by Christy Heitger-Ewing | photos by 360 Tour Designs
There’s nothing wrong with ordinary, but don’t we all strive for extraordinary? Whether it’s food, fashion, relationships, or residences, creativity is the spice of life. One way to make your home extra special is by incorporating tile in creative and unexpected ways.
“Tile is a great way to add character to a space,” says Kayley Vargo, ACo Designer. She and her team are full of innovative ideas for adding tile style to your home. For example, extending the tile onto a wood range hood or using a bold mosaic or patterned tile creates a standout architectural element.
Installing decorative tile inside cabinets with glass doors or behind floating shelves gives your space a modern, layered look. In a kitchen island, wall cabinet, or hutch, rather than using panels or a flat base, tiling a surface can enhance its texture and color. Homeowners can hide outlets and switches by integrating a tiled electrical box into their backsplash. This acts as a false front to hide trailing wires.
ACo designers also have fresh ideas for incorporating bold tile choices into the bathroom. A homeowner may want to combine shapes (e.g., hex, arabesque, subway, penny rounds) in the same color family for a unified patchwork of texture or use the same tile across the floor, walls, and ceiling for a seamless look. In a walk-in shower, one could create a tile “rug” on the shower floor with mosaics.
“Don’t be afraid to step outside the box to mix & match tiles, especially in a shower where tile doesn’t need to be continuous or from the same collection,” says Vargo. “You can mix the tiles while coordinating them and do a whole wall that’s completely different.”
For example, you could mix and match tile sizes with the bottom third of the shower consisting of large-format 24×48 tiles while the top two-thirds are a subway tile in a herringbone. Extra-large format tiles (48×48) mimic slab-style walls to deliver a sleek look with minimal grout lines.
If you’re looking for a whole new look, you can create patterns with tile rather than the standard brick pattern or straight lay. Possibilities are endless—Herringbone, double basketweaves, chevrons, or using accents and trim pieces can add dimension.
“There are so many possibilities,” says Vargo. “Lean on your designer to help you create a space you’ll love.”
Remember that your home is made up of many rooms and spaces beyond the kitchen and bath that provide opportunities for fun tile applications. Think about the mudroom, mini bar, basement bar, coffee bar, main foyer, laundry room, multi-season room, pantry, and office nooks.
“The mudroom is a great place to get playful,” says Kim Trees, ACo Designer. “A bold geometric pattern behind a built-in bench brings in a ton of personality. I also love dark matte cabinetry with brick herringbone floors because it creates drama and depth while remaining practical and slipresistant.”
The pantry and coffee bar are hidden gems for creativity. A walk-in pantry with a fun patterned floor or a backsplash behind open shelves gives the space a curated, intentional feel.
“I personally love checkered floor tiles,” says Trees. “As for a coffee bar, a small mosaic tile adds texture and interest to your morning routine.”
Most homeowners experience some initial trepidation about making a bold tile choice in their home. However, those brave choices are typically the features guests comment on the most.
“People like having permission to play. It’s a chance to take risks in small doses,” says Trees. “If you want your home to feel custom and personal, tile is one of the easiest ways to do that.”
To begin brainstorming ways to infuse fun tile choices into your home, connect with an ACo designer today.
