People have been decorating with tile for thousands of years, ever since someone discovered how to bake clay in a hot fire. Though most people are familiar with ceramic tile, tile can be made out of just about anything, including stone, wood, glass, metal, and even leather. Here are five new ways to use tile in your home.

In Concrete

If you’re having a concrete countertop installed in your kitchen, you can take tiles and press them into the concrete before it dries. This will give your counter a very unique look. The tiles can be glass, ceramic, porcelain, stone, or clay. They can be whole tiles or bits of tile that are left over from an old tiling job. If they’re grouped together, you can even get away with placing screaming hot pots and pans on them without damaging them.

On and Around the Ceiling

Instead of a cornice at the junction of the wall and the ceiling, why not a row or two of beautifully patterned tile? Islets of colorful tile can also be installed in the ceiling itself. These two methods are incredibly distinct with serious character. A company like Tile Mega Mart can give you tips on what looks best.

On A Staircase

If you have a rather stark staircase, you can attach large, individual squares of decorative tile to the side of each of the steps. Ideally, they should all have the same color scheme. A runner that’s also the same color scheme can be added to the steps. It’ll certainly be the focal point of the entry hall. Tiles can also be used on stair risers.

On Unexpected Walls

Wall tiles don’t just have to be for the kitchen and the bathroom. There are so many kinds of wall tiles in so many colors, patterns, and textures that there’s one that would look good in just about any room in the house. Nor do they have to cover all of the walls or even all of one wall. A wainscoting made of travertine tiles in the living room will certainly make guests look twice.

On the Fireplace

Colorful tiles can also be arranged on the header, the filler panel, and the legs, as well as on the hearth. Tile, after all, likes nothing better than fire. Tile might also be applied to the overmantle if there is one. The tiles can be the pop of color in an otherwise neutral room. Make sure the color is echoed around the room, like in the throw pillows or the area rug.

Tiles can give an otherwise run-of-the-mill dwelling a touch of color and drama. These are only a few things that can be done with tiles, so you can use these new concepts to broaden how you think about tile.