interior design
Now Trending :: Terracotta Tile Floors
Terracotta itself - as both a color and material - has been trending back into the design world for the past year or so. And while I'm a definitely a fan, I have to say that I was skeptical of this return to terracotta tile floors. While they can look charming in a European farmhouse style situation, could they really be versatile enough to work in modern decor? Of course, the answer is what the answer usually is: if it's done well, anything is possible!
Secretly, I'm pretty excited about the inspiration I've been finding for this because our entire basement is actually covered in saltillo tile (a form of terracotta). Needless to say, I've struggled to embrace it. This resurgence of well-designed spaces showcasing so many options for making it work is helping! I especially love the classic farmhouse styles here. It feels cohesive with what's going on in the rest of our house. Now, making it work in a bedroom or living room is a whole other story, but I'll consider that my challenge for this summer.
I would say that this modern farmhouse style is probably the easiest way to incorporate this type of tile. So let's look at how designers are getting a bit more creative...
I love the way this hex looks in a darker color - not the traditional terracotta orange, but still terracotta material. You've got some really modern elements going on in here, and it all works fantastically.
For even more juxtaposition, though, check this dining space out!
A similar idea to the eat-in kitchen above, but taken a step further where the super modern cabinetry and furniture is combined with old brick flooring. I'm into it. The kitchen below is doing the same thing, with even more mid-century modern flair.
And speaking of mid-century modern...
This home built in the 60's was recently remodeled, but the floors are actually original! For those of us who have moved into homes where design choices like this have already been made for us - rejoice and take notes. There is hope! The furnishings throughout have an easy California ranch style, despite the fact that this home is in the Hudson Valley, and I think they work perfectly.
And then there's the truly original applications of this terracotta tile that are really bringing them into current design. After all, what's more current than millennial pink bathrooms? Not much.
Now here's a little secret: not all terracotta tiles are made from terracotta. Some have the same look but are actually porcelain. So if you're going for this style, you actually have quite a few options of where to go an what to look for! Here are a few of our favorites:
Lincoln | Perche | Cle Tile | Tabarka Studio | SomerTile | Rustico Tile
The nice thing about terracotta is that it comes in a variety of price points. Be careful, though, of the type of tile you're purchasing and where you're installing it. Some tiles aren't meant for places like a shower unless they're properly sealed, while others can crack at low temperatures because they absorb water and then freeze. It's best to do a little research first! The two sources with the green dot by them are ones that I've used and trust.
And if you really want to get authentic, there are even sources for antique French terracotta tiles, which are incredibly stunning, with a price tag to match.
What do you think of this style? Are you into it, or would you run far far away from it? While I do think that the strong orange tone can be harder to work with, I do think there are some cases in which I'd totally go for it!
We have terra cotta tiles in our AirBnB rentals in the south of France. They are a couple hundred years old. Some had been covered by vinyl, but we had them all restored. They are gorgeous and timeless.
How amazing, we just recently bought a house with these tiles, they are old and not looking very great. How didnubrestore your floors?
Hi, I have always been a fan of terra cotta tiles. In my mind, they are a classic material, just like white subway tile. I’m hoping we will embrace this classic tile, and rethink ripping it out to replace and adding more to our landfills! Thanks for featuring terra cotta and for encouraging us to look at it in a new way.
I love the terracotta with the creams and grays as in the first two photos. I also love the juxtaposition of the tiles with the modern furniture. The use of terracotta grounds a room and seeing these photos gives me new ideas of how to use. I was thinking of using them in my basement remodel and was worried it would feel ‘dated’. Now I think layered with Persian rugs it would bring in that undeniable sense of Europe and the exotic corners of the world.
I love terracotta tile! My favorite styles are the brick-sized tiles and the hex-shaped tiles. I’m not into the small square style because that looks dated to me, but I think the house pictured above is so updated and beautifully styled otherwise that it’s actually a great example of how to make it work.
I love how all the tile looks. It all looks so cute.
http://sugarcoatedbears.blogspot.com/
Thank you for sharing all those great ideas. I’m not a teera cotta fan but you are changing my mind.
I saw a post by Sherry Hart (Design Indulgence blog) – she had saltillo tile stained a darker color for a project and wrote a post about it. Apparently they can be stained and/or white washed to achieve a different color if they are too pink or orange for your design vision. You might want to check it out if you haven’t seen her post already!
Wonderful. I was looking for rationalization/justification for expanding the foyer and fireplace landing terra cotta throughout the “back” hallway and into the bedrooms. Our home is a mix of mid-century decor with traditional and contemporary styling (exterior/interior) with a white and grey palette. We are in the process of removing some engineered wood floors in the “back” and are considering either wood again or 12×24 cement-look tile throughout one hall and in the bedrooms to match the tile in one guest bathroom and the master bathroom. (I know, I know – tile in bedrooms??? We love putting together and even overlapping vintage/distressed area rugs so tile is not an issue in regards to comfort/warmth. Though, if we go with terra cotta, I would likely be hesitant to cover it. But… I digress.) We are seriously considering going terra cotta / saltillo throughout. I like the idea of one floor. However, one concern, if we don’t replace all the flooring, is the terra cotta butting up against cherry wood in one area and against the cement-look tile in the bathrooms. This goes against my wanting one floor throughout – two at most. Anyway…
The mix of floors is hard! I think the terra cotta could be beautiful throughout or combined with lighter floors, but cherry wood could be hard… depending on the tones. Good luck!! Sounds like you have a lot of decisions to make!
Gorgeous terracotta tile! The hexagon pattern seems to have gotten very popular over the years here. Great article.
Wow, really beautiful. Especially the first few tiles. I think reclaimed terracotta provides an extra dimension to a home and if each tile is different you know you are getting a completely unique floor.
Love this look! Where can I buy the rugs?