How to Use Tiles to Bring the Outdoors In

One of the biggest trends for the new year is bringing nature indoors. With our lives steeped in technology from morning until night, there’s nothing quite like the natural world to bring us back down to earth (pun intended) and give us a sense of balance. This could be why we are seeing so many nature-inspired finishes and materials in our homes now and why we feel good when our surroundings reflect a bit of our natural world.

You may not immediately think about tiles to bring an organic flair into your next project but there are actually lots of different options available for creating Mother Nature-inspired finishes and textures in our rooms with tiles that are inspired by the natural materials of our world.

Here are a few ideas to bring a bit of the outdoors into your home by using tiles!

Stone Tiles

Silverstone Tiles

The look of stone simply never dates. With both natural stone tiles as well as porcelain tiles that mimic the look of stone, you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to adding it to floors or walls. It’s naturally hard wearing although some types will need to be sealed properly but they are perfect for heavy traffic areas like entrance hallways and bring a natural, rustic touch to the kitchen and bath.

Wood Effect Tiles

Kauri Rustic Grey Wood Effect Floor Tiles

Nordic Wood Floor Tiles

Wood flooring has been a favourite for hundreds of years for the warm rich colour and texture they bring to our homes. However, those who have them will admit, they can be expensive to install and difficult to maintain. Softer woods tend to mark easily and they can quickly become damaged by wear and tear. You can still get the look of wood however with tiles that mimic the beauty of natural grain without the difficult upkeep. These are especially good for high traffic areas but can be used everywhere for a consistent look in each room.

Slate Tiles

Silver Grey Split Face Mosaic

The rich texture and colour of slate will bring drama and beauty to any room. Again, we carry a range of different styles to suit most applications and you’ll find slate to be a wonderful addition to any space in the home. I particularly love this Split Face Mosaic tile which will provide an impressive textural accent and real wow factor to a room.

Travertine Tiles

Travertine White Nose and Yellow Mosaic Tiles

The classic good looks of travertine have been used since Roman times. It works beautifully in a more rustic setting to set the scene of a country style kitchen but it’s easily adapted to the bathroom or conservatory as well. Hard wearing and the perfect neutral tone, you can use this fantastic material in nearly any room in the home.

Marble Tiles

Calacatta White Italian Porcelain Floor Tiles

Carrara Marble Matt Wall Tiles

For those that like a little glamour in their materials, consider the look of marble tiles. While real marble can be cost prohibitive, our porcelain tile range that mimics real marble is difficult to tell from the real thing. You will notice the difference, however, when it comes to maintenance. Easy to clean and resistant to staining or etching, it can form the basis of a clean and contemporary look or one which oozes glamour and sophistication.

Pebble Tiles

Pebble border in black

Hammered Blue Glass Pebble Mosaic

Reminiscent of the polished pebbles you’d find in a babbling brook, our pebble tiles are a great option for finishing off an airy look in the kitchen or bathroom. Choose a black border to use as a highlight in a simple contemporary bathroom scheme or consider one of the coloured glass versions to bring a bit of reflective beauty to a kitchen.

So as you can see, there are lots of different ways that tiles can actually bring the look of the great outdoors right into your home. How will you be using natural look tiles in your home? Share your pics with us by tweeting us on @TileMountain1 or leave a comment below!