About Zellige Tiles

The earliest, most reliable dating of ‘zellij’ is found in Morocco around the 12th century, however there are reports of it originating in Tunisia as early as the 10th century. The tiles are used to create elaborate, decorative surfaces with an abundance of colour and pattern, similar to the mosaics the Romans are known for.

Image credit: Planet Things

Firstly, the Zellige tiles are created by hand using a special blend of clay found in Morocco, then cut into 10cm length squares and glazed. The tiles are then cut into a variety of shapes to form the final pattern. This style of tiling is still created by hand in Morocco today. Uniquely, Morocco’s city of Tetouan pre-cuts the shapes and then bakes them, creating a harder enamel which lasts longer but has a duller colour. Of course, with this technique the geometric lines are not as slick and don’t fit together as smoothly as the more common technique.

Once baked and cut, each piece is dry laid on the floor in the intended pattern. The backs of each piece are coated with a thin layer of plaster or whitewash to bond them together. The larger panels once dry are then fixed to their final surface with mortar or grout.

In Spain, as this style of tile was popularised in the 16th century, they started to mass produce the patterns by pressing a metal or wooden mould over the unbaked tile. Often the decorative styles blended traditional Islamic motifs with contemporary European influencers like Gothic or Italian Renaissance. Eventually, such dramatic patterning fell out of favour in European decoration and marble took over.

As the original tiles were cut, glazed and then fired, in their simplest of forms, they are known for their surface irregularities. The variety in depth, flatness, and shade, as well as their handcrafted edges, create a unique and rustic looking tile. The simple, undecorated tile in its rawest form is what we commonly see today in western homes, and we want to celebrate its unique ability to transform the most modern of homes by adding some rustic character to a tiled space.

The two main characteristics of Zellige tiles are their colour and their texture so this is what we work with to create a variety of looks to suit different styles of home. If you’re a neutral lover through and through, then playing with texture is the best way to incorporate these tiles into your scheme. As the Zellige tile has a high gloss, rustic finish, the rest of your space should be clean and minimal to create a sleek contrast to the tile’s undone style. Stick to a tonal colour palette to let the texture speak for itself.

Image credit: Remodelista, Millie Turner Designs

In this kitchen, we love the pearlescent tone of the tile which is matched in the matt finish of the units. A harmonious marble worktop sits seamlessly between to complete the space. Achieve a similar look with our Cadence Pearl tile. The touches of brass and wooden accessories warm up the room whilst remaining neutral. The same principles work just as well in this shower room too.

Image credit: Zellica Bronze, Zellica Ochre

Zellige-inspired tiles allow you to play with different formats too, our Zellica range embodies the Zellige’s high gloss glaze and rustic edges but has a rectangular shape which feels a little more contemporary. The bolder colours can work for both classic and modern styles, it’s all in the styling.

This indulgent bronze shade feels super modern when laid in a basketweave pattern with a coordinating grout. The contrasting sleek white basin and chic gold accessories offer a minimalistic style interior. Finish the look with some eucalyptus for a trendy edge.

At the other end of the spectrum, this honey mustard shade is nicely contrasted with a heavy slat wood kitchen painted in black. The variation in the tile’s tone helps blend the lighter elements of the room with its darker side.

Image credit: Style by Emily Henderson

Less indulgent, pastel tones lend themselves to contemporary interiors. Here we can see a delicate sky blue is used alongside raw pine cabinetry with sleek white elements bringing the look together, feeling fresh. The use of abstract art in a mis-matched gallery wall is what brings an element of fun into this bathroom, creating harmony between the slick sanitary ware and the roughness of the tiles.

Create a similar look with our Cadence Sage tiles, you might find that the sage green is a little easier to style and it won’t feel as cold as this blue if you don’t have the right room orientation for such cool tones.

Image credit: Style by Emily Henderson

So far, we’ve seen tonal neutrals, bold colour blocking and muted pastels so for our final look we’re exploring contrasting tones.

A pure white tile can feel clinical and cold, the beauty of Zellige is that the differing tones add a certain amount of warmth within its irregularity. Play with this by introducing warmer tones within the rest of the space. For example, in this kitchen, the high sheen varnished wood and the forest green units contrast with the cooler tiles and marble countertop. Even the accessories are sectioned into warm and cool tones. The brass is used on the warm toned surfaces and the pewter and silver accessories are within the tiled section.

Real Zellige tiles are a true investment however, we’ve created a zellige-inspired tile edit which helps you achieve the look without the price tag. Allowing you to experiment with different laying patterns and grout colours, these are our favourite tiles for that ultra glossy yet rustic feeling finish.

Tiles L-R: Zellica, Cadence, Lampas, Acton, MH Country Rustic, Principle

Inspired to try the Zellige style? Experiment with a few free samples at home to gauge the right finish for your space.