Colour combinations

Epoxy grout comes in interior, exterior and industrial grades (industrial for commercial traffic) and in 50+ solid and sparkling colours including rose gold, gold and silver metallics.

A ceramic tile concept is a pre-curated set of four designs: three 2x1 ft wall tiles (lighter, darker and an accent/highlighter) plus one 1x1 ft anti-skid floor tile that replicates the darker wall tile.

Warm Moroccan patterns pair with cream, beige or terracotta; cool ones with white, grey, blue or soft green; blue patterns with plain white, green with warm beige, black-and-white with soft grey.

For colour, use one colour in varied shades for calm minimalism, black-white or emerald-gold for drama, and greens/browns/sandy stone or wood-look tiles for a spa feel.

A charcoal border around a lighter grey or beige granite-look floor frames living or dining rooms; a pale border on dark charcoal acts like an inlay in foyers and passages.

Against white cabinets use a contrasting dado (deep grey, sage, terracotta or even mid-beige); against warm wood cabinets use charcoal, black or navy.

Warm beige stone tile with off-white or cream walls suits bright Indian living rooms; choose a beige with sand or honey undertone, not cold flat beige.

Mid-tone grey stone tiles with visible veining against crisp white walls is a popular modern combination and gives a spa-like bathroom.

Slate grey with dark charcoal is dramatic; use it on a single accent wall with good artificial lighting and balance it with lighter flooring, metallic or wood to avoid a closed-in feel.

White epoxy grout on white or pastel tiles gives a clean near-monochrome look; on dark tiles it becomes a visible outline, and light grout shows dirt more.

Matching grout gives a seamless look suited to small spaces; contrasting grout outlines each tile for patterned tiles or backsplashes; grey grout with wood-look tiles gives a cosy natural look.

Dual-tone flooring: light base tile with darker border or inset to define a dining zone or frame an entry door; keep both tones in one colour family, as high-contrast black-white feels busy in small rooms.

Two-tone half-wall subway: darker shade below, lighter above keeps a small bathroom grounded yet bright; easy-clean lower wall.

Pair stone-look with wood-look tiles on facades, balconies and porch walls: rugged stone gives character, warm wood softens it.

Combine brick tiles with patterned tiles on garden walls, outdoor kitchens and patios: brick anchors the space, patterned accents add a handcrafted feel.

Concrete-look tiles with metallic-finish tiles suit modern minimalist balcony facades, cantilevered sections and stair exteriors.

Two-tone combinations such as white with grey or beige with charcoal keep boundary walls, elevation fronts and parking walls clean and modern.

Terracotta floor with cream wall tiles for balconies and verandas; terracotta absorbs less heat and hides dust, cream reflects sunlight.

Brown and tan for parking and driveways: hide tyre marks and dust; use matt vitrified or textured/interlocking for monsoon grip.

Sandstone-look with ivory borders for garden pathways; feels cooler underfoot in summer.

Layouts for white/red: checkerboard (needs a larger room), white field with red border (dining, pooja), diagonal laying for dynamism.

Stacked stone in grey or beige reads modern; slate in charcoal or blue-grey against white or cream paint; sandstone (honey, cream, rust) suits traditional homes; split face is dramatic for pillars and accents.

Blue and white Moroccan suits kitchen backsplash, balcony and pooja backdrop; muted blue for most rooms, deeper blue on one wall.

Black and white Moroccan for floors, bathrooms, entryways: strong contrast, use on one wall or one floor and keep the rest neutral.

Terracotta and cream suits wood, brass and rustic interiors; brown-beige-cream is gentle for living rooms and entries; green and white fits plants and wood.

2026 colour directions: warm beige, sand, terracotta, olive, ochre, softened white, chestnut, charcoal; earthy neutrals on large floors with richer accents on walls or borders.

Wood-finish floor tiles with beige walls and wooden furniture make a warm, calm, balanced bedroom.

