Tile is a long-lasting, impervious, and delightfully cool surface compared to other flooring materials. It‘s easy to keep clean and dust-free, and in the winter, radiant heating steps in and gives the floor a desirable cozy factor–no wonder it’s been employed in European homes for hundreds of years. In addition to being remarkably durable, a beautifully tiled entry, hallway, or foyer draws you in and creates the promise of a loved and creative home.
Tile does double duty as an eye-catching first impression while providing a virtually indestructible surface for whatever the weather, kids, or pets bring through your front door. Below we’ve rounded up 13 of our favorite ways to create a tiled entryway sure to impress.
1. Brick by Brick
Brick: Wind River | Design: Annabode + Co | Image: Brandon Lopez
A neutral Glazed Thin Brick parquet floor brings a sense of rhythm and movement to your entry. The pattern is at once orderly and inviting, echoing the footsteps of many a welcome visitor.
2. Checkered Past
Tile: 6x6 Iron Ore + Pyrite, 6x12 Chicago in Grey Motif, 1x6 + 3x9 Basalt | Design: Jean Stoffer Design | Image: Stoffer Photography Interiors
The traditional checkered porch floor, a nod to the homes of yesteryear, finds new life with updated colors, a matte finish, and a Handpainted Tile border. It’s a mix-and-match masterclass courtesy of Jean Stoffer, blending heritage with modernity.
3. Green with Envy
Tile: 2” Hexagon Evergreen | Design: Mowery Marsh Architects | Image: Blackstock Photography
A verdant spread of green Hexagon Tiles breathes life into any entryway. Like stepping onto a meadow at dawn, this vibrant choice infuses a space with organic beauty and a touch of whimsy.
4. Handpainted Hospitality
Tile: Persian Star custom motif | Design: Fiddlehead Design Group | Image: Scott Amundson
A small entry is the ideal spot to splurge a little on Handpainted Tile. Ceramic tile, including handpainted, is hardier and easier to maintain over time than other entry tile options like cement tile and natural stone. The exuberant and fresh hues of the geometric-patterned front entry above work beautifully in contrast with the warm natural hue of the exterior walls. Each large format Handpainted Tile is a brushstroke contributing to a bigger masterpiece, welcoming you home with a flourish.
5. Sunny Star & Cross
Tile: Mini Star & Cross Sunflower, Feldspar | Design + Image: SOOETSUN STUDIO
Keeping the color palette of your entryway soft works nicely with a modern organic interior. We love how the space above used mellow white and yellow Star & Cross to cheerfully roll out the welcome mat.
6. Pattern Play
Tile: 8x8 Vintage Leather, 4x4 Ivory | Design: Handsome Salt | Image: Jenny Siegwart | Installer: Noble + Proper
Red and white floor tiles echo the vibrancy of life’s varied paths when you step inside this cottage at boutique hotel Noble + Proper. The two sizes play off of each other in contrasting colors, laying down a welcome that’s both confident and cheerful.
7. Confetti Hexite Sunroom
Tile: Hexite Halite, Tumbleweed, Ivory, Chateau, Dolomite, Feldspar | Design + Image: Hilton Carter
For a space that sings, colorful hexite tiles in Hilton Carter’s enviable sunroom entryway create a melody of colors underfoot. It’s a playful greeting that promises more design delights to follow.
8. Geometric Appeal
Tile: Picket Evergreen | Design: HIR A+D | Image: Hannah Robertson | Installer: Vector East, LTD
Sleek and stunning, the appeal of a green Picket Tile floor is undeniably engaging. This elongated hexagonal pattern promises a dynamic energy, perfect for homes bustling with activity and creativity.
9. Slip-Resistant Paseo Stripes
Tile: Paseo Feldspar + Sunflower | Image: Margaret Austin Photography | Installer: Sara and Rich Combs
The foyer below is charming and full of colorful character thanks to our specialty shape Paseo. The playful shape and yellow and white stripes are enhanced with an abrasive finish to meet commercial specifications. If you’re working on a commercial project, we can add an abrasive finish for you, too–get all the details from your commercial rep.
10. The Classic Welcome
Tile: Mini Star & Cross Basalt | Design: DMB Design Studio | Image: Katia Popik
The enduring charm of black and white Star & Cross Tile presents a welcome as timeless as it is elegant. Whether it’s the crisp contrast in a sunlit foyer or the bold statement in a dimly lit vestibule, these tiles lay the groundwork for a home with a story to tell.
11. Neutral Nuance
Tile: 3x9 Pyrite | Design: The Fresh Exchange | Image: Megan Gilger
With a matte neutral floor, the subtlety of shade and texture plays with light and space. These classic tiles in a serene shade welcome guests and residents alike with slip-resistant properties, providing traction after swimming pool days and snowy ventures alike.
12. Elegance Underfoot
The Star & Cross neutral blend in this home’s foyer whispers sophistication. It’s where the refined palette meets a geometric dance, a perfect prelude to the home’s inner sanctum.
13. A Herringbone Hello
Tile: 2x6 Moonshine | Design: High Street Homes
A patterned entry brings a refined architectural detail to a space that can sometimes be overlooked. The great thing about entryway floors is that a little pattern goes a long way in setting the stage for the rest of your home, illustrated by the light blue herringbone pattern in Zosia Mamet’s upstate cabin above.
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