Thursday, April 23, 2009

Spanish Styles For Decorating With Red Tile Flooring

Red tile floors are a common feature in Spanish interiors.


Tile is the most commonly used flooring in Spanish decor styles. All of these Spanish styles share a very similar color palette of reds, oranges, yellows, greens and blues. These colors represent the countryside and bring to mind warm, balmy evenings and alfresco dining, and create a warm, welcoming, homey atmosphere. However, each style has its own unique aspects that create a slightly different finished effect, from the very rustic to the more formal. Does this Spark an idea?


Spanish Style


Create a traditional Spanish feel with a textured paint or faux painting techniques, such as ragging or color washing, to give texture to the walls. Combine white woodwork, painted furniture and stucco-style plaster with bold colors such as rusty reds, burnt oranges, terracotta, yellows, greens and blues. Add rustic-looking tapestries to the wall and ethnic-style rugs to the red floor tiles to soften the hard surfaces. Use plenty of dark wood and choose rustic furniture, piled with highly decorative cushions and throws. Add white-painted interior shutters to the windows and complete the look with wrought iron accessories.


Hacienda Style


"Hacienda" is the Spanish word for estate. This style is a slightly richer version of the traditional Spanish style. Use a faux brick paint effect to create an accent wall, and combine the red floor tiles with brightly colored, ornamental wall tiles and paint. Use a typical Spanish-style color palette of reds, oranges, yellows, blues, greens and gold. Mix and match different finishes, textures and patterns to create a bold, expressive look. Stick with simple, rustic furniture and accessorize with copper, terracotta and gold items.


Mediterranean Style


Mediterranean style is also known as "modern Spanish," and combines Spanish, Greek and Italian design features. Use faux paint techniques to create a textured appearance on the walls, along with the typical Spanish-style wall color palette, with extra blues and lavenders. Team the red floor tiles with mosaic tiles in areas such as backsplashes, table tops and accessories such as mirrors. Combine wood furniture featuring ornately carved legs and feet, wrought iron pieces and overstuffed, cozy-looking sofas. Add a Moroccan feel with a wrought-iron fireplace screen and filigree light fixtures.


Mexican Style


As with the other Spanish-influenced styles, add texture to the walls and use reds, oranges, yellows, greens, pinks and brown. Choose bold, deep shades but avoid bright hues. Combine these colors with lots of intricate patterns such as mosaic tiles to create a really bold, colorful look. Use light-colored, rustic wood furniture combined with natural materials such as leather and rattan. Complete the look with brightly colored woven blankets and throws, and a few pieces of Mexican pottery.







Tags: color palette, floor tiles, oranges yellows, reds oranges, reds oranges yellows, yellows greens