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27 Modern Ceramic Tile Designs With Italian Favor

Shining with a myriad of colors and patterns, tiles are the gems in an interior frame. They date back thousands of years, and boast a long tradition. But they also cannot stay the same, so they evolve in terms of not only production processes, but materials, finishes, shapes, and styles too. Italian ceramic tiles have an interesting history, but their look is no less intriguing. Traditional handpainted designs are still being used for interior decorating because they create a very rich look, especially in sleek modern interiors. Modern ceramic tile designs, on the other hand, borrow from the older patterns to produce more contemporary-looking tiles for each and every purpose.

Traditional-Style Italian Tiles

Traditional-style ceramic tiles are the best for creating that rustic Italian decor. Small square pieces in bright patterns look both decorative and classic. Use them to deck out the steps to your house, to create a kitchen backsplash, or to decorate a bathroom sink. You can never do wrong with a few patches of these timeless designs.

Bolonia Decor Medievo Glazed Ceramic Wal Decor Tile from Italtile
Bolonia Decor Medievo Glazed Ceramic Wall Decor Tile from Italtile
Ancient Tuscan farm remodel
Ancient Tuscan farm remodel via Maria Hornquist
Pavimento Antiqua Glazed Ceramic Decor Tile from Italtile
Pavimento Antiqua Glazed Ceramic Decor Tile from Italtile
Lecce guest house bedroom with tiled floors
Lecce guest house bedroom with tiled floors via Hotels2See

Italian tiles come in different patterns with prevailing floral and geometrical shapes. You’ll find them in bright yellow, blue, and green, but earthy terracotta tones will give you a more true rustic look.

The beauty of these tiles is that their intricate handmade look can bring a lot of warmth to a modern home.

Modern Ceramic Tile Designs With Italian Favor

Modern ceramic tile designs are much more versatile in terms of finishes and textures. They aren’t just glossy or rough, they also come in matte and textured finishes. And this is what makes them so flexible when it comes to interior design.

Memory of Cerim tiles in a bathroom
Memory of Cerim tiles in a bathroom
Memory of Cerim tiles in a kitchen
Memory of Cerim tiles in a kitchen
Martini Mobili kitchen in mediterrenean tiles
Martini Mobili kitchen in mediterrenean tiles via Wnetrze i Ogrod
Decorative hexagonal tiles
Decorative hexagonal tiles via Ceramic Tiles Singapore

Besides finishes and textures, modern ceramic tile designs come in manifold shapes and forms, adding another detail that gives dimension to your interior.

The very trendy hexagon tiles look especially interesting in Italian-style patterns. Try them in flooring or kitchen island siding if you want an unexpected impression.

Bright Italian Ceramic Tiles

Modern ceramic tile designs are bright and colorful too. But you can also find muted hues to go with your neutral interior designs. Warm tones of sand brown and terracotta look beautiful as ever. Black and white or grey and white patterns, however, ooze modernity.

Ceramica SANT'AGOSTINO white paste-wall tiles
Ceramica SANT’AGOSTINO white paste-wall tiles
Ceramica SANT'AGOSTINO white paste-wall tiles in lavender
Ceramica SANT’AGOSTINO white paste-wall tiles in lavender
Tuscan style in Spanish house
Tuscan style in Spanish house via Interiors by Sudiom
Carlo Mollino’s bathroom design in Turin, Italy
Carlo Mollino’s bathroom design in Turin, Italy via Christies

Bright or neutral, never forget how to work with the patterned tiles. Use them sparingly, even if you commit in a big way. For example, if you’re doing both walls and floors, make sure to leave the upper half of walls and the ceiling blank.

Patterned tiles also pair well with neutral solid tile designs. Thus, you can do floors in patterned tiles and cover the walls with something simple.

Patchwork Tile Trend in Italian Style

Patchwork trend has been huge in the last few years. Regardless of the style, it looks positively rustic and playful. Use for kitchen and bathroom backsplashes or to create a feature wall in the bedroom or living room.

Maiolica Mix by Pavetile
Maiolica Mix by Pavetile
Bijou ceramic tiles by IL Cavallino
Bijou ceramic tiles by IL Cavallino via Tile Expert
Bon Ton tiles in black white
Bon Ton tiles in black white by Target Studio
Umbria Residence by Paola Navone
Umbria Residence by Paola Navone

Patchwork works nicely in flooring as well. You can implement it in transitional areas or it can become an accent in the room.

Don’t be afraid to use very different patterns. As you can see, they work well together as long as you coordinate the colors.

Earthy-Colored Modern Tile Designs with Italian Flavor

What really gives Italian tiles their distinct look? Earthy tones – beige, reddish orange, and a lot of shades in between. To give your neutral bathroom that designer look, opt for matching tiles in an Italian pattern.

Bathroom design by Wiseman and Gale Interiors
Bathroom design by Wiseman and Gale Interiors
Tiles from Marazzi's Clays collection
Tiles from Marazzi’s Clays collection
Small kitchen with retro fridge and Italian-style tile
Small kitchen with retro fridge and Italian-style tile by Abby Hetherington
Italian guest house in Lecce
Italian guest house in Lecce via Hotels2See

There is some undeniable charm about an intricate pattern in a neutral color. And something very Italian too.

Take note of how a rectangle of patterned tiles can become an aesthetic, if not physical alternative for a rug.

Glam Italian Style Tiles

Italian style is characterized by glamorous patterns and metallic accents. So if you want to add that aesthetic to your house, you’ll need the right type of tile designs.

Decoratori Bassanesi A+A Atelier Gold
Decoratori Bassanesi A+A Atelier Gold
Decoratori Bassanesi A+A Atelier Light Blue
Decoratori Bassanesi A+A Atelier Light Blue
Contemporary modern Italian tiles from Supergres
Contemporary modern Italian tiles from Supergres
Suffern estate patterned bathroom floor
Suffern Estate patterned bathroom floor by Daun Curry

Whether you are decorating the bathroom floor or the kitchen counter, these gorgeous styles bring something extra to the interior.

Textured one-color tiles appear not only glamorous but also very contemporary. Some, however, come in purposefully faded or distressed finishes.

Porcelain Tiles with an Italian Streak

It seems like there is less and less ceramic tiles today, and more porcelain stoneware being used to produce all kinds of wall and floor tile designs. It is not surprising, however, considering that porcelain is much denser than ceramic (hence more durable), and can easily disguise as marble or even wood.

Refin's Frame collection
Refin‘s Frame collection
Italian porcelain tiles in Brazilian apartment
Italian porcelain tiles in Brazilian apartment by Diego Revollo
Patricia Urquiola's Azulej porcelain collection
Patricia Urquiola’s Azulej porcelain collection via Stone Source

Porcelain tiles can handle Italian flavor just like every other style or material. Bigger than their traditional counterparts, porcelain tiles look particularly sleek and contemporary.

What makes the modern ceramic tile designs so beautiful and diverse is thousands of years of improvement and perfection. These reimagined traditional patterns are still as good for home decorating, but with the new materials and technologies they might just be a bit more durable.

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