Glossy white floor tiles with off-white walls reflect light and make small bedrooms look larger; add a navy, emerald or maroon headboard as focal point.

Terracotta floor tiles with a yellow accent wall and Indian textiles give a heritage bedroom look.

Textured wall tiles behind the bed with white or pistachio green walls form an affordable feature wall.

Marble-look bedroom tiles with white and pistachio green walls give a luxury look on budget; glossy ones reflect light and enlarge the room.

Matt tiles with peach-toned walls give a soft, understated bedroom suited to a 12x14 room.

Popular parking colours: browns, greys, ivory, reds and terracotta; indigo/blue for modern looks; reds and mustards for a pop.

Trending subway colours: greys, whites, teal, aqua and black, with glossy whites and off-whites returning; trending types are geometric glaze, 3D, metallic and fluted.

Mood-board blush bathroom: floral wall tile as highlighter (shower surround, sink or WC backsplash) with a plainer primary wall tile to tone it down, a rough textured blush floor for anti-skid, or herringbone subway for a modern take.

Tropical bathroom mood board: tropical 2x4 slab (or 12x12) as shower surround, a 16x16 rustic matt tile on the floor, ivory slab or jungle-green plain tile on other walls; tropical tile also lines niches or backs the sink or WC.

Hexagon tiles of about 6 in x 7 in in many colours can be laid as a rainbow accent behind the WC or in an ombre of one colour from dark to light.

Jungle-theme bathroom: tropical decor and jungle-green plain tile for shower surround and niches, with a grey floor tile kept plain for hygiene and easy cleaning.

Popular TV-unit colours are white, black and grey, with aqua, red, steel blue, and yellow for quirky spaces.

Terrazzo-look kitchen floors come in blush, aqua, teal, pink and blue and go with butcher-block or pastel kitchens; large slabs are easy to mop.

Countertop slab colours: black (black marble or quartz look, black-gold), white with browns, greys or gold (Statuario, Calcutta, Carrara, Emperador, Arabescato looks), and beige, golden, dark grey slate, travertine and butcher-block looks.

Popular concept colours: black and white, aqua, mustard, teal; timeless cream, white, black, grey and brown (in embossed). Metallic concepts with silver, gold or copper grout-line prints on 2x1 tiles are very popular for backsplashes.

Indian parking-tile preferences are two camps: minimal neutral and earthy tones, or rustic washed-out, stone-finish looks.

Popular kitchen floor colour pairings: off-white or white with terracotta and indigo, olive with cream, grey with white, black; aqua is trending.

Grey, charcoal, brown, beige, terracotta and stone-inspired colours hide dust, tyre marks and outdoor stains best in parking areas.

Low-light kitchens benefit from lighter tile combinations; bright kitchens can take deeper colours.

Kitchen style fit: geometric or zellige behind stove/sink in modular kitchens; blue/green/earthy in classic Indian kitchens; black-white, blue, terracotta or mustard in rustic ones; grey or soft blue in minimalist ones.

If the Moroccan tile is bold, keep other kitchen decor simple; repeat one tile colour in cabinet, handles or lighting.

Light oak wood-look tiles pair with white, cream, muted green, grey and rattan; check shade beside wall paint since they can look golden in warm light.

Blue-and-white patterned tile is an easy match with white, cream, pale grey or natural wood.

Stone-look, cement-look, charcoal, grey, brown and patterned parking tiles hide daily marks better than plain light or glossy ones.

Choose Kota for modern, minimal, low-maintenance homes and high-traffic indoor floors; choose Tandur for rustic, traditional, courtyard and outdoor looks.

Cream, beige, soft grey or pale stone tones make a small balcony feel brighter; use dark colours as accents only; fewer grout lines and a straight layout help it feel open.

Light beige, sand, grey, cream and muted terracotta terrace tiles reflect sunlight; very dark surfaces absorb heat and become uncomfortable in Indian summers.

Beige, grey, terracotta, stone and wood-look suit Indian balconies; very dark tiles get hotter in direct sun, so compare samples outdoors.

