One of the biggest trends of the moment is adding an unexpected splash to your home with the use of patterned tiles. While it may be a big trend right now, the truth is that patterned tiles have been around for many generations, gracing everything from the streets of Barcelona to the floors of the US Capitol Building. It’s the perfect way to add a bold and interesting look to your next tile project.
Encaustic Tiles History
Encaustic tiles are made of two or more colours of clay which are inlaid to create a pattern and then fired. Encaustic tiles have actually been around since medieval times but reached their apex in the mid-1800s when Thomas Minton, from his factory in Staffordshire, began to produce beautiful durable encaustic tiles for walls and floors. They became the final decorative accent for buildings and grand spaces everywhere including churches, public buildings, and beautiful stately homes and palaces.
If you are considering encaustic or encaustic-look tiles for your home, you may be wondering what the significance of this information is. Well, the fact that patterned tiles have been around for generations means it’s a classic look so unlikely to completely fall out of fashion. It’s a great investment to make in your home for a timeless aesthetic that won’t easily date.
Getting the Look
We have an amazing selection of patterned tiles here at Tile Mountain, so you can get that encaustic tile look in your home for less than you might think.
The Duomo Centro Floor Tiles come in both blue and black colour variants with a pattern that draws inspiration from the Riads and Souks of Marrakech. The eastern-infused aesthetic is the perfect companion to a plain tile, creating an exciting and interesting design feature in any space.
The Dumo range also comes in blue, with a pattern mix to create a unique look in your home. The authentically aged effect contains an eye-catching detail for old world charm in a rustic, boho, eclectic, or country setting.
For a weathered, Mediterranean-inspired look, why not check out our Esenzia range? The Esenzia Fenice Patterned Wall Tile creates a mosaic effect in one easy-to-install tile with a simple gloss finish that promises easy installation and cleaning.
The trendy fish scale tile look is created with our Esenzia Gondola Patterned Wall Tiles. With the same format and finish as the classic metro tile, you’ll get a beautifully aged look in the classic encaustic style but in an incredibly simple to install format.
For a taste of Marrakech, we have a huge range of beautiful encaustic-look tiles including our Catarina Copper tiles which easily mix and match with three different pattern sizes to combine for nearly limitless variations. You can see it below in a retail-style environment but this would make a beautiful kitchen, bathroom, or entrance hallway when combined with simple square or metro-style tiles in black or white.
For a more subtle take on Mediterranean style, check out the Bellisa Copper Floor Tiles from the same Marrakech range of tiles. These wow-factor beauties take their inspiration from Moroccan courtyards but the delicate inlay style is so easy to install and is made from hard-wearing porcelain, making them perfect for anywhere that gets heavy foot traffic.
If you’re looking to make a real style statement in your home then these beautiful Mediterranean-inspired Skyros Delft porcelain tiles should be at the top of your shopping list.These eye-catching tiles are constructed from high-grade Spanish porcelain and feature realistic encaustic patterns created by burning in colour pigments mixed with hot wax during production.
As you can see, there are plenty of ways to add that beautiful encaustic look to your home! Which pattern will you choose?
If you are having trouble deciding (and who can blame you when there are so many gorgeous patterns to choose from?) then check out our free cut tile sample service to make the decision that much easier!
Be sure to check out these posts for even more inspiration too!
As a multi-award winning interior design content creator, Kimberly Duran is an Interior Design-obsessed American ex-pat, who chronicles her decorating journey and dispenses interior design advice in her personal blog, Swoon Worthy. When she’s not helplessly drooling over all the latest trends in design, she’s adding things to the imaginary ‘shopping basket’ in her head, she likes to get messy tackling DIY projects with her partner in crime, Wayne, stalking eBay for vintage bargains and filling her home with her favourite neutral – gold.