Trendy swimming pool tiles

Small swimming pool tiles have dived back into pool fashion. Glass mosaic and crystal versions are topping the trends in looks, especially in charcoal, vibrant and purply blues.

Pebble and marble have given way to fully tiled interiors - a move that's been on the increase in the last few years, according to The Pool Tile Company's Amanda James.

"There's an overriding trend towards fully tiling in one colour with no decorative water-line tiles," she says. "As real estate values increase, the cost of fully tiling a pool proportionally decreases, so spending serious money to fully tile a pool is no longer considered exorbitant."

Tiles add colour to your swimming pool

Easy to clean and smooth on your skin, tiles provide deep water colours not readily achieved with other pool finishes. For example, you can't get dark blues or greens with natural pebbles. And, of course, there's the prestige associated with the visual appeal.

"Tiles make a statement about the quality of the property," says Amanda. "Fully tiled pools are considered the ultimate."

Before you choose your tiles, decide on the water colour and whether you want the tiles to contrast or blend with the water colour. Wider colour choice is one of the main reasons why people choose glass over ceramic tiles - especially for their visual effects, like shimmery mother of pearl and sparkly gold. Using contrasting coloured tiles on the edge of steps and swim-outs will enhance depth perception and safety.

Keep the swimming pool clean for maximum effect

Keeping the water in balance will go a long way towards keeping tiles low maintenance. While tiles are easier to clean than finishes like pebble, wonky pH levels will reduce their life and that of pool fittings. You'll also need a pressure-type cleaner to get rid of leaves and dirt (suction cleaners don't work effectively on fully tiled pools) and water-line tiles will need a regular scrub to prevent scum lines caused by organic matter or white calcium scale.

Hire a professional swimming pool tiler

While it may be tempting to try and shortcut some of the expense by doing it yourself, the 'walls and floors' approach you may have used successfully in your bathroom won't cut it in your pool. Bathroom tiles won't stand up to swimming-pool conditions - so use pool-safe tiles that are made to be permanently immersed in water and get a professional to do the installing.

Improper glue, tiles that don't sit flat on the surface of the pool and incorrect use of adhesives and additives are common mistakes that can spell DIY disaster.

Because they require a delicate approach in cutting and fitting, glass tiles are more expensive to install than ceramic. But get a professional to do the job and all you'll have to worry about is how to squeeze eight chairs around your new teppanyaki barbecue.

Contact a tiler in your area to discover the range of swimming pool tiles available for your pool: