Authentic Moroccan Zellige Tiles for Modern Homes
Of all the tiling available in the US today, few options are as authentic as Moroccan zellige tiles. There’s no mass-production involved in the creation of these tiles, no shoddy factory workmanship; just simple handcrafting from artisans in Morocco. Perhaps that’s why these tiles are spreading across the US so quickly.
Moroccan Zellige Tiles in Their Element
Zellige tiles are far from some novelty item. In fact, over the last few years they’ve proven to be amazingly versatile in how they can be used in US homes:
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Though we frequently highlight our more colorful offerings, sometimes the best tile for the job is something even more rustic than our glazed zellige. Our Unglazed Natural Zellige Tile, seen here in 2×6, is nothing if not rustic. True to its name, Unglazed Natural gets its lovely appearance solely from the terracotta from which it is formed, eschewing bright colors for delightfully natural earth tones. By their very nature, Moroccan zellige tiles are quite simple; they’re created using the same artisanal methods that generations before have used and each tile is created by hand. Unglazed Natural Moroccan zellige tiles highlight the stunning simplicity of this art form brilliantly, as each tile features none of the natural pigments or glazes that usually characterize zellige. The ruddy and sandy brown colors bring the authentic decor of Morocco directly to your home, giving you the opportunity to own something as unique as it is functional.
We also offer Unglazed Natural in 4×4, as seen in this bathroom:
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Thanks to a bit of natural light from a well-placed window, you can see here that just like other varieties of zellige, Unglazed Natural features slight variations in color that stem from the kiln-firing process that each tile undergoes. These variations in color, which reveal the natural colors present in the Moroccan soil, are perhaps the truest examples of what make zellige so special. When you use Moroccan zellige tiles in your home, you’re not just getting a unique glazed tile to add to your kitchen or bathroom. You’re getting a piece of history, something handcrafted and totally one-of-a-kind, all at some of the lowest prices in the US. Our zellige tiles are sourced directly from Morocco, because we don’t think you should ever have to settle for some cheap copycat. Our Unglazed Natural zellige is perfect for homes that need a touch of authenticity to set off the rest of the space.
Colorful Zellige Tiles
As amazing as Unglazed Natural zellige is for a variety of settings, sometimes a space needs something a bit more vivacious and lively instead of earthy and rustic. For that, we have countless shades and shapes of naturally-pigmented zellige tiles, all of which exhibit the glimmering glaze for which zellige is so well-known.
Our colors range from gorgeous sky blue to verdant varieties, like our 2×6 Emerald Green zellige:
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Seen here in a bathroom floor setting, our Emerald Green zellige is the perfect way to add a lush, vibrant feel to any room. With darker shades of zellige tile like this one, one of the most impactful decisions you can make on what the end product looks like is the grout color. This designer’s use of a bright white grout contrasts the rich dark green of the zellige, which in this setting makes the zellige seem even darker and somehow more lush. Like we said in the original Instagram post, deciding which grout to use can be a somewhat tough question, because it depends entirely on what’s going on in the rest of the space as well as your own personal preferences. In this case the white grout highlights the natural jewel tones present in the variety of zellige, creating a darker, moodier look overall.
But grout color isn’t the only choice that impacts how your zellige looks overall. This wet bar actually uses the exact same tile as the bathroom above, Emerald Green in 2×6, but it looks completely different in this setting. Even adjusting to the obvious differences in photography, this green zellige tile takes on quite a character of its own. But why might that be? Well, there are a couple of answers to that question.
- Significant differences in the surrounding decor
- Greater prevalence of lighting to highlight the glaze.
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The setting in which the zellige is placed is every bit as important as the zellige itself, as you can see in these two drastically different applications of the same tile. The wet bar features brown cabinets and wood finish, which makes the green zellige seem lighter by comparison, whereas the bathroom’s white fixtures and walls accentuate the zellige’s role as a darker contrasting color. What’s more, this wet bar’s zellige wall seems to be deliberately lit, either by fixtures or natural light, which highlights the brighter hues present within the Emerald Green. The bathroom floor in the first space doesn’t feature the same deliberate lighting, giving the floor a much darker color.
These two spaces serve brilliantly to illustrate the differences present in every single use of zellige, proving the versatility of this charming variety of tile. Even in using the same tile, these two designers were able to highlight entirely different qualities within their own spaces.
Moving away from the verdant green of Emerald, we also offer simpler shades perfect for introducing fascinating elegance to your own home:
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This designer used our classic 2×6 Black Zellige on the shower walls to add an exciting Old World twist to the striking black and white color scheme. This shower/bath combo reveals that creating something unique and lovely can be done anywhere. You don’t need a massive custom shower to build an interesting bathroom space, just a keen eye for design and the right materials. The glinting obsidian shade of our black zellige is set off by the bronze fixtures quite well, showing how keeping it simple is often the best path forward.
We have samples ready to ship of all of the tiles we discussed above, so you can easily compare and contrast your options within your own home. Feel free to order a sample today and explore your options!