Small bathrooms: light beige, ivory, soft grey, pale blue or subtle stone patterns; carry similar tones onto walls and keep dark colours or bold patterns for the shower zone or a border.

For contemporary interiors choose Moroccan patterns in black-and-white, beige, grey or muted blue and pick colours already in the room.

Mid-tone textured pillar tiles conceal dust, rain marks and pollution; beige, ivory and soft grey suit compact entrances; compare samples outdoors.

Dark granite-look tones (charcoal, deep grey, salt-and-pepper) in the foyer can continue into the adjoining living room for a smooth visual link.

A low-contrast pattern (white with faint grey line) reads calmer; high-contrast black-on-white or navy-on-cream is much louder.

Pair the pattern with a plain tile in its smallest accent colour, and match it closely or choose a clearly different colour; a near-miss shade looks like a mistake.

Matching the dado to the countertop tone makes counter and dado read as one surface, e.g. warm beige counter with beige marble-look dado.

Dark stone-look or dark quartz tops suit well-lit kitchens; in poorly lit kitchens dark stone-look tops can make the kitchen feel smaller.

Choosing the right backsplash tile size reduces cutting, wastage and installation time; bold backsplash tiles work best with simple cabinets, and exact cabinet matching is unnecessary.

Sandstone-look tiles with warm white work especially well on exterior walls and weather well visually; use large-format versions to reduce grout lines.

Pick the feature-wall tone by light: north-facing walls benefit from warmer tones, south-facing walls can carry cooler greys or slates.

Limit to two or three tones and match grout to the tile rather than the wall for a seamless stone effect.

Pair micro-terrazzo floor tiles with plain white walls so the floor is the hero; used in kitchens, foyers and bathrooms.

Match fixtures to tile tone: warm-based onyx-look with brushed gold or warm metals; cool-based with chrome or brushed nickel; pair dark onyx with warm oak or walnut.

White or whitewashed brick cladding suits compact kitchens (reflects light) and calm bedrooms; red brick for contrast or colonial-traditional facades; darker mixed tones for contemporary.

View bathroom wall tile samples next to sanitaryware and vanity under bathroom lighting, and limit bold designs to one surface.

Balcony wall colours: neutral and earthy (beige, grey, brown, cream, terracotta, white); dark shades add drama but may absorb more heat; light colours for small balconies.

Light beige, ivory, sand and soft grey brighten shaded porticos; mid-tone tiles with natural variation hide outdoor stains better than plain white or very dark.

Colours: white/cream/light grey brighten small spaces; sage green pairs with wood, beige and brass; deep blue for vanity walls; terracotta for warm accent walls.

A narrow band of highlighter tiles at eye level splits the wall into two zones, making ceilings feel higher; glossy or mirror highlighters reflect light in compact homes.

Light-coloured tiles reduce heat absorption on open patios and stay cooler barefoot; dark tiles suit bright areas, lighter shades dim or shaded ones.

Light neutrals (beige, cream, soft grey) hide dust better than dark or pure white and reflect heat; dark tiles show pollution residue.

Pick light colours (white, grey, ivory, beige, pastels) for small bathrooms; avoid heavy dark tones except as accents.

They reflect light and feel open.

Terracotta red, black and earthy brown/beige/grey parking tiles hide dirt, oil and tyre marks best; black absorbs heat.

Light colours make a room look larger but show dirt more; darker colours are easier to keep.

For a living room with little natural light choose light, glossy tiles; where light is adequate, mid-tone matt finishes look richer.

White or ivory KitKat tiles with a few gold accent pieces suit a mandir wall; avoid large gold areas. Shade appears different under warm vs cool light.

Light colours suit pooja rooms: white, off-white, cream, beige, ivory, soft yellow and sandalwood; avoid dark or aggressive colours.

Red Athangudi tiles hide dust better than very pale shades, practical for busier areas.

