How To Decorate Your Home With Terracotta

Are you feeling bold, and want some ideas for how to decorate your home with terracotta?

Terracotta is a beautiful orange-red color that is known for its Mediterranean vibe, and it’s a popular wall color this year! But it’s not just the color we’re talking about here—terracotta tiles and decor are having a big moment too.

Terracotta is a bold color! While it can be really intimidating when you prefer neutral colors, why not step out of your comfort zone and try to decorate your home with terracotta?

When it comes to decorating our homes, using colors can have a profound impact on mood and emotion. As a bold, emotionally charged color, people wither love terracotta or avoid it.

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So, whether you’re looking to add a splash of color to your living room or revamp your kitchen floor, I’ve got some tips to help you bring this gorgeous, versatile shade into your home.

What Color is Terracotta?

“Terracotta” comes from the Italian word for “baked earth“. Terracotta is an earthy shade of orange, popularly considered burnt orange.

However, terracotta can have many different hues ranging from orange to brown; it is very rich though-just think of how terractotta pots can look.

This rich color of the earth can easily warm up your house and create an inviting atmosphere. No wonder it’s perfect for fall decor.

Terracotta is easy to mix and match, working nicely with warm colors and materials like wood, as well as cold colors like blues and materials like concrete for the perfect contrasting effect.

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Terracotta is one of those colors that just feels warm and inviting. It’s got this earthy vibe that makes any space feel like home. If you’re into colors that remind you of sunbaked clay, Mediterranean villas, and cozy, rustic charm, then you’re going to love decorating with terracotta.

1. Understanding the Color Terracotta

Let’s start with the basics: what exactly is terracotta? Imagine the color of a clay pot—yep, that’s terracotta. It’s a warm reddish-brown that can range from deep, almost burnt hues to lighter, peachy tones.

The great thing about terracotta is that it’s super versatile. It works well with a lot of different colors, so you don’t have to worry about it clashing with your current decor.

Now, when it comes to pairing colors with terracotta, think soft whites, grays, and even deep greens or blues. These shades really help terracotta pop without overwhelming your space.

Plus, terracotta brings a cozy, earthy feel to any room, so it’s perfect if you want to create a space that’s both stylish and comfy. Think of it as the color equivalent of a big hug—warm and inviting.

2. Decorating with Terracotta Tiles

Okay, let’s talk tiles! Terracotta tiles are a fantastic way to add texture and warmth to your home.

They’re like the little black dress of flooring—classic, timeless, and always in style. Whether you’re thinking about redoing your kitchen floor or adding an accent wall in the bathroom, terracotta tiles have you covered.

For flooring, terracotta tiles work great in kitchens, bathrooms, and even entryways. They’re durable, easy to clean, and they add a touch of rustic charm. Plus, they’re perfect if you want a floor that hides the occasional scuff or dirt (because, let’s be real, who has time to mop every day?).

If you’re not ready to commit to terracotta floors, how about a backsplash or accent wall? It’s a smaller commitment but still packs a punch in terms of style. And don’t forget about outdoor spaces—terracotta tiles are perfect for patios or garden paths.

They’re tough, weather-resistant, and give your outdoor area a lovely, natural look.

3. Incorporating Terracotta Decor

Not ready to rip up your floors or tackle a tile project? No worries! You can still get that terracotta vibe with some well-placed decor items. Think vases, planters, and even textiles like cushions or throws.

Terracotta vases and pottery are great for adding a little warmth to your space without going overboard.

Pop a couple of terracotta planters on your windowsill, and boom—instant cozy vibes. They’re especially great for plants because the earthy tones complement the greenery perfectly.

If you’re looking to bring in some terracotta through textiles, think about adding a few cushions or a throw blanket in terracotta tones. It’s a subtle way to introduce the color without making a big commitment. And let’s face it, who doesn’t love a good throw blanket for those Netflix marathons?

4. Balancing Terracotta with Other Materials

Terracotta is a strong, warm color, so it’s important to balance it out with other materials to keep things from feeling too heavy. One of the best combos? Terracotta and wood.

These two are like peanut butter and jelly—they just work together. Wood’s natural tones complement terracotta’s warmth, creating a cozy, rustic feel that’s hard to beat.

If you’re into a more modern look, try pairing terracotta with metal finishes like black iron or brass. The contrast between the warm terracotta and the cool metal gives your space a stylish edge without sacrificing that cozy vibe.

Plus, it’s a great way to add a little industrial flair without going full-on warehouse.

And don’t forget about stone and concrete. These materials, when paired with terracotta, create a grounded, earthy aesthetic that’s perfect for those who love a natural, minimalist look.

It’s like bringing a bit of the outdoors in, without having to worry about bugs or bad weather.

5. Room-by-Room Terracotta Decorating Tips

Alright, now let’s get specific. Here’s how you can bring terracotta into different rooms of your home without going overboard.

