African Slate Tiles: Three Moods, One 30x60cm Collection
African Slate Tiles: Three Siblings, One House, and the Delicate Art of Choosing
In which three porcelain siblings of one family, but very different temper, are introduced to one another and to you.
A house with three children must learn to be fair. So it is with African Slate Tiles, a family of three porcelain siblings who share a surname and a size but very little of a temper. One is warm and affectionate, another is cool and level-headed, and the third is dark, dignified and a little theatrical.
All three are matt, rectified porcelain tiles measuring 30x60cm, made for walls and floors indoors. Moreover, each covers 0.18m², which comes to about 5.56 tiles per square metre. Consequently, they may be mixed across a house with perfect ease.
This guide introduces them properly. First, it sets every particular in one scrolling table. Then it compares them room by room, helps you choose and shows how they may be mixed. Thirteen photographs accompany the text: one in the hero, nine room scenes arranged three abreast, and three close-ups in the table. Besides, each sibling has a full guide of its own, linked below, for those who wish to know it better.
Meet the Family: African Slate Tiles at a Glance
Before the introductions, a word on the family likeness. Each sibling is a rectified porcelain with a matt, slate-effect face. Therefore, the three behave alike in laying, grouting and care. They differ, however, in colour and in character, and the table below sets out every particular.
| Tile | Colour | Size | Finish and edge | Suitable for | Tiles per m² | Coverage per tile | Mood | Best rooms | Everyday forgiveness | Pairs best with | Full guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 African Slate Multi Colour Brown |
Warm browns with grey accents | 30x60cm (300x600mm) | Matt, rectified porcelain | Walls and floors, indoors | 5.56 | 0.18m² | Warm, earthy, welcoming | Living rooms, kitchens, halls, bedrooms | Very high: the busy pattern masks crumbs and footprints | Cream, sage, navy, oak | Brown guide |
 African Slate Silver (Grey) |
Silver grey | 30x60cm (300x600mm) | Matt, rectified porcelain | Walls and floors, indoors | 5.56 | 0.18m² | Cool, calm, adaptable | Kitchens, living rooms, bathrooms | High: grey hides water marks better than white | Oak, aged brass, chrome, linen | Silver guide |
 African Slate Black |
Deep black | 30x60cm (300x600mm) | Matt, rectified porcelain | Walls and floors, indoors | 5.56 | 0.18m² | Dramatic, grounding | Feature walls, bold living rooms and kitchens | Moderate: dark floors show dust, so sweep often | Warm white, brass, sage, blush | Black guide |
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Slip rating and underfloor heating suitability are not stated on the product pages. Confirm both with the Tiles Deluxe team before you order.
Three Rooms, Three Moods: Slate-Effect Porcelain Tiles Side by Side
A comparison is best made by eye. Therefore, each room below shows the three siblings in a row, brown first, then silver, then black. Observe how the brown reads warm, the silver reads cool and the black reads deep.
The Living Room
The Kitchen
The Bathroom
Choosing Between African Slate Tiles: Five Honest Questions
Every family has its characters, and this one is no exception. Consider each in turn, and ask which you would invite to dinner.
Brown: The Warm-Hearted
Brown carries multi-coloured, natural markings in warm browns with touches of grey. Consequently, it masks the small crimes of daily life with great discretion. Mix tiles from several boxes as you lay, since each carries different markings. Our guide, Brown African Slate Tiles: Warm Character, Quietly Practical, tells the whole story.
Silver: The Even-Tempered
Silver is the diplomat of the family. Fired Earth observes in its grey tiles collection that grey can feel warm or cool depending on light, and sits well beside warm wood and aged brass. Therefore, silver adapts to almost any scheme. Our guide, Silver African Slate Tiles: A Floor That Keeps Its Temper in Every Light, explores its moods.
Black: The Dignified
Black is the sibling with presence. Homestyler notes in its guide to black floor tiles that dark floors show dust more readily, polished ones most of all. A matt face, however, is the kinder choice. Our guide, African Slate Black Tiles: The Quiet Floor That Needs No Apology, answers every objection.
Choosing Between African Slate Tiles: Five Honest Questions
Indecision is natural, and a few plain questions will settle it. Answer them candidly, and the right sibling usually introduces itself.
What Does Your Light Do?
Grey changes with the light, and ArchiPro advises taking samples into the room before ordering. Artistic Tile adds that a small or dim room may feel closed in by black. Accordingly, generous light favours black, while dimmer rooms favour silver or brown.
How Forgiving Must the Floor Be?
A busy household needs a forgiving floor. Brown hides crumbs best, silver hides water marks well, and black asks for a regular sweep. Even so, a matt face helps all three.
What Are Your Fittings?
Homestyler observes that warm tones flatter wood and brass, while cool greys enhance chrome and black steel. Therefore, match the tile to the metal and timber you already own.
How Large Is the Room?
