The Mixtiles Clean and Edge styles both offer a modern way to display photos, but they differ primarily in their frame design. The Mixtiles Clean is a completely frameless tile for a seamless, minimalist effect, while the Mixtiles Edge adds a slim, defined border around the photo for a more classic, finished appearance.
Here's everything you need to know to choose the right style from Mixtiles for your wall decor project.
Mixtiles Clean
The Mixtiles Clean style is the brand's most minimalist option. It features a high-quality photo print that extends to the very border of the tile, creating a completely frameless look. This style is designed for those who want their images to take center stage in a clean, contemporary, and unobtrusive way, making it perfect for creating seamless gallery walls.
- What it is: A lightweight, frameless photo tile with the image printed edge-to-edge.
- Key features: Damage-free adhesive backing, lightweight construction, frameless design for a modern aesthetic, high-resolution photo printing.
- Price: Around $29 to $39 per tile, with frequent bundle discounts available.
- Style: Minimalist, modern, and seamless. It allows photos to blend together, creating a mural-like effect when grouped.
- Materials/Construction: The photo is printed on high-quality paper and mounted on a rigid, lightweight core. The patented adhesive is on the back for easy mounting.
- Pros: Creates a sleek, edge-to-edge finish. Ideal for seamless, mosaic-style gallery walls. The focus is entirely on the photograph. Versatile style that fits into ultra-modern decor schemes.
- Cons: The exposed edges and corners may be more susceptible to incidental bumps or wear over time. Lacks the traditional definition of a framed print.
The Clean style is perfect for anyone seeking a truly minimalist aesthetic where the gallery wall feels like one cohesive piece rather than individual framed pictures.
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Mixtiles Edge
The Mixtiles Edge style offers a modern take on the traditional picture frame. It features the same high-quality photo tile but adds a very thin, clean border around the image. This slim frame provides subtle definition, helping each photo stand out as a distinct piece while maintaining an overall modern and clean look. It's a great middle ground between totally frameless and a bulky, traditional frame.
- What it is: A lightweight photo tile with a slim, minimal frame around the edge.
- Key features: Thin frame profile (available in black or white), damage-free adhesive backing, lightweight feel, and professional high-resolution printing.
- Price: Typically the same price as the Clean style, around $29 to $39 per tile, also with bundle discounts.
- Style: Contemporary and polished. The thin frame adds a classic, finished touch that helps separate and define each photo.
- Materials/Construction: The photo print is housed within a slim, modern frame and mounted on the same lightweight core with adhesive backing.
- Pros: Frame adds a polished, finished look. Provides physical protection to the corners and edges of the print. Creates clear visual separation between photos in a grid layout.
- Cons: The frame creates a border, so it's not ideal for a truly seamless, mural effect. You have to commit to a frame color (e.g., black or white).
The Edge style is ideal for individuals who want a clean, organized gallery wall with a defined, polished presentation that a subtle frame provides.
Shop this product: mixtiles.com
Mixtiles Clean vs. Edge Comparison
Style & Aesthetic
The most significant difference lies in aesthetics. Mixtiles Clean is unapologetically modern and minimalist, creating a floating, seamless look. The photos appear to blend directly into the wall, which is perfect for mosaic or asymmetrical layouts where images flow into one another. It puts 100% of the focus on the photography itself.
The Mixtiles Edge style, while still modern, leans slightly more classic. The thin frame acts as a subtle container for the image, giving it a finished quality and visual boundary. This makes it particularly effective for structured, grid-based gallery walls. The added border defines each moment, preventing images from visually bleeding together and adding a sense of order to the display.
Materials & Durability
Both styles are built on the same foundation: a high-quality print on a durable, lightweight tile with the brand’s signature damage-free adhesive. Their core construction and print quality are identical. However, the Edge style does offer a slight advantage in-person durability.
The slim plastic frame on the Edge tile provides a protective layer around the corners and sides of the photo print. This can help prevent dents, chipping, or peeling if a tile is dropped or bumped, especially when moving or repositioning it frequently. The Clean style’s exposed edges, while sleek, are more vulnerable to physical wear.
Placement & Gallery Wall Design
For gallery wall design, your choice dramatically impacts the final look. The frameless nature of the Clean style excels in creating a fluid, organic feel. It's the go-to choice for layouts that mimic a photo stream or a large-scale photo mural where boundaries are meant to disappear.
The Edge style is superior for creating symmetry and structure. If you’re planning a perfect grid of nine tiles above a sofa or a straight line of photos down a hallway, the frame on the Edge tiles helps enforce that tidy, organized look. The visual separation makes any minor alignment imperfections less noticeable and keeps the display from feeling like one big, busy image.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both Mixtiles styles are excellent choices, but they cater to different visual preferences and decor goals.
Choose the Mixtiles Clean if:
- You want a super minimalist, modern, and seamless aesthetic.
- You are designing a non-traditional, asymmetrical, or mural-style gallery wall.
- You want the photographs to be the one and only visual focus.
- Your existing decor is stark, simple, and clutter-free.
Choose the Mixtiles Edge if:
- You prefer a polished, defined, and more "finished" look for each photo.
- You are planning a structured, grid-based, or symmetrical gallery wall.
- You appreciate the clean separation between images.
- You want a bit of extra physical protection for the edges of your photo prints.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the main difference between Mixtiles Clean and Edge?
The main difference is the design. The Clean style is completely frameless with the photo extending to the edge of the tile. The Edge style has a slim, modern frame (usually black or white) around the photo, giving it a more defined look.
Do Mixtiles Clean and Edge cost the same?
Yes, typically the pricing for both the Clean and Edge styles is identical. Both are also eligible for the same bundle deals and promotions offered by Mixtiles.
Is one style more durable than the other?
While both use high-quality materials, the Edge style offers slightly better durability in terms of edge protection. The thin frame helps shield the corners and sides of the photo print from accidental bumps, scuffs, or peeling.
Which Mixtiles style is more popular?
Both are extremely popular and the choice comes down to personal taste. The Clean style is favored by those wanting an ultra-modern, seamless look, while the Edge is chosen by those who prefer a classically defined, grid-like composition for their gallery walls.
Can you mix Clean and Edge tiles in the same gallery wall?
You can, but it requires careful design consideration. Because the Clean tiles are frameless, they sit more flush visually. Mixing styles can create an interesting eclectic look, but for a cohesive feel, it's generally best to stick with one style for a single gallery wall.
Do both styles use the same adhesive stickies?
Yes, both Clean and Edge tiles use the same patented adhesive on the back. They are designed to be stuck, repositioned, and removed multiple times without damaging your walls or leaving residue behind.
What sizes do Clean and Edge tiles come in?
Mixtiles offers both styles in their standard sizes, which typically include squares like 8"x8" and 12"x12" as well as certain rectangle sizes. Check the Mixtiles website for the most current size availability.
Does the frame on the Edge style cover part of the photo?
No, the frame on the Edge style sits on the border of the photo and does not significantly crop or cover the image itself. It is designed to add a boundary, not obscure the picture.
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