Find Flare with Modern Spanish Colonial Tile

Image: Cementine Posa 2 Patterned Porcelain Accent Wall Tile from Arizona Tile

Spanish motifs have been a popular style choice for centuries because they offer warmth, comfort, excitement, and fun. Modern Spanish Colonial tile can add a wonderful personality to both commercial and residential settings, whether indoors or outdoors. Spanish Colonial tile adds earthly tones of peace, geometric designs and flowers, hand-painted appearances, and a unique character.

Call it a Revival

In the early 20^th century, a movement of Spanish-Colonial-Revival architecture sparked design trends around the world, which can still be seen in architecture from that time. The unusual color combinations of both earthly tones and bright colors create a desirable look, whether as a main theme or a small scattering of design accent. With a look of distinction, Modern Spanish Colonial tile offers versatility to many design preferences while gracing walls, floors, and patios.

Image: Cementine B&W 3 Patterned Porcelain Kitchen Bar Backsplash Tile from Arizona Tile

Originating thousands of years ago, Spanish tile was an artistic revolution throughout Southern and Eastern Spain. These hand-painted works of art could be seen adorning churches, palaces, and public squares. Sadly, after the start of the 17^th century, the demand for tile and ceramics faced a downfall in this Mediterranean area; however, this tile, with its combination of ceramics, cement, and color that created stunning patterns, was a gift of expression. Fortunately, in the 18^th century, Western countries began seeing Spanish tile, predominately in Mexico.

While this art was widely accepted into the 20^th century, it again began to decline in popularity due to a focus on hygiene and finding ways to make spaces more sanitary. The introduction of smoother, less porous, easier-to-maintain surfaces gained popularity—traditional porcelain and ceramic—which eventually led to Modern Spanish Colonial tile rising in popularity. For example, the Reverie series offers 12 patterned and 4 solid tile selections that present visual attributes of Spanish tile but are practical for daily living. In the Reverie series, all options are 8 x 8 glazed porcelain tile, making them durable, very versatile, and easy to clean and maintain, all while looking ravishing.

Image: Reverie 6 Patterned Porcelain Laundry Room Floor Tile from Arizona Tile

Spanish Tile Options

There is no reasonable limit to where you can design with modern Spanish tile, and it’s certainly not room-specific. Use as interior flooring, interior walls, exterior cladding, fireplaces, shower walls, steam showers, and pools and spas are all possible with this versatile porcelain tile. It’s up to your stylistic preference to choose where modern Spanish tile fashions should appear in your residence or commercial space. With the durability, versatility, and simplicity of maintenance of porcelain tile, all options are fair game. Our Cementine Posa series makes for a good example. Add a Spanish Colonial theme as a focal point in your living space by framing the fireplace with Posa 2; be creative and install Posa 3 on your stair risers; create a sophisticated accent to a recessed wall with Posa 4; or design your bathroom vanity backsplash with Posa 1… the list goes on and on.

Image: Cementine Posa 1 Patterned Porcelain Bathroom Wall Tile from Arizona Tile

So, to continue with Spanish Colonial tile, and to enhance the above design ideas, let’s look a little closer at a few specific rooms/areas.

Spanish Tile in the Bathroom

An owners’ suite bathroom is often given a greater emphasis because you, as the homeowner, want a place to relax and rejuvenate. Other bathrooms throughout the home deserve nice design, too, and can carry some of the themes as your primary bathroom or branch off for a completely different look. Walls are often a popular focal point, but what about your bathroom floor? Spanish Colonial Revival tile can create such a dramatic, yet soothing look in this area where you truly spend a lot of time. A bathroom should be a place of comfort and peacefulness, so using colorful, patterned tile throughout the bathroom floor creates a perhaps unexpected focal area that also ties together the entire space.

Image: Reverie 8 Patterned Porcelain Bathroom Floor and Wall Accent Tile from Arizona Tile

Exterior

When Spanish tile gained popularity at its origin, it was often used for exterior purposes. Today, need not be any different. The durability of porcelain allows it to remain intact and well-preserved to accompany your outdoor design ideas. From your pool to the walls around your sitting area, modern Spanish Colonial exterior tile will truly enhance the space with fun, light-hearted design to offer a welcoming and cozy environment. Cementine Black and White offers patterns to love but only incorporates black, white, and grey. This allows for more neutrality while keeping the basis of your theme at the center. With six design choices, each Cementine Black and White tile option expresses a unique artistic flare.

Image: Reverie 10 Patterned Porcelain Featured Outdoor Tile Wall from Arizona Tile

Living Area or Gathering Space

You’re done with work; dinner is over and cleaned up; the house is picked up; the kids are in bed (if you have them), and now it’s your turn to relax. There is nothing better to set a calm mood than a lit fireplace and soft music playing to melt away the stress of the day. Now, add to that a fireplace surround that isn’t just basic but fashioned with elegant tile, like Cementine Retro. With some warm hues common to traditional Spanish tile, Retro 3 brings one appearance, while Retro 1 and Retro 2 have some cooler-toned characteristics that still present a warm, comforting ambiance.

Creating a focal fireplace will add emphasis and beauty to such a predominant area in your living space. However, this, and all the other ideas, can work in sync with commercial settings, too. Consider incorporating these design options into a gathering space, a lounge, or even a restaurant or café. Your customers and guests will love your attention to detail and the charm it adds!

Image: Cementine Retro 2 Patterned Porcelain Restaurant Floor Tile from Arizona Tile

Creating a Theme

While patterned tile itself is wonderful, having a theme, like the Spanish Colonial Revival tile, will enhance the appeal. Be sure to look through all the photo galleries linked above to see various displays of creativity. To gain a further idea of how these products look, check out our Just Imagine Tile Visualizer. Be sure to visit an Arizona Tile store or slab yard along your design journey and if you have further questions, please send us a message.