Forget your typical new year resolutions, the only promises we really care about are ones that result in the interiors of your dreams. And obviously those interiors include your perfect tiles. Biased, us? Never.

If this is the year you’re putting your project planning hat on to create that oh-so-stunning kitchen or bathroom, then you’re likely going to be shopping for tiles, right? There are some key things you need to know before you part with any cash.

THE WHERE

You’ve got your Pinterest boards, a collection of Insta images and an idea of your perfect tile style, but first suss out whether your preferred design is suitable for where you want to use them.

If it’s for the floor, think about how much footfall the space gets. If it’s lots, like a hallway, you’ll definitely need something hardy. Looking for wall tiles? Anything close to water, like a kitchen splashback or in a shower, will need to be pretty tough too. Some tiles, like marble, limestone and those made from natural stone, are more porous so will soften over time if water gets into the surface. This doesn’t necessarily rule them out, but they’ll need to be properly sealed once laid. The bottom line? Think about where tiles will go and the amount of maintenance you’re happy to do.

The good news is that porcelain tiles, are pretty much the best all-rounders. Why? Porcelain is hardwearing, can be used on walls and floors, indoors and out, and comes in a huge array of gorgeous colours and finishes. Ceramic tiles offer great choice too, but are better used on walls as they’re not as strong underfoot.

THE SLIP RESISTANCE

Excuse us while we get a bit technical (we love it really). You can’t shop for tiles without looking at the R rating or PTV – especially if your tiles are for the floor. Basically, the R rating signifies how slip resistant a surface is and the scale goes from R9 to R12. So for a bathroom, you’ll be looking for a minimum of R10 which gives enough slip resistance, but go higher for wet rooms. R10 is also best used in kitchens and hallways. The higher up the scale you go, the more texture the tile will have, which brings us onto our next need to know.

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THE SAMPLES

Before you buy tiles, order a sample first. Put it in the space to see how it looks in the light, feel the texture of it and make sure you like the colours or pattern. We offer six cut tile samples for free, you’ll just need to cover the postage pretty please.

THE COLOUR

Generally, darker shades, those with a bit of tonality or patterned tiles work better underfoot as they’ll better hide a multitude of sins. So unless you’re prepared to constantly clean paler options, stick with those that can mask a little grime. Hey, no judgement here.

THE ORDER

Sold on a tile style? Great. Time to get your order in. Measure your space, work out the square meterage and add 10% for cuttings and possible breakages. If you’ve decided on a more intricate laying pattern like chevron or herringbone (we love it!), probably best to make it an extra 15%. Don’t forget your grout too. Apply the same logic and buy 10-15% extra and remember to account for tile spacers in your measurements.