Light beige, ivory, cream, greige and soft grey make small bedrooms feel brighter; mid-tone wood or stone shades hide dust, darker floors suit large well-lit rooms.

Elevation colours: beige, grey, ivory blend with any architecture; earthy brown or terracotta hide dirt; dark colours give a modern minimalist look.

Trending mosaic colours: earthy neutrals, terracotta/clay, aqua and seafoam, charcoal/graphite, and metallic gold, copper or brass used only as small accents.

Beige marble-look tiles hide dust and light footprints better than very dark or very bright tiles; Statuario (white with bold grey veining) suits modern living rooms; Carrara, Calacatta and Botticino looks are Italian styles.

Make a driveway look premium with symmetry, two neutral shades, a darker border frame, and matt or textured finish.

Grey, charcoal, beige, sand, brown and stone tones look refined, hide dust and suit most gates and walls; avoid very high-contrast chequered colours for a premium look.

Warm tones (beige, taupe, earthy) with soft-textured floor tiles make a cosy bedroom.

Warm-toned tiles suit brass or gold fittings; cool-toned tiles suit chrome or brushed steel.

Beige or warm sand vitrified floors are the safest base because furniture and wall colours can change without redoing the floor.

White marble-look tile suits small kitchens and bathrooms because it makes the space look wide; many have soft grey veining.

Beige and cream marble tones give a warm look and match wooden furniture easily; bedrooms in cream or beige feel cosy.

Black marble-look is a bold statement piece, best used selectively on feature walls or borders rather than whole rooms.

Marble pairs well with warm wood, brushed brass, black metal and glass; white marble contrasts dark cabinetry, beige complements walnut.

Match tile colour to light: dark tiles suit sunny gardens, lighter shades brighten shaded or covered spaces.

Larger stone walls suit simpler stone; small sections can take more variation; keep the stone wall subtle if the space already has lots of decor.

Fluted tile colours: neutrals (white, beige, grey) suit compact areas; charcoal or black enhance the ribs for a modern look; wood-finish adds warmth; horizontal ribs suit accents behind bed or sofa.

Terrazzo is already patterned, so keep the rest of the room plain (wooden furniture, plain sofa, simple curtains, warm lighting); light shades with fine chips are safest.

Black and white contrast masks stains and dust, so it suits busy households; use darker tiles on floors and lighter tones on walls to balance weight.

Scale the pattern to room size: large checkerboards or bold geometrics for spacious rooms, small florals or fine lines in compact zones.

Diagonally laid black and white floor tile makes narrow hallways feel more dynamic; border detailing adds heritage charm.

KitKat colours: sage or olive green against white or wood cabinets, black dado between light cabinets, grey neutral; lighter greys pair with warm wood.

Brick tile colours trending for 2026: deep red/rust for TV and balcony walls, grey and white for compact kitchens and entrances, brown/sand with wood, charcoal for bold corners.

Common light shades (ivory, cream, certain pink granites) are widely quarried in India and are the most affordable; rare colours like blue and green cost more and suit accents.

Dark granite (black, brown) hides stains and suits staircases and high-traffic areas; light granite looks spacious but shows dust and stains in high-traffic areas.

Use light tiles (white, ivory, beige, cream, light grey, greige) in small bathrooms and keep dark tiles only behind the mirror or shower.

Pick medium to dark shades of vitrified tile for hallways and passages to hide dust and scuff marks; bathrooms work better with smaller tiles for slope and drainage.

Timeless floors: marble-look, wood-look, limestone, travertine, terrazzo or plain neutrals in beige, ivory, greige, soft grey, warm wood tones with subtle veining.

Kitchen floor palette: soft grey with black/white/wood cabinets, beige or sand with wood, ivory opens compact kitchens, charcoal anchors; diagonal or lengthwise layouts widen narrow kitchens.

Use one strong contrast only (dark floor with light walls, or one bold feature wall); too many contrasts make the room busy and small spaces especially suffer.

