How to Design Terra Cotta Kitchen Floors

Terra cotta floor tiles are beautiful and utilitarian in kitchens and baths.

Terra cotta floor tiles have be in use throughout the world for centuries. They are made of fired clay and, when sealed properly, are one of the most durable floor coverings available. Because they are easy to clean, resistant to stains and warm on bare feet, terra cotta tiles are most often used in bathrooms and kitchens. They are perfectly suited for use in other rooms as well. No two terra cotta tiles are identical and they can vary widely in color and thickness. You can use these properties to create a stunning kitchen floor design.

Instructions

1. Select a size of tile for your project. Terra cotta tiles come in sizes from 4 inch by 4 inch tiles, to 20 inch by 20 inch tiles. Because terra cotta tiles differ so much in color, they are visually very active, more so than other kinds of floor tiles like ceramic or porcelain tiles. If you use many small terra cotta tiles en masse, you will have a larger field of color differentiations and the floor will attract a lot of attention. If you use fewer, larger tiles, this busy factor will be reduced. Tile size also affects the sense of spaciousness in the kitchen. Larger tiles will make the floor space look larger. Large tiles also reduce the number of grout lines that will be needed, producing a cleaner look. But large tiles can also be too large for a smaller kitchen and will look out of scale. Purchase several sample tiles of different sizes and find the size that matches your tastes best.

2. Determine the pattern, or course, of the tiles you will follow when you install them. You can lay the tiles in a grid pattern of aligned rows and columns, offset rows of tiles, lay the tiles on a diagonal line across the floor, or lay them in a herringbone pattern. Experiment with a few dozen tiles placed dry on the floor, without mortar, to find the course pattern you like the best. Diagonal and herringbone patterns can be visually very active and sometimes busy, while grid and offset patterns are less noticeable.

3. Sort all tiles needed for the project according to color characteristics, from darkest tone, to medium-toned, to lightest tone, or "more brownish" colored tiles as opposed to "more reddish" colored tiles. You should avoid laying too many similarly colored tiles together in one area of the floor: a balanced mixture creates a visually pleasing pattern. Create a separate stack for each color grouping of tiles and then methodically shuffle the tiles together like a deck of cards. You should be able to select a tile from the top of the stack, assured it will be of a different color grouping than the tile you just installed.

4. Consider using small decorative tiles, in the shapes of squares or diamonds, at the corners of each terra cotta tile where the grout lines intersect. Use brightly colored, patterned or contrasting colored tiles like this to liven up the field of terra cotta colored tiles. Installing grout separators like this is time consuming, but can make a huge design statement.

5. Choose a grout color. A darker, charcoal-colored grout hides dirt, and stands out less in contrast to the tiles. A lighter, beige-colored grout is very common, but it shows dirt and creates a stronger contrast to the tiles compared to charcoal-colored grout. Grout with a pink adobe tone is often seen as well, though it can be somewhat garish.

References

• "Ultimate Guide to Ceramic and Stone Tile": Editors of Creative Homeowner; 2006
• "Tile Idea Book"; Andrew Wormer; 2005

Resources

• Handmade Terra Cotta Tiles