Benefits of Waterproof Flooring: Why Homeowners Are Making the Switch

If you’ve ever walked into a room and felt like something was off but couldn’t quite figure out what it was, there’s a good chance it had to do with proportions. When it comes to flooring, especially tile, size plays a big role in how a space looks and feels. At Houston Grey, we help homeowners and builders across Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky make decisions that elevate their interiors, and tile sizing is one of those key details that makes a big difference. Tile isn’t just about color or pattern. The size of each piece changes how your space reads visually. A tile that’s too small can make a room feel busy or cluttered. One that’s too large might overwhelm a compact space. It’s about finding that sweet spot where the tile works with the room instead of against it. Here’s a breakdown of how to think about tile sizing when designing different areas of your home. Open Concept Spaces For large, open areas like kitchens that blend into living and dining spaces, larger format tiles tend to work best. They help the room feel more expansive by reducing the number of grout lines. With fewer seams, you get a cleaner, more continuous look that makes the entire area feel cohesive. We often recommend rectangular tiles or square formats with wider dimensions. These work beautifully in spaces where the floors need to tie everything together without becoming the focal point. Our team can help guide you on laying patterns that add subtle texture or direction to the room without making it feel overly patterned. Bathrooms and Powder Rooms Smaller rooms require a bit more thought. Bathrooms often benefit from mid-sized tiles, depending on the layout and the features in the space. You don’t want the tiles to feel oversized compared to the shower, vanity, or toilet. At the same time, going too small can make it feel like there’s too much going on. For floors, we typically guide our clients toward tile sizes that balance function and aesthetics. The right size helps the room feel stable and grounded without making it look chopped up. For shower walls or tub surrounds, longer rectangular tiles laid vertically can help draw the eye upward, making the ceiling feel higher. In contrast, horizontal layouts can elongate the space. Our design team works through these options with you so the tile helps your bathroom feel exactly how you want it to feel, whether that’s cozy and calming or bright and open. Laundry Rooms and Mudrooms These hard-working spaces benefit from practicality, and that includes tile size. We usually recommend tile that’s easy to clean and feels proportionate to the room’s function. If your laundry room doubles as an entry point from the garage or backyard, the tile needs to hold up to dirt, moisture, and traffic. Medium to large format tiles usually hit the mark here. They’re easy to mop, and the reduced grout lines help minimize cleaning. We’ve helped clients pick tile that complements the cabinets, appliances, and even wall color in these spaces so it feels like an intentional part of the home, not just an afterthought. Entryways and Hallways First impressions matter, and the right tile can set the tone as soon as someone walks in. Entryways are often transitional spaces, and the tile should feel like a natural extension of the rooms around it. The size you choose depends on the square footage, of course, but also the amount of light and traffic the area gets. If you have a wide entryway, you can go larger with your tile. This gives it a sense of grandeur and helps anchor the space. For narrow hallways or smaller foyers, a smaller tile or a narrower plank-style tile can help elongate the space and keep it feeling balanced. Kitchens Kitchens have a lot going on. Cabinets, islands, appliances, and backsplashes all compete for attention. Choosing the right tile size for the floor can help everything else feel grounded. Larger tiles can simplify the floor visually and let the other features shine. In galley-style kitchens or smaller layouts, more modestly sized tiles may make more sense depending on the design goals. We walk clients through how each option works with their cabinetry finish and countertop materials so the floor feels like part of a larger design rather than an isolated decision. Patterns, Layouts, and Grout Considerations It’s not just the size of the tile that matters. The pattern you choose for installation and the color of the grout also change how the tile is perceived. Large tiles in a straight lay pattern can feel modern and sleek. Smaller tiles in a herringbone or chevron layout add movement and visual interest. Grout color can make tiles stand out or blend in. Matching grout creates a smoother look. Contrasting grout highlights the pattern and size of the tile. There’s no wrong answer. It all depends on the look you’re going for. At Houston Grey, we always look at the room as a whole. We ask about the purpose of the space, the lighting, and how you want the room to feel. Then we recommend tile sizes and patterns that support those goals. Why Size Impacts Your Design Tile size affects scale and proportion. It influences how the eye moves across a room and whether a space feels larger or smaller. Too many grout lines can make a room feel busy. Oversized tiles in a compact space can make it feel cramped. The right size brings harmony and helps the tile support the room, not distract from it. This is especially important in homes with open layouts. We often help clients transition from one tile size to another between spaces so the whole floor plan feels cohesive, not disconnected. How Houston Grey Can Help There are a lot of decisions to make when choosing flooring. That’s why our team is here. We take the time to understand your space, walk you through the best options, and explain the reasoning behind each recommendation. We have years of experience installing tile in homes across Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky, and we use that knowledge to help you avoid common mistakes and feel confident in your choices. Our design consultations are hands-on. You’ll see real samples, visualize the layout, and talk through how each option will look once installed. We’re not just selling tile. We’re helping you build a home that reflects your style and works for your everyday life. Start Your Tile Project with Confidence Whether you’re building new or remodeling, the size of your tile matters. It affects the feel, flow, and function of every room. At Houston Grey, we make sure your tile selections look good on the surface and make sense behind the scenes. Let us help you find the right fit for every corner of your home. Visit our Springfield showroom or schedule a design consultation today. We’ll walk through your project together and make sure every detail, including tile size, supports the home you’re building.

