Are you bored with paint chips and bland spaces? If so, maybe it’s time to add a design feature that adds interest, energy, and personal style to any space: a tiled accent wall. Tile is ideal for making a statement because it’s one of the most versatile design materials, available in a spectrum of colors, shapes, textures, and styles. In this article, you’ll discover the different kinds of tiled accent walls for home and office areas, plus exciting ideas and tips from tile designer John Merola on how to express your brand or style with tile.
The Power of the Accent Wall
If you’ve ever been impressed by one of those floor-to-ceiling tiled waterfalls in a building foyer, you can understand the impact of an accent wall. Or think about the ability of mosaic to tell a story or recreate an entire landscape across a wall, adding unique visual appeal to a variety of places, from restaurants and conference rooms to spas and homes.
Accent walls are strategically placed areas of contrasting material or color that act as focal points, drawing the eye and guiding the feel of your space. Tiled accent walls can be used to:
Define an Area: Highlight a fireplace, partition an open floor plan, or create a cozy reading nook. A tiled wall is perfect for creating separate areas in bathrooms, kitchens, work areas, and offices.
Boost Aesthetic Appeal: Introduce accents of color, intricate patterns, or unexpected textures with a tiled wall. The tactile appeal and natural, organic beauty of wood-look tile, terracotta, and stone are extremely popular for walls right now, as well as tiles embossed with botanic elements or modern abstract waves.
Enhance Functionality: In the home, elevate backsplashes, bathroom surrounds, or shower stalls from utilitarian to eye-catching. In workplaces and schools, tiled walls with built-in shelves and nooks add critical space and help keep things organized.
Reflect Your Brand: In offices, a branded tile mural or a geometric pattern, aligned with your company’s logo or family values, can leave a lasting impression.
Tile Options for Beautiful & Functional Walls
Tile is an excellent choice for accent walls because of its beauty, versatility, and durability. If you’re considering a tiled accent wall, it helps to understand the different types of tiles available to turn a blah wall into a bold, eye-catching statement. Consider these options:
Ceramic and Porcelain: These tiles offer maximum function and style. Ceramic and porcelain tiles are extremely durable and low maintenance, not to mention sanitary, hypoallergenic, and fireproof. As a creative medium, ceramic and porcelain tiles offer endless possibilities for accent walls. They are available in a kaleidoscope of colors, patterns, and finishes, including matte, glossy, and textured.
Glass and Mirrored: Reflective and luminous, glass and mirror tiles are ideal for smaller areas because they create an illusion of spaciousness. Their shine captures the eye and brightens wall space, reflecting light into the room. Glass tiles are also a sustainable, sanitary choice with a surface that is easy to clean and maintain.
Metallic Finish: Add drama and sophistication with a wall covered in metallic finish tile in tones of gold, brushed steel, copper, and bronze. The reflective metal sheen works well on accent walls in a variety of styles, such as industrial chic, luxury, or contemporary.
Stone, Clay and Marble: The organic beauty of these materials is both timeless and trending, making them an excellent choice for tiling your accent wall. Whether you prefer a rustic terracotta kitchen accent wall, a soaring fireplace feature of rough-textured stone, or a sleek, contemporary wall of black-veined marble, tile offers endless options.
Pro Design Tips for Creating Your Accent Wall
TIP 1: Planning is key. Sketch potential layouts for your wall, consider grout color and width, and factor in lighting to visualize the final effect. Get ideas by browsing Merola Tile’s website where you’ll find Collections from top tile designers, Inspiration, Trending tiles, and more.
TIP 2: Don’t be afraid to experiment. Mix materials, play with patterns, and embrace bold colors. The goal is to express your personality or brand in a way that makes a statement and adds unique beauty and function to your space. Let the wall be your blank canvas and the tile serve as your creative medium!
TIP 3: Factor in function. Do you want storage or workspace built into your accent wall? Are you looking to add a fireplace wall with shelving? Or maybe a fountain or logo design to make an impression with visitors to your company?
