The Southwest's Tile Floors

The durability of tile as a flooring material makes it particularly suitable for homes in the rugged conditions that characterize the southwest part of the country. The southwest, particularly in the mountainous areas, has dry summers and sometimes very cold winters. This means that all manner of debris from the outdoors gets tracked into a living space, from the fine, staining dust of the summer to the muddy, dirty snow of the winter. Tile, being easy to clean and able to retain its luster over years of hard service, is well-suited to such an environment.

The Spanish were famous for decorating their environment in myriad ways and flooring was no exception in this regard. Oftentimes, plain tiles would be interspersed with decorative tiles. The more colorful tiles were laid out in geometric patterns to add a touch of style to the home. This tradition carries on today. Many fashionable homes in the southwest are floored with earth-tone Saltillo tiles punctuated by colorful, creatively decorated tiles that create a distinctive look.

Some tiles are sold as works of art in and of themselves. These glazed, quite lovely examples of flooring surfaces are sold in galleries and at street markets, oftentimes individually. Homeowners will sometimes remove a few plain tiles from their floor to add these more artistic pieces in their place. Santa Fe, well known as an arts market, has many stores that carry such creations.

Some of the most popular designs include floral motifs, abstract and colorful artwork and even stylized lettering.

While it does seem a bit odd to place a work of art under the feet of everyone who enters the home, this is very much in line with the Spanish character of the region, where buildings are made more lively with beautiful murals and art is to be found just about everywhere. Adding a few bold tiles to the floor can lend a home anywhere in the nation a distinctly southwestern feel and charm.