How to bring the Italian design into your home
Terrazzo might not be the first word that springs to mind when imagining your dream home decor, but we guarantee you’ve seen it all over Instagram.
Hailing from Italy, terrazzo was originally used for flooring in Italian palazzos and over time has emerged from its grand birthplace to our kitchen counters and worktops.
Milly Parazo of TerrazzoParazo, who hand makes her own terrazzo inspired homeware pieces told The Independent: “Terrazzo means terrace or place of encounter and was allegedly developed when mosaics craftspeople realised that marble chips became a resilient surface when trodden into the ground.”
According to Athina Bluff, designer at online interiors service, Topology Interiors, it’s made up of chippings from materials such as marble, granite, quartz, shell and glass, making it cheap to manufacture and gives an artisanal feel.
The combination of materials means the finished result is very colourful and can be used for all manner of interiors, ranging from bathroom tiles, planters, wallpapers down to little details like coasters.
If you’re new to the trend but want to update your space, there’s no shortage of ways to shop it, and we’ve handpicked our favourite finds from statement pieces to finishing touches for every room.
You can trust our independent round-ups. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections. This revenue helps us to fund journalism across The Independent.
Think big
As a versatile print and material, terrazzo can brighten up rooms and add character, so don’t be shy when shopping for it.
As Charlotte Rey of interior design duo Campbell-Rey explains: “The great thing with terrazzo is that you can pour it into shapes easily, so it can be used to make up more organic forms like rounded bar tops and curved shower trays.”
“It also comes as tiles in endless patterns and colourways which are very effective and quite easy to install,” she says.
This pegase terrazzo washbasin (Tikamoon, £149) caught our eye for its minimal design that’s speckled with brown and blue chips to add a touch of colour.
It’ll certainly adds a chic touch to washing your hands and brushing your teeth and you could even coordinate your towels, bath mat or soap dispensers to match the colours.
Or you can make a bigger statement with this terrazzo effect textured wallpaper (B&Q, £16) that’s a nod to summery pastels without being overwhelming for smaller spaces.
It’s also made with responsibly-sourced, forest-friendly paper and has a vinyl coating that makes it durable and washable, as long as you use a sponge, mild soap and water on any stains.
If however, you want to pay homage to its origins, this modena terrazzo tile (Otto Tiles, £14.56) design is a modern, refreshing take on the trend that will revamp kitchen, bathroom and kitchen floors.
Green, white and black mak
es a winning colour combination that will add colour and vibrancy with a Mozaic-style feel.
Small but mighty
If you’re struggling to commit to a colour for new furniture, terrazzo can an easy way to compromise. The mix of colours is vibrant, but it only has a minimal impact and does not feel overwhelming. You can pick out shades within the colours you’ve already got in the terrazzo item, and find soft furnishings such as cushions and rugs to compliment it.
“Producing aggregates made up of bright contemporary colours, accompanied by an equally colourful base, helps to inject some colour and joy into interior design,” says designer Katie Gillies, who specialises in terrazzo and hosts casting workshops for you to create bespoke pieces.
“Our homes often fail to contain bold, colourful and playful permanent tangible objects within them; you can address that lack of colour with terrazzo.”
One of our favourite pieces she makes is this round tray (Cool Machine, (£31.63) that’s available in five colours, the blue is a bold and bright statement piece for any room.
To update a living room, try this square pink side table (Rose & Grey, £149).
The gold metal frame adds a luxury, contemporary feel and will pair perfectly with a vase of fresh flowers or a scented candle sat on it.
Revamp your tableware with these square coasters set of 2 (Terrazzo Parazzo, £15) that come in a mix of burnt orange, navy and mustard.
Handmade and durable, they’re perfect for your next date night or dinner party.
Decorate your bedside with this black and blue terrazzo pillar candle holder (Habitat, £20).
It’s mushroom shape makes it a statement in its own right, but add a design-led candle and you’ve got a stylish and functional piece.
Quite literally brighten up a room with this house by John Lewis terrazzo bulb holder table lamp (John Lewis & Partners, £25).
The concrete style gives it a modern, yet sturdy feel and the flecked, dusty pink pattern will complement most colours already in your space.
We also love this royal pot (Etsy, £15) that’s a pop of colour, thanks to its blue, pink, turquoise and red design.
Made using jesmonite and a satin finish, we’ll be using it to plant lush, green foliage.
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