VIDEO: Beginner’s Guide to Ceiling Tiles by Talissa Decor

Learn about our 3 ceiling tile types (polystyrene, PVC faux tin, and real tin tiles). See how easy the ceiling tiles are to install: simply glue them up or drop them in! No special tools or experience needed! Free shipping for Canada and USA on most items.

The Three Tile Types, in Plain Terms

1. Polystyrene (styrofoam) tiles. The lightest and cheapest option. They cut with scissors or a utility knife and glue straight onto drywall, plaster or a popcorn ceiling. Best for dry rooms such as bedrooms and living rooms. They take water-based paint if you want a colour.
2. PVC faux tin tiles. Moulded plastic with a pressed-metal look. They’re waterproof and wipeable, so they work in kitchens, bathrooms and basements. Most patterns come in a glue-up version and a drop-in version for a 2×2 grid.
3. Real tin tiles. The traditional metal tile found in older buildings. They need priming so they don’t tarnish, cutting them means metal snips and gloves, and they cost and weigh a lot more. Most people choose faux tin for the same look with none of that.

How Installation Works

1. Measure the ceiling and order about 10 percent extra tiles for cuts.
2. Clean the surface. Dust and grease stop adhesive from bonding.
3. Snap chalk lines through the centre of the room and start there, so the cut tiles land at the walls.
4. For glue-up tiles, run a bead of construction adhesive around the back edge and through the middle, press firmly, then move to the next tile.
5. For drop-in tiles, lift out the old white panel and lay the decorative tile into the same grid opening.
6. Trim the border tiles with a utility knife and finish the edges with matching moulding if you want a framed look.

Not sure which type suits your room? Read real tin versus faux tin ceiling tiles, or browse the full ceiling tile range and filter by material.