Can Rustic Ceramic Tile Look Elegant?

Installation

• Installation is critical to the success of this project. Poorly installed tile creates an eyesore that decreases the natural looking beauty of the material. Although your tiles may be rustic in shape, color or overall appearance, that doesn't necessarily mean your installation has to be old or messy looking. Evenly laid ceramic products that have uniform grout lines and are flush to either the wall or floor will create a fresh and clean look. Lay tiles in straight lines or sections, using a level as a guide. If you cannot create your own expert looking installation, hire an experienced ceramic professional instead of turning this into a do-it-yourself project.

Placement

• Choosing a simple placement or pattern to your rustic ceramic tiles increases the overall elegance of your design aesthetic. An overload of the same antiqued looking ceramic product may give off a dingy and old feel instead of a classy old-world look. Go basic and pick a focal area for your tile, such as the fireplace hearth or the backsplash area behind your kitchen stove. Create a natural flow with the rest of the room, avoiding bold contrasts between adjoining materials. For example, place a muted brown tile next to a like-colored wood floor.

Room Decor

• The overall room decor will affect the look of the ceramic tile. If you are trying to create an elegant space in your bathroom, you could enhance your ceramic bathroom floor with a fresh country look by adding an embellished or antiqued mirror frame and fixtures. Keep the room decor refined with one type of tile, avoiding mixing and matching an eclectic jumble of decorations. This allows your tile to blend into the room's appearance in an even, sophisticated way.

Color

• Color is key in determining whether or not your rustic tile does, or can, look elegant. Polished spaces are easier to create when you play up the basic, classic aspects of design. Overly done, crowded and mismatched rooms rarely give off this type of feel. Likewise, eye-popping or odd colors don't contribute to a tasteful decor. Use rustic ceramic tile in neutral or muted colors to create a delicate decor instead of bright reds or oranges that may not fill the bill.