Floor tiles in Malaysia carry more of the home than in most countries: with no carpet and little timber, one tiled floor usually runs from the front door through the living and dining areas and on into the bedrooms. This page covers living room tiles and the floor tiles for dining areas and bedrooms: the types that suit those rooms, the sizes and finishes that hold up in a hot, humid climate, and what to check before you order. Bathrooms and kitchens have their own pages: bathroom tiles and kitchen tiles.
Shop floor tiles by material
Porcelain for open-plan living
Dense and hard-wearing, in the larger sizes an open-plan living and dining floor asks for. Alpha and Venus are the porcelain names in the range.
Homogeneous for hard use
The colour runs through the whole body, so a chip on a busy walkway or under a dining chair does not show a different colour underneath. Alpha and Guocera.
Glazed porcelain for pattern and polish
A printed, glazed face over a porcelain body gives the marble, stone and wood looks most bedrooms and feature floors are after, in matt or polished. Guocera and White Horse.
Living room tiles and dining floor tiles
The newest porcelain and homogeneous tiles in the range, the two types most living and dining floors in Malaysian homes are laid with.
See all porcelain floor tiles · See all homogeneous tiles
Large format and polished floor tiles
Glazed porcelain in marble and stone looks, and double loading polished tiles for a hall or living floor that is meant to shine.
See all glazed porcelain tiles · See all double loading porcelain tiles
How to choose floor tiles in Malaysia
Size: 600 x 600 is the default, larger needs a flatter floor
A 600 x 600 tile is the usual choice for living room tiles, dining areas and bedrooms in Malaysia. An 800 x 800 or 600 x 1200 makes an open-plan area look bigger and cleaner, but a large tile needs a flat, well-cured screed: on an uneven floor it lips at the joints where a smaller tile would follow the surface. Wood-look planks, usually around 200 x 1200, suit bedrooms and are laid staggered with a little more wastage. Use the tile calculator to get a count for the size you are considering, and confirm the exact size and box coverage of the specific tile at the showroom.
Finish: matt, polished or textured
Polished tiles are the usual pick for a hall or formal living room, but under a Malaysian afternoon sun a polished floor shows glare, dust and every footprint between mops. A matt or satin finish in a mid tone is the low-maintenance choice for family living areas and bedrooms. Where the living floor meets a car porch, patio or wet kitchen, change to a matt or textured tile with some grip. Slip resistance is specific to each tile, so ask for the rating of the one you choose rather than assuming it from the finish.
Terrace house or condominium
In a terrace or semi-detached house the ground floor sits on a concrete slab and the tiled area is large and continuous: the same tile usually runs from the porch threshold through the living and dining space to the dry kitchen. Damp can rise through an older slab, so the tiler should check the screed before laying a low-porosity tile over it. In a condominium the screed is thin and often less flat than it looks; check it before committing to a large format. Boxes of 600 x 1200 are heavy and awkward in a lift, and most managements limit hacking hours, so plan delivery and the tiling schedule around the building’s rules.
Grout, adhesive and the tiler’s quote
Tilers in Malaysia quote labour per square foot, and the rate rises for large format, diagonal or herringbone lays and for hacking out an old floor. Get the quote with the tile size and any levelling work listed. Standard cement grout darkens and can mildew in a humid home; a polymer-modified or epoxy grout costs more but stays cleaner. Porcelain and homogeneous tiles absorb very little water, so they need a proper tile adhesive rather than a sand and cement bed; the tile adhesives and sealants in the range come from Mapei and Davco.
Floor tile questions
Which floor tiles are best for a living room in Malaysia?
Porcelain or homogeneous tiles in a 600 x 600 or larger size, in a matt or satin mid tone that hides dust between mops. Polished looks brighter in a showroom but shows more in a home with the doors open all day.
Are 600 x 1200 tiles a good idea for a condo?
Only if the screed is flat; a large format tile lips at the joints on an uneven floor. Check the lift and corridor access for the boxes and the management’s renovation rules before you order.
Should a bedroom floor be tiled or laminated?
Tiles stay cooler underfoot, do not swell in humidity and are easier to keep clean, which is why most Malaysian bedrooms are tiled. If you want the warmth of timber, a wood-look porcelain plank gives the look without the risk.
Are polished floor tiles slippery?
Dry, a polished tile is fine for a living room. Wet, it is, so keep polished tiles away from the porch, the wet kitchen and bathroom doorways, and use a matt or textured tile there. Confirm the slip rating of the specific tile at the showroom.
How do tilers charge for floor tiles in Malaysia?
Labour is quoted per square foot and depends on the tile size, the pattern and whether the old floor has to be hacked out. Ask for the tile size and any screed work to be listed on the quote, and get the tile count from the tile calculator first.
What grout should I use in a humid climate?
Cement grout is the standard and is fine if sealed and kept clean. A polymer-modified or epoxy grout resists staining and mildew better in a humid home. Match the grout colour to the tile so the joints stay unobtrusive.
Bring the room size to the showroom
A tile reads differently under your own light, so take a photo of the display next to your furniture or cabinet colours. Bring the floor plan and measurements, and the number of tiles is worked out on the spot. Monday to Saturday, 9:00 am to 5:30 pm, Sungai Buloh.