Elevate Your Space with a Patterned Tile Floor

The Patterned Tile Floor Revival

There has been such a revival in patterned tile flooring recently.

It used to be the mainstay of Victorian houses — the sight of beautiful encaustic tiles, greeting you in the hallway— but then fell out of favour in recent years for plainer alternatives.

I did a little bathroom makeover and — although we haven’t actually changed the flooring yet — I began sourcing a replacement for the sad, tired carpet that’s currently down.

I totally had my head turned by patterns and shapes — beautiful colour combinations — and fantastic substitutes to plain (and dare-I-say-it boring) floor-coverings.

There’s a revival in full swing, alright.

Companies such as Bert & May, Mandarin Stone and Claybrook Studio offer a plethora of patterned floor tile options. In literally every colour under the sun.

If you want a patterned tile floor, you’ll be literally spoilt for choice.

Elevate Your Space with a Patterned Tile Floor
Image credit: Bert & May
Patterned tile floor inspiration from Claybrook Studio.
I love how these tiles extend up the wall | Image credit: Claybrook Studio.
Image credit: Mandarin Stone

A Patterned Floor Tile on Every Surface?

But there definitely appears to be an emerging trend for similar patterns and prints in homeware across the board; it’s not just resigned to flooring.

This love affair with a patterned floor tile transcends floor coverings too. I’ve spotted quite a few beautiful Moorish-inspired wallpaper designs recently.

And, whilst I’m not suggesting that a full — pattern on pattern — floor-to-ceiling pairing would be quite appropriate for modern-day living in the UK. Elements of it, here and there, are lovely and the perfect way to break up an expanse of plain colour, as illustrated by the image below.

A Patterned Floor Tile on the walls?
Gorgeous tile effect wallpaper | Image credit: The Listed Home.

I love seeing how a design, that’s generally used on a hard surface, translates to softer materials too.

These days you can even buy patterned tile cushions. The decorative nature of a tile print works so beautifully here. 

And if you’re a little too nervous to cover your walls in a tile print wallpaper — or go for patterned tile flooring — it’s a lovely way to bring a little bit of sunshine into your home.

patterned tile flooring used as decoration on cushions and soft furnishings.
Photo Credit: The Listed Home.

I always love going to Portugal and seeing their beautiful patterned tiles.

It makes such a change to see gorgeous, decorative flooring too, rather than boring old grey or brown that is often favoured in the UK.

But did you realise that you don’t even have to go for a tiled floor to get the same effect?

Patterned Tile Floor Is On a Roll

But what if you’re not in the market for a genuine patterned tile floor? The tiles can be costly but you’ve also got to consider the subbase before they can be installed.

Fear not. There are fantastic, budget options for a patterned floor tile that don’t require grouting!

Elevate Your Space with a Patterned Tile Floor
Image credit: Carpetright.

The one above is on the roll vinyl.

Looks fabulous and you’d never guess — without closer inspection — that they weren’t imported tiles, shipped in from Morocco.

Vinyl flooring is a cost effective way to create the same impact as a tiles floor.
Image credit: Tapi Carpets.

Patterned Floor Tiles on Pinterest

Pinterest is bursting with beautiful examples. But now, having seen the vinyl, it’s hard to work out what is actual tiles and what’s vinyl.

I’ve started a Pinterest board for decorative flooring inspiration. Pop along and have a peek.

In any case. Whether it’s original encaustic tiles or on the roll vinyl, it has to be preferable to tatty, carpet that has seen better days.

I think our bathroom carpet’s days are well and truly numbered.

Decorative flooring elevates this bathroom and gives it the edge.
Encaustic tiles? Or Vinyl? | Image credit.

This post was first published on 26 February 2016.

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Caro Davies is a former art-director turned writer and content-creator, and editor behind UK lifestyle blog The Listed Home. She writes about home-related topics, from interiors and DIY to food and craft. The Listed Home has been featured in various publications, including Ideal Home, Grazia, and Homes & Antiques magazines.

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48 thoughts on “Elevate Your Space with a Patterned Tile Floor”

  1. so Caro – please tell me where I can get the tiles in the last image? I have trawled the internet and can’t seem to find any like them to buy! HELP!!

    • Hi Hannah!! I think the ones in the pic were from a US site but I have found a very, very similar tile, that will ship to the UK. Have a look at the Cement Tile Shop. Whilst not identical, they have some that are a really, really close match! :)

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