Terracotta floor tiles have an extensive and rich heritage, so if you incorporate this into your home design you can create a space with rich color and warmth.
What exactly is Terracotta?
This is actually unglazed ceramic produced from clay. The unique, warm orange shades result from the iron oxide that is present in the earth and an abundance of this substance in the clay will produce terracotta with deeper color.
The genuine terracotta tiles will not be as durable or hard when compared to porcelain tiles, plus they will deepen in color and soften with age. The glazed terracotta floor tiles will be waterproof which enables installation in areas that receives continuous water flow such as bathrooms and showers.
Types and styles of tiles
One has to be careful when shopping for these tiles as there are a number of brick colored ones available on the market, but they are not genuine. The reclaimed tiles from centuries ago had been used as flooring in French farmhouses and will be different in color, thickness and shape, plus maintains a worn out, leathery look when used for many years. Additionally, these floor covering will generally accumulate dirt, wax and oil on the surface and at times mortar particles will attach to the undersides. Despite the fact that these types of tiles need a lot of attention during installation and must also be examined carefully when looking at colors, size and shape, you will definitely get a floor material with a varied and rich history which will show in each tile.
If you want to get Spanish, Italian and Mexican terracotta flooring, you can purchase them as both unglazed and glazed in a variety of size and shape. It is possible to use all of these on either walls or floors when decorating any space, even though some attention must be given during application in order to smooth out thickness variations between tiles and create a smoother finish.
Designing tips
You can use these tiles on virtually any area which this type of flooring would normally cover. The rich and inviting warmth will make this floor covering perfect for kitchen floors and entry ways. Experiment with a mixture of shades and colors to create eye-catching patterns, such as combining 12” tile squares with an unglazed orange finish along with a step design using 2” glazed tiles of different colors. With this decor, plus walls which is accentuated with lighter shades, you can create a bright and warm room that is welcoming.
For kitchen designs, you can use these on the floor to create a herringbone pattern with different colors in order to cover a heavy traffic area. Besides this, the glazed tiles can be used as a backsplash to enhance the floor and draw the space together.
All in all, terracotta floor tiles will add warmth to any room and they can be paired with rich wall colors, furniture and area rugs to complete the decor. Continue reading to discover different ways to accentuate your space and incorporate inviting textures to your home.