TIP 4: For complex layouts, intricate cuts, or large-scale projects, don’t hesitate to enlist the expertise of a qualified tile provider or contractor.
Innovative Ideas for Home and Business
A tiled wall can inject personality and purpose into any space, from corporate lobbies to living rooms. Accent walls can also provide a branding bonanza for home or office environments. Here are some innovative ideas from John Merola on tiled accent walls that enhance your living and work spaces.
HOME ACCENT WALLS
Don’t let the tile trend stop at your doorstep. Express your tastes, interests, and personality with a special wall that stands out in your home in a meaningful way.
Kitchen Style – The hub of your home is a great place to create a wall that is beautiful and functional. Create a family connection and organization space with a tiled wall featuring a built-in chalkboard, shelving, and storage nooks. Display vintage crockery, copper cookware or other culinary treasures on a stone or wood tile wall.
Living Spaces – A vibrant accent wall behind the sofa instantly becomes the room’s focal point. Fireplace walls are extremely popular and here again tile offers ultimate versatility. Choose a sleek travertine style with chic pebble firepit, or terracotta and wood style tile for rustic charm. Create a display wall of stone finish tile as a backdrop for art and collectibles. For a beautiful new take on built-ins, consider a tiled marble alcove or reading nook, scattered with pillows and books.
Bathroom Backdrops – Accent walls are ideal backdrops for the beautiful look of a free-standing tub (think of a dark, bold-colored tile behind a pure white tub). A nature or ocean-theme mosaic can transform any bathroom into a
retreat. There are beautiful new botanical and bamboo print tiles that take walls to the next level. For a touch of luxury, consider a channel terra azure mosaic wall behind your bathtub.
If your focus is on function, a tile wall can become your bathroom organizer with shelves, storage nooks, and hooks.
OFFICE, WORK & EVENT WALLS
Power Backdrop for Presentations & Podcasts – In today’s digital media world, a statement wall featuring your logo is indispensable as a branded backdrop for webinars, podcasts, videos, and photos.
Event Space – Transform your event areas from ordinary to extraordinary with a showstopping tile accent wall. How about terracotta penny rounds for a rustic-chic vibe, sleek metallic tiles for a modern edge, or bamboo tiles to create walls of natural beauty? Ombré tile walls, for example, can be used to create a dynamic backdrop for presentations, performances, and brainstorming sessions. Remember, the accent wall is the focal point. Keep the rest of the room’s decor clean and complementary.
A Striking Impression – First impressions matter, and your company’s entryway sets the tone. One well-known hotel chain uses a cascading wave of bright green ceramic tiles to greet guests in the lobby, echoing the brand’s vibrant identity. For a more subtle approach, you might consider geometric patterns that echo elements from your logo, or mosaic murals that visually tell your story or convey your mission.
Location & Venue Branding – You can connect with your community and customers with an inspirational accent wall made with tiles that reflect your brand’s history, values, and location. Think about a mosaic mural that depicts your city skyline or town square. Or a rustic terracotta wall at a vineyard or brewery, with shelving to display its vintages. Another tile trend that’s great for branding is the historic distressed look, like the Americana-themed red, white, and blue tile pictured here, a John Merola favorite.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Tile decorators tend to think outside the box and beyond the traditional rectangle. Sculptural tile installations, such as an atelie-style creation, are guaranteed conversation starters. For a playful touch, incorporate unexpected features like colored grout or word tiles into your design. Remember, the possibilities are endless, and your imagination can be your guide.
And, while tile offers undeniable aesthetic appeal, its practical and functional benefits should not be overlooked. With tile, your accent walls can be more than just a pretty face. They can tell your story, brand your business, and transform any space into a place that makes you want to linger. Remember, the key is to choose tiles that resonate with your personality and purpose, and let your creativity run wild.
Sources
Bob Vila: https://www.bobvila.com/
Architectural Digest: https://www.architecturaldigest.com/
HGTV Magazine: https://shop.thehgtvmag.com
Bed, Bath, and Beyond: www.bedbathandbeyond.com
Better Homes and Gardens: https://www.bhg.com/