If you're exploring tile options for your home, you may have often come across the term 'tile faces' and wondered what it meant. If so, this post is for you. In this quick guide, we've outlined everything you need to know about tile faces, as well as 'variations', which is another term you'll see when shopping for tiles. So, let's dive in!

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What do ‘faces’ mean in tiles?

Caption: See the stark differences in the tile faces or designs between the  Italian-made Marvel Calacatta Matt (right) and the Absolute Carrara Polish tile from China.

Tile faces refer to the unique designs/patterns and colours printed across the individual tile using advanced digital printing. Except for plain or flat-coloured ones like this plain White Matt tile, all ceramic and porcelain tiles have faces printed on them. 

When you buy a box of tiles, it will contain a variety of these faces. This means that when the tiles are installed, they create a more realistic look, rather than having the same face repeated over and over again.

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What is the number of faces on tiles?

The number of faces refers to how many different patterns are printed on the tiles. Tile faces can vary from just one on standard, basic tiles to 30+ on premium ranges like the Marvel Calacatta Matt tile, which is an Italian tile with a total of 69 faces printed on it. 

Here’s an example of the number of faces between the  Linear Textile White 60x60 and the Timeless White Matt 60 tile. Both tiles are white, but one has a total of 24 faces, while the other has only one.

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Linear Textile White 60x60 Number of tile faces: 1	Timeless White Matt 60 Number of tile faces: 24

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Why Is It Important To Know About Tile Faces?

It's important to understand tile faces because the number and variety of faces on a tile can significantly affect the look, feel, and overall design. For example, if you want to achieve a seamless, uniform look with your tiles, you should pick a tile that has fewer a number of faces or doesn't have any faces at all, like the Fika Bianco Matt or the Costa Nova Tansy Green Matt, to name a few. 

On the contrary, if you're looking for a more diverse, unique look, go for a range with more tile faces like the  Calacatta Imperial Polished, which has 44 faces.

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How To Choose The Right Type Of Tile Face To Achieve A Realistic Look

Caption: The Norde Platino Grip is a realistic stone-look tile that features a total of 96 faces with detailed graphics and a rich array of colours.

A tile with 20+ faces will look extremely realistic when laid, as it is less likely to see two tiles that look the same. A tile with fewer faces will repeat the same pattern over and over, and when a pattern is noticeable, it will look more artificial.

A high-quality tile will have a degree of variation between the tile faces to make it look more authentic. So to achieve a realistic look in your space, look for tiles with more than 20 unique faces. 

Top Tip #1: Combine online photos and physical samples to get a better idea of a tile face 

When you buy a box of tiles, you'll get a range of tile faces. This would help your tiler create a more natural look instead of repeating the same tile face over and over. 

The important thing to note is that when you look at a sample at a  Tile Space store, what you see on display is only one example of a tile face that you'll receive. The actual tiles you receive will have different faces. 

To help you choose, each product has several high-quality photos of different  tile faces online. Combine these with a physical sample to make your decision. 

We want you to feel confident in your tile selection, which is why we offer a variety of resources to help you make an informed decision. So, take a look at our online selection, grab a few tile samples, and get ready to create a space that is uniquely yours. 

Featured -  The Ultimate Guide: How To Renovate Bathroom Tiles in NZ

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Tile Faces VS Tile Variations: What's The Difference?

Here's a quick look at what makes tile faces different from tile variations. For a more detailed version, check out this guide: What Is Tile Variation?

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The Faces	The Variations
The number of different patterns and colours across the individual tiles in an item. The number of faces can vary from one on basic tiles to 30+ on premium ranges.	The difference in colour, shade and tone between individual tiles. It ranges from V1, with little variation between pieces to V4, which is substantial variation between colour & pattern.

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To get a better understanding of what tile variation ratings can look like, here are some examples featuring some of our most popular products.

