Going green can be hard in the home, there are hidden toxins in paint and the manufacturing process is often less than eco-friendly. Tiles are the exception to this, being both long lasting and environmentally sound to manufacture. Service magic has compiled some eco-friendly tile tips to help you reduce your carbon footprint as you tile your home.

You may wonder whether green tiling will really make a difference to the world, but every little step is a step forward! Follow this Green Tiling Guide and you can be safe in the knowledge that your tiles and tiling technique are not costing us the earth!

Tiles are a staple when decorating a bathroom or kitchen; wipe clean and waterproof they provide a practical solution as well as an appropriate aesthetic. The humble tile rarely ventures outside of its pigeon hole of splash backs and en suites but a revolution is occurring within interior design! Tiles are spilling out of the shower and into your living room!

Throughout the mid century, tiles were used to decorate a number of interiors and exteriors, to break up and enhance otherwise flat surfaces; they gave a stimulating visual landscape and brought formal wall spaces to life. This technique has lost out to our 'quick fix' attitude to the life and times and wallpaper sales are through the roof. Tiles are a great and undervalued alternative.

The leading company to push these boundaries and dispel the common preconceptions of tile decorating is Bisazza, Milan; a favourite of designer Tara Bernerd. The exquisite glass and ceramic tile artthey craft adorn the surfaces of homes, hotels and designer retail spaces. They also create beautiful furniture; organic tiled tables are some of the most striking in their collection.

Granted, these aren't just any old tiles you can DIY with some grout, a spirit level and a tile cutting jig. This technique goes above and beyond conventional tiling, using glass mosaic tiles to cover walls, floors and ceilings in your home.

Although a Bisazza designed feature wall may not be in everyone's budget we can all take inspiration from their tiling schemes. The texture of mosaic tiles can create a focal point or contrast in an existing room and is an inexpensive yet effective way to renew a tired living room. Tiles come in all kinds of finishes; gilt tiling for example can add a subtle nod the metallic trend and catch the light beautifully if lit correctly.

If tiles in your living room are too bold a step, consider their use in your current bathroom or kitchen. Who said tiles are just there to prevent mess? The kitchen is the he art of the home, make a feature of your walls whilst keeping them protected from spills and splashes!

Tiling really isn't difficult to do on a budget and you can get the whole family involved. A children's bathroom has real character if the tiled walls are sprinkled with personal touches. There are 'paint a plate' workshops for kids in most towns that have the equipment to produce glazed and fired tiles.

From tiled floors in your hall (keeps muddy shoes from the carpets!), tiles in your fireplace and mirrored tiles on your ceiling to... well, tiles in your swimming pool, there is no surface you can't tile! Don't let the constraints of thresholds hold you back!