Everything You Need to Know About Trendy Cement Tile

Though they’ve been around for hundreds of years, cement tiles have become super trendy again in the design world. The process for making these tiles is no joke: Pigmented cement is hand poured into molds (similar to cookie cutters), molds are removed, then the tiles are compressed under 2,000 pounds of pressure. Cement tiles are available in a ton of different colors, patterns and sizes, though 8x8 tiles are probably the most common. Prices range anywhere from $15/sf to $30/sf (and up!). Image courtesy of Popham Design.

First created in the south of France in the 1870s, cement tiles quickly became popular in many other countries. This Moroccan courtyard is blinged out with cement tiles from top to bottom, and wowza, it's stunning! Cement tiles have some major benefits: they're environmentally friendly as they are produced with natural components (and are not fired in a kiln); they are not slippery — even when wet; and they are easily customizable as each one is produced by hand. However, cement tiles are also significantly thicker than standard tiles at 5/8 inches thick. This means they are not quite as versatile as other tiles, and often require trim when abutting them next to other types of materials. Another downside is cost — these tiles don't work very well for low-budget projects.

The bold patterns and colors of cement tiles might scare some people away, but we love the idea of embracing the pattern with gusto and truly going for it like this homeowner did. Cement tiles work both on the floor and on your walls, and even crazy patterns and different colors can somehow work well together. This homeowner played with her tiles and mapped out a pattern/color combo on the floor before having them installed around her banquette.

Bathrooms are the perfect spot to use cement tiles, and one of our fave ways to feature these babies is on the bathroom floor. The simple white subway tile walls and bright white paint in this bath are the perfect balance to the boldly patterned floor. With a crisp black-and-white color palette, the patterned cement tile floor really takes this modern bathroom to the next level.