Ceramic tile is a great way to update your house and increase its value. Here are some tips to help you select ceramic tile while keeping the expense down

• Keep in mind your household environment. Have a shedding dog? Make sure the hair won't stand out like a sore thumb on the tile.
• Keep in mind the size of the tiles. Larger tiles take less installation time (and installation expense) while smaller tiles take much longer.
• Keep in mind the direction of the tile. You will need more tile and more installation time if you want the tile installed diagnoally instead of straight.
• If the area is high traffic, especially from an outside area, select a tile with a higher degree of slip resistance.
• How will the tile age? Avoid trendy designs that will date your house within a couple of years. Solid colors, and non-trendy colors, are best choices.
• Try before you buy. Bring tile samples home to make sure they don't clash with other flooring, furniture or cabinets in the immediate area.
• The lighter the grout color, the more work it takes to keep it clean. Chose a darker colored grout that still works with the tile you selected.
• That said, lighter color tiles make a room larger while darker colored tiles tend to make a room seem smaller.
• Edge pieces cost much more per piece or square foot than the regular tiles do. So decide whether the expense is worth having a bull-nose or decorative tile border on the edge.