Design Thinking

Rustic style flooring, a naturally fashionable classic

Updated On : 26 Dec 2021

Porcelain floor tiles with cotto finish are a type of material that is very much in line with the growing search for a simpler and more sustainable lifestyle, which starts in the home itself.

Rustic style flooring, a naturally fashionable classic

Terracotta floors have existed for thousands of years and are still a trend today in rustic, natural and contemporary spaces, as they provide warmth and a timeless and pleasant aesthetic. If there is one element that determines the decorative style of a space, it is the floor chosen and, in this sense, porcelain tiles that imitate cotto or terracotta are the most used when it comes to creating a rustic atmosphere with a rural feel.

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In addition, in recent years, it is very common to see how the porcelain imitation terracotta is combined with other different materials such as stoneware imitation cement or imitation wood and even with hydraulics. Therefore, rustic floors complement perfectly with other styles and take advantage of the versatility obtained by mixing trends to enrich home decoration. 

CHARACTERISTICS OF RUSTIC FLOORING

Rustic ceramic floors are ideal for all types of rooms and, due to their own characteristics and technical performance, they are a suitable option for both indoor and outdoor installation. Rustic porcelain floors have numerous advantages such as:

  • Hardness, being practically impossible to scratch them.
  • High wear resistance and maximum durability.
  • Low absorption and almost zero porosity, which allows the floor to remain as the first day for a long time.
  • High resistance to low temperatures, frost, climate and temperature changes.
  • Easy cleaning and maintenance. In addition, by preventing the retention of bacteria and germs, they are very hygienic.

Indoor rustic flooring

We could say that rustic indoor flooring is back in fashion, but the truth is that this type of flooring has never ceased to be so. In the market there are numerous options of rustic style stoneware, as it is a very versatile bet that adapts to all types of spaces, with the possibility of choosing between different shades, ranging from the classic reddish tone, which can be used for a more robust and pure style, to light tones, which provide brightness and a sense of calm, or gray, which are timeless and modern at the same time.

Rustic style flooring, a naturally fashionable classic

Rustic outdoor flooring

Porcelain tiles with a terracotta (or cotto) effect are also an excellent choice for outdoor flooring, as they are highly resistant to extreme temperatures and general wear and tear. With this type of flooring it is possible to achieve rural and handcrafted aesthetic environments in patios, terraces and gardens, but also modern and contemporary style.
When choosing this outdoor flooring, we must take into account that these spaces tend to get wet frequently and it is here where the non-slip porcelain floor (class 3) becomes the most recommended option if we want to avoid slips and other accidents.

MODERN RUSTIC FLOORING COLLECTIONS

Rural life is characterized by being in harmony with nature, it is more peaceful, sustainable and homely. In this regard, a movement that claims these qualities has recently gained strength: the Cottage trend. This trend was born in the houses of the English countryside, small and intended for the housing of local farmers, which claims the return to a simpler, natural and quiet life. This style is known for its rustic airs, but also includes romantic and subtle elements. The tonalities of the elements are based on nature and are framed in the range of whites and browns, with a worn and rustic effect. Terracotta-style stoneware floors fit perfectly into this trend, as they evoke the rustic and sustainable and create a cozy atmosphere.

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However, although this trend focuses on the use of rustic ceramic floors to create more traditional environments, these floors can also transform modern spaces with the combination of other elements such as porcelain tiles imitating cement, wood, stone or even marble.

STYLES AND EFFECTS

When we think of rustic floors, the characteristic reddish terracotta color comes to mind, but nowadays there are many more shades to choose from. For example, the new Cottage and Core collections from Gayafores feature up to four different shades of rustic-effect porcelain tiles. The first is the Almond tone, a beige that brings brightness and calm, fits in any room where you want to achieve warmth and harmony, and combines perfectly with a myriad of shades. The second is the Grey tone. This elegant gray is perfect to combine with a multitude of shades and makes bright colors stand out much more, accentuates the warm tones and enhances the balance in any of the rooms where it is placed. In third place, we find Greige, which is a mixture of beige and gray.

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This tone brings the quality of beige and the elegance of gray. It is the middle point between cold and warm tones and this is the main reason why it combines with all kinds of colors. Finally, the Natural tone is the one that most resembles the reddish tone so characteristic of terracotta floors, but with less intensity. It is ideal for creating cozy atmospheres and works very well when combined with other colors.

RUSTIC FLOORING FOR EVERY SPACE

Today, eclecticism continues to set the trend in interior design and in the combination of styles lies one of the main keys to enjoy spaces with unique personality.
In short, rustic porcelain floors are not only suitable for covering floors, walls and other surfaces in naturally rustic rooms. Combined with other materials and with the most suitable colors, terracotta style floors contribute to create an elegant, cozy or classic decorative effect, depending on your preferences and the characteristics of the project.

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Article contributed by: GAYAFORES