Ideas for Covering Tile Floors

Replacing a tile floor means ripping it out and starting fresh. But that process is time consuming, messy and expensive, so many homeowners look for more economical options. There are many ways to cover an existing tile floor, including carpet, paint and new tiles. The one you choose depends on your taste and desired flooring outcome. If you rent, the need to make sure that the existing tiles remain undamaged will also influence your choice in tile cover up ideas.

If you prefer the full coverage of wall-to-wall carpeting, you can install it as you normally would with a layer of padding followed by carpet held in place with ​tackless strips​. Nail the strips onto the floor through the grout to prevent tile breakage. This strategy is perfect for renters who prefer carpet but need to leave their tile floor undamaged. You can also remove the tiles around the edge of the room and nail the tackless strips directly to the subfloor as you normally would.

​Self-adhesive modular carpet squares​ also work well to cover ceramic tile floor surfaces and are easy to install. They don't require any special equipment and allow for a variety of patterns and designs. Area rugs are a fast and simple way to cover tile without any installation required. They come in a range of sizes, so you can cover as much or little of the tile floor as you want.

If your existing tile floor is level, it's a cinch to ​install new vinyl tiles​ right on top of it. To do so, clean the existing tile with a degreaser and scuff the tile's shiny finish with sandpaper. Once cleaned and roughed, your old tile will easily bond to the adhesive on the back of self-stick vinyl tiles. If you prefer, you can instead install a thin laminate floor over the old tile.

Always use ​thin​ vinyl tiles or laminate flooring when putting a new floor over the old one. This prevents the floor from getting too thick and failing to line up with the flooring in adjacent rooms and existing baseboards.

An interesting option with almost limitless color choices is painting the floor. If you use the proper paint, it will adhere well to floor tiles and completely change the look of your floor.

Like any painting project, preparation is key. First, clean and scuff the tiles. Then, using a low-nap roller, apply an oil-based paint or a water-based paint that ​contains urethane​. Let the paint dry and then clear-coat it for protection. Make sure you choose a clear coat that promises not to yellow over time.

If you're looking for temporary options to cover ceramic tile, consider tile stickers. Just as their name suggests, tile stickers are ​self-adhesive vinyl sheets​ that stick to clean tiles. Available in a wide variety of designs and colors, stickers either add accents or cover an entire tile. Their versatility allows you to add a design to just a few tiles to cover chips or scratches, or cover an entire floor for a brand new look. The surface beneath tile stickers must be clean but not scuffed, and the panels peel back off the tile cleanly.