The Warm Embrace: Why Designers Love Terracotta Tiles in Modern Homes

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Terracotta tiles captivate with their timeless allure, and we're diving deep into why this ancient material is experiencing such a powerful renaissance in modern design. The earthy warmth and authentic character of these "baked earth" tiles transform ordinary spaces into inviting, soulful environments that connect us to centuries of architectural tradition.

We explore how terracotta has evolved beyond country kitchens to become a designer favorite in contemporary settings. From rustic farmhouses to sleek urban lofts, these tiles bring warmth and texture to every application. The natural color variations and subtle imperfections create dynamic surfaces that change throughout the day as light shifts across them, offering a living, breathing quality that manufactured alternatives simply cannot match.

Practical considerations take center stage as we share essential maintenance wisdom for keeping terracotta beautiful for decades. Proper sealing techniques, cleaning protocols, and preventative measures ensure these investments continue to improve with age. We share real client stories—from design triumphs to happy accidents that became cherished features—demonstrating how terracotta develops that coveted Mediterranean patina over time. Creative applications abound as designers experiment with sizes, patterns, and complementary materials. Pairing terracotta with crisp whites, bold accent colors, or mixed metals creates striking juxtapositions that balance earthy tradition with modern sophistication. Whether installed as hexagons, classic rectangles, or custom mosaics, these versatile tiles adapt to any aesthetic vision.

Ready to bring this timeless material into your home? Visit belktile.com or call 614-543-8334 to explore our terracotta collections. Share your terracotta dreams or installations with us on social media—we'd love to see how you're incorporating this enduring material into your spaces!

Episode Transcript

Belky (00:01):
What kind of tile can you put on the wall or shower?
Do you have to seal tile?
How much extra tile should Ibuy for my project?
What thinset is the best for mytile application?
How hard is it to maintainnatural stone?
You have questions.
We have answers.
Welcome to the Belk TilePodcast.

(00:22):
How to style the bathroom, thebackyard, the kitchen, how to
improve your home style withtiles to make your home
absolutely beautiful?
Welcome to the Belk TilePodcast.
Here's your host, Mike Belk.

Mike (00:43):
Hey everyone, welcome back to Belk Tile Podcast.
I'm Mike Belk, joined as alwaysby Abby.

Abby (00:48):
Hi, mike, good morning everyone.

Mike (00:50):
With back to school, it has been a little quiet in the
showroom, so able to look atsome new lines and products.

Abby (00:56):
Yes, it is nice to have a little breather and get caught
up.

Mike (00:59):
Yes, well, today we're getting into the terracotta
territory.
Huh Abby.

Abby (01:02):
Absolutely, mike, and honestly, terracottas just got
this.
I don't know.
There's something about thewarmth of those earthy tones
that makes any space feelinstantly inviting and timeless
too.

Mike (01:14):
Yeah, you know I always say terracotta connects you
right back to well, history.
Honestly, the word itselfliterally means baked earth.
You know it dates all the wayback to ancient times.
There's this Mediterranean vibeto it but it's stuck around in
American design for a reason,that character, it's kind of
universal.

Abby (01:30):
It totally is my first client project as a solo
designer oof years back.
I remember walking into thislet's be honest outdated kitchen
.
The bones were good but it wasall sterile.
We did handmade terracottatiles just as a backsplash
Nothing wild.
But the second they went up,the whole room just came alive.
It suddenly felt like a rusticEuropean kitchen Warm not

(01:55):
intimidating.
Still one of my favorite beforeand afters by far.

Mike (01:59):
That's the magic of it.
And like we just had an episodeabout brown tiles right,
there's overlap for sure.
But terracotta has got thisextra authenticity and
unpredictability.
The color variation, thetexture, it's never one note,
and whether it's a farmhousekitchen or a modern loft, it
just fits.

Abby (02:15):
Exactly.
It softens up sharp corners too, makes even slick modern spaces
a little cozier.
And you know, people reallyrespond to that handmade earthy
story, especially now wheneveryone wants their home to
feel more personal and grounded.
All right, so let's getpractical.
Where are people actually usingterracotta?
It's not just floors, now right?

Mike (02:34):
Definitely not.
You're seeing terracotta showup everywhere backsplashes in
kitchens for that touch ofrustic charm, showers, yes,
really, and of floors andhallways and living rooms.
But each space comes with itsown quirks, especially when it
comes to things like water.

Abby (02:49):
Bathrooms get tricky right .
The big pro in a kitchen isthat terracotta is tough, super
durable for day-to-day foottraffic or messes around the
stove.
But if you're putting it in ashower, the whole water
resistance thing really matters.
If you don't seal the tilesproperly, you're asking for mold
stains or worse.

Mike (03:07):
Yeah, that's the number one mistake.
I see Folks using terracotta inwet zones like showers and
thinking it's a set it andforget it situation.
Nope, you gotta prep, seal andthen reseal and the install is a
little different for, say, abacksplash compared to a shower.
Pan.
Backsplashes you can getcreative open shelving, even run
the tile up to the ceiling, butshowers need pro-level

(03:28):
waterproofing.

