Country Homes & Interiors

COUNTRY STYLE NEED-TO-KNOW

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PICK YOUR PATTERN When it comes to trends, encaustic tiles are enjoying a revival, while geometric patterns remain popular. For longlastin­g appeal, you might want to go for more neutral colour combinatio­ns as they are unlikely to date as quickly.

PLAN THE LAYOUT Badly aligned tiles will stand out a mile, so it’s best to do a flooring plan alongside your cabinetry and appliance layout. Think about where grout lines will fall as you enter the room and how the cabinets will sit on the tiles. If the grout lines don’t run parallel to plinths or wall cornicing, it will be obvious and, potentiall­y, endlessly annoying.

KEEP IT CLEAN Most manufactur­ers offer a guide outlining the best cleaning products to use – and any to avoid. Not all tile types are steam mop-friendly, so do check. For stubborn stains, try specialist brands such as Lithofin (lithofin.co.uk).

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