Living Room: The living room is a great place to start with terracotta. You can go big with a terracotta feature wall or keep it simple with a few accent pieces like a vase or a set of cushions.

If you’ve got a fireplace, consider adding terracotta tiles around it for a warm, inviting focal point. It’s like giving your living room a cozy, rustic makeover without a ton of effort.

Kitchen: Kitchens and terracotta are a match made in heaven. Terracotta tiles make for a gorgeous, easy-to-clean floor, but if you’re not ready for that, how about a terracotta backsplash?

It adds a pop of color and warmth, making your kitchen feel extra homey. And don’t forget about terracotta cookware—yes, it’s a thing! Not only does it look good sitting on your stove, but it also cooks like a dream.

Bathroom: You might not think of terracotta for the bathroom, but trust me, it works. Terracotta tiles can transform your bathroom into a spa-like retreat. Use them on the floor or even in the shower for a unique, earthy look.

Add a few terracotta-toned towels or a soap dish to tie the whole look together. It’s like bringing a bit of the Mediterranean to your morning routine.

Bedroom: The bedroom is all about creating a space where you can relax, and terracotta can help you do just that. Consider adding terracotta-colored bedding, a rug, or even a bedside lamp to give your room a warm, inviting feel.

It’s a subtle way to introduce the color without overwhelming the space. Plus, waking up surrounded by warm tones just feels nice, like you’re being gently nudged into the day by a cozy, comforting hug.

6. DIY Terracotta Projects

If you’re feeling crafty, there are plenty of ways to DIY your own terracotta decor. These projects are fun, easy, and a great way to personalize your space.

Painted Terracotta Pots: This is a super simple project that anyone can do. Grab a few terracotta pots, some paint, and let your creativity run wild.

You can go for a minimalist look with a simple stripe or polka dot design, or get fancy with intricate patterns. Either way, you’ll end up with a set of unique, stylish planters that add a personal touch to your home.

Terracotta Tile Trivets: Here’s a fun way to use leftover terracotta tiles (or an excuse to buy a few!).

Glue some felt or cork to the bottom of the tiles, and you’ve got yourself a set of chic trivets for your kitchen or dining table. They’re practical, stylish, and a great way to add a bit of terracotta to your space without breaking the bank.

Terracotta Wall Art: Feeling adventurous? Try making some custom wall art with terracotta tiles.

Arrange them in a pattern, glue them to a board, and you’ve got yourself a one-of-a-kind piece that’s sure to be a conversation starter. You could even mix in some painted tiles for a bit of extra flair. It’s like bringing a bit of your personality to your walls.

Designer Tips: How to Decorate with Rich Colors Like Terracotta

Terracotta is rich in color and looks great whether paired with other rich and bold colors or muted colors. Gather tips for decorating your home with rich colors below before we get started:

1. Match Your Rich Color with the Largest Pattern in the Room

For a cohesive room, it is important to match your colors so your maximalist interiors can also look put together.

Thus, if you have textiles in the room like a patterned or colorful rug or curtains, choose an interior color scheme from the largest pattern in the room.

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This also gives every decor item a reason to be because the room will be tied together.

2. Vary Your Colours Or Shades Vertically

Rich colors can come off as very overwhelming, sometimes. To minimize the effect, vary the shades vertically.

I mean, use darker hues of the color for the floors to anchor your space–a good rich rug would be handy. Use medium color hues for furniture then the walls; you can finish the ceiling with the lightest hues.

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Whether you use one color for monochromatic interiors or use different colors in varying shades, this natural transition of color mimics our outdoors where the earth is darker, vegetation is lighter and the sky is the lightest in color.

3. Decorate Formal Rooms First

When decorating your home, start by decorating your living room first.

It is perhaps the most important room in the house and once you’re done, you can always pull a color from the palette and transfer to other rooms, in similar shades or varying hues of the color.

However, if you’re not a decorating pro and unsure about using rich colors in your living room, feel free to experiment with other rooms around the house like your bedroom and if the palette looks great, transfer to your living room.

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What Colors Go Well With Terracotta?

1. Contrasting Color Schemes

Directly opposite on the color wheel, contrasting colors like blue tones are a natural fit for terracotta- think navy blue, light blue or even indigo.

The key is to mix and match deeper shades of terracotta with deeper shades of blue, and lighter shades alike.

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2. Greens

Burnt orange mingles with rich, verdant greens to create an energetic room. These colors complement each other so well, looking especially stunning when used in saturated shades. Think terracotta and jungle or olive green.

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3. Greys & Blacks

Why not add some terracotta to spice up the greys and blacks in a room? These colors present a backdrop upon which to decorate and inject warmth with terracotta.

Choose warming shades of grey with warm terracotta colors, and deeper shades of grey of deeper terracotta accents.

