How to Create a Tile Rug in Your Home

Have you considered creating a tile rug in your home?

Tile rugs are the flooring equivalent of a feature tile wall. They are visual, express personality and look fantastic!

They can be traditional or they can look contemporary. You'll find some that are more about pattern and others that emphasize color or texture or even shape.

The possibilities to be creative are endless and fun.

In case you've not thought of one, here are ideas and examples we came across during the Parade of Homes.

What is a Tile Rug?

Let's start with what is a rug?

In the image below, you see rug atop a wood plank tile floor.

Notice the splash of color and visual texture that this wool rug adds to the room.

It defines the space occupied by the desk and chair.

This particular rug is rectangular in shape and defined by a strong red border which contrasts with the blue pattern within.

A tile rug - as the name implies - consists of a rug created in tile. It is often rectangular in shape although you'll notice others, too, and stands out from the surrounding flooring.

For example, look at the elongated organic shape in the image below. Yes, it's a shower wall rather than a shower floor and there's a niche which would be a total no-no in a floor, however, that shape captures the essence of a non-rectangular tile rug.

A tile rug, then, is a framed space in your floor where the tile creates an interesting focal area and stands out from the surrounding tile surfaces.

Where Can You Use a Tile Rug?

As with most things tile related, you can create a tile rug for any area of your home. You could do so outdoors in a patio area, or anywhere inside.

We've noticed that entry foyers tend to be a perfect place for tile rugs, and have examples to share. We've also discovered them in bathrooms and hallways.

Ready to check them out?

Consider tile rugs in an entryway

Entryways are ideal for tile rugs. They nicely define this transition space between outside and indoors where you naturally welcome visitors and invite them inside.

In the example below, the tile basketweave pattern pulls together the wall colors and touches from the door, the picture frame and the mirror.

Interestingly, this particular tile rug even has a dark wood tile frame around it.

The foyer example below features more of a random mosaic tile rug look bordered by rectangular tile. The blue and turquoise color splashes make this a striking entry way focal area.

The example below uses the same wood plank tile from the rest of the floor. However, notice the herringbone pattern and how it stands out.

The image below features an intricate mosaic border pattern which surrounds square tiles installed on the diagonal with mosaic decorative accents at regular intervals. Striking, no?

As you can see from the examples above, you have plenty of options when it comes to wanting to create a tile rug in your entry foyer area.

A Tile Rug is Perfect in a Hallway

Just as you might have plenty of runners in your hallways, why not create tile rugs instead? We loved the example in the image below where the hallway did indeed feature an elegant wood plank tile in a diagonal pattern as a runner.

Not only is this practical, but it also creates a unifying effect for adding other tile rugs.

And Even Better in a Bathroom

Just as feature walls are a natural for bathrooms, so too are tile rugs!

In the example below, the parallel bands of pebble mosaics surrounded by rectangular tile creates a modern rug interpretation. You can easily imagine how this might accent pebble wall niches and a similar looking wall insert.

In the example below, look at how the mosaic diamond shaped inserts and the simple mosaic frame creates an elegant floor rug pattern. There, too, you can imagine how the pattern might extend to the walls.

As in entryways, the possibilities for tile rugs in bathrooms are endless...

Check it Out in the Kitchen

Here's an example from the Coverings17 Installation Design Showcase where the designer deliberately used a different color of tile in front of the sink (as well as in front of the bed and the doorway) to create a clean modern tile rug.

>> See Tile Inspires West Michigan Tiny House by The Georgia Pear Interiors

Look Up! You Could Even Add a Tile Rug to the Ceiling!

True, the ceiling is no floor. However, it tends to be a big space and a natural for tile especially for tray ceilings.

Here's an example.

Notice the mosaics and how the ceiling trim frames it.

One benefit ceilings have over floors is that you can use more delicate mosaics since you don't have to worry about shoes, heels and heavy foot traffic.

Here's a close up.

What do you think? Could you see creating a tile rug in your ceiling?

How Can You Create a Tile Rug in Your Home?

To create a tile rug, you have plenty of options, although you do want to consider the foot traffic the space will receive.

You can create a tile rug simply with your regular floor tile arranged in a special pattern.

Or, you might use mosaics with a wood plank tile border.

You might consider patchwork tile or bold hand-painted cement tile as you see in the display image below.

>> See Cement Tile: Perfect for Fort Myers, Sarasota and Tampa Homes

>> See Ready For Patchwork Tile In Your Home?

In fact, here's how a customer created a tile rug in the bathroom shower area. Notice the border around the rug and also how the rug pattern was pulled into the niches.

The effect is dramatic.

Come visit Tile Outlets of America and our associates will be happy to explore ideas with you so you can add your very own tile rug to your home.

Thanks for reading,

Kate