Entrance & main door

Black-and-white chequerboard in 600x600 suits foyers, hallways and kitchens with simple cabinets and decor; terrazzo, Moroccan and wood-look 2x2 designs are also available.

A narrow KitKat border around the pooja doorway, or vertical tiles on the pillars beside it, marks the entrance without tiling the whole wall.

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.

Entry and dining: half-height rustic brick with a wooden shelf above; dining wall of brick gives a vintage cafe feel; use subtle-relief decorative brick tiles.

3D elevation tiles (grooves, waves, cubes) near the main door look best with soft lighting and are suited as accent walls.

Wood-look tiles mimic teak or walnut at the main door with weather resistance and no real-wood upkeep.

Front wall material options: porcelain, Moroccan accents, terracotta, stone cladding, concrete-look, digital print vitrified, 3D elevation and brick cladding.

Authentic Athangudi floors suit dining rooms, bedrooms, corridors, verandas, sun rooms, pooja rooms, foyers, entryways and cottage-style or commercial lobbies.

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.

Tile one focal wall, pillar faces or a band around the door rather than every surface, leaving room for door, nameplate and lights.

Check portico tile samples outdoors in different lighting; inspect grout and sealant after the monsoon and avoid high-pressure cleaning near weak joints.

Mosaic works best in focused zones: shower niche, panel behind basin, kitchen backsplash strip, pooja area and entryway.

Plan the layout around door swing, hinges, electrical points, lights, security devices and handles; tile one focal wall rather than several competing surfaces.

For small entrances use light beige, ivory, cream or grey with vertical fluted or rectangular layouts for height and narrow borders to frame the doorway.

Check main-door tile samples beside the actual door in daylight and evening light.

Use full-body vitrified in darker shades at entryways with lighter walls; it keeps colour throughout for high-traffic areas.

Mid-tone terrazzo with mixed colourful chips hides small marks in kitchens and entryways.

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

In a small porch use light beige, ivory, sand or soft grey tiles and lengthwise rectangles to extend a narrow entrance; keep bold motifs to a border, step riser or small panel.

Terrazzo border around an entryway frames it and blends with plain floor tiles; carry the same terrazzo tone across connected dining, kitchen and living areas for continuity.

Clad pillars at gates, porches and verandas in stone-look or brick tiles with smoother wall tiles around to make them highlights.

Keep the entrance clean and well lit; replace broken or chipped idols.

Ganesha tiles (digitally printed ceramic or vitrified, poster tiles, stone-finish murals, 3D relief) can replace an idol and need no separate shelf, with easier maintenance.

Large-format porcelain or vitrified tiles on the front wall give a seamless surface with fewer grout lines.

Textured cement-finish tiles with muted shades hide dust, suiting street-facing outdoor walls.

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

Maintain front wall tiles with mild soap, soft brush, seal porous terracotta or stone annually, avoid acidic cleaners and keep grout intact.

Horizontal strip tiles in almond, slate or beige visually widen a compact entrance.

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

On a small facade clad only one or two zones (around main door, gate pillars, boundary wall, horizontal strip under roofline) rather than everything.

Stone cladding suits foyers, balconies, TV walls and sit-outs; works best with warm lights and simple furniture, avoiding too many surrounding patterns.

Border or accent tiles along floor edges or an accent wall work well in entryways and bathrooms.

Chevron wood-look tiles in walnut or deep tones make a statement entryway.

Entrance floors take a stronger geometric border with a simple centre tile.

Use full body or double charge for busy entrances and public spaces and GVT or PGVT for bedrooms and quiet corners.

Straight chequered layouts suit formal symmetrical entrance lobbies; a diagonal layout adds movement and makes a space feel wider.

A narrow vertical terracotta fluted strip framing the entry door with gold-vein marble-look on the rest of the wall adds warmth and shine at the entrance.

Wood-deck pattern tiles (stripes, stacks, geometric arrangements) suit corridors, main entrances and utilitarian areas; 2x4 ft slabs suit larger spaces.