What is terrazzo? Terrazzo is a composite material popular for uses like flooring, countertops, backsplashes, furniture, and decor objects. It’s water-resistant, durable, customizable, and more sustainable due to production methods using scrap materials. This low-maintenance material has been around for centuries, especially popular in the 1920s and midcentury modern period. Now it’s a trendy way to add personality, color, pattern, and texture to modern and contemporary interiors.
Terrazzo tile is a low-maintenance composite made from stones like marble, granite, quartz, glass, and more. The mixture is held together with resin or concrete. Terrazzo floors and countertops were popular in the 1920s and 1980s and are trendy today. Contemporary designers see a resurgence in hospitality buildings and homes.
There are various types of terrazzo. Sand cushion terrazzo is adapted for outdoor spaces with a poured cement slab base and a sand layer to prevent cracking. Thin-set epoxy terrazzo is used in interiors, mixing epoxy resin and aggregate for a single thin layer. Polyacrylate is a 3/8″-thick veneer placed on a concrete slab. Monolithic terrazzo is?” -thick, more affordable but prone to cracking. Rustic terrazzo has a textured surface to be less slippery.
Terrazzo tile ideas include a bold terrazzo backsplash by Cicada Company. Bold and colorful terrazzo can transform a kitchen with natural wood cabinetry and clean lines. This kitchen uses large speckled terrazzo on flooring and backsplash for a cohesive look.
Neutral terrazzo wall adds texture and depth to modern or contemporary-style bathrooms like this shower wall from home_and_things. Subtle terrazzo also works well in an updated kitchen or as flooring in a mudroom or sunroom.
Weave in bold colors in your terrazzo to tie your color palette together. Pair pink cabinetry with terrazzo that has flecks of pink for a coordinated look, like this kitchen from ponysailor.
Terrazzo is highly customizable in color and pattern. Choose a bold terrazzo to make a statement or a quiet finely speckled terrazzo bathroom vanity countertop to complement colorful tiles and gold-toned accents, like this space from Siren Betty Design.
05 of 14 – DIY Terrazzo Coffee Table by Remodelista. Terrazzo can be used to make furniture and decor objects. This DIY terrazzo table is a perfect accessory for a modern living room. You can also recreate this look on a bedroom headboard or a nightstand to bring terrazzo into every room in your house.
06 of 14 – Colorful Bathroom Terrazzo on Instagram by tian_designs. We love how terrazzo can transform a room easily. The white iron vanity in this bathroom is minimalist and understated, but when combined with the bright beige and brown terrazzo wall, it becomes a statement piece.
07 of 14 – Terrazzo Floor Tiles by The Effortless Chic. Use terrazzo flooring on the main floor and walk-in shower of a modern bathroom to unite the space. This modern shower stall features large terrazzo tiles with a light pattern to add subtle dimension to the neutral space.
08 of 14 – Terrazzo Wall Art by The House of Wood. Get the look of terrazzo for less with tile-inspired DIY wall art. These framed prints can be whipped up in an afternoon.
09 of 14 – Terrazzo Kitchen Countertop by Photo courtesy of dzek. Bold terrazzo creates an instant focal point in any room. This modern kitchen pairs colorful terrazzo with white walls and light wood open shelves for a balanced feel.
10 of 14 – Terrazzo Accessories by Hester’s Hand Made Home. Use terrazzo tile as inspiration to make decor objects like this DIY candle holder. The terrazzo-inspired candleholder is made from polymer clay.
11 of 14 – Terrazzo Counter Backsplash by Play Associates. Carry a terrazzo kitchen countertop onto the wall to create a short backsplash for a finished look. Play Associates pulled the hunter green from the terrazzo pattern to choose a paint color for the base cabinetry.
12 of 14 – Terrazzo-Style Napkin Rings by burkatron. Make terrazzo-inspired polymer clay napkin holders that can be customized to your dining room color palette.
13 of 14 – Black-and-White Terrazzo by Sarah Akwisombe. While you can use terrazzo to add color to a neutral space, Sarah Akwisombe took the opposite approach. Black-and-white terrazzo adds pattern to a kitchen decorated with rich navy cabinets and a bold yellow faucet for a surprising combination.
14 of 14 – Terrazzo Wallpaper by Maestro. Hang terrazzo wallpaper to create an unexpected accent wall for a living space or a bedroom.
FAQ: Why is terrazzo expensive? The cost of terrazzo will be largely determined by whether you choose more affordable epoxy terrazzo tiles or poured terrazzo flooring, which has a higher labor cost to install.
What is terrazzo? Terrazzo is a versatile and customizable material that can be used on flooring, walls, countertops, backsplashes, as well as furniture and decor objects. It can be used both indoors and outdoors.
According to HomeAdvisor, terrazzo flooring generally costs between $1,800 to $7,000 for a 200-square-foot surface. The average cost comes out at about $4,400. What is terrazzo good for? You can pull colors from terrazzo to finish a bathroom or kitchen with complementary wall paint or tile. Use a bold and colorful terrazzo to create a statement or a more subtle neutral terrazzo to add texture to a minimalist space.
What are the disadvantages of terrazzo flooring? Terrazzo flooring can crack if not installed properly, making it DIY-unfriendly. It is expensive to install. It can fade over time. It can be slippery when wet. Terrazzo flooring is hard and feels cold underfoot unless you have underfloor heating, which can make it uncomfortable to walk on barefoot in the winter (but will help keep flooring cool in summer).