Ceramic is a staple floor tile material, and for a number of very good reasons – it’s versatile, durable, infinitely customisable and does not require an inordinate investment in order to create a fully furnished floor. However, interior or exterior design isn’t always about picking the safe option. If you wish to venture outside of the realm of tried and true and are looking for inspiration, you’ve come to the right place. In today’s article, we will be covering unconventional floor tile materials that show some flair and uniqueness.

From the article you will learn:

• Why Think About Alternative Floor Tile Materials to Begin With?
• Alternative & Unconventional Floor Tile Materials to Consider
  • Bamboo Flooring
  • Terrazzo Tiles
  • Porcelain
  • Natural Stone Slabs
  • Reclaimed Brick Tiles
• The Takeaway

Why Think About Alternative Floor Tile Materials to Begin With?

As they say, variety is the spice of life, which can also apply to interior design. Whenever you come up with an original idea, breathing life into your vision may involve staying away from the beaten path and choosing some unconventional floor tile materials instead. Embracing variety in your design choices can lead to truly unique and inspiring spaces.

While ceramic is undeniably great, offering a well-rounded choice at a reasonable cost, it also has disadvantages that aren’t often discussed, such as:

• Difficulty of installation: As a floor tile material, ceramic tiles owe their durability in part to their hardness. From a practical standpoint, however, this quality makes them that much more difficult to lay and seal correctly, especially if you’re doing it on your own or if your fitter isn’t particularly experienced.
• Surface hardness: Again, this durability is somewhat of a double-edged sword, as prolonged standing on ceramic flooring can cause discomfort.
• Heat conductivity: Ceramic tiles conduct heat quite well, meaning in the summer months, they might be a little too warm to the touch. Conversely, in the winter, they radiate heat away.

Alternative & Unconventional Floor Tile Materials to Consider

Whether you’re designing an Art Deco interior or need ideas to create a rustic kitchen, you’ll be hard-pressed to find ceramic tiles as suggested flooring options for such creative endeavours. And these are hardly the only cases in modern interior and exterior design where this is the case.

Below, we’ve outlined some of the top contenders among unconventional floor tile materials to help you achieve your dream vision:

Bamboo Flooring

When looking at the possible unconventional floor tile materials to supplant ceramic, durability is likely your first concern. Thankfully, as far as durable wood flooring options go, bamboo flooring excels in the realm of durability, offering a Janka scale rating of 3,500.

Of course, bamboo is hardly the choice that immediately springs to mind when considering different hardwood floor types. Still, its uniqueness and beautiful, trendy look will liven up any space you use it in – don’t discount bamboo!

Terrazzo Tiles

The animated and eccentric mosaic of terrazzo flooring can instantly create visually interesting compositions in any space. The material, made out of chips of granite and marble, works well both indoors and outdoors.

As a floor tile material, it’s recognised for its durability, as well as its stylistic versatility. For both commercial and residential projects, choosing terrazzo can introduce a little eclectic fun.

Porcelain

Porcelain could be described as a close cousin to ceramic tiles. Nevertheless, if you’re seeking a more luxurious alternative, it might be worth considering. Compared to ceramic, porcelain offers more durability and water resistance while opening up plenty more design possibilities.

The water resistance means porcelain tiles perform the best as a kitchen flooring or bathroom flooring option. In addition, since they are available in various finishes, including matte, glossy, or textured, porcelain tiles can be made to resemble virtually any other floor tile material.

Natural Stone Slabs

Beauty and luxury – these are the two qualities chiefly embodied by natural stone slab flooring options like marble and slate. Depending on the planned application, your budget, and stylistic preference, you can design one-of-a-kind spaces with unmatched aesthetic charm and organic appearance.

Stone cuts are resistant to harsh weather conditions, making them suitable for outdoor use just as much as indoor applications. However, be prepared to pay a premium price for its appeal.

Reclaimed Brick Tiles

If you value sustainability, there is no better option than to choose an alternative floor tile material like reclaimed brick tiles. They offer just as much durability as ceramic and will last you years while simultaneously giving your house an irreproducible charm and sense of soul.

We restore reclaimed brick tiles with heartfelt passion and care, tile by tile, breathing new life into them through meticulous and painstaking work. Thus, we guarantee their longevity and quality to embellish your space just as you want.

The Takeaway

Unconventional floor tile materials can perform amazingly well in many settings, making them wonderful replacements for orderly ceramic tile. Exploring options like bamboo, terrazzo, or reclaimed brick tiles opens up possibilities for timeless, luxurious, modern, classic, and many other styles, all of which can infuse your spaces with more personality and style.

You may also read: Different Types of Rustic Floor Tiles