Encaustic tiles are an ancient but stylish solution with intricately designed tiles in vivid colors. These tiles originated from Europe but are now among the modern favorite tile designs thanks to how they are used to complement homes without being too over the top.
Encaustic tiles can be used in many different ways, but here are creative ways to incorporate them into your home décor to give your normal area an extraordinary aesthetic.
- Use encaustic tiles as your flooring
Walk into a room covered in encaustic tiles, the first thing to catch your eye will be the floor.
- Where to Use: Any busy area such as a kitchen, a hallway, or an entryway may benefit from encaustic tile flooring.
- Design Tip: Combine the floor with moderately colored or pale walls to let the tiles stand out, and think about using patterns to give the floor a view.
- Make use of color in your kitchen or bathroom by installing a tile backsplash
Your kitchen or bathroom can be elevated to new heights with an encaustic tile backsplash, which gives depth and colour to your walls.
- Where to Use: Great for anywhere: presumably behind the sink, stove, or vanity.
- Design Tip: Fabricate the tile colors for either the countertops or cabinetry for harmony purposes. Tile colors should also be affixed to your countertops or cabinetry for a unified appearance.
- Encaustic tiles can be used on any wall
It’s time to start thinking differently. Almost every wall you see with a monotonous shade of color can be upgraded with encaustic tiles.
- Where to Use: Living rooms, dining rooms, or bedrooms.
- Design Tip: Go for impact and create half or full panels or tiled walls or highlight them as framed panels. Use ambient lights to emphasize the color and patterns as well.
- Fireplace Surrounds
Enhance the beauty of your fireplace by creating enclaves or a hearth surround made of encaustic tiles.
- Where to Use: On the margins of a fireplace opening or the floor of a hearth.
- Design Tip: If designing a fireplace surrounded by encaustic tiles, use unobtrusive colors or patterns and draw attention to the heat-resistant tiles, or balance everything with eclectic color patterns.
- Decorative Stair Risers
Be more adventurous and place encaustic tiles on the stair risers to decorate the staircase.
- Where to Use: For staircases placed near entrances or sitting in between different floors in a building.
- Design Tip: You could use uneven matching patterns to incorporate an ornate feel in the decor, or more even patterned decors which are one solid feel.
- Custom Tabletops
Encaustic tiles can be used to give some interesting appeal to boring furniture like tabletops.
- Where to Use: Coffee tables, dining tables, or even patio tables.
- Design Tip: Lay the tiles down in a mosaic star pattern – ensure that clear resin is used to seal the tiles to offer a degree of protection and enhance the resale value.
- Bathroom Floors and Walls
Encourage self-indulgence and add a touch of luxury to your bathrooms through the use of encaustic tiles and bring the spa feel to home.
Extend the design of encaustic tiles to the outside, and lay them on outdoor patios, garden pathways, or poolside areas.
- Where to Use: Patios, garden pathways, or poolside.
- Design Tips: When decorating the outdoors pick encaustic tiles that can withstand harsh weather and naturally complement them with stone or wood.
- Kitchen Island Accents
Let your envy come out in the kitchen and be seen with encaustic tiles on your kitchen island.
- Where to Use: Kitchen island front or sides.
- Design Tips: Try to choose a tile design that is parallel to the design of the kitchen’s backsplash or flooring to have uniform décor in the kitchen.
Insights from the Experts
According to interior designer Marie Caldwell, “Encaustic tiles are an extremely practical way to add texture and color to surfaces. They can work both in small details as well as large objects.”
“When working with encaustic tiles, don’t forget that balance is everything,” architect Alex Ramirez agrees with Caldwell. “Excessive use of tiles should be avoided. Use embellishing materials such as wood, metal, or neutral paint to achieve a more colorful design without going overboard.”
Encaustic Tiles Maintenance Recommendations
To maintain the comfortable look of the tiles it is essential to do the following:
- Seal the Tiles: Apply moisture and stain-resistant seal on the tiles after they have been installed to provide protection.
- Regular Cleaning: Gently wipe surfaces with a non-abrasive fabric, or a mop, using a little soapy water to retain cleanliness. Strong detergents and chemicals should be avoided as they can damage the surface.
- Periodic Resealing: To maintain its color and strength, reseal it every few years.
Wrap Up
To make a house complete, appealing, and attractive, a designer will always add encaustic tiles to the walls or add them to the floors. With a signature pattern, you can use artistic tiles or floor tiles as a base. We recommend using them more than just for floors; create wonderful wall art with them as well. Overall, they are beautiful and easy to work with, and they will help you make your home feel unique.
So, how do you feel? Ready to go out and see some encaustic tiles, glaze, and wood wax? Go explore and arrange!
