Tiles can create dramatic effects in any room of the house.

Adding tile invigorates interior and exterior spaces, creating beautiful accents that will impress visiting friends and help you learn to love your home again.

Tisa Adamson, General Manager and Co-owner of South Pasadena's Mission Tile, offers advice for improving your home's design with tile:

• Use tile inside and out.
  Most people think of tile for kitchens and bathrooms, but there are many other places inside and outside of your home that can be beautified by using tile, including fireplaces, walkways, walls, fountains and swimming pools.
  
• Try matching tile and grout.
  Adamson prefers the look of grout that doesn't stand out. If the grout contrasts with the tile, all people will see is separate squares or boxes. Choosing a grout that blends in with the tile, on the other hand, will result in a more even or contiguous look.
  
• Let art tiles be unique.
  If you choose art tile, says Adamson, you have to be prepared to let it be art. This means getting out of the mindset that says that all tiles in a pattern must be uniform and identical. Art tiles are designed to be unique, and you should embrace this.
  
• Choose inspiring colors.
  Color is a very psychologically powerful thing. If you design a room with tiles, choose colors that stimulate your brain. This way, you'll wake up every morning, go into your kitchen or bathroom, and be inspired and delighted by what you see.
  
• Use tile for an easy kitchen re-do.
  Here's a great tip for redesigning your kitchen with minimal effort: paint your kitchen cabinets a new color and then create a new backsplash out of beautiful tiles. You're kitchen will look brand new.

For more about tile, check out the following websites:

Tiles on the Web
www.tiles.org

Tile Heritage Foundation
www.tileheritage.org

Tile Council of America
www.tileusa.com

HGTV: Fix it Up!: Ceramic Tile Floor
www.hgtv.com

HGTV: Collectible Treasures: Ceramic Tiles
www.hgtv.com

InfoTile.com
www.infotile.com

Next: Exciting Surfaces