Artistic Tile advises pairing black with lighter walls and good lighting in smaller spaces. Silver and brown are gentler choices where space is tight, and pale walls help any of the three.
What Should the Evenings Feel Like?
Finally, consider the mood after dark. Brown feels like a hearth, silver feels like moonlight and black feels like velvet. Choose the one you wish to come home to.
| If you want… | Choose | Because |
|---|---|---|
| A warm, lived-in room | Brown | Warm browns hide everyday marks |
| A calm, adaptable base | Silver | Cool grey suits many schemes |
| A dramatic, grounding floor | Black | Deep black makes pale colours shine |
| Floor and wall in one tile | Any of the three | Each is listed for walls and floors |
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Mixing African Slate Tiles: When Siblings Share a House
Because all three share one format, they may be combined with ease. Moderation, however, is the better course. ArchiPro advises keeping undertones consistent so the palette feels deliberate. Therefore, give one sibling the floor, and let a second appear on a single wall.
| Combination | The effect | Where it works |
|---|---|---|
| Silver floor, black feature wall | Cool contrast with a dramatic backdrop | Bathrooms and kitchens |
| Brown floor, black fireplace panel | Warm room with a grave centrepiece | Living rooms |
| Black floor, silver walls | A grounded room kept bright by pale walls | Bathrooms and halls |
| Brown floor, silver bathroom wall | Warmth underfoot, calm above | Bathrooms |
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Order a sample of each sibling and set them side by side in your own light. Besides, resist the temptation to use all three in one room.
Laying African Slate Tiles: What the Three Share
A floor is only as honest as the ground beneath it. The base must be clean, sound, dry and flat before any tile goes down. Fortunately, the rectified edge of all three allows fine, neat joints.
One Method for All Three
- Prepare the base: clean, dry and flat.
- Tank wet zones with a suitable membrane.
- Dry-lay a few rows and plan the cuts.
- Use a flexible adhesive; our Flexible Adhesive Guide names the right one.
- Back-butter each tile for near-full coverage.
- Set fine, even joints with spacers.
- Wipe adhesive from the faces as you go.
- Leave movement joints at the edges, free of grout.
- Grout once the adhesive has cured.
Quantities and Two Points to Confirm
All three cover 0.18m² per tile, so the sums are the same. A 14m² room with 10% added needs 15.4m², or roughly 86 tiles. Use the free tile calculator for your own measurements. Moreover, confirm slip rating and underfloor heating suitability with the team. Tile Mountain’s guide to anti-slip ratings explains the R scale.
Caring for the Family: One Routine, Three Small Adjustments
The care of all three is mercifully modest. After the first wash, sweep or use a microfibre mop, then mop with warm water and a neutral cleaner. Avoid harsh acids and abrasive powders. As for sealing, NC Tiles notes that slate effect porcelain does not need it, though you should confirm this on the product page.
| Sibling | Small adjustment |
|---|---|
| Brown | Little beyond the routine; the pattern is forgiving |
| Silver | Rinse and buff dry if streaks appear |
| Black | Sweep more often, and keep a good mat at every door |
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Frequently Asked Questions
About the Family
What are African Slate Tiles?
They are a family of matt, rectified porcelain tiles in brown, silver grey and black. Each measures 30x60cm and suits walls and floors indoors.
Can the three colours be mixed?
Yes. All three share the 30x60cm format. Keep undertones coherent, and order samples to compare them in your own light.
How many tiles are in a square metre?
Each tile covers 0.18m², so you need about 5.56 tiles per square metre before waste.
Which colour hides dirt best?
Brown hides crumbs best thanks to its busy pattern. Silver hides water marks well, and black needs a regular sweep.
About Choosing African Slate Tiles
Which sibling suits a small room?
Silver and brown are gentler in small rooms. Black can work with pale walls and good lighting.
Which is best for a bathroom?
All three are listed for walls and floors. Confirm the slip rating with the team for any shower or wet zone.
What grout colour should I choose?
Choose a grout close to the tile in tone. A pale grout may draw a bright grid across a darker tile.
About Fitting and Care
Can they go over underfloor heating?
The listings do not state this, so confirm with Tiles Deluxe and your installer. Use a flexible adhesive if heating is planned.
Do the tiles need sealing?
Slate effect porcelain is generally non-porous and needs no sealing. Confirm this on the product page.
How do I clean them?
Sweep first, then mop with warm water and a neutral cleaner. Avoid harsh acids and abrasive powders.
The Last Word: One Family, Many Houses, African Slate Tiles Collection
To sum up the case, choose brown for warmth, silver for calm and black for gravity. Indeed, the whole family of African Slate Tiles repays a modest outlay with a floor that suits the house and the passing years. A sensible choice, I think, and an agreeable one.
Shop the Family and Read the Guides
Bring Home the Whole Slate Family
Order samples, compare shades, or speak to the team about sizes and quantities. Call 0116 410 5020 or browse the full floor tile collection.
