Penny tiles, as their name suggests, are round and penny-sized. Also known as penny rounds, these tiles have been available for decades, but their use has been so limited that many people are now encountering them for the first time. Today, the style is seeing a resurgence as increasing numbers of tile-makers experiment with a wide range of materials in penny shapes.
One of the most popular materials for penny round tiles is porcelain, which can be glazed or unglazed. These are increasingly in demand by owners of period homes, as they seem to work perfectly for preserving the period style. Unglazed porcelain penny tile mosaics are superb for forming historic floors or durable countertops, and can be ordered pre-mounted on sheets.
Glazed porcelain penny tile mosaics can have either a satin or a gloss finish, and come in classic white. They are perfect kitchen backsplash tiles, or on any walls and surfaces where a retro look is desired. These too are pre-mounted on sheets, to make installation easy, and measure ¾ of an inch in diameter.
However, penny round tiles can be found in an exciting range of other materials too, including glass, ceramics, stone, metals, and even cork. Glass penny tiles are very popular for bathroom floors, although tiles that are too heavily glazed should be used with caution, as they crack easily, and can become slippery and dangerous.
They look exceptionally beautiful on bathroom walls, or as decorative backsplashes for showers, and are much safer there. The most attractive glass penny tiles are found as glass bubble mosaics — the bubble-like quality comes from the mixed sizes and the shades of blue, green, and smoky gray merging into one another.
Metal penny tile is a luxury choice but can provide an attractive contemporary backdrop for almost any room. These tiles can be made of stainless steel, silver alloy, zinc, aluminum, or copper, and copper is particularly loved, because of the warmth and old-world charm that it can bring.
There is currently a trend for having floors, walls, or countertops tiled with actual pennies — usually an extremely painstaking and time-consuming do-it-yourself project, but an effective way of using saved-up pennies, which are practically useless as actual currency.
Sheets of penny tiles – penny tile can be purchased in a single color, or in a variegated set of colors, which can be a classic palette or a spectrum of contemporary shades. The sheets are also available in patterns, such as dots, stripes, or flowers, or in retro designs such as checkerboard or basket weave. The standard size is ¾ inch, but sizes vary between half an inch and one inch and are even more varied in mosaic sheets.
The penny tile is based on the humblest of coins, yet it has evolved to provide endless possibilities for the creation of surfaces that are both timeless, and at the same time, fresh and inspiring. No matter which material is used, the visual effect will be one of beauty, and the variety is such that no two rooms will ever look alike. Line your room with penny tiles, and you are making a powerful decorating statement!
Get Tough With Garage Tiles
Buy on Amazon The garage floor is one area of the house that many homeowners would love to upgrade but don’t know how to do so. It can be a rough place with falling tools and equipment that could easily crack or break many flooring materials. Most materials simply...
Hexagon Tile For Beginners
Buy on Wayfair With six sides, hexagon tile (also sometimes called hex tile for short) is a fabulous way to change things up a bit. Whether you’re looking for something classic or even modern this shape has got you covered. And with the tips and info, you’re about to...
Mother Of Pearl Tile The Perfect Material For Instant Luxury
Buy on Wayfair The look of natural tile materials has always captivated people since ancient times. And while most consumers are familiar with many of the stone options, they have no idea that shells can be used to create tiles as well. Mother of pearl tile has a...
Glass Tile Basics
Buy on Wayfair When a clean and modern look is what you’re after, you will need to consider glass tile. Totally unlike all other choices, it has come a very long way in recent years and will continue to top the charts for many more. So let’s get started with the...
Getting Started With Floor Tiles
Buy on Wayfair Installing tiles on your floor can drastically improve the look of a room and your home in general. But you will need to know the basics first. So here’s a quick intro to what you’ll need to know when getting started with floor tiles. Made To Be Tough...
Metal Tiles: An Alternative Unlike Any Other
Buy on Wayfair When most people think of tile materials metal is not something that usually comes to mind. However, metal tiles have a lot to offer and in many different forms. Here’s your fast introduction to this alternative that can be used to create spaces from...
The Top 5 Floor Tile Colors For Your Home
Buy on Wayfair There are a huge number of colors to pick from when planning your tile floor. A handful of them however always seem to be the most popular year after year. So here are the top five colors you'll want to consider. White Some areas of the home are...
Add A Decorative Touch With Copper Tiles
Buy on Wayfair Adding a warm glow to your home can only be done with a handful of tile options. Well-known for their ability to work in just about every room of the house and also create a vintage feel, copper tiles are a splendid choice. Here are the basics of this...
Mix Things Up With Mosaic Tile
Buy on Wayfair Using standard-size tiles can sometimes get a little boring. For adding some visual appeal to your space that is a little different you may want to consider mosaic tile. With a wide array of areas that it can be used it could be just what you need to...
Saltillo Tile For Adding Southwestern Style To Your Home
Buy on Wayfair Many homeowners are looking to create a Southwestern feel and appearance in their homes. One of the simplest and best-looking ways to accomplish this is by using Saltillo tile. Also known as terra-cotta tile, this clay option always leaves a big...
Stone Backsplash Ideas For Maximum Beauty
Buy on Wayfair The material you choose for your backsplash can have a huge influence on the entire look and feel of the room in which it is installed. For this reason, many homeowners choose to go with natural stone. Tiles made from stone come in many varieties to...
Tile Borders Improve And Beautify
Buy on Wayfair Decorative tile borders are a fantastic way to enhance the look of any tile installation. They can successfully be used in many different locations from the floor to the wall and always make for an eye-catching choice. Here’s your quick guide to the...
Tile Shapes For Every Preference
Buy on Wayfair We all have different preferences when it comes to the type of tile we like. This doesn’t just mean the color and material but also the shape. Different tile shapes can be used to help create a range of styles and looks to make sure your needs are met....
Porcelain Tiles In A Nutshell
Buy on Wayfair An alternative to ceramic or even stone, porcelain tiles are a choice that homeowners should consider. Available in all shapes and sizes and with serious durability they might be the material you need for your next project. So here's what you'll want to...
Ceramic Tiles On The Go
Buy on Wayfair In the past ceramic tile was one of the only options homeowners had. Yet even with the huge array of materials available today, ceramic is still one of the most popular and useful choices. So here’s your extra fast introduction to a famous and...
Discover The Beauty Of White Tiles
Buy on Wayfair With so many choices when it comes to tile colors it's easy to forget about the basics. You don't need extravagant colors to get extraordinary results. White tile can give you everything you need to make the most of your space. So here's your complete...
Wall Tiles: Your Complete Guide
Buy on Wayfair Thin and lightweight, wall tiles are most often found in 4” x 4” with the largest being 6” x 6” in size and shouldn’t be more than ¼” thick. Because wall tiles don’t have to perform the same tough functions as floor tiles they can be made from a wider...
Concrete Tiles: A Quick Fact Sheet On An Amazing Tile
Buy on Wayfair “Concrete tiles? Are you sure?” This is the reaction of most homeowners when they hear the word tile and concrete together for the first time. While many roofers associate concrete with concrete roof tiles, concrete is not a material we normally...
Echo Your Appliances With Sleek And Elegant Stainless Steel Backsplash Tiles
Buy on Amazon A tile backsplash although not very large in size, is an area that if used properly can have a huge impact on a room. While a backsplash does need to function as a protective barrier between your wall and the liquids, heat, and moisture typically found...
Black Floor Tiles: Secrets Of How To Use Them Successfully!
Buy on Wayfair The color black has always been associated with the dark and mysterious. From black cats to the black pirate flag, black has been an omen of bad luck and associated with death and danger since ancient times. Thankfully, however, when used inside the...