Feature walls were all the rage for many years, but today, more simplistic use of tiles have taken the top spot in design. With Forbes outlining the varied and unique ways that tiles are being deployed on the floors and walls of the home, the durable and bright nature of many designs is being put to good use in the modern home. From bringing everything from antiquated beauty to the freshness of the forest into the house, tiles are the game changer for customization.

The colonial era Spanish feel

Terracotta is chief among the new wave of unique tile innovations. Their design is plain yet distinct, and they can be used on walls and floors to give a timeless look. Terracotta recently came to media attention with the redesign of Netflix showrunner Nick Kroll’s Los Feliz home, which encompassed the use of terracotta to achieve the antiquated, Spanish-era colonial feel of a light and airy home. Recalling these design hallmarks in a curious modern way is the sign of unique home design.

Terrazzo palatial design

Terrazzo, literally meaning terrace, is another Italian product harking back centuries. Marble chips trodden into the ground provide a very distinct look that has gone in and out of fashion. Of late, they have been used for features, according to The Independent UK. While an entire terrazzo wall can be overbearing or look outdated, use of a single tile can provide almost a picture-frame effect; similarly, small chips of the tile included in other house designs can give a flash of inspiration to keep areas of the home feeling fresh.

Small form, big impact

Innovation in the tile design sector has been led by Crogiolio. According to HotelDesigns, these small-scale tiles can be used individually or scaled upwards with consummate ease to cover entire walls. Once again, the creative use of these tiles is latent; whether on the wall or on the floor, they can add a picture-frame geometry to liven up a living space or simply be a blank canvas on which a room can be based.

Together, these tile trends are making tiling cool again. Rather than a simple stopgap for the wet spaces of the home, they are a legitimate design decision to show off the cool instincts of the home owner. Do away with outdated wallpapers, and look to tiles for your next overhaul.