Benefits of Bluestone Tiles for a Kitchen Floor

If you're renovating your kitchen, one way to make it stand out is to install beautiful flooring. After all, the floor typically provides the largest continuous surface in the kitchen. One possibility to consider is bluestone tiles, the benefits of which are explained below.

Colours

Bluestone tiles obviously come in blue and grey colours. But they also exhibit various other shades, such as purple, orange, yellow, and brown. Each of these hues has an appealing earthy quality rather than being bright and overwhelming. The colour mix in the tiles provides an excellent starting point if you're looking for a colour palette for the overall kitchen design. Simply pull out hues from within the bluestone, and echo them in other elements. For example, pick out a shade of purple or orange and repeat it in a muted form on the benchtop, cabinets, or splashback.

Bluestone tiles are relatively dark in colour. Thus, they make a striking contrast against pale-hued cupboards and other components, allowing you to create a colour-blocking effect. It's better to use dark colours lower in a room to provide a grounding effect. If you use dark colours high in a room, on upper cabinetry, for example, they can loom over the space.

Patterns

Bluestone tiles come in different sizes and shapes, so you can create different patterns on the floor. For example, choose a simple design of large square pavers to create order and symmetry. Otherwise, combine square and rectangle pavers of different sizes to form an ashlar pattern. These designs add visual interest to the floor, arranging the beautiful rock into an ordered structure.

Finishes

Bluestone tiles can be finished in various ways to create different floor surfaces. For example, a natural cleft finish is created when pieces of stone are broken into slices. A natural cleft finish produces a textured surface, making the floor safer and less slippery. Alternatively, a honed finish leaves the tiles with a smooth, matte surface. Another possibility is a thermal finish. These floors are created when the bluestone is heat-treated to generate textured grooves. While this finish creates excellent traction and is often used for outdoor patios and pool decks, it can also be used for indoor tiles.

Durability

Natural stone tiles are highly durable and typically last for decades. However, they do require regular sealing. Bluestone tiles are hard, but they're porous too. This porosity means that spills can seep into the tiny holes and leave stains or etchings. Thus, make sure to deal with accidents promptly.