What Is Terrazzo? 14 Ideas for Terrazzo Tile at Home

Terrazzo is a composite material that is popular for various uses like flooring, countertops, backsplashes, furniture, and decor objects. It is water-resistant, durable, customizable, and more sustainable than many materials thanks to its production methods utilizing scrap materials.

This low-maintenance material has been around for centuries but was especially popular in the 1920s and midcentury modern period, and has become a newly trendy way to add personality, color, pattern, and texture to modern and contemporary interiors.

Check out these terrazzo ideas for inspiration on how to use this versatile material at home.

What Is Terrazzo?

Terrazzo tile is a low-maintenance material that's a composite made from types of stone such as 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 have become newly trendy today. Contemporary designers have started seeing a resurgence of terrazzo in hospitality buildings and homes.

Types of Terrazzo

There are various types of poured terrazzo adapted to indoor and outdoor surfaces. You can also opt for terrazzo tiles.

Sand cushion terrazzo: This type is adapted for outdoor spaces, with a poured cement slab base topped with a layer of sand that helps prevent the top layer of terrazzo from cracking.
Thin-set epoxy terrazzo: Used in interiors, this type mixes epoxy resin and aggregate to produce a single thin layer to prevent cracking.
Polyacrylate: Another type of thin-set terrazzo, polyacrylate is a 3/8″-thick veneer that is placed on top of a concrete slab.
Monolithic terrazzo: This ½” -thick type is more affordable than other poured terrazzo, but is more prone to cracking.
Rustic terrazzo: Rustic terrazzo has a textured surface to make it less slippery.

Terrazzo Tile Ideas

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Bold Terrazzo Backsplash

Cicada Company

Bold and colorful terrazzo can transform a kitchen with natural wood cabinetry and clean lines. This kitchen by Cicada Company uses large speckled terrazzo with muted tones on both the flooring and the backsplash for a cohesive look.

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Terrazzo Shower Tile

Instagram / home_and_things

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.

Showers & Tubs

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Pink Terrazzo Countertop

Instagram / ponysailor

Weave in bold colors in your terrazzo to tie your color palette together in any room.
Pair pink cabinetry with terrazzo that has flecks of pink for a coordinated look, like this kitchen from ponysailor.

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Terrazzo Vanity Countertop

Siren Betty Design

Terrazzo is highly customizable in terms of 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.

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DIY Terrazzo Coffee Table

Remodelista

Terrazzo can be used to make furniture and decor objects. This DIY terrazzo table from Remodelista is the perfect accessory for a modern living room. Recreate this look on a bedroom headboard or a nightstand to bring terrazzo into every room in your house.

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Colorful Bathroom Terrazzo

Instagram / tian_designs

We love how easily terrazzo can transform a room—because it takes center stage, it instantly takes a space from standard to luxury. Alone, the white iron vanity in this bathroom from tian_designs is minimalist and understated, but when combined with the bright beige and brown terrazzo wall, it becomes a statement piece.

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Terrazzo Floor Tiles

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 from The House of Wood features a large terrazzo tiles with a light pattern to add subtle dimension to the neutral space.

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Terrazzo Wall Art

The House of Wood

Get the look of terrazzo for less with tile-inspired DIY wall art. These framed prints from The House of Wood can be whipped up in an afternoon.

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Terrazzo Kitchen Countertop

Photo courtesy of dzek

Bold terrazzo creates an instant focal point in any room. This modern kitchen designed by Caitlin Mociun and Tammer Hijazi pairs colorful terrazzo with white walls and light wood open shelves for a balanced feel.

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Terrazzo Accessories

Hester's Hand Made Home

Use terrazzo tile as inspiration to make decor objects like this DIY candle holder from Hester's Hand Made Home. The terrazzo-inspired candleholder is made from polymer clay.

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Terrazzo Counter Backsplash

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.

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Terrazzo-Style Napkin Rings

burkatron

Make terrazzo-inspired polymer clay napkin holders that can be customized to your dining room color palette, like this DIY project from burkatron.

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Black-and-White Terrazzo

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.

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Terrazzo Wallpaper

Maestro

Hang terrazzo wallpaper to create an unexpected accent wall for a living space or a bedroom, like this space from Maestro.

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. 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?

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. 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).