Terrazzo is the Trend in Interior Design!

A flooring style straight out of your grandparents’ kitchen, terrazzo or your humble mosaic has made a comeback into the interior designer’s fashion palette, and how! With chips of marble, quartz or granite on a smoothed and polished concrete base, this speckled surface is now a popular home decor trend.

Terrazzo Popularity

Ever since Pinterest listed Terrazzo in its 2018 Trends Report, this versatile flooring material has literally made us ‘floor’! The origins of this beautiful flooring can be traced back to Venice, Italy in the 1400s. Old Italian homes featured intricately patterned terrazzo flooring that has stood the test of time in many cases and still looks amazing today. Terrazzo was a popular trend in Indian homes in the 70s and 80s, and terrazzo is once again on the rise.

However it is shaped, it complements many different decor themes, from minimalist to explosive… hence its popularity. Terrazzo colors are almost limitless and a wide variety of combinations are possible for both the chips and the substrate. You can even choose to create custom combinations to suit any color palette. It is also an exceptionally durable surface, as it is completely waterproof, non-porous and wear-resistant.

Pros and Cons of Using Terrazzo in Home Interiors

What are the pros and cons of using terrazzo? Read on so you can make an informed decision.

Pros:

• Terrazzo is affordable and suits every budget. Quality terrazzo is available at a starting price of Rs 40 per square foot, which is significantly lower than the cost of natural stone. Terrazzo costs can go up to Rs 250 per square foot, depending on the substrate and the chips you choose to use.
• It can be customized to your decor and you can choose from a wide variety of colors.
• Terrazzo can be cast and molded on-site to fit the profile you are creating.
• This material is very durable and becomes more lustrous with age and use.

Cons:

• Polished terrazzo floors are quite slippery. Water spilled on the floor can be difficult to see and therefore any spillage can result in a nasty fall unless it is wiped up at once.
• Over the years, low-quality terrazzo can become pitted.
• Terrazzo craftsmanship requires people to pour it. Make sure they have the experience to know how to do it right.
• It is possible to re-polish the surface by grinding and re-polishing as many times as desired.

Here are some great ideas to get inspired by!

1. Terrazzo Casting for Bathroom Countertops

What most people don’t know is that although terrazzo is available as tile, it can also be poured in-situ. This is a method where concrete is poured directly onto a surface onto which granite or marble chips have been placed. It can be smoothed down to create a seamless surface that molds itself around edges and curves and looks quite uniform when finished.

This contemporary bathroom features mosaic on the countertop and sink. Here, terrazzo wraps around the edge of the countertop and folds over the bathroom sink, creating a seamless surface that is easy to keep clean.

2. Terrazzo in Kitchens and Breakfast Areas

The cast-in-place technique can be used on kitchen countertops or a breakfast nook, table tops, countertops, etc. It can even be used to cast the kitchen sink itself for a nice, seamless surface.

3. Decorative Products and Accent Pieces with Terrazzo

Product designers have also experimented a lot with terrazzo. You can find Scandinavian prototypes of terrazzo flower pots, creatively designed stools with polka-dot seats, and even accent pieces like table mats and flower vases in flowing patterns created from the material. Given its versatility, it’s easy to imagine decorative items like mosaic boxes, paperweights, lampshades, wall art with different mosaic colors, or broken tiles that create patterns. The sky’s the limit for your creativity.

4. Terrazzo on Stairs and Floors

The most popular use of terrazzo is flooring and stairs. Stairs can be poured using poured concrete with terrazzo chips, while flooring can be poured in-situ or laid with terrazzo tiles.

What are the do's and don'ts when using terrazzo in home interiors?

It is possible to go overboard with terrazzo, but remember that too much of this material can make your interior look boring and monotonous. It is always better to use a terrazzo mix on a plain surface, ensuring that the colours match. Try a pop of colour on a neutral surface or on the contrary!

Here are some tips on how to incorporate terrazzo into your home interiors!

• Although terrazzo is seamless when cast in place, the tiles have a rough edge and chip easily if not handled with care. When laying, the edges of the tiles must be lined up perfectly and any dips must be carefully filled so that no further chipping occurs.
• Using an innovative mix of colors and aggregates, you can mix and match colors and create your own combinations and styles.
• Terrazzo can be used in any room or space. Always try to create some contrast by choosing the colour of the terrazzo chips to accessorise. Try not to go overboard as too much speckled surface can literally leave you looking spotty!
• Since terrazzo is slippery when wet, you may want to consider adding non-slip additives for safety.
• Terrazzo floors are easy to maintain. All that is required is regular mopping, which can even be done daily. The more the floor is cleaned and used, the more polish it will gain.
• It may be scratched if any abrasive surface is placed directly on it, so be careful not to apply sharp tools directly to the surface.

Terrazzo is one of the most versatile finishes we have ever worked with in the interior design space. If you are designing your home you can fully unleash your creativity with this material; you can choose to be as subtle or go as wild as you like!

Want to try this trend in your home? Visit a BeyazYastik Experience Center for unique ideas and decor planning. We'll be happy to help!

The topic “Terrazzo Trend in Interior Design!” was first published on mobeltrend.com.