Before the furniture, parasols, pergola or pool, your first decision for setting up an outdoor space will likely lie in the foundation – that is, the flooring. Whether you’re looking to create a seamless extension of your indoor space or a distinct outdoor area with a character of its own, the choice of flooring will set the tone for the rest of your outdoor area.
We’ve teamed up with Banju Boutique, home to a vast array of sanitary ware, bathroom furniture, bath tubs, taps and tiles, to discover the myriad ways flooring can impact outdoor spaces.
Outdoor flooring
As the indoor-outdoor boundary continues to blur in residential design, choosing an outdoor tile that complements the one used indoors is considered central to achieving a seamless and unified aesthetic. Take the Dolomite collection by Fincibec – it demonstrates a strong personality suitable for interior and exterior design. Intense colours are crossed by thin veins and warmer tones that recall quartzite aesthetics, drawing similarities to the family of natural stones.
Swimming pools
Pool coverings are a piece of the outdoor puzzle that often get overlooked in the frenzy of decision-making. Just like the rest of the floor area, a pool too can be tiled – and mosaic should be on your list. The small size of the tiles provides flexibility for curved lines and soft shapes and, in addition to aesthetics, glass is a naturally hygienic material, easy to maintain and long-lasting. Whatever the scale of the project, Ston Italia’s choice of colours, personalised decorations and blends for pool coverings, spas or Turkish baths make it possible to create spaces with a unique character.
Feature walls
Isolating the dining area or drawing attention to the outdoor kitchen can be achieved through clever cladding, specifically a feature wall using large-format slabs that add to the material and colour continuity of an outdoor space. Large-format ceramic slabs by Monocibec feature a variety of surface finishes for a range of applications, produced using the brand’s Continua+ technology, while Cotto D’Este’s Kerlite collection includes a selection of designs, from the deeply textured surfaces seen in the Arketipo line to the marble richness of the Allure collection.
Modular systems
Add another layer of visual interest to your floors through a modular application of the same tile in different formats. The combination of large and small sizes used together creates an interesting, asymmetrical composition – a deliberate design element that Monocibec drives into its Castle Stone collection, creating ceramic surfaces that recall historic European architecture, large buildings and refined homes characterised by impressive flooring.
Porcelain as parquet
An undisputed favourite for outdoor flooring is decking, particularly for pool areas, but the benefits of ceramic often outweigh the high-maintenance qualities of real timber. Parquet-like porcelain is a sought-out middle ground, and Spanish brand Tau Ceramica specialises in authentic natural textures and designs perfectly suited for this aesthetic. The Eternal range, for instance, is inspired by the eternity of ancient forests, and includes olive and teak wood-like options suitable for floors and walls, while Woodtime by Monocibec – available in five colours – interprets the beauty of typical irregular wood grains with precision and elegance.
Raised flooring
Whether you’re adding new flooring to an old deck or laying down a fresh set of tiles on a raised floor, you want to consider a tile that offers resistance, versatility and embodies the spirit of your outdoor area. The Major collection by Monocibec, a 20mm outdoor tile, features a grip surface and a wealth of colour choices, ranging from sand and silver to the colour and texture of natural stone.
For more information visit Banju Boutique, Paola.
Photography courtesy of Banju Boutique