When you're deciding on new flooring, it’s easy to get caught between options. Hardwood has that timeless charm, tile is known for durability, and carpet feels cozy underfoot. But there’s one material that keeps coming up in conversations with our clients across Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky, and that’s luxury vinyl plank, also known as LVP. At Houston Grey, we work with homeowners, designers, and builders every day to create flooring plans that are both stylish and practical. LVP has earned its place on the list of top choices for many reasons, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. If you’ve been wondering whether luxury vinyl is the right fit for your home, this post will walk through the key things you need to know. We won’t hype it up. Instead, we’ll talk through both sides of the coin so you can make an informed decision with confidence. What Makes Luxury Vinyl Stand Out Luxury vinyl plank flooring is designed to look like hardwood, but it’s made with multiple layers of synthetic materials that are pressed together for strength and flexibility. Some types are waterproof. Some are scratch-resistant. Others are designed for quick installs with click-lock systems. You’ll even find some with built-in underlayment to help reduce sound. What really draws people in is how realistic the designs have become. If you haven’t seen modern LVP in person, you might be surprised. The top layer features high-definition imaging that mimics real wood grain, stone, or concrete. We’ve had clients walk through our showroom and touch the planks just to believe they’re not real wood. Pros of Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring Let’s start with the upsides. These are the reasons many homeowners end up choosing LVP for at least one area of their home. Water resistance is one of the main selling points. That makes it a solid choice for kitchens, bathrooms, mudrooms, and basements. You don’t have to worry about warping or swelling from moisture, which is something hardwood simply can’t offer. It’s also incredibly low maintenance. A broom, mop, or vacuum is usually all you need. You won’t need to refinish it or apply special treatments. For busy households, that’s a major win. LVP holds up well under daily wear and tear. Got pets or kids? LVP is often more forgiving than hardwood when it comes to scratches and impact. It’s designed to withstand everyday life, which makes it ideal for high-traffic areas like entryways and hallways. There’s no shortage of styles. With luxury vinyl, you can find nearly any look you want. From light oak to dark walnut to patterned tile styles, there’s a design for every taste. If you’re going for a modern farmhouse, rustic, or transitional look, chances are there’s an LVP product that fits your vision. It’s also more comfortable underfoot. Compared to tile or concrete, LVP has a softer feel. Some versions include padding layers that help absorb sound and make it more comfortable to walk on. Lastly, luxury vinyl offers flexible installation options. It can often be installed over existing floors, which can simplify the process in remodels. Whether you’re working on one room or a full home, it gives you a bit more flexibility with timing and budget. When LVP Might Not Be the Best Fit Now let’s talk about the other side. While LVP works beautifully for many spaces, it’s not perfect for every home or homeowner. It’s not real hardwood. If your main goal is to boost home value through natural materials, hardwood may still be the better fit. While LVP looks great, it doesn’t have the same real-wood feel or character. You can’t refinish it. With hardwood, you can sand and refinish the surface if it gets scratched or worn. With LVP, once it’s damaged, it usually needs to be replaced. That said, individual planks can often be swapped out if needed. There’s also a wide range in quality. Not all luxury vinyl is created equal. Some products wear better than others. That’s why it’s important to work with a team like ours who knows which brands and collections perform well over time. In certain settings like sunrooms or areas with intense direct sunlight, lower-end LVP can sometimes expand or shift. We’ll walk you through your options if you have rooms like this and recommend the best type based on your specific conditions. Where LVP Makes the Most Sense We often recommend luxury vinyl plank for clients who want a wood look without the added maintenance or price tag. It’s a great option for open-concept kitchens and living areas, laundry and mudrooms, playrooms, rental properties, or lower levels of the home. It’s also ideal for households with pets. Between accidents, nails, and running paws, LVP handles it all better than many other flooring types. How Houston Grey Helps You Choose Our clients come to us for guidance, not just materials. We don’t just ask what style you like. We look at how you live, what your space needs, and how everything connects throughout your home. That includes light levels, foot traffic, pets, and how often you plan to clean. Once we understand that, we’ll walk you through different samples, explain how each option performs, and help you weigh the pros and cons based on your situation. We’ve installed LVP in everything from brand-new builds to historic farmhouses. We’ve seen what works and what doesn’t, and we use that experience to help our clients get results they’re proud of. More Than Just Looks While many people fall in love with LVP for its visuals, it’s the performance that wins them over long-term. It handles messy days, busy mornings, and unexpected spills without losing its charm. You don’t have to be precious with it. You can live your life without tiptoeing around the floors. For us, that’s the goal with any product we recommend. It should look good and work hard for your family. Luxury vinyl plank just happens to do both in a way that fits a lot of homes around here. Your Flooring Project Starts with a Conversation If you’re thinking about LVP or curious how it compares to tile or hardwood in your space, we’d love to talk. You can visit our showroom in Springfield or schedule a time to meet with our team. We’ll show you real samples, talk through your needs, and help you narrow down the best options for your home. No pressure. Just real advice from people who care about your project as much as you do. Houston Grey is proud to serve homeowners across Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky. When you're ready to start your flooring project, we’re here to help guide the way.