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V1:Uniform Minimal differences between pieces of the same production run.	V2: Slight Variation Clearly distinguishable differences in texture and/or pattern with similar colours.	V3: Moderate Variation The number of colours on each piece varies greatly significantly, but they do not differ greatly between pieces.	V4: Substantial Variation Random colour differences from tile to tile so that one tile may have totally different colours from another tile.
Pure White 60	Sparkle Silver Matt 60	Arena Cross Bone Matt 60	Timeless White Matt 60

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How To Choose The Right Type Of Tile Face To Achieve A Realistic Look

A tile with 20+ faces will look extremely realistic when laid, as it is less likely to see two tiles that look the same. A tile with fewer faces will repeat the same pattern over and over, and when a pattern is noticeable, it will look more artificial. 

A high-quality tile will have a degree of variation between the tile faces to make it look more authentic. So to achieve a realistic look in your space, look for tiles with more than 20 unique faces. 

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Top Tip #1: Combine online photos and physical samples to get a better idea of tile face 

When you buy a box of tiles, you'll get a range of tile faces. This would help your tiler create a more natural look instead of repeating the same tile face over and over. 

The important thing to note is that when you look at a sample at a  Tile Space store, what you see on display is only one example of what you'll receive. The actual tiles you receive will have different faces. 

To help you choose, each product has several high-quality photos of different tile faces  online. Combine these with a physical sample to make your decision. 

We want you to feel confident in your tile selection, which is why we offer a variety of resources to help you make an informed decision. So, take a look at our  online selection, grab a few tile samples, and get ready to create a space that is uniquely yours.

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Which tiles have the best faces and look more realistic? Answer: Italian tiles!

Our Italian-made porcelain and ceramic tiles, like those from the Medley, Marvel and Azuma ranges, have realistic tile faces that mimic natural terrazzo, marble and stone. 

Global Italian companies are leading the way with new designs; they have design teams who study the natural product for beautiful replicas and are at the forefront of new ideas and designs. 

They put more money towards research, design and production, which results in a tile that is well thought out, has a more accurate design and is an excellent replica of natural materials such as marble or stone. 

These high-quality tiles have many different faces and variations. Therefore, the pattern is less likely to be repeated, making them look more realistic and natural.

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Tips For Laying Tiles So The Faces Look Natural

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#1. Use The Tile Space Visualiser Tool

While a tile with multiple faces will look more realistic, it's important to understand how it will look once laid. The more faces a tile can have will mean there are potentially more colours than the single sample you saw in the store. 

The stone-look tile below has 90 faces, and there is high variation between individual tiles; while this isn't always the case, it's worth knowing in advance and asking to see photos of the tiles laid to get a better understanding of how the finished result will look. 

This is where our Design Space can be a complete game-changer. You can bring plans or photos of your own space, and our tile consultant will help you visualise your dream space in 3D and save you time and money on planning the tile layout. Click here to make a booking at your local Tile Space store.

The Italian-made Nordic Svezia Matt tile with 15 faces.	An example of a marble look tile with just 1 face laid.

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#2: Discuss tile faces with your tiler and encourage them to separate matching faces for a more realistic look

Tile faces are most common in tiles that are trying to replicate a natural material such as stone or marble and have a lot of variation, like the  Context White and Travertino Cream tiles featured below.

Context White Made in Italy.	Travertino Cream Made in Italy.

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In some cases, tile faces won't be applicable; a good example of this is a white subway tile like the  Boston Gesso below. Once laid, every tile will look identical, and there will be minimal variation. So, before you start tiling, we recommend you discuss the tile faces with your tiler; a good tiler will understand the importance of separating matching faces so you can get a more natural look.

Boston Gesso Made in Italy. 

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Tile faces are an important part of choosing tiles, as they can make a big difference to how natural or realistic your finished space looks. With our tips and insights, you'll be able to make an informed decision when choosing the right tiles with the right faces for your project. 

Still got questions? Talk to one of our expert design consultants at your  nearest showroom and Download our TILE 101 booklet.

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