One statement surface only: one patterned backsplash with everything else plain looks more premium than several decorative surfaces competing.

Match terrazzo chip size to room: fine closely scattered chips for small rooms, bigger spaced chips for larger rooms; use lighter base tone in dim rooms or compact apartments.

Mix textures but keep one colour family, e.g. beige matt bathroom floor with cream glossy walls; limit patterned mosaics and Moroccan tiles to feature walls and balance with neutrals.

Dark skirting frames light floors and hides marks near the wall, good for homes with kids or pets, but only in well-lit rooms; slim grey skirting hides dust better than white.

Dark countertops (black, mid-grey) hide watermarks, stains and oil better than bright white, practical for daily Indian cooking; pair dark slabs with light cabinets so the kitchen is not heavy.

Beige or cream countertop with warm wood cabinets gives a tone-on-tone warm Indian look; ivory brown or colonial white granite-look suits it; add a matt beige or terracotta backsplash.

Two-tone countertops (main platform one colour, island another) work if both slabs share the same warm or cool undertone; use harder quartz on the cooking platform and a veined look on the island.

Light colours make small bedrooms feel bigger; darker or patterned tile adds warmth in larger bedrooms.

Use a consistent palette: neutrals for modern architecture, warm tones for rustic styles; highlight pillars, trims, balconies or projections with contrasting tiles.

Keep mixed exterior tiling balanced: one dominant tile, one supporting tile, avoid too many bold patterns or contrasting colours, keep tone, texture or finish consistent.

Light granite brightens compact interiors; charcoal and black suit dramatic entrances or staircases; mid-tone speckled granite hides dust and outdoor marks.

Light colours (white, beige, cream) reflect light and make a small bathroom look brighter; glossy or glass tiles add a luxurious touch.

Limit accent tiles (mosaic, Moroccan, glass) to one wall or a border to add depth without overwhelming the space.

Keep tiles flanking the poster tile simple (plain, subtle texture, neutral) so they do not compete; beige or off-white works.

Beige, terracotta, brown and grey hide dirt and dust on outdoor floors.

Ivory, grey, terracotta and sandy beige suit Indian main door walls and hide dust and weather stains.

Lighter basin shades make small bathrooms feel larger; darker shades add depth in larger ones.

White textures reflect light and suit smaller bathrooms; grey is versatile for minimalist looks.

If a pattern is used in one part of the room, keep surrounding tiles in a single solid colour so there is one deliberate boundary.

For a cohesive bedroom, let a feature tile pick up a colour already used in the room.

Bedroom tile colours by vastu: beige, light brown, terracotta, soft pink, pastel blue or muted green; pastel blue for north/northeast, soft green north/east, yellow northeast, pink southeast, cream anywhere.

Remedies: earthy tones (terracotta, beige, brown) for southwest rooms, cool blues/greens for north; soften beams with fabrics and matte tiles; warm LEDs with off-white or ivory floors.

Mid-tone patterns hide dust and water marks better than very dark or plain white; test samples dry and wet.

If wall tiles are bold, use neutral floor tiles; if walls are plain, use patterned floors.

Pooja wall colours: white, ivory, gold, warm beige are common; blue or grey for modern; avoid very dark tiles in small spaces.

Use warm lighting, wood, or limited brass so white-grey Statuario does not feel cold.

Black outdoor tiles hide stains but choose non-glossy for outdoors.

Coastal regions: choose anti-skid versions of beige and wood-look brown combinations.

Brighter areas can take darker tones; shaded zones need light colours; one bold plus one neutral; grout colour matters (black grout hides dirt).

Put bold-patterned GVT on just one wall (behind vanity or shower) and keep other walls and floor neutral.

Keep pooja colours near white, cream, beige, light grey or soft gold with warm lighting; one pattern wall only.

Red full body suits entrances, pooja rooms, dining and borders; white suits living rooms, bedrooms and kitchens (matt or slightly textured in kitchens).

Keep metal finishes consistent, use layered lighting and limit the palette to two or three colours so marble-look tile stays the hero.

