If you think tiles are only for kitchen backsplashes and bathroom floors, it’s time to take a look at tiled staircase ideas. Whether you use tiles to fully cover your steps or only as an accent piece, they’re a great way to beautify a utilitarian part of your home.
1. Use Tiles All Over
If you love tiles, consider placing them on all of the exposed portions of your staircase. That includes the treads, which are the horizontal parts that you stand on, and the risers, which are the vertical pieces between the treads.
You can learn more about staircase terminology in this video:
In the photo below, the single step near the door has tiles on both the riser and the tread:
Limestone Pattern – View Details / Get Quote »
You could outfit an entire staircase this way as well.
For fully tiled stairs, be sure to consult a professional about the best tiles to use. You’ll need ones that are strong enough to withstand repeated trips up and down the steps. Also, using textured tiles may reduce the chances of slipping. Using the right nosing material can be beneficial for both safety and durability.
2. Line the Stair Risers with Tiles
If you have eye-catching tiles in mind, stair risers are the perfect place to showcase them.
In this example, the wooden treads are lovely, but the tiled risers are the real stars of the show:
Because of the limited amount of space that the tiles will cover, you can go big and bold with the pattern without worrying about it being overwhelming. Consider options like Molin from the Curv collection or Kate Smoke from the Univo line:
Molin – View Details / Get Quote »
Kate Smoke – View Details / Get Quote »
Even if you choose to decorate with tiny tiles, you can still use this spot to infuse your room with color. Give it a try with Urbani’s Madder color scheme or the blues and greens of Soho’s Gentle.
Madder – View Details / Get Quote »
Gentle – View Details / Get Quote »
3. Mix Up the Patterns
There’s no saying that each riser needs to be exactly the same. Mixing and matching different tile designs for each level will turn your staircase into a splendid statement piece.
To help tie the look together, it makes sense to pick tiles that share similar colors or patterns. For example, you could use tiles from the Blanch line for a gray and white theme:
Cass – View Details / Get Quote »
Tralla – View Details / Get Quote »
If you’re looking for more color than that, the Univo collection offers a wide variety of designs that feature similar hues:
Sorrel – View Details / Get Quote »
Oliander – View Details / Get Quote »
Reed – View Details / Get Quote »
You could also use the same geometric pattern on each riser but alternate the colors used. The repeating diamonds of the Madison line might work well:
Brandy – View Details / Get Quote »
Solstice – View Details / Get Quote »
4. Line Each Riser with a Border
Although border tiles usually go on the walls, you could consider making them a part of your staircase design. They probably won’t fill the entire riser height, but you could use border tiles along the top of each riser and fill in the space below with solid tiles.
Take a look at the step up to this inviting bathtub to get a feel for this design idea:
Tunisian Mosaic Border – View Details / Get Quote »
5. Trim Each Step with Tiny Tiles
If you’re looking for a more subtle design for your staircase, think about using a row of small tiles along the edge of each step. You could place the trim on the treads or the risers.
For an example of this idea, check out the row of diamonds on each of the steps in this pool:
Custom Reef Mosaic – View Details / Get Quote »
You could create a similar look in your home with marble. Consider using Pure Black diamonds surrounded by the crisp white of Bianco Dolomite:
Pure Black – View Details / Get Quote »
Bianco Dolomite – View Details / Get Quote »
6. Create Tile Insets
Your entire stair riser doesn’t need to be decorated with tiles. In fact, using tiles for just a portion of the design may have an even bigger impact.
In the photo below, the vibrant blue tiles pop against the dark wood of the steps:
You could use a more neutral color scheme for this idea as well. Just imagine how spectacular Bronte from the Fusione line would look framed by polished wood:
Bronte – View Details / Get Quote »
7. Impress with a Staircase Wall Mural
The steps aren’t the only part of your staircase that could benefit from tile designs. You can also dress up the adjacent wall with tiles. Whether you choose a small tile mosaic or a mural that stretches from one end of the steps to the other, a wall design will give your staircase a one-of-a-kind look.
Picture a beautiful image like this one ushering guests from one level of your home to another:
Suquan – View Details / Get Quote »
8. Begin Your Staircase with a Medallion
Instead of directing people’s attention to the steps themselves, you could choose to draw their focus to the floor in front of your stairs. A floor medallion is a large design that often serves as the centerpiece of a room. The bottom of a staircase is a popular place to put one of these tile decorations.
Medallions are usually round or oval-shaped. They often feature scrolls, starbursts and other intricate patterns. Water jet technology allows tile artisans to precisely cut the pieces for these designs.
You can see in the image below how a floor medallion can add elegance and beauty to your staircase area:
Tapeti Gulla Mosaic Medallion – View Details / Get Quote »
Are you ready to enhance your home with one of these tiled staircase ideas? With tiles, you can add color, pattern and beauty to your steps.
To learn more about the tile possibilities for your staircases, reach out to the Artsaics team. We’ll help you turn your steps into works of art.