4. Browns

Terracotta and brown are both earthly shades that blend well together to create a harmonious interior. These saturated colors are perfect to create a cozy bedroom, especially when terracotta is used to slightly brighten the walls.

5. Yellow Shades

These analogous warm colors, when combined, transform an apartment into a warm and inviting space.

Add yellow throw pillows to a terracotta sofa and the combination emanates joy and energy when applied as a color scheme for your interiors!

Now that you have some tips to decorate your home with rich colors, let’s help you decorate your home with terracotta:

How to Decorate Your Home with Terracotta

Oranges, unlike red, which can be overwhelming in a room, can have a variety of personalities. Some are vibrant and exciting, while others, like terracotta, are more subdued and neutral.

Using terracotta, you can create unusual combinations using different terracotta shades in your interiors! Think sunset color, untreated clay, carrot, brick, sienna, and pumpkin among others.

Try these tips next time and curate such stylish interiors:

Terracotta Color Palettes For Furniture

Furniture improves the functionality of any space, thus, a core in interior design. Use furniture in terracotta color to not only add a pleasing sense of order in your home but also to act as a focal point or an accent to your space.

While neutral furniture is a popular choice, a bod sofa, or bed in terracotta color can be stylish and attractive. Just remember to choose furniture that complements the other decor items within the space so the whole room is tied together.

In this case, add accessories like poufs or blankets and other textured prints in the same color as the terracotta item–think the sofa– to spread the color around the room and create balance.

To use terracotta as accent furniture, choose a sofa or bed in the color These large pieces of furniture anchor the space whilst standing out.

However, if your floor color is dark and you’ve chosen a darker terracotta sofa or bed, for instance, create a clear visual space between the floor and furniture item so it does not seem to appear in the room.

A darker terracotta bed or sofa with metal or light wood legs can help achieve this. You can also use a patterned, lighter or bolder rug under the front area of your sofa to separate the dark colors and make the sofa color pop.

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It is prudent to choose your furniture first before proceeding to pick a paint color, especially if you’re gravitating towards really strong, bright colors like terracotta for your chairs, sofas, and beds. That way, neutral wall color is easy to style against.

However, you might opt for brighter wall colors (like those shared above) as long as they complement your terracotta furniture well. The trick is to pick lighter or muted shades of your bright color.

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Terracotta For Walls

If you want to paint your house white, go ahead and do it. However, if you want to be more daring with color and choose terracotta, a feature wall is a great place to start!

The amount of light your room gets will determine how bright or muted your terracotta walls appear.

South-facing rooms tend to be consistently bright throughout the day with warm yellow, golden tones from the good natural sunlight all day long.

In such rooms, you have the opportunity to try muted tones of terracotta as the sun will complement the walls’ intensity and turn up their vibrancy. This will ensure the rooms don’t look too warm and tacky when the sun hits them.

If you don’t have many windows, like in north-facing rooms, go warm to help brighten your room. Choose brighter shades of terracotta as a truly bold color won’t make the space seem even darker.

What Color Curtains go with Terracotta Walls?

When choosing curtains for your terracotta walls, look around your room and pick a dominant color you’d want to tie to. Whether it’s your rug, or other accents within the room, pick a color that will create a perfect contrast or blend well.

The key is to not use terracotta in your curtains again, when your walls are painted in terracotta color.

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Decor Tip: Terracotta shades always inject warmth to your interiors. Thus, when choosing a color palette for the interior, avoid too harsh, cold and stark colors like brilliant whites. as they create a harsh contrast that is not appealing.

Accent With Terracotta

Another way to decorate with terracotta is to use terracotta-colored accessories. This is a subtle way to use the color, especially if you just want a hint of the color in your decor.

For starters, introduce terracotta into your home through fabric. Throw pillows, blankets and rugs in terracotta can add a pop of color, warmth and depth without the brashness of a brighter shade

You can also use other decor accents in fewer additions. Create a collection of terracotta vases on your table surfaces or if you’re a plant lover, rehome your favorite plant in terracotta pots by the balcony.

Lighting fixtures in terracotta are another good option, as are statement wall art pieces in a striking terracotta shade.

Conclusion

So, there you have it—everything you need to know to start decorating with terracotta. Whether you’re going all-in with terracotta tiles or just adding a few decor pieces here and there, this warm, earthy color is sure to bring some cozy vibes to your home. It’s versatile, timeless, and let’s be honest, just plain beautiful.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with terracotta. Start small if you’re nervous—maybe a few pots or a cushion—and work your way up.

Before you know it, you’ll be a terracotta pro, with a home that feels warm, inviting, and oh-so-stylish. And hey, even if you don’t get everything perfect, who cares? It’s your space, and it should make you happy. So go ahead, have some fun with it!

Would you decorate your home with terracotta too?

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