In small or low-light rooms choose lighter Moroccan combinations; busier patterns need softer colours; contrasting grout sharpens pattern, matching grout softens it.

Do not mix several unrelated heritage patterns in compact rooms; pair detailed tile with plain surroundings and one shared colour.

Light matt or neutral large-format tiles (taupe, white, beige, grey) with few grout lines make a small balcony feel larger.

White floors brighten small kitchens, black-and-white is classic bold, grey is versatile and low-maintenance.

Light colours (white, ivory, beige, soft grey, pastel) keep small kitchens open; accents in muted green, blue, terracotta or charcoal add depth; check samples under natural and artificial light.

Light tiles open small rooms; darker tiles feel cosier and suit larger rooms. Glossy reflects light, matt adds depth.

Balance geometric bedroom floors with subtle decor, contrasting walls such as grey against deep blue or cream against olive.

Wood-look floors: light oak suits white basins, walnut pairs with black or grey basins.

Neutral colours (ivory, cream, grey, taupe) hide stains and dust better than bright or dark shades.

Earthy shades (beige, sand, warm grey, dusty terracotta) with stone-look porcelain suit modern bathrooms and stay relevant longer than stark white or neon.

White and gold tiles work on the feature wall behind the idol with plain white or off-white surrounding walls.

Light floor tiles show dirt more; darker ones hide dirt but show scratches in high-traffic spots.

Light wood suits warm white or sand walls; walnut suits olive, rust or warm charcoal; brass or matte black fittings go with most tones.

Take the tile sample to your sofa or wood furniture; terracotta and brown look different beside existing colours under room lighting.

Light beige, ivory, grey or subtle wood-look brighten narrow stairs; avoid oversized motifs that get awkward after cutting.

Balance bold Athangudi patterns with neutral walls, simple sanitaryware and matt black or brushed brass fittings.

Mid-tone beige, grey, stone-look and softly patterned tiles hide hard-water marks better; avoid strong tile and grout contrast.

Dark picket tiles (charcoal, navy, deep green) only with enough light; limit to one wall in small bathrooms.

Matt black subway on floors with glossy white on walls gives a premium bathroom look; green subway shines with light grout.

Light blues (powder, aqua) make small bathrooms feel larger and brighter; use dark blue and navy in larger bathrooms with enough light.

Blue pairs with white (clean), grey (spa-like), natural wood, beige, green or black; use large mirrors and glass enclosures to brighten.

Pick backsplash tiles close to cabinet colour (beige with oak, warm white with ivory, muted grey with ash) to avoid a busy kitchen.

Match wall and floor tiles by tone (warm with warm, cool with cool), not exact colour; compare samples at home in natural light.

Mid-tone patterned kitchen tiles hide cooking marks better than plain white or very dark surfaces.

Light colours (white, ivory, beige, light grey, pastels) brighten small kitchens; match tile undertones with countertop, cabinets, flooring and appliances.

Grey grout suits outdoor brick cladding while white grout gives a cleaner contemporary indoor look.

Use beige or warm ivory grout with cream or gold-veined marble-look tiles; cool white or grey grout contrasts more strongly and makes the lines noticeable.

White KitKat suits the widest range of cabinets; sage/olive green or cream soften wooden cabinets; dark cabinets need a lighter backsplash; colourful cabinets need a restrained cream, white or grey backsplash.

Louvers pair well with marble-look, stone-look, cement-look and plain neutral tiles; wood panels with beige/cream tiles, charcoal with grey or marble-look; compare panel and tile samples under the same lighting.

Dark kitchen wall tiles need good lighting; in small kitchens limit them to one backsplash or feature wall.

Soft grey, white and beige Moroccan tiles with matt black or chrome fixtures give a minimalist-contemporary look; blue with matt black accents or black with gold fixtures suit a classic look.

