix Different Variation Levels

Below, you see the full range of Luxent Loft Grey.  These planks go from white, grey to black.    It's a creative floor with lots of tone and variation and in a space with modern finishes, it really looks great.

In the room scene below, you see Inwood Sky, a small 3x18 format plank.  You can use them in a staggered installation in combination with a herringbone mosaic pattern as a headboard.     The colors in this plank include blue/tan/grey, great Florida colors for a beach home.

Mix Different Plank Sizes

Check out the installation below created from a multi plank look within the tile itself. In reality this is a 6x36 piece of tile with a design of small planks.

The multi plank look doesn’t mean a busy look.

See how soft and bright this floor below is?   The planks are 6x36 in size and have multi planks on the individual pieces.  It will save you time in installing all these small pieces on the floor.

Remember that you can use these multi-size planks on the wall or floor. Don’t be afraid to combine different colors on the floor and walls.

Try Shades of Blue

Did you think blue would be too much for a plank?  Think again.

This Kitami Azul plank comes in matte and polished and makes the floor look like there are beach waves.  The soft blue and tan accents in the tile doesn’t make it take over a room; rather it looks calm and soothing.

Try Weathered Planks

Weathered or whitewash planks add a rustic and worn look to a room.

As you can see here, you'll find different colors and lengths of whitewash planks.

You can explore colors that coordinate with your decorations. Or design your room around the wood planks you select.

The Revival Colors series is a weather whitewash beach worn tile with hints of blue/ tan and white. It is like a boardwalk that was painted over the years and the colors started to wear down.

Do you see the nails in the corners of the pieces below? That's Lumber White. They are reflective and actually look like someone nailed your planks to the floor.

This quite unique and different from other planks.

The Provincial Pinot Noir below is a 12x48 plank.  These planks are larger in size but allow you to get a design idea out in the room.

Don’t be afraid to use large planks in any room.  There will be fewer grout joints and breaks in the design.

What's Your Reaction to Wood Plank Tile?

So what's your reaction to the wood look in tile? Do you love it as much as we do? We absolutely love the variety of styles, variations, textures, formats, and sizes which mean so many design options for you.

• Pick a look that goes with any style – beach look, modern, rustic, traditional…
• Select the installation pattern that’s right for you…
• Enjoy your beautiful space!

Additional Resources for You

Here are additional references for you to learn more about wood planks.

You can learn about the range of sizes available in wood plank tile by exploring  Learn About the Range of Wood Plank Tile Sizes on Suncoast View

>> See Wood Plank Tile Design Ideas

Learn more about shade variation by reading:  How to Deal with Shade Variation in Porcelain and Ceramic Tile?

Check out the floor visualizer to help you with your decisions:  Have You Tried the Visualizer from Tile Outlets of America?

We invite you to watch Kate on Suncoast View as she talks about planks. Here's a link to the full 5-minute episode on Suncoast View, or you can watch it below.

I hope you enjoy the segment!

Thanks for watching/learning. Let us know of any questions.

Kate

Note: We originally published this article on October 5, 2017, and have updated it with tons of new information.