Advances in technology allow manufacturers to create ceramic tile with any look, including natural looks such as stone, marble, granite, slate, terra cotta, wood, and more.
Whereas different natural materials may have varying levels of durability or suitability for specific applications, you always know what you’re getting with ceramic tile. Ceramic tile is resistant to water, fading, and freeze and thaw cycles, making it suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. Tile also makes maintenance easy, with stain, scratch, and bacteria resistance. On cleaning day, you can relax knowing that you just need to sweep and wipe your tile with water.
Your natural-looking tile options are as diverse as nature itself, so explore our natural tile ideas below to start dreaming up the perfect tile for your project.
When it comes to choosing a master bedroom flooring material, ceramic tile offers a few clear benefits over other materials. Ceramic tile is resistant to scuffs and scratches, so heavy wooden and metal furniture isn’t going to damage the floor. Also, ceramic tile is incredibly easy to maintain, so you won’t need to clean the…
This bathroom uses the same light marble-look ceramic tile throughout in different sizes and patterns. Ceramic tile’s water-resistant installation methods make it a go-to material for designers in bathrooms and areas exposed to moistures. Also, ceramic tile comes in slip-resistant options, making it a smart choice for spill- and splash-prone areas such as bathrooms. As…
A tile design such as this has a life of its own, and you can imagine running your fingers over and feeling the texture for yourself. This design uses smaller pieces of tile, but larger pieces of tile can create similarly stunning installations.
Theming a room is tough, especially if you can’t find the right materials to complement your decor style. In this case, the theme of the room is nature, which benefits from a combination of greens and browns. These different shades of green and brown resemble the growth you’d see in a forest. The wall also…
While this wall has a delicate look, tile is anything but delicate. Tile is incredibly strong and durable, with the ability to last for decades while resisting wear and tear such as scratches and dents. Along with its strength, tile is water-resistant, bacteria-resistant, and noncombustible. If you need to protect a wall in your kitchen…
In this kitchen, the backsplash is composed of tiles that look like scales, stacked on top of one another. Flowing upward, these tiles give the sense of movement. The varying shades of blue give the effect of light hitting moving water, with some parts glimmering while others remain a deep blue. The result is a…
Ceramic tile captures the beauty of both the sky and the ocean in this delightful mosaic. Because of ceramic tile’s limitless design versatility, any style is possible, including combinations of tile colors, textures, sizes, shapes, and even dimensions. Regardless of size, ceramic tile is mold, mildew, bacteria, and water-resistant, plus, available in slip- resistant options…
Ceramic tile captures the beauty of both the sky and the ocean in this delightful mosaic. Because of ceramic tile’s limitless design versatility, any style is possible, including combinations of tile colors, textures, sizes, shapes, and even dimensions. Regardless of size, ceramic tile is mold-, mildew-, bacteria-, and water-resistant, and is available in slip- resistant…
An excellent feature of tile is the way different shapes can combine to form a beautiful design. In this bathroom, a combination of hexagon and rhombus tiles form a geometric background to the sink and mirror, drawing the eyes to the middle of the room. Ceramic tile is water-resistant and comes in slip-resistant options, making…
While tile can come in complex shapes that demand your attention, the simple square shape of most tiles still remains popular. Uniform shapes and patterns are a hallmark of many modern designs, one reason why square tiles are in this room. The geometric artwork on the wall says it all — this is a room…
Dark floors can be tricky to pull off, and not just because of the sharp contrast in colors. Whenever a darker shade is used, scuffs and scratches are accentuated. Ceramic tile, however, is scratch-resistant, taking away the fear of having long-term, glaring damage. The tiles in this room blend together seamlessly to give the appearance…
Not only is tile a versatile material, but highly customized designs are available to create unique spaces. This bathroom uses large slabs of marble-style tile to bring light through the window and into the far end of the room. On the way is a can’t-miss floral pattern. To finish off this high-end bathroom, slatted floors…
Home designers know that one of ceramic tile’s unique traits is texture. Ceramic tile can be produced to be ultra-smooth or, as with the tile in this room, rough with grooves. Because this tile is on the wall, it’s perfectly fine to have a slightly uneven surface. The grooves in this tile prevent the wall…
Ceramic tile allows you to be creative — no drab grays here! The floor looks like textured concrete at first glance, but the small grout spaces between the tiles show just how versatile the material can be. The wall also makes use of a concrete-look tile, only these tiles are designed to make an arrow…
Textured to represent concrete or clay, these gray tiles shine brightly when the light hits, revealing every groove and line in the material. Even though the color is relatively neutral, the design is useful for projecting natural light further into rooms. The horizontal grooves also project length, making areas seem wider than they actually are.…
For a sleek and modern design, you can’t beat ceramic tile. Tile comes in a wide variety of styles, making it the perfect material for both floors and walls. For example, the tiles on the floor in this room are dark, with a soft texture. This reduces the amount of light reflected, softening the harshness…
As homes and buildings become increasingly modern, designers will need to find materials that work both as an accent and as a feature on their own. The charcoal-colored ceramic tiles on the floor have texture, and their real purpose is to bring a dark tone to the room, allowing for lighter colors to be used…
Ceramic tile is made from naturally occurring materials, and that makes it the perfect material for creating rooms like this. Because tiles come in many styles, clay looks like this can be done in a variety of ways. On the floor, the tile is made in slats, giving the room a lengthy, minimalist look. The…
Because bathrooms are wet and humid by nature, tile is often used to protect the walls and floor (and also add a wallop of style and character). The goal with many modern bathrooms is to allow natural light in without allowing much visibility of the room from outside. Ceramic tile patterns, like the one on…