Zellige colours that suit Indian kitchens: terracotta/rust with wood and brass, deep blue or teal with white cabinets, sage/olive in well-lit kitchens, charcoal with brass.

Soft neutrals (beige, ivory, grey) calm a bedroom; earth tones (terracotta, sand, rust) pair with wood; metallic accents only sparingly.

Beige and white, grey and white, brown and cream or green and white give a softer chequered look than black and white; tonal two-colour combos suit contemporary apartments.

Beige fluted accent behind the sofa with white marble-look tile carried onto the floor is the easiest entry pairing.

Light wood shades (pale oak, sand beige, light maple, ash) make small living rooms look larger; dark walnut or coffee brown suits rooms with plenty of daylight.

Pale wood tiles pair with white, cream, light grey or muted sage; deeper navy, charcoal or forest green contrast with lighter floors.

Organic colours such as off-white, terracotta, cream and light grey, and rustic tiles with distressed edges, give a calm look suited to balconies.

Pine-tone wood-look tiles are light, airy cream-beige with hints of reddish brown and grey, and suit Japandi or Scandinavian interiors.

Pastel glossy subways (light sage, lavender, pink, blue) work as kitchen neutrals, highlighter tiles or shower surrounds.

Use a blue marble-look tile against white in a bathroom to separate zones (shower vs. rest), line niches or make small storage areas.

Premium glass highlighter tiles (matt-textured with anti-skid texture) suit white-and-gold powder rooms and behind mirrors; they can be used as surround or highlighter.

A white hexagon floor with a bolder blue wall tile or slab is a simple pairing for bold bathrooms.

Pick one tile you love first and select the rest to match it.

Concept sets pair a decor tile with a darker and a lighter plain tile, so colour matching is done for you; 2x4 ft for bathroom or kitchen backsplash.

Match the trim colour to a tone in the tile: rose gold with pink onyx, gold or bronze with warm marbles, silver or chrome with dark ones; the slab can also be cut into borders or diamonds.

With light cabinets in a small kitchen use light floors or fine-grained patterns; dark floors make a space look smaller, so go dark and large-motif only in larger kitchens.

Dark tones shrink a space visually.

Balance Moroccan patterns with neutral beige, ivory or white walls and simple furniture; stick to one or two colours.

Moroccan colours: blue common in bathrooms and backsplashes; green pairs with wood furniture; yellow for feature walls; black and white balance bold patterns.

Mid-tone and patterned floors hide dirt and wear better than very light or very dark ones.

Dark walnut wood-look floors pair with white kitchen cabinets for a rustic-modern look.

Pooja palette: white, ivory, cream, beige, light grey or pale tones for calm; saffron, deep red and gold only as thin borders or motif accents.

Terrazzo backsplash tiles (2x4 ft, 1x1 ft, hexagon) suit solid-colour cabinets and countertops in the same palette for a minimal look.

Keep the floor muted when the wall or accent tile is colourful or dramatic, for example a plain matt textured grey floor with a jewel-tone terrazzo accent.

Ready box sets (field tiles plus matching borders) save the effort of mixing and matching Athangudi designs; you can still customise.

Dark mahogany-tone tiles (browns, reds, mustards) glow in strong sunlight and suit large rooms because they will not make the space look smaller.

Grout colour sets the subway look: white, off-white or grey for neutral; black or dark grey for a bold look; tinted or sparkling grout for glam.

Marble-look vitrified slabs with hints of blue, sea green, grey or gold pair with white or gold for a luxurious bathroom; use a 2x4 ft slab as highlighter behind the WC or sink or in the shower surround.

Q: Which outdoor colours are easy to maintain? A: Grey, beige, brown, charcoal, terracotta, stone shades; very light shows dirt, very dark absorbs heat.

Q: Best pooja room colours? A: White, cream, soft gold and light pastels; ivory with gold or muted ochre for a traditional festive look.

Q: Wall tile colours for a small bedroom? A: Lighter tones such as white, pastels, sky blue or mint green reflect light and make the room feel more spacious.