Abby (03:29):
And don't get me started on grout haze, mike I.
But showers need pro-levelwaterproofing.
And don't get me started ongrout haze, mike.
I see so many DIYers try torush the cleanup and sigh.
The tile ends up looking dull.
It messes with those gorgeouscolor variations that terracotta
is known for.

Mike (03:42):
Take your time, folks, Absolutely.
You know we had a customer atBelk Tile just last month.
I love this story.
They wanted a real statementkitchen backsplash, something
vibrant.
They picked these handmadeterracotta tiles with just wild
natural color swings.
Once installed in a sort ofstaggered brick pattern, the
play of light and shadow wasincredible.
It changed all day long.
People are really gravitatingtoward those imperfections and

(04:04):
uniqueness, even in new builds.
All right, so let's say you'vegone all in on terracotta.
What does it really take tokeep it looking good for years?
Because it can be a little highmaintenance compared to
something like glazed porcelain.

Abby (04:16):
Yeah, and I've learned the hard way that regular sealing
is not optional.
There are a few types.
Penetrating sealers areprobably best if you want to
keep that natural matte look,but surface sealers will give
you a glossier finish and canamp up the color Either way.
First make sure everything'ssqueaky clean before you seal.
Dust, grout, haze, all thatjazz.

Mike (04:36):
And don't cheap out on your cleaners.
A pH-neutral cleaner is yourfriend, skip the vinegar or
anything acidic.
I had a customer once this isback in the Belk Tile showroom.
They put in a stunningterracotta shower wall but used
the wrong grout Not color fastand way too gritty.
At first it dulled the tile butwith some creativity we
actually turned it into afeature.
We ended up doing a partialbuff with a mild abrasive pad,

(04:59):
sealed it and honestly it gavethis old world texture.
The homeowner absolutely loved.

Abby (05:04):
That's honestly so true.
Sometimes a mistake becomes anartistic detail right In my own
bathroom at home which sees,let's just say, a lot of muddy
kid footprints.
I reseal it about every twoyears and I stick to mats by the
sink and tub to protect thetile.
Plus, I open windows aftershowers to keep moisture in
check.
Nothing fancy, just regularattention.

Mike (05:26):
It's all about a little bit of extra care An immediate
spot cleaning, spills or stains.
Dab them up, don't let them set, and if you stay on top of it,
terracotta just gets better withage.
Honestly, sort of that lived-inMediterranean thing we all love
.

Abby (05:39):
So, Mike design trends, terracotta is having a big
moment right, Not just incountry homes, but in modern and
even minimalist spaces too.

Mike (05:46):
For sure.
You see a lot of designerspairing terracotta with crisp
whites, sleek metals or evenbold color pops bright blue
cabinets, emerald green, youname it and those warm tiles
become the centerpiece or asubtle ground for the rest of
the room.
I'm loving the look of mixedshapes like hexagons, with
classic rectangles or evencustom mosaics.

Abby (06:05):
Yeah, and size is everything.
Big oversized tiles can reallyopen up a small hallway, but if
you want like a cozy vintagevibe, go for small format
squares or bricks in aherringbone or chevron pattern.
It's all over those dreamyEuropean bathrooms we scroll on
Instagram.
Don't be afraid to experimentwith textures too Matte,
handmade, glazed, even pairingdifferent finishes for interest,

(06:28):
without overwhelming the senses.

Mike (06:30):
And it's not just about the tile itself.
You can elevate the look evenfurther by mixing materials.
Pair it with rustic wood, matteblack fixtures or brushed brass
for a modern twist, orintroduce glass shower panels or
stone countertops to balanceout that earthiness.
That way you get warmth withsome modern refinement.

Abby (06:47):
If you want to make your space truly one-of-a-kind, mix
up the installation.
If you want to make your spacetruly one-of-a-kind, mix up the
installation.
Try custom mosaics, alternatedirections, even combine
terracotta with contrastingtiles for an accent border.
There's so much opportunity forcreative play if you're not
afraid to go a little off-script.
And honestly, I find clientsget most excited about those
let's-try-it moments.

Mike (07:08):
Totally.
And hey, as always, if you'rethinking about terracotta, don't
be afraid to experiment.
You never know what classic ormodern combo might work
perfectly for your space.

Abby (07:17):
That's it from us today.
If you've got terracottaquestions, send them in.
Mike and I love to talk shop.
Obviously, We'll have plentymore tips and trends next time,
so stick around.

Mike (07:26):
Thanks for listening, Abby .
It's always a blast.
We'll catch everyone on thenext Belk Tile Talk.
Have a great one.

Abby (07:31):
See you next time, mike.
Bye everyone.

Belky (07:35):
You've been listening to the Belk Tile Podcast.
When it comes to creating abeautiful home using tile, this
is the podcast for products,design ideas and tips.
We hope you got some useful,practical information from this
show and we'll be back soon, butin the meantime, reach out.
The website is wwwbelktilecom.

(07:57):
Our store phone number is614-543-8334.
Find us on Facebook and Twitterat Belk Tile, and on Instagram
at Belk Tiles.
Make sure to leave a rating andreview and if you have
questions or comments, reach outand we'll talk about it on the
next show.
Till next time.