A cladding that engages with both tradition and innovation.
Handmade terracotta is a material often considered suitable only for rustic or classic environments, where you want to highlight some antique or handcrafted elements. For example, one might think that a terracotta feature could only be installed in old farmhouses or country cottages, but in recent years, this material has become appreciated for its ability to enhance (or even create) modern spaces, bridging the gap between tradition and innovation.
Tradition, because handmade terracotta is undeniably a part of a long tradition of craftsmanship that has made it durable and admired for centuries, and innovation, because in the past decade, modern interior design and spaces have required the use of traditional materials in a contemporary light.
This is where shapes, colors, and finishes come in, giving different personalities to the same material, which is never the same as before.
Choosing the right processing, therefore, even terracotta can be absolutely modern.
Modern terracotta flooring: the polished finish
As already mentioned, hand-made terracotta is not typically considered a modern material. However, beyond the combinations with specific styles and colors, it is possible to innovate a terracotta surface by choosing the right finish. With the polished finish, for example, the terracotta becomes more uniform and shiny, resulting in a refined and innovative effect. Thanks to this finish, beautiful contemporary spaces can be created, especially when paired with other prominent elements like designer furniture or white tones.
By playing with shapes and colors, the possibilities for achieving a modern terracotta look are truly endless.
The trends in interior design have crowned hand-made terracotta as a highly versatile and never trivial element, especially when paired with solutions that cater to contemporary taste, mixing materials and furnishings in a way that enlivens the home without ever going overboard. Here are the most suitable combinations to enhance a modern terracotta floor.
Handmade terracotta and modern furniture: a winning combination
Choosing a yellow-toned color and large formats, terracotta loses its classic/rustic appearance and becomes perfectly suited for modern settings. One can opt for modern furniture made from materials such as iron, glass, and steel, or those featuring sophisticated design shapes. Placing these elements on a terracotta floor allows them to stand out with their contemporary appeal without overwhelming the floor material, which in turn is highlighted. This creates a harmonious balance where both elements maintain their individuality but complement each other flawlessly, without any style mismatches.
This solution has become so popular that it is being widely used in high-end spaces like hotels, restaurants, and even museums. In this case, many contemporary art galleries choose a modern terracotta floor to enhance the displayed works of art.
The modern terracotta and the color white.
Terracotta has a very particular color that reflects earth tones such as yellow, red, orange, and brown: for many, these colors may seem a bit too traditional, but it takes very little to make them modern and contemporary. One of the most common solutions is pairing them with light shades, among which white stands out. This color is perfect for bringing light into rooms and creating a neutral and fresh atmosphere. In this way, you can create rooms where the color palette itself becomes a stylish element, especially when white is used not only for the walls but also for the doors. In particular, by using doors without decorations or inlays but with a glossy finish, you can achieve a contemporary effect of great beauty.
Other examples of modern terracotta
Another example of modern use of terracotta is the use of glazed terracotta cladding: colorful and vibrant tiles that have very little of a rustic feel.
Or, think of a wall covered with terracotta coping in a contemporary and design-driven environment: beautiful, refined, modern, and never trivial.
As for the wall colors, we can go beyond the classic white and achieve a modern effect by choosing the combination of terracotta floors